The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-11
The Veteran Reformer Reviews the Situation
in Great Britain.
CHURCH AND STATE.
The Condition Of the Government
and Of the Churches.
The Privileged Clergy sole Vendors Of the
Lore that Works Salvation
What Should Be Done for the
Cause OF Religion.
From tho Birmingham Nsws.l

From tho Birmingham Nswsl
Mr.. John Bright NJ. p, on January 49, made
long speech In Blngley Hall. mainly In reference
60 the future OF the liberal party on questions con-
corning the relations OF the Church OF England to
she Crown. Alter discussing what had been done
In the last session OF Parliament on ecclesiastical
questions, MIR. Bright said:-
Just .over 200 years ago there was q very
celebrated act passed, when has gone BY the
least, 600 men. the bulk Of them learned a. and
pious men-clergymen OF the Church OF England
were rejected from that Church. That!was most
blessed secession for the country (applause)-
because no doubt 1t laid the foundation or party
which have ever since been consistent friends OF
Appause.) Under that act persons who were
rejected were those who were TIE iurthest from
persons who are to be restrained ana, II posslble
retained. are those against whom 1t Is charged
to Rome. Naugnter.l There Is a great disap.
pointment-it must be to every thoughtful and
and to many outside of the Church IN this state
OF thlnss-because you know, all Of you who
Emd-you know quite wen that one Of the
great arguments IN favor OF the ;Estab;;
Mae enss TO
zeal but that Il Is the 6ulWarS against that
Church wants Is nos zeal but gentlemanly con-
iSrTy to n Sa Or they y,, are sea very
creeping into the Church. ('.Hear, hearty Well, it
crept into the Scotch Cnurch about thirty years
ago. Al that time the fermentation was so violent
that the hoops OF the barrel or hogshead gave way
ane the slaves tumbled together, and there was
liquor lost lLaagnter.) wen, the very same
thing is now happening, to certain extent In
zeal is wise or not-tuere Is very much zeal that
Is un wlse-there IS not very much That Is wise at
40 say it is earnest and conscient ious- ("Hear
hear p1--and probably 1t is dangerous, but not 50
near The9 DO " not Is e es ap %
tryls State C6urch-an Act OF Parliament Church
that IN point or fact. IT is not religious only, bus
described by member OF the House OF Peers OF
my acquaintance branch Of the civil service
And If you want to about the very last utter.
ance upon that point mean about the obedience
speech OF q learned friend Of mine, delivered only
the other day IN the city OF Oxiord-the late sollc-
very strong last year for this bill and he is strong
1believe, for succeeding measures following IN It's
S speak
gently upon matters or this kind-but Sir William
Ha,c0nr: said "a! one set .! priests refuse
beiore-who Will opey the national faith" Now, ne
does not say who win obey their conscience or who
will obey the law OF God as they read It, but VINO
VIII obey the national laith. Now, some years ago.
I recollect a somewhat irreverent wag suggest
ing, as o matter OF economy, that. when our
e1ectually as judges, they should be translated to
bear IN mind that BY these acts Of Parliament you
cannot touch the hearts and reason and con-
are Tree everywhere. Your prayers are are written
and printed, aud fixed; but the sermons are lett
preacher, ana you may rely upon 1t that among
the vast number OF the clergy OF the Church OF
Q sort OF strait aistcOaI OF this Kind though it
may tell for the moment. would most ultimately
n
Enslan M.,.I half the population Of England
and by affection with that Church. there are
H. zoo, 900 persons connected with It. Now, II it
TO be SAID rhat within the borders OF the Church
freedom OF opinion ana practice Is to be permit
ted, then venture to say that the days OF the
may rely upon IL that zeal will not lor all time
sacrifice freedom, even to Keep the emoluments
not delenolns the new manners. the new prac-
tees and the new opinions-I have no sympathy
things that tank are superstltious, even in the
CGurcn Of England, upon The view OF the evan
gelcal PARTY; aud, Therefore. should oe the very
last man 10 add anything to Lhem But am en-
deavoring 20 show you that the course when the
government has entered upon and which Parlia.
Ment accepting their invitation, followed
and II is worth while Tor the people OF Eng.
people inside tie Church quite as much as those
outsIde-to consider this question in u different
question can be longer committed to the care aud
disposal and the ma nagement and the votes and
The speeches. OF the two Houses OF Parliament?
(Uheers.) But there are other symptoms whicn
are troublesome, and which are perilous II they
are not actually hopeless and fatal. Now. snail
mention TWO or three recent instances which do
strike me very iorcioly in connection with this
question? You recolect a short while ago tDat
Bishop made an exhibition OF himself not lavora-
bic, as should say-laughter) the question
whetner a respectable and worthy Wesleyan MN
tue word reverend" before 1t. (Laughter)
However, tod you that DO not speak strongly,
ILaugnfer.) But my learned friend, SIR Wam
Harcourt, IN MS published speech, abiding, |
G sni si'OP Sssk and
Now, would not use sucn language. What
the Bsnop dld appears TO me almost naturally the
outcome OF bis position ana the pretcnsons OF his
order (Cneers.) lie calls himself, or allows nim-
sell to be called. Right reverend Father; and yet,
as for this Wesleyan-mlnlster though ne prelends
to be-he snail not have the word '.reverendn pre-.
fixed to ms name on any tombstone. in any church.
yard over when have control. t"Shamer) If
you read now, then, some OF those beautiful eps.
ties which are found in the New Testament you
speaks OF him as 'our beloved brother Paul." lie
never once, to- my y, knowledge uses the term
bIshops-if TINS very Blsnop who, being learned.
must know something take 1t, OF the epistles--
By which Peter Paul we're @o saMe s't
least not oSec. to ve to this Wesleyan
proper 10 assume Tor himself. (''iear, nearr',
Bsnops, so lar AS believe. are generally eXcelcnt
The best possible way that opens TO them. But 1t
Is an Instance OF that KIND OF arrogance which
comes from the sacerdotal spirit within the
Church. icheersJ 1t Is a kind OF presumption
which Is born oil privilege, and which does not
come from the pride OF the man or from MS dislike
to his IeOw-men; but II comes from the unor.
tunate clrcums tanccs in which he Is placed,
Dreaming mind and a spirit, so far as can
judge, wholly contrary TO The .nInd and the spirit
wnicn was Ia the apostle from whom | have
quoted. tLond apglause.l 1t is not to he won
dered at then that the privileged clergy, as one
OF your poets says, priests
sole vendors OF the lore that works salvation
It is not to be wondered at that, with these priv
eyes endowments and prelerments, tins obvious
and constantly proclaimed superority-l say
1t Is not unreasonaoe TO expec, such things
as these that are happening, that they should
oesplse the nan, the humole, ard-working man
whose lab0rs have been so wonderfully blessed
OF heaven, VINO seemed to intrude themselves mo
their privileged place. fCheers.) Let us Tor one
moment Just review the privileged thing. Is there
oruer there or IS there confusion? Ii IL be wrong