THE POSITION OF THE LAITY.
[To TUE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
Six,—In your comment on the Duke of Argyll's letter you ignore the essential fact that since the repeal of the Test and Corporations Act the laity of the Church are not represented in her government as laymen, but as ratepayers, who share with unbelievers powers which are exercised through repre- sentatives who may be unbelievers. Even if this may as a working system be tolerated for a time, it does not correspond to the constitutional position in the government of the Church which the Church of Scotland gives to her lay members as such. The representation of the laity by Parliament or the Crown is as an ideal based on a confusion of thought, and as a working system is already inadequate, and may at any moment hopelessly break down. Such, at any rate, would seem to be the opinion of one who knows both Churches,
—Mr. A. J. Balfour.—I am, Sir, &c., H. J. BARDSLEX.
St. Paul's Rectory, 448 Stretford Road, Manchester, Aug. 5th.
Previous page
