New-York tribune., 1885-09-20
not as sure means of escaping punishment as
IL has long been.
ENGLISH CHURCH DISEST1BLISHMENE

ENGLISH CHURCH DISESTABLLSHMENT
While 30 many people In England are asking what
attitude the two million newly enfranchsed voters
of that country will adopt toward the State, it
seems to be forgotten that they may signaze their
advent to power by taking the Church in hand.
There will be two classes OF new voters whose
views on the question of a Church establishment
are interesting at the present n oment. The first
class is composed of the small farmers and agrcult
ural laborers who for generations have grown up
IN the belief that the Squire and the Parson are the
two visible manifestations of divine power. Hodge
has been less amenable than any other class of
Englishmen to the levelling influences of the age
Like the Crown and the Constitution. the Church
has always been to him great fact. as much part
of the order Of things the solar system In the
concrete he may have been remss enough in his re-
ligious duties, and may have even discussed with
his crones the imperfectons of the parson in the
village ale house but In the abstract he has gen.
eraly been most orthodox Churchman and Dis
sent has nowhere met with a more sturdy or uu-
reasoning opposition than in so1le of the agricut-
ural regions of England Still, it is quite possible
that after he has the power he may manifest
the desire to tear down the idol which he has so
abjectly worshipped.
The other class of newly enfranchised voters will
be found in the cities and towns though it Is diff
Some of them are enthusiastic Dissenters, and may
be trusted to do all they can to bring on dsestab-
ishment when they get the chance. Some of them
have long ago thrown aside any belief in religion,
and belong to that most dangerous of all classes
ignorant atheists Some of them are imbued with the
yarIegated doctrines of Socialism, and in their
interest for the kingdom of man have ceased to care
anything about the Kingdom of Heaven. Some OF
them have been made hopeless bY a lifelong duel
with starvation, and some of them have become
british througha lifelong indulgence in coarse dis
sipation. Among all these men, domagoguos and
agitaiors of every kind have circulated scattering
the poison of seductive half truths and pointing to
an earthly millennium in which neither kingcraft
nor prestcraft would have place 1t is impossible
to say bow far the alienation of these men from the
established Church has gone. What is certain is
that tho alienation exists to large degree. And
the agitators whose ends would be served by dis
establishment involving spoliation will be certain
to bring this question before the new voters.
What the result will be. it is impossible to tell.
But il is q noteworthy fact that some of tho most
important organs of the English Church are sound
ing note of warning and many bishops are charg-
ing the clergy Of their diOceses to do something To
connteIact the work of tho liberatOnists. The
alarm which they feel is not without reason. Dur
ing the last few months millions OF tracts have been
scattered broadcast among the coming voters by
tho Liberation Society. The dead walls of every
city and town in the Kingdom have been covered
with placards calling upon the people to overthrow
tho established Church Agents are now going
amoug the people. making crafty appeals to their
religious preudces their selfish interests. With
all these influences at work, the question OF dis
establishment Is becoming vory important No less
n man than tho Bishop of Carlisle. in recent
u Of tha "A, II4l-
ment and disondowment of the Church of England
will beyond all doubt. be brought before the next
Parliament. aud probably on some early occasion"
Thu. far no more than respectable but powerless
minority In Parliament has ever been found IN
favor of discstablishmcnt. II this minority should
be reinforced 10y tho votes Of these two million
newly enfranchiscd subjects II ls safe to say that
the days Of the established Church OF England
would be numbered.