The Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol, in an address to
the .clergy-and laity of his diocese on the work of 1877, dwells on the dangers of Sacerdotalism, and the risk which its increase may -cause of alienating the State from a Church which fosters sacer- dotal influence. Dr. Ellicott refers especially to Mr. Forster's recent saying that any growth of -the priestly party would be a strong argument for Disestablishment, and insists very justly on the English layman's hatred of that sort of meddling in family life. But the true remedy is, we are per- suaded, not mere lamentations, or even warning voices, but an effort to give the laity that direct influence in the Church which at present they have not obtained ; and Dr. Ellicott not long ago -discouraged this hope as all but chimerical. If the Bishops would take up this side of the question, instead of merely lifting up their voices in the wilderness, they would prevent the evil which at present they only denounce.
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