WELSH DISENDOWMENT.
[To THE EDITOR 07 THE " Brzerwroa."] Sra,—The Government made generous concessions last week, and it is evident, from statements made by Mr. Asquith, Mr. McKenna, Mr. Lloyd George, and others, that they are pre- pared to go still further, on conditions. It is hardly necessary to say that the most important condition is that the Bill shall become law this session. If this is agreed to, then undoubtedly the Church can gain financially. Personally, I think that the Government should modify the terms of the Bill, whether it passes the House of Lords this session or not. But it has to be borne in mind that the Government is not altogether free. They have to consider the Welsh Radical members and others, who think—wrongly think—that the Bill as drafted was fair to the Church, and that no concessions should be made. On the other hand, there are Liberals who take a broader and more generous view. Mr. Chamberlain has advised Churchmen not to adhere to the non possumus attitude in the best interests of the Church.
Whether the Bill passes during this Parliament or not— and it probably will—the Church is sure to be disestablished in a few years. In the meantime the question will be discussed in England, and the Disestablishment party in England will grow stronger day by day. It is not to be assumed that all Church people are opposed to Disestablishment. Very much the other way. Those who read " Church Defence " publica- tions must have noticed that very few of the writers and speakers are Welsh Church people.
Of late many Nonconformists who were formerly disposed to be generous to the Church have been embittered by the conduct of the Church defenders. A few days ago an ex-president of the Calvinistic Methodist Assembly, who had frequently told me that he did not feel strongly in favour of Disendowment, said that he would rather see the Bill dropped for the present than that there should be further concessions. When I expressed an opinion that the House of Lords might ultimately pass the Bill this session if better terms could be obtained, he said that if the Church party cared to be conciliatory, then the Government might make further concessions, but not otherwise. Another ex-president of the Assembly, who is also an ex-president of the Free Church Council, who formerly held moderate views with regard to Disendowment, has now, in the circumstances, protested against further concessions. It is evident that if the Church is to have further concessions it must be as the result of negotiation. Liberal churchmen and others in the House who are in favour of a further modification of the Bill would do well to discuss the matter with the moderate people in the Opposition. It is not desirable that the Disestablishment controversy, in England or in Wales, should continue for years to come.
I shall not be surprised to find a proposal made to transfer at least a portion of the disendowed funds to the different churches, to be used as they think best. The money could be well used. The property was given for religions purposes•and ought not to be diverted to purely secular uses. Now is. the time to move in the matter.—I am, &c., Aberystwyth. Jonw MORGAN.
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