The sun., 1881-07-03


as tho chief adviser OF . ruler who
in theory Is no less the head Of tho
Church than OF the State. Yet, incongruous
as such thing appears, there is precedent
for II under the reign OF another female SOW
ereign in the case OF statesman after
whom. more than any other In English his
tory, Lord BEACoNsFIELD avowedly fash
ioned his own career. Lord BoLINGBRoKB
was free thinker, who was at little pains
to disguise his destio opinions; but this
did not prevent him from becoming the
leader OF Tory Cabinet. He evinced, too
like his disciple, peculiar zeal In upholdinR
the Church OF England against noncon-
formlsts, not because he accepted its theo-
logical doctrines, but on the same ground as
that on which PLATO justified o popular re-
ligion, namely, as an engine Of government
1t is noteworthy on how slight basis
really rests the impression that Lord BEA-
CoNsFIELD was an orthodox Ohrfstian-an
impression which must have been current
among tho rank ahd flo OF the Conservative
party. His father was free thinker, and
he himself was baptized at about the age OF
twelve, through the influence Of the poet
ROGERS, with the avowed purpose Of better
ing his worldly prospects. Ouriously, too,
the private schools to which he was sent
wero kept by Unitarians. He relates that
while youth he was induced by his father
to read the works Of VoLTAIRE, and
that he thus became aware that the
oppressors OF the Jewish race were
the believers in the Christian rev.
elation, while tho champions OF toera-
ton were the disciples OF the French phi
losopher. How little he learned about the
distinctive attitude Of tho Anglican Church
has lately been made evident by writer in
the Contemporary Reuie r. Tho following
sentence, for example, occurs In "Endym-
ion:" "She was rebaptized, but only by
way Of precaution; 1t was not necessary,
for our orders, you know, are recognized by
Rome" Both statements are erroneous; q
fact extraordinary enough when we con-
slider that for some six years the author Of
the novel had been distributing large part
OF the patronage Of the Church OF England.
Anglican orders are not recognized by
Rome, and that question has nothing to do
with the rebaptism OF converts; for the
Church OF Rome, like that OF England,
recognizes the validity OF lay baptism.
Lord BEACONsFIELD seems to have ac-
cepted Christianity as the completion OF
Judaism, and in his vindication Of 1t, as tho
Contemporary points out, 1t is jealousy
rather for the spiritual and intellectual su-
periority OF the Semitic race than for theo-
logical truth, that is most apparent. In his
general preface to his republshed novels he
reduces the Christian revelation to one Of
the many schools OF the prophets When
ever he has occasion to refer to JESUS it Is
almost invariably as a Hebrew prince or
teacher. He never tired, indeed, OF magni-
flying the Jewish element In Christianity;
dwelt on the fact that tho writings OF the
children OF ABRAHAM were 1.-THE earliest
literature lisped by the mongrel races OF
Christendom;" and proclaimed with COM
placency that 1.-The one-halt Of Europe wor-
shipped Jew and the other half q JewesS."
Which, he added, was the superior race tho
race that worshipped, or the race that was
worshipped? 1t was on this principle
OF race that Mr.. DIsRAELI advocated the
admission OF Jews to Parliament. Far from
asserting what he termed tho ambiguous
principle OF religious liberty" he pro-
claimed the Established Church the ap-
pointed guardian Of what he called the Sc
mitic principle; In other words, the supren-
acy OF the Semitic race, ordained by divine
be the educators and civilzers Of mankind.
The Jews, he said. were already in essence
members Of the Christian Church. Twice in
his novels he propOunded the view that
Christianity Is Judaism for the multi
tude Judaism, in short, brought down to
the comprehension and practical life OF the
rude and uncultivated.
1t has been suggested that 1t was because
Lord BEACoNsFIELD regarded Christianity
as merely Judaism for the multitude"
that he saw nothing wrong in the fact OF
Jews protesting Christianity for worldly
gain while secretly adhering to the doc
trines and rules Of their own faith. In
Conngsby," he tells us that Sidonica was
descended from an ancient and noble fam
lily OF Arragon, which had counted among
its members an Archbishop Of Toledo and
Grand Inquistor. He goes on to note without
word OF disapproval. that, notwitbstand-
ing the reputation OF this family for Chris
tian orthodoxy, it had secretly adhered for
centuries to the ancient faith and ceremo-
nies OF the Jews, to q belief in the unity Of
the GOD Of Sinai, and the rites and observ-
ances of tine law Of MOSES. From this and
other facts 1t is argued that Lord BEACoNs-
FIELD would think himself justified In con-
forming to the Christian Church OF Eng
land and receiving her sacraments. without
plejging his conscience to full acceptance
OF the Christian creed.
The ecticr of Lord BEACoNsFIELD In the
late Russo Turkish complication fortifies
the conclusion that his Semitic sympathies
were among the most powerful forces OF the
statesman's nature. Only in his conduct on
the Eastern question was he false to the fun
damental principle, which accounts for all
his tergiversations in other matters, namely,
that public man must subordinate his per-
sonal convictions to public opinion when
the latter is distinctly pronounced. Itwould
be vain to deny that Lord BEACoNsFIELD's
support Of Turkey in 1876 ran counter to the
dominant sentiment OF the English people.
at would be affectation for me" he said, "to
pretend that l am backed by the country"
Undoubtedly. his position was dictated, not
by any considerations Of party expediency
or personal advantage, but by tho pro-
foundest feelings OF his heart. The Turks.
indeed, do not belong to the Semitic race, but