New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-06-10
UETSU DTSFST1BTI SHMTN T.

II t. Of course to be expected that The highly
paid officials ~ the Anglican Establishment
should vigorously protest against the proposed
Observation-Disclosures OF the Church In Wales. IN"
fac, that the people 81 Wales do not want an
Established Church does not count with thrm.
Indeed. they would oppose Welsh disestablish-
mcni lust as vigorously II the Church III Wales
consisted only Of The Welsh diocesan bishops,
five ~ whom have an aggregate Income OF near
Is 100000 a year. II is only fair 10 say That
fhey believe In Establishment aS principle.
though even II that wcr" not the case. their In
tercsts are 30 bound up In It that an attempt
~ end II must seem 10 them an act OF high
handed injustice
But while the opposition OF Anglican Church
men 10 Mr. Asquih's bill is easily explained.
the heated dcnunciati0n 81 II bv The Church
man." ~ this city is rather pulling. For The
Churchmau" is the leading organ ~ the Amerl-
can Eplscopal Church. which has officially re-
corded Itself as opposed 10 State aid and which
has reached It's present condition OF prosperity
solely AS n voluntary society. American Episco-
p,llans do net believe in n State Church. and n
ynst majority Of them would doubtless look
unon the disestahlishmcnt Of the Anglican
church rs n most desirable measure. Yet The
Churchman" attacks Mr. AsquIths bill almost
everv week with n vehcmencc that makes the
dcnunclatlons ~ the most hidebOund English
Tories seem tame In its last issue for In
stance II dcvotes two and half columns 10
tho subject, II begins by saying thar II would
he an almost unspcakablc wrong 10 divert The
Welsh cathedrals to uses not intended by those
who hullt and consccratcd them. But II that Is
a valid argument Il Is true Of most Of the Eng
lIsh cathedrnls. which were built by men who
believed In. and were members Of, the Roman
Catholic Church with whitening sarcasm 1t
remarks that the destiny Of these venerable
structures. II Mr.. Asquth's bill passes. may he
coniccturcd. which Is safe assertion. rs the
bin proposes To make them serve some useful
purposc very much In the spirit OF the sug
gestion of the Dean OF Norfolk some years ago.
that they be turned into peoples lyceums.
THE Churchman' says great deal about
tlthcs: but It IL utterly unable TO justify the
impost Indeed. II practically admits the in)us
tIce Of the system in the remark. We do not
find fault with Mr.. Asquth because he Is trying
TO abolish the 1.-THE system In Wales an adj
mission which will doubtless give great com
fort 10 Mr. Asquith- badgered, as he is. by the
Anglican Tories When The Churchman' gives
IN the fight for tthes 1t Is pretty evident that
they will have 10 go.
sin on the main question: "Thc Churchmnn'
Is confident that the opponents Of the Welsh
Establishment will ultimately find themselves
,vorstcd II counts much on "the determined
attitude OF the Church Of England on the ques-
ton. But we think that on this point II labors
undor n serious mistake Mr. AsquIths bill
NAV not pass; and possibly 1t contains pro-
visions that would make It's passage unwise;
but the Observation-Disclosures Of the phantom Church
OF Wales Is sure 10 come before many years,
and the opposition Of the Anglican clergy Will
have lust about as much influence In prevent
ing II MS the cracking OF thorns under pot.
Nay. 1t Is to be feared that even The Church
mans" perfervid defence OF The Establishment
will have no effect In postponng the evil day,
not only for the Church OF Wales, but for the
Church OF England.
II is rather melancholy business for
powerful American religious Journal TO waste
SO much Of It's ability in trying to bolster up
the socalled Church Of Wales.