LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
lath WELSH CHURCH BILL.
[To IMF Ramos OF Till "sesames.")
Snr,—The time is at hand when, in the ordinary course of events, the Welsh Church Bill will become law. But it ought not to be passed in its present form. Speaking generally, the Disendowment provisions are far from being fair. Hitherto there has been no attempt at agreement as to terms. On the contrary, many of the leading Nonconformists, who were formerly in favour of modifying the Bill, have been driven towards the other extreme by the policy of Church defenders. There is no reason for supposing that the Government are not anxious to act fairly and do justice, but they will find it. difficult to make any material concessions so long as the leaders of the respective parties are divided as at present..- And the Nonconformists are divided in opinion. A large section, influenced by the Liberation Society, think that the present terms are more favourable than they ought to be ; whereas another section, very numerous, but not demonstrative, would make considerable concessions. This division in the Liberal ranks must make it difficult for the Government to modify the Bill. But I feel sure that if the terms are to be modified the advances must come from the representatives of the Church. If advances are made in a good spirit by the Unionist leaders, there can be little doubt that they will be met, at least in some degree, by the Nonconformists. That would set the Government free to meet any suggestions made to them.
Mr. Lloyd George recently stated that under the Bill the Welsh people are only getting back what the pious founders had intended for the people as a whole. That statement is either not quite correct or is capable of misinterpretation. Assuming, I think correctly, that the pious founders intended the endowments to be used for the benefit of the whole of the people in certain areas, it must always be borne in mind that they were given for spiritual purposes, for works of piety, charity, education, &c. The fact that the Church has ceased, through its own fault, to provide for the people as a whole justifies a rearrangement of the endowments, always having regard to the objects of the founders. Surely it cannot be claimed that the Bill does this. The Church is entitled to a share of the ancient endowments in proportion to the number of its adherents; but the Bill does not give any. Of the ancient endowments a substantial sum should he given to be used for the support of weak churches, payment of curates, superannuation funds, &c. A substantial sum should also be given to the Nonconformists for similar purposes. Both grants must be given without any condition subordinating the Churches to the State.
The Nonconformists think that the Church, or Churches, should not accept any financial aid from the State. Why not? The State has often protected the Church from tyranny and oppression, and will do so again. Indeed, the Churches are now protected by the State. In this country it may not be necessary for the State to make grants towards the pay- ments of the clergy and ministers, but I submit that it would be wise on the part of the great Dominions to make generous grants towards the erection of places of worship and the maintenance of ministers, &c. Under present conditions the voluntary system is altogether inadequate for the purpose. If religion is a good thing—and it is—then it is right on the part of the State to contribute towards its support. Under the Bill generous grants are to be made to the State-aided University Colleges, which are already well provided for, but no provision is made in aid of the denominational Theological Colleges—because Nonconformists have protested that they will not accept " State" aid. That is nonsense. They accept direct State aid for elementary, intermediate, and higher secular education, and why should they not accept aid from the disendowment funds for their Theological Colleges ? This is an opportunity which will not occur again, and the Noncom. formiste will be acting wisely in abandoning their non postuntua position. If the Government do not feel justified, in face of the protests of a portion of the Nonconformists, in making direct provision for grants to the denominations, let them empower the County Councils to do so. No one ought to object to that, for the Councils are the direct representatives of the people.—I am, Sir, dtc., JOHN MORGAN. Aberystwyth.
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