[To TEE EDITOR OF THE ‘` SPECTATOE.1 SIR,—In your article
on Mr. C. Miall's " Results of the Reli- gious Census," you intimate that the figures cannot be taken as evidence of the opinion of the people upon the question of Dis- establishment, as they leave out a large number of persons who, although never attending a church, are in favour of the Church being established. This is, of course, quite true, but might not Dissenters claim many by the same argument? Are there none who never enter a Dissenting church, and yet would like to see the Church disestablished ? The primary object of churches and chapels being the diffusion of religion, I cannot see that the opinion of those who take no interest in religion is of much value, one way or the other, neither do I think that the figures are intended as a guide to the question of " Disestablishment," except so far as they show that the State-connected and en- dowed Church is not a national Church, and has distinctly failed to attract a majority of the people.—I am, Sir, &c., OWEN T. WILLIAMS.
2 Essex Villas, High. Road, Lee, January 9th.
[Oar remark was based on the complete exclusion of the rural districts from the so-called census, quite as much as on the probable indifference to disestablishment of non-attendants on religious worship.—En. Spectator.]
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