The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-07-08
Tho Irish Church Biii-The Fnto of ErcIcsi-
asticul Rata hIishu,eBta.

asttcal Embellishments.
On Tuesday evening, in the House of Lords,
the Irish Church bill, having been in few
particulars slightly altered, passed the COM
| mttee In its amended form the bill will,
without delay, be read a third time in the
Lords and sent down to the Commons for ap-
prevail 1t Is not our opinion that the Com
mons will accept all the amendments; for
though the alterations made by the Lords are
not numerous, some Of them seriously affect
the principles on which the measure as .
whole is based. 1t will not be difficult, how
ever, for the Commons so to modify the bill as
10 put an end to further opposition. In few
weeks at most the bill will be back again in
the Lords, and the presumption now is that
it will be passed In time enough to allow
Lords and honorable gentlemen to 60 to their
shooting quarters early In August.
This Irish Church bill is ono Of the great
facts of modern times. Nothing in these late
years-not the Pacific Railroad, which is
finished, nor the Suez Canal, which is not fin
ished--reveals in so remarkable manner tho
progressive character Of this age. 1t Is
sight, sufficient to give fame to a century, to
see tho descendants Of the proud old Norman
Barons deliberately striking at the foundations
on which for so many ages they have so Sc
curely rested. This is what we now see; for
the pillars of a privileged Church and the pill
lars of privileged aristocracy are one and
the same. The Protestant Ecclesiastical Es-
tabishment of Ireland, which has lasted for
more than three hundred years, may now be
considered at an end. The axe has been laid
to the root of the tree somewhat unsparingly;
but, away from those more or less directly
interested, no one regrets its fall. Through
out its entire history it has been
barren tree, Extensively numbering the ground,
and Ireland and the world are well rid of it.
But the fate of the Irish Church estab-
fishes dangerous precedent. 1t proves
that disestablishment and disendowment
are possible. We may take it for granted that
the Liberation Society, which has for its OBJ
ject the CELEBRATION of the Church from State
patronage and CONTROL" and which for 80
many years has seemed to labor in vain, now
feels that toll and expense have been amply
rewarded. We may also take it for granted
that they will not sfacken their endeavors. The
fight which has been fought in Ireland has to
be fought over again in Scotland and in
England. The fight, in truth, is already be-
ginning in Scotland. The two largest dis
senting bodies, the United Presbyterian
Church and Free Church, like our Old and
New School Churches, are making arrange
ments for union. The united Church will
represent very nearly two-thirds of the popu-
lation of the country. Such Church -four
ishing on the voluntary support of the peo-
pie will be dangerous rival to the Scottish
Establishment. The leaders of the Establish
ment have already taken fright, and the intel
ligence has just reached us that deputation
has waited upon the Prime Minister
asking him to lend his powerful help
in abolishing lay patronage and other
wise bringing the Church into harmony
with the times--their object being to prevent
this threatened union by thus opening the
door of the Establishment to the Free Church
brethren. We have no idea that this artifce
ing, as il shows that the combatants are
already preparing for battle. Ten years hence
and it will not be wonderful if the Scottish
Establishment shall have gone the way Of its
sister of Ireland. 1t is at least certain that the
forces which have worked so we'll in Ireland
will forthwith be applied in Scotland, and with
even greater prospect of success. The English
Establishment is stronger, richer, more efec-
tually interviewer with the constitution. 1t will,
in consequence, be more difficult to Overturn.
But it, too, must perish. The sentence has
gone forth against ecclesiastical establish
ments, and sooner or later the proud Church
of England must fall The contagion will
spread the world over, and religion, if it is TO
live and thrive, must live and thrive in the
hearts OF men and by means Of their volun-
tary givings. Patronage, State support and
forced contributions have had their day.
We cannot look at this Church question,
which must more and more disturb the nations,
without paying a compliment to the wisdom
and foresight of the founders Of this republic.
Our history will reveal no such ecclesiastical
warfare. Under the broad banner of the
republic all religions are tolerated and all
religious property is protected. The Churches
| fear no frown; they look for no favor. It is
not unnatural for us to feel proud when we see
| our example coming into universal favor.
THE NEWSPAPER CASH SYsTEM.--The Wis
| consin editors have been holding a conven-
! ton at which the proposition was preached
| for establishing general newspaper system
| out there Of cash payments. Why not every.
where? II is the only proper way. Most o
! our country newspapers live half starved on the