AGGRIEVED PARISHIONERS.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] Sin,—" A Layman" complains of the helplessness of parishioners,. others dread the consequences of putting the Church patronage into the hands of parishioners en masse. Others, again, are saying- that the Church is losing its national character in consequence of all these disputes. Will you let me offer a suggestion for what it is worth. A National Church is in its widest sense a national institution for doing good, more especially good in the highest. field of human life,—religion.
Let, then, the appointments to Church patronage remain in the hands of the present patrons, the parishioners of each parish and district voting from what sect, or colour of sect, the minister shall be chosen, Churchman or Dissenter, High, Low, or Broad. If the patron declines to appoint under such conditions, then let the vacancy on that single occasion be filled up by the Crown.
This would put effectual power of veto in the hands of parishioners, and would give the Dissenters an equal share with. Churchmen in the enjoyment of a really national institution.—
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