New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-12-21
GLADSTONE ION DIsESTA BLISHMENT

MFR. Gladstone has recently addressed re-
markable paper to m English Bishop on the
subject Of Observation-Disclosures, without entering
ON the wide field Of argument, which he con
siders too vast and poomoal for thu available
time Of Prime Minister, ho roslIels himself To
the discussion Of single poini-a Churchman'S
duty with regard to observation-disclosures Ito con
sends that the result would bo hlFgfhoofi' " "
were due t0 tho neglect. indifference" ot "'hh'
ness Of tho EngliAh Church. THIS u cohtlli'
gopcy which he pionouncos 80 improbable INIT "
may be- diamisaod without discussion. Tho
anne result, he adds would alsO be- dlsgracclul
If IL were the consequence ol dissertations among
chutchmrn. lIo proceeds by means of M
historical retrospect 10 show that that religious
communion hns all along been peculiarly liable
both to attack aud detection for the simple
renson that divergent elements are combined
within It's borders. He contends that the Ref
ormntion aud the Counter Reformation tendon
cies have been placed in England in closer iuxta-
po.ition than anywhere else in the Christian
world and on this account Churchmcn in thor
controversies ought to cvincc moderation, mild
ness and reserve. The question which concerns
them is the duty of taking care that discussions
from within shall not bring the establishment
to nm end This would be an unworthy terni-
nation of controversy which ought TO be set
tied upon fai higher grounds
These higher grounds of controversy Mr.
Gladstone does not approach. He tells hhsllsh
rhutrhmpn that Il ia thpit duty. whether 'lises-
nlilishmpni hp near 80 indefinitely irmvie
Whplhp, II hp lui The good ~ the communion
and at tho country, ~ otherwise, to 900 !" "
that Il ,taaa net Come ~ consequence t'ihpf ~
internal iisnnsinns ~ al lDh ~ Vitality h"t
there hn lilo and charity Miihil ihal pnhihNh
ion and dis0slabIshmnnt II II ever Nohlhi WIZ
lac neither a disaster nor disgrace, rms Is
conservative view OF the controversy, Whioh Is
characteristic of this broad minded statesman
Discstablishment will have no terr0rs for him
prOvided il comes at time when tho English
Church is showing signs of growing vlgor OF
inward life aud an increasing abundance III
every work of mercy of bcncvolencc and of
true civilization" and when its members are
thinking no evil, hoping all things and capable
of kindly aud favorable Interpretation of one
an0thcl's motives and opinions.
yDiscndowment would mean in England what
it meant in Ireland fourteen years ago-tho
conversion of the Church into corporation IN
dependent of the State, and the disposition OF a
vast amount of property now applied to ecclesl-
astcal purposes. This would be one OF the
most complex problems to be worked out in
detail that ever engrossed the mind of an Eng
lish statesman. The great argument in favor OF
discstablishmcnt.is the fact that a State Church
is not in logical accord with the principles and
practice of modern civilization. The chief OBJ
lection TO the policy of disestablishment is the
practical mpossbility of legislating upon this
subject so long as the House of Lords remains
on a level of equality with the House OF Com =
mons. Even if public opinion were to force tho
nonular chamber to undertake this harassng
and complex work, the upper chamber would
succeed in obstructing legislation for genera
ton to come. Englishmen would be more I'M
patient to have the State Church converted INTO
an enormous voluntary organization II 1t were
not showing evidences of vitality and yigor rs
well IA of Christian charity and tolerance.