The Bishop of London, presiding at the London Branch of
the Church Defence Committee on Tuesday, made some very sensible remarks upon the subject of Disestablishment. The separation of the connection between the Church and State would not, he declared, damage the C hu rch, but it would damage the State. Although a Bishop, he was not ashamed to say he was an Englishman first and a Churchman in the second place. The Church and the State consisted of the nation looked at from different points of view. The nation regarded from the secular side was the State, and looking at it from the religious side they called it the Church, and separation between the two was impossible. We entirely agree, but we think that it is not quite fair in making such a statement to ignore the great benefits to the Church and to the State also pro- vided by the Nonconformist Churches. At the present, as in the past, they prevent the Church from becoming indurated by the too easy acceptance of her claims. But for their vigorous and healthful challenge the Church might be "drowned in security." They have their share in the national wellbeing, and help indirectly as well as directly to spiritnalise the nation. John Wesley did immense good by his direct work. Perhaps he did even greater good by helping on a revival within the Church.
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