The New York herald., 1869-01-02
ENGLAND.
ROm OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.

fa The ShudoW Of Coming Events
tu8 LONDON Dec. 10, 1858.
81 An incident has just occurred in England which
shows better than books or arguments the true
drft Of public opinion In regard to the Established
Church, and which has fallen like clap Of thunder
nom clear sky upon those who still profess to
love and sing about 1.-THE dear old Church OF Eng
land.p
Among the appendages to the estates OF the Duke
of Norfolk are several church livings and under an
Old family settlement these have been offered at pub
Ac sale by auction during the past week. number
Of clergymen and others were present, but nobody
seemed willing to bid for the livings. At last the
auctioneer was asked whether any guarantee could
bo given that these ivings would not be connscated
within few years. The auctioneer was horror
stricken, and harangued the crowd with all the
Servor Of his GLASS; but his eloquence failed con-
Vince anybody but himself and the sale was conse-
quently adjourned.
Ont Of the half dozen vings put up at auction only
one was sold. The vicarage OF Steyning near Shore
ham, was bought for three thousand six hundred
and ten pounds. The income OF this vicarage Is
about six hundred pounds q yearl For another
hving worth over hundred and ffty pounds
. year, only one hundred pounds was bid. The
places actually went begging and nobody would
dered safe the security OF for any length
Of time was not considered good. And this, too, be
It observed by an assemblage Of cergymen who
ought to believe II anybody can believe, In the per-
manence OF the state Church.
Some OF the English papers In commenting upon
THIS auction take occasion 10 point out what shame
fu thing 1t is tnat church livngs should be bought
and sold In this way. But It seems to us that
speaking, ali pecuniary dealings in connec
tOn with religion are shameful. 1t is contrary to
tho spirit Of the Gospel that clergymen should be
paid large salaries, should ride in carriages should
dress In purple and fine linen. To put up pews at
auction, as Henry Ward Beecher does, is quite as
bad as 70 put up pulpits at auction. According to
the Bible the Gospel is free; but according to our
modern practice the Gospel Ii excessively dear. A
vate box at theatre, and an eloquent clergyman
nrOws as rich as shrewd politician. About the
rs!ty or this there may be two opinions; but GER
tAnly all other congregations should have their
skirts perfectly clean before they abuse the Church
OF England for Offering livngs to the highest bidder.
But the real point Is that nobody would bid. Alb
s0lutely the Church OF England is regarded by her
own clergymcn near ner doom that they VIII not
pregnant with corolIaries II the Duke OF Noroik's
suction had occurred before the recent elections
might have supposed II to be snrewd trick TO
frghten the Church OF England people into the
servative ranks but since 1t has occurred after the
election we must regard It as . sign that In the
ltsh church win follow close upon the
heels Of the discstabishment Of the Irish
stones unparalleled parliamentary majority. THIS
popular conviction and the tacit acquiescence In 1t
or those clergymen who declined to bid for the Nv
1ngs, and asked the auctioneer for guarantees
against coniiscation forebode Of the amax-
ing revolutions that England has ever witnessed.
certain set OF radical politicians In England,
represented by Mr. MiaH the friend Of John Bright,
have always contended that there was no argument
in favor Of the dlsestablishment Of thersh Church
which did not apply with equal force 70 the English
Church and TO all other churches Mr.. Gladstone
has not been willing 70 60 80 ias He has deter
N exceedingly tender in regard to the State Church
at nome. Stin, he can easily be educated up
ped for long while at that article
Of the antsavery creed which declared that slavery
mn u q vs. a ns IT, lie cosd
interference with the institution In the States The
republican party was IN the same predicament as
AL It's 0icial utterances show. Yet President Lin
coin lived TO sign the emancipation proclamation.
and the republican party was transformed, by force
Gladstone and the English liberals may live to pre-
pare against the Church Of England measure siml-
oS the Ens Ts
Public .opiSion always paves the path towards
ward tardy aud lukewarm politicians at pace that
surprises themselves. Mr.. Gladstone was much
ago than he now IL OF the Church Of England. His
defeat at oxford freed his mind from collegiate
. nrs!udces and enabled him M 70 grspple with and
through clerical influences ct South Lancashire viii
Of that union OF Church and State OF which be was
once the bravest champion. Much moro re-
ersassr qucnnsss PrssdsDs Lincoln nq rebuns6
Fremont and Hunter for the very policy
% which he he soon s afterwards na adopted; and Glad,
and Bright II he does not there rs one English
statesman who WILL Mr.. Disraeli, as the descendant
Religious equality, although at present his political
necessities force him to take the other side. He
Parliament hall. hearted Reform bill In 1857 and
triumphantly completed the work which hts oppo-
nents were AFRAID 70 undertake. M y needs no pre-.
the same tactics In relation to the Church II the