Year: 1867

CHURCH RATES AND ENGLISH BISHOPS.


Among the many important questions with
which the Reform Parliament, to bc elected
under the Household Suffrage bill. which has
lust passed the British Legislature, will bc
called upon 10 deal that of the connection at
present existing between Church and State in
the old country occupies a foremost place II
we read Alright the signs of the times, IT is clear
that that connection is destined to bc dissolved
at no distant day. BY a large majority the
bill for aboishing Church Rates has again,
during the session that has just closed. passed
in the House of Commons. Again 1t has been
thrown out by the House Of Lords but it is
significant that every succeeding year it is
sent up from the Commons to the l'ccrs with
the indorsation of an increased majority of the
peoples representatives. II is not the amount
of money actually involved in the matter which
causes opposition to the measure. That
is comparatively insignificant being no
more than a million and a quarter of
dollars, Of which sum little more
than oDe-half is expended in the ccre-
monial of the church, and the residue upon
ordinary and extraordinary repairs of the edi-
fees. Considering that the State Church in



hcrents the most wealthy and influential
classes, nothing would be easier than to re-
place this amount by voluntary contributions
But the advocates Of the State Church feel
that to abolish Church Rates would be the in
sertion of the thin end of the wedge and they
are right. 1t is not that the Church cannot
do without the money yielded by these rates,
but it is that it cannot, if it is TO continue a
state establishment, afford to admit the
principle upon which the abolition of the
impost is urged. Let the Church Rates
go, and the abolition of tithes must inevitably
follow; in which event the whole fabric of the
establishment falls to pieces. The English
Dissenters make no secret of their ultimate
object in demanding the abolition of the Rates.
They only begin with this; they have no idea
OF stopping when they have conquered here.
They want perfect religious equality, and they
are now in the sure way of getting it. Polti-
cal equality and religious disability cannot
long cocxist. The Reform bill, in conceding
the former, will prepare the way for the re-
moval OF the latter. Among the stOutest oppo-
nents OF the abolition Of Church Rates are
TO be found, of course, the Bishops of the En-
gllsh Church. But whether they will be per
mltted to retain their political functions much
longer is very questionable. In an article on
Goodwin Smiths lecture on Oliver Cromwell
and his Contemporaries, just published The
London DAILY NelcS has some very significant
remarks relative to this matter Speakinp
of the career of the renowned patriot Pym. il
says: " In his time great reforms were made in
"the Constitution. Then, as now, the House of
"LOrds was more studiOus about saving their
privileges than satisfying the country. Among
"the bills sent up to them was one depriving
the Bishops of votes in the Upper House.
"This Reform was as imperative then as the
Reform of Parliament is now. The Lords
threw out the bill. The country was in an
"uproar Petitions were signed,by the people,
"and Pym presented them to the Lords say
"ing that the Commons would be sorry
THAT the story of that Parliament should
SO tell pOsterity that in so great a danger
and extremity the House of Commons
should be enforced TO save the Kingdom
:" alone On that occasion the Lords wisely
yielded, passing the bill with but three
"dissentient voices. A similar conflict may
"be imminent Let us hope their Lordships
may not provoke a collision whereof the is
sue will certainly be unfayOrable TO them,
but showing themselves wise in time, will
render 1t unnecessary for a modem Pym "