New-York tribune., 1904-08-21
LONDON NOTES.
The Kirk at War--4rt Reform
Romneys House.

-.oak but have not shown signs of aexihilitv
and corciiiaton. The victorious minority, which
nv the decision OF the court Of last resort has
seen placed IN possession of the accumulated
resources and plant Of the original Free Church
has insisted upon having everything that the
7s-- allows. Temporarily. there will not be any
disturbance Of mission work abroad, nor Of the
instruction in the colleges Of Glasgow and Aber-
deem; but the twenty-four Highland ministers
sznd the congregations represented by them de-
-ua-d the records, the invested funds. the as
sernbIy nall the churches manses. general Of
siccs and other property and assets which were
transferred from the Free Church to the United
free Church after the reunion OF the two Pres
7-rter5an bodies outside the Established Church
Of Scotland. The Highland ministers who re-
FUSED TO consider themselves beaten when there
sas overwhelming majority against them,
have 10 idea OF making a voluntary surrender
Of their rights when the House bf Lords has
given everything to them. The United Free
church vanQuished by an insignificant minority
(which Il had affected to despise and suddenly
deprived OF the common stock needed for the
successful prosecution OF its religious work ar
Roue and abroad. reafTrms its principles, and
apparently Is prepared TO sacrifice it's wealth
and property rather than submit to the domna-
1,on Of al intolerant minority.
There is something more in these singular re-
.isious complications than strife over the loaves
and fishes There are political motives. The
Highland ministers command the sympathies OF
xhe Established Presbyterian Church in Scot
land, and in less degree and secretly the best
wishes of many English churchmen. They stand
under the shelter OF the highest court for the
principle Of establishment. for which DR.. ChaI-
rlers and the Disruptionists Of 1s43 expressed
deep attachment. even when they were separat-
h-S- -
stipends Possessed as they are legally OF
eli the financial resources of the undivided Free
Church. they may be e-ectualy reinforced by
ministers and laymen. and be drawn into work
.ng relations with the Established Church OF
Scotland, from which lay patronage ard all the
unreforrned abuses Of IS43 have disappeared
A reunion OF these two churches would
strengthen the Establishment cause in England
as well as IL Scotland precisely as would be the
effect OF fusion between the Wesleyan and the
Anglican communions. There was however. no
approach for ffty-seven years 10 a union or
amalga-uation based OF the establishment prin-
cple The Free Church proclaimed during that
period lis absolute spiritual freedom, and was
dependent upon voluntary support. It's minis
1ers elders and deacOns were not asked to pro-
fess loyalty 10 the establishment idea; and
TIE system of voluntary support became ef-
fective and highly successful the sentiment in
favor Of State maintenance declined The union
Of the Free Church and the United Presbyterian
Church brought together the largest two bodies
OF Presbyteriane which were independent Of the
Established Church. It was q political as well
as 2 religious movement, and the ultimate OBJ
5ect was disestabIishment in Scotland The
Nonconfor1nists IN England were the natural
allies OF the United Free Church and disestab-
lishment north Of the Tweed would have opened
the way for disesta ablishTnent IN the South and
West The conservative churcnmen North
South have suspected that Principal Rainy
The leader OF a disesta abshment movement in
the interest OF the Liberal party, and they have
not been impressed with the religious character
Of the reunion Of 1900.
The House Of Lords has been more practical
in measures Of art reform than in processes Of
religious publication. The Chantrey trust in
Quiry has been inpaTtiaIly conducted and the
remedies suggested are sensible and effective.
There was neither captious criticism nor vulgar
abuse Of the Academy at any stage OF the in
veslgation. The select committee acquitted the
AcadeInicians OF all charges OF corrupt OF inter
ested motives; but convicted them Of showing
too exclusive a preference for pictures exhibited
al Burlington House. and OF creating an incon-
plete and unrepresentative gallery of modern
British art. from which examples OF many OF
The most brilliant artists were excluded. The
art critics have complained that the Chantrey
collection included many insignificant works
ara too few which reached the degree Of artistic
distinction aimed at when the scuIptors win
was drawn. The committee emphasizes these
points, and explains. how the bequest can be
converted into a national benefit. A committee
of three. consisting OF the president and two
members Of the Academy, Is 70 be substituted
foT The president and the council and purchases
ere 10 be made from art dealers auction rooms,
private oEners and general exhibitors. With
The responsibility for the collection carefully de-
Hne9 and with the field Of choice broadened by
nexibility of method, the standard OF merit will
Eeyita5ly 5e raised The reforms are virtually
fnose which Mr. Sargent recommended in his
testimony before the committee. II Is to b.
hoped that he VIII be one Of the members of the
new committee OF selection
The houses Of famous English painters have
ordinarily escaped the raVages Of time. Gains
eoroughs house still stands IN Thackerays Pail
Mail. and the memorial tablet marks the death
ehamDer where Sir Joshua Reynolds heard his
last whisper: We are all going 10 heaven, and
van Dyck is of the company" He lived for ten
years IN this wing OF the Schomberg house,
painted the Blue Boy and many other works
here. and made IL the resort Of musicians. Like
AR. Sargent. who is the Van Dyck Of the present
Gay. he an enthusiast in his love Of music.
Sir Joshua ReynoIdss house stands nearby, in
Leicester Square, with the dining room where
Johnson GarrIck and Goldsmith were often
'erlained. Three os the masters favorite pict-
ures. which were once hung in this house, are
Tow In the National GaIlery-Van Dyck's por-
Galt OF an artist sometimes enormously de-
scFloed Rubens: Ponte's Good Samaritan"
an the Venetian room and Bourdon's Return of