, 1880-04-25
THE LAY PAPACY.

| low a c1-EYdYM4AN WENT BEHIND THE RE-
TURNS AND COUNTED OUT HOSTILE COM
AUNICANTs.
Correspondence Lsrtng Church.
NEW YORK, April 17.-Just at this time,
the subject Of tile relations subsisting BE-
tween the clergy of the Church and their
parishes and Of the relative advantages and
disadvantages of these relations, is freely dis
cussed in clerical circles, and in our Church
press. A series Of cheap tracts, bringing the
! matter to the attention of the Church, is
| issuing from the press, and is circulated
| broadcast among the people. The parocllial
system is said to be the source of MI the
evils that afict lis; and it is thought that its
abolition, and the appointment of tho clergy
to their cures by the Bishops, and the pay
ment Of their salaries out of the general fund,
would be long step toward the millennium.
1t would crush out myriad of ay-popes and
popesscs. and would create among the clergy a
kind Of Ecclesiastical communism. The plunls
would be equally distributed, and all being
"virtuous," would have "cakcs and ale."
This is said to have been the primitive
method, and to constitute the secret of the
success of the Romanists and Methodists.
Wardens and Vcstrymen not only cripple the
influence of the clergy. and make them mere
hirellngs, instead of persons with a mission;
bue they often stand arrayed against the
Bishops themselves. They are modern i'll
ventlons; and, just at this time, there is no
small hostility aroused against them. In the
account of scruples concerning the parochiaf
system; and now, i'll the East, another cler-
gyman has found O new method to deprive
It OF its sting, and to render it .powerless.
been in the parish strong desire to make
q change in the Rectorship. The fac
tion grew '.fast and furious"; and it was
evident that the clergyman was losing his
Of d hostile Vestry was barely escaped. This
year, after careful scrutiny and counting of
noses, it was found that there would be a
clear majority against the minister's further
continuance in that parish; and that, unless
the peripatetics, and walk" He was, how
ever, equal to the emergency. In order to be
a voter i'll the parish election twas necessary
to be a colnmnnicant III good standing; and
]nst before Easter. when eleetion-day was
suspended from the Communion fifteen Of
the chief men in the parish. On Easter
Monday their votes were challenged, and.
the Rector being in the chair, the cllal-
tttves {that is, those who were in favor of
leaving things as they were) were triunl-
phantly elected. It was considered a very
ingenious, dodge, especially for a country
town; and it would do credit to some Of the |
political methods in our great cities. The
men who were suspended, when they learned |
the fact, appealed to the Bishop and lie has |
appointed Commissioner to examine into |
the merits Of the case. But meanwhile, the |
being successful, we see no reason why it |
may not be repeated another year with even
a more wholesale suspension. at least, it |
would seem that an etfectual means Of self
protection against their parishes has been |
found for the clergy; and we do not know
why it should not be even more beneficial !
than "Hodges' Liniment" when applied to
the cure Of :. '.,ritualism,": We do not give
man will take ont letters-patent for the dis
covery, but We have the names in our pos
session, and can youch generally for the facts.