The sun., 1919-10-20
DEMAND CHURCH
OF ENGLAND PAY
WAR DEBT BULK
Brit0ns Start Movement to
Force It to Bear Chief
Burden of Conflict.
CLAMOR IS INSISTENT
Would Sell Westminster
Abbey and Other Property
at Public Auction.
CHANCE LOST IN IRELAND
London "Statist" Sees Revolt
Against Government Sup
port of Religion.
CHANCE LOST IN IRELAND
Special Gable Despatch to THn Sun.

Ooprft0hf, 1917. oH ftphs reeTVoo'
LONDON, Oct. 19.-As one means of
reducing Britain's war debt 1t is now
suggested that the main burden OF
paying off the great sum be placed
upon the Church of fsEnsland and the
Church of Scotland> There have been
frequent protests against the Govern
ment supporting the Church Of Eng
land, but never before has there been
such vehement demand for reform
along this line. Some would even well
come putting Westminster Abbey up
for auction.
On this subject the weekly edition
of the Statist says editorially: There
is no reason why the Church Of Eng
land should be supported by the whole
population. 1t is not believed in by
some; therefore It has lost the right
to exact support from those who do
rot attend its services. The Church
of England isn't different in any ma
terial sense from any other great
church and should depend for support
upon those who benefit through its
ministrations. The old doctrine of
one church having not only the care
Of the whole population but also
charged with the power to compel
the whole population to partake Of
it's ministrations is dead-dead for all
posterity and the sooner we cease to
patter about doctrines which once
were believed in and which are now
utterly rejected the better it will be
for all parties. -
! Conditions Monstrous.
Besides the Church of England con-
| tains more riches than perhaps any
other church: therefore 1t rs a. mon
strous thing that the whole population
should be charged with its maintenance.
! II ais sometimes objected that even II
our suggestion were adopted It would
not help very materially to pay of the
debt. That depends on the disposition
OF the income of the church. When
the Irish church was disestablished
there is no possibility of a doubt that
very large surplus could have been
available to found a valuable system OF
| education in Ireland and which would
have aided the people very materially
probably would have laid the founda-
tion for valuable trade. But the bigotry
OF the British as distinct from the great
body OF the Irish people was so great
that Gladstone was unable to carry out
a really wise policy. Thus no provision
was made for the benefit of the Irish
people and Ireland remains backward
in education to this day. Backward
also in everything that qualities a peo'
pie to- raise themselves out OF the nat
ural degradation into which they havs
sunk before they acquire civilization.
Would Sell Whole Property.
what is wanted now is that tn,
whole property of the church, without
exception. should be used for freeing the
country from debt. That would be very
materially serving the future of th'
country and the empire. Every single
thing belonging to the church should b,
offered for sale and the best evidences
offered that every penny that could b
obtained was obtained
1T has been offered In answer to oul
argument that very little could be go
for Westminster Abbey. We differ en-
tirely. We believe a very large sun
could be obtained. The State, IL
pleased to preserve such an example o
the state OF English civilization Of th'
time of Edward the Confessor. Nigh
vote a large sum to pay for the Abbey
|, but the wisest course would be to pu
the Abbey up at auction and allow ever!
great church to bid for 1t. We ar
therefore decidedly OF the opinion that
large sum could be obtained BY dis
establishing and disendowing the churcl
and selling all its properties TO the high
| asf hiddArp