A very remarkable testimony to the powerful impression made upon
the "Society for the Liberation of the Church from State Patronage and Control" by the strength which the English Church showed in the recent elections is given by a letter from Mr. S. Morley, the Member for Bristol, and hitherto regarded as one of the most rigorous of Mr. Mien followers, to a member of the Liberation Society, from which the former entleman wishes to withdraw. He professes himself still attached to the abstract principle that all Churches should be quite separate from the State. He still hopes for the time when "the Churches of Christ shall become disentangled from their injurious association with the State, and be free to carry on the good work of instructing and directing the people ;" but his present object is to disendow and disestablish the Irish Church, and he is" not prepared to pledge himself to accept no settlement" [in that or any other case, as we understand him] "which does not involve secularization." He does not wish to see "any scheme originated for the like disestab- lishment and disendowment of the English Church." The cir- cumstances and conditions "of the two are entirely different, and it is most unwise to originate schemes which are practically useless." So he withdraws from the executive of the society, with which he is compelled "in part to disclaim sympathy." Surely a very pregnant confirmation of the lesson we attempted to draw last week from the influence exerted by the Church 'on the Elections !
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