TOPICS OF THE DAY.
CLERICAL CONFERENCE ON THE CORN-LAWS.
OUR attention has been asked to an attempt, originated in Man- chester, to inlist the "ministers of all religious denominations" in the Corn-law controversy. Circulars have been issued inviting ministers of all religious denominations throughout the kingdom, to a conference for the purpose of protesting against the Corn- laws. This movement is one of considerable importance, and worthy of mature and dispassionate consideration. As a general principle, the expediency of the clergy taking an ac- tive and prominent part in secular politics is more than question- able. It is the duty of every clergyman, as of every citizen, to take pains for the purpose of forming correct opinions on questions of secular politics. It is incumbent on him, when called upon, to express those opinions, calmly, but sincerely and unequivo- cally. It is both his right and his duty, in the case of an elec- tion, to give his vote in favour of the opinions he conscientiously entertains, or the men in whom he has confidence. But any fur- ther participation in political struggles is incompatible with the discharge of his peculiar duties. He cannot take a leading, a managing part in political controversy, without subtracting that time from his proper duties. He cannot become an active parti- san, even of principles, without incurring the hazard of bringing his own temper and the temper of some of his flock into a mood incompatible with that beneficial intercourse which ought to subsist between them. Secular affairs ought to be of sub- ordinate interest in the mind of him set apart for the sa- cred office. His doctrine, regarding all such subjects, ought to he—" Religion teaches us to exert our energies with a view to promote the happiness, temporal and eternal, of our fellow men. This being the case, it is my duty, in so far as politics are con- cerned, to exhort you to examine candidly and dispassionately how you can most contribute to the good of your fellows, and having ascertained that, to act upon your convictions regardless of every consideration. If you wish to know my opinions, you are welcome to them—with this remark, that they are the opinions of a by- stander, of one whose energies are devoted to other pursuits. It is for you, who are engaged in secular business, to acquire the ex- perience which alone can entitle to the prOmpt and confident decision required in men of action."
Looking at the question with a view more exclusively to the interests of the laity, we come to the same conclusion. An appeal on political questions to a clergyman is an appeal made in the hope that his opinion will be listened to with more deference than that of a mere layman. But his opinion on such topics is not entitled to more deference, or even to so much. It is an opinion on ques- tions to which the clergyman has it not in his power—if he indeed deserves that respect which is paid to him—to devote so much time and labour as the layman, and for acquiring just views of which he is not in such a favourable position. Such an appeal is made with the view of bolstering up a cause by a substitute for fair argument. It is a course that may be used to establish error as well as truth : it is a course more likely to establish error than truth, inasmuch as it gives undue weight to the opinions of those who lack the best opportunities of forming correct opinions regarding the questions at issue. It would be as wise to appeal for decisions on points of law and medicine from lawyers and physicians to the clergy, as to appeal to them on political questions in preference to secular poli- ticians.
• This general view applies alike to the interference of the clergy in secular politics in all countries : in our own country there are ad- ditional reasons for deprecating their meddling with them. The strength of the Dissenting interest has established a practice of tolerance without a corresponding spirit of tolerance. In no country whatever is the religious spirit alloyed to such an extent with secta- rianism as in our own. We speak of the spirit of the sincerely religious, and of the sectarianism of the Establishment as well as of the Dissenting body. There is no country in the Christian world (except perhaps the United States) in which so large a pro- portion of the sincerely and earnestly religious have their sym- pathies and aspirations narrowed and perverted with the hair- splitting niceties of sectarianism as with us. To introduce the religious element into a secular controversy—a step to be depre- cated anywhere—is sure in this country to render a dispassionate and satisfactory solution of the question impossible. A question, in all likelihood difficult enough in itself, becomes further compli- cated by the discrepancies between Churchman and Dissenter, Trinitarian and Unitarian ; and the embittered rivalry of religious sects renders hearty cooperation in a common cause unattainable.
There is nothing in the question of the Corn-laws to make it an exception to the common rule. It is an important question, and therefore worthy of the investigation of the clergyman, and the candid expression of his deliberately-formed opinions. But it is one upon which his peculiar habits of thought and position in so- ciety do not preeminently fit him for arriving at correct opinions, and on which, therefore, his opinion is only courted as being likely to possess from extraneous circumstances a weight to which it is not entitled. It is a question upon which the two great divisions of the Established and Dissenting clergy are from their respective positions liable to opposite prepossessions and likely to array them- selves on opposite sides. The progress of sound opinions regarding the operation of the Corn-law is likely to be impeded by thus ar- raying the mutual prejudices of the Churchman and Dissenter on opposite sides. The usefulness of the clergyman taking part in the discussion is likely to be diminished by the impressions that will be eagerly promulgated, that the clergy of the Establishment support the Corn-laws from selfish considerations, and the Dissenting clergy oppose them in order to fill their churches by flattering the Corn- law-Repealers. In fine, the movement contemplated by the twenty-eight clergymen in Manchester who have issued the in- vitation to the conference above referred to, is, as far as a dis- passionate and patient review of the case enables us to judge, calculated to hurt the interests of true religion and to impede the repeal of the Corn-laws.
We do not question the sincerity and good intentions of those with whom this movement has originated ; but we think it calculated to do much harm in other respects besides those we have mentioned. The clergy are entitled to respect and attention when they express as individuals their political opi- nions, be those opinions what they may ; but we regard with jealousy any political bull issuing from a clerical convention. On this account, even though we had been of opinion that the contemplated conference could promote the only desirable settlement of the Corn-law question, we should equally have -depre cated its being held. The precedent established by it will be in favour of the decision of such questions by clerical authority ; and, from the peculiar unfitness of clergymen to decide upon such ques- tions, it will always be, at the utmost, an equal chance whether they are right or wrong. It may be said that the day is past when the opinion of clergymen was of much value opposed to popular convic- tion. We confess that we distrust all politicians who seek to gain their ends by procuring answers from oracles in which they them- selves have no faith.
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