14 OCTOBER 1871, Page 3

The Archbishop of Canterbury made some very sensible remarks to

his Archdeacons and Rural Deans last week, which have only been published this week, and which, as usual, betray the pm- -dent statesman at least as much as the religious teacher or the high 'ecclesiastic. He specially pointed out the fallacy of the idea that Parliament has any wish to press changes on the Church against her will. On the contrary, said Dr. Tait, the great difficulty is to get Parliament to do anything which the whole Church, both -Clergy and Laity, do not desire. However, all the measures proposed, and which seemed to have most favour, most chance of being carried, tended to increase the influence of the laity iu rela- tion to the conduct of the Church services, and the Archbishop was convinced that the influence of the laity would steadily increase; and that only by conforming in some degree to the wishes

of the laity on this head could any changes, however needful, be carried.