The Birmingham Nonconformists had a meeting on Tuesday to- support
Mr. Miall's coming motion for the separation of Church and State, at which they resolved that "the national sanction, given to the theological creed and ecclesiastical policy of Estab- lished Churches is a grievous injustice to Nonconformist com- munions,"—an argument which Mr. Miall and Mr. Richard de- clared their intention to abandon, as unworthy of the height of the great argument they intend to bring forward. And we con- fess we agree with them that it is unworthy of the issue now raised. Suppose an Established Church be, as it no doubt is, socially a dangerous rival to Nonconformist Churches, throwing them into the shade and rendering their chance of popularity less, —still if the nation needs religious aid in the poor and destitute- districts where voluntary Churches cannot effectually work, is it- for Nonconformists to grudge it because the social effect of au, Establishment on themselves is unfortunate ? They have a better
lass of arguments to urge than these, and we think, with Mr. Miall, that they would be wiser to put selfish considerations out of Court.
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