The Bishops as Legislators. By Joseph Clayton. With a Preface
by the Rev. Stewart D. Headlam. (A. C. Fifield. 2s. net.)—This volume is "a record of votes and speeches delivered by the Bishops of the Established Church in the Home of Lords during the Nineteenth Century." Doubtless it has the making of a formidable indictment, but the same might be said of the records of all Councils, Synods, and Church Assemblies generally from the beginning of Church history. One thing is certain, that things would have been, on the whole, far worse if the Disestablishment, which we presume to be desired by Messrs. Headlam and Clayton, had taken place. As to the Bishops, we wonder whether it would be possible to have such as would please these gentlemen and their friends. The more vigorously a man insists on the necessity of episcopal ordination, the more scornful he is of the individual Bishop. We have not the least wish to champion the Bishops. Still, the bare catalogue of votes, &c., is a crude method of controversy. The Dissenters' Chapels Bill, for instance, passed in 1844, was much more vehemently opposed by the orthodox Dissenters than by members of the Established Church. As for the crime of throwing out the Home-rule Bill in 1893, we hope that if it is necessary the Bishops will repeat their action.
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