The Bishops of the Irish Church show symptoms of understand-
ing at once their epoch and their flocks. Those flocks, brought up by the side of Presbyterians, are quite determined that the substan- tial control of the Church shall remain with them, and not with the clergy. If this is not conceded, they will glide away one by one to join the Presbyterian congregations, in which the right of electing the pastor is fully recognized. The Bishops, however, fully aware of this feeling, have met it frankly, and have recom- mended unanimously that a representative Synod be elected, to decide on the organization of the Free Church, in which clergy and laity shall be fully and " equally " represented. The conces- sion, though not quite full enough, as the laity are the Church, the clergy being only a section of themselves set apart to teach them, is still a generous one, and will do much to inspire fervour in the congregations. Englishmen never burn up till they see a task before them in which they themselves can help. Will the Bishops sit in the Synod, and thereby lead it, or keep themselves apart as a kind of Upper House ? We hope and believe the former, but the idea that to be strong a Parliament must have two heads has sunk deep into the British mind.
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