ENGLISH NONCONFORMITY.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THS "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—IS it not a significant fact that to a very large extent the Wealeyans are associated with the movement for the federation of the Free Churches ? They are not familiar with an atmosphere of antagonism to the Anglican Church,. and their alliance with the more pronounced Nonconformist bodies is mainly due to an intensified belief in the essentials• of the faith, and a passionate yearning to reduce the range of " English Paganism." At the same time, Wesleyan appre- ciation of Anglicanism is not so enthusiastic as it was. The exclusive theory of " Orders," which has been emphasised so strongly in recent years, could have but one effect on believers outside the Anglican pale. Doubtless the Church of England has a relationship to the " primitive " Church which gives it strength, but so have the Baptists, as Mr. Gauge declares, and so have the followers of Wesley. In the spiritual suc- cesses of Anglicanism Wesleyans rejoice. They are convinced, however, that these successes are not due to the unwarrantable sacerdotal assumptions which they believe to be inimical to the highest interests of Christianity. As to the numerical increase, in these times of national apathy, pointed out nowhere more faithfully or regretfully than in the pages of the Spectator, it is necessary to remember, as the Times' correspondent indicated, that fashionable and social con- siderations count for something.—I am, Sir, 8c.c.,
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