New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-20

on July II. 1895 and from that date up to the
present he has contributed some twenty letters
each a different phase Of the controversy
The influence of these letters grew in volume
with the publication Of each. II is expanding
now because Of their issue in a cheap form
They are powerful determinations OF the sys-
TEN which they expose and slash. They are
and by no means nfrequently rough in their
grip and cruel in their crushing wrestle. But
they reveal a knowledge OF the subject and in
all its departments, which Is the strength Of the
critic. and IN turn the helpless confusion Of neo-
Anglican clericalism. AS specimens Of polemical
heckling Sir Williams letters are unrivaled.
Nevertheless, their moral weight in the scales
Of national opinion were dust in the balance
beside the leading articles in The Times
These mastery in their grasp of the stu
alton; impartial in their recitation Of the logical
legal and moral position Of opponents; dignhed
In their admoniton Of supine authority and as
very alarL ms ringing in the ears Of the episco-
pate. Yet they were calm. They strong.
because they far the poles are apart
from panic. They reminded one of the infexible
stand made by the greatest OF journals when
the most mperious politician OF the century
resolved to dsmember the Empire During that
prolonged strain. affecting it did every inter
est in the country. and suggesting as IT did
possibilities and issues on the huge scale OF i'm
perial dimensions The Times" unmoved.
1t is the baldest fact 10 say that the unity of
England was then saved not by politicians, not
by statesmen, not by historians The Empire
was saved by The Times Indeed. II Is open
TO question II any hero. by land or sea. rewarded
by natural gratitude and welcomed to the loi-
test accolade the Sovereign can bestow has ever
rendered such pregnant and substantial service
as was then rendered TO the country by The
Times" May il not be that the power that
saved the State from disunion will be further
used 10 save the Church from disruption? In
any case. The Times" is both consequence Of
the crisis and q cause OF it.
MEETINGS ALL OVER ENGLAND.
Nor may the various meetings which have
been held all over England be ignored. The
great towns and cities of the north have spoken
unanimously An influential gathering Of
Churchmen took place in the great hall OF the
Church House. A vaster assemblage In which
Churchuen and Nonconformists united. was
held in the Albert Hall Ten thousand persons
were present Five thousand more seats were
sought for which tickets could not be issued.
Seven hundred and fifty kilograms were received
bv those who organized the meeting. from as
many centres OF life A petition 20 Her Majesty
the Queen was dispatched. while the immense
mass rose as man and rang out as with a
hurricane Of hymnody the National Anthem
However opinion may be divided about the wis
dom of such a demonstration, about the
mixed motives by which those present may have
been actuated or about the reaction which gen
orally follows such exuberant enthusiasm, the
fact Of such an assemblaee having been held
remains. Among that audience were the Hottest
and the lowliest in the land. Hamlets towns
divisions. cities in all parts Of England were
represented. Nor were they attracted by the
spell Of any one commanding oratorical per
sonality. The mixed multitude" there be-
cause each was impressed with sense Of Ger
tain matters very gravey affecting the Church
Of England"
The influence has invaded alike Convocation
and both houses Of Parliament. Never since
the disestablishment Of the Irish Church have
the bishops met so frequently Never have they
so lengthily discussed the present position Of
the Church for the administration Of which
each is responsible. And although some poll
ticans and some bishops regard the agitation as
rather wide than deep. and even speak as though
they believed it would die down because
il was transient" and. like a snowstorm,
blow over" yet such language seems inconsist-
ent with facts. especially with the resolution Of
the Archbishop Of Canterbury TO seek fresh leg
islauon. The courts 10 be reformed. bill
Of ecclesiastical procedure has been submitted
to both Convocatons 1t has even been sent
10 the two houses Of laymen. When such steps
as these are taken II appears foolish 10 make
light Of the occasion which renders such inter
venton necessary. The cumulative influence Of
the facts here submitted is very great Ii JUST
fees the assumption above referred 70. II proves
the existence OF crisis in the Church Of Eng
land