We have given some account in another column of Mr.
Fitz- james Stephen's opinion against the legal right of a clergyman of the Church of England to take public part in Nonconformist ser- vices, or, indeed, in any religious services not sanctioned by the Prayer-book of the Church of England. A meeting of clergymen and Dissenting ministers was held on the subject at the City Temple, Holborn Viaduct, on Thursday, when Dean Stanley moved and Sir Thomas Chambers seconded a resolution to the effect that these restrictions on communion between Conformists and Non- conformist ministers "are injurious to the fraternal intercourse between the various Protestant Churches of this land which is imperatively required in the interests of Catholic Christianity," and this resolution was carried unanimously. Mr. S. Dlorley, who took the chair, suggested that some of the clergy should try the validity of the opinion given, promising himself to contribute liberally towards bearing them harmless in the experiment. Everything in the meeting was good, except Dean Stanley's forced eulogy on "the most celebrated statesman in Europe, Bismarck,"—received, we regret to say, with cheers,—of whom he had nothing at all to say germane tykike purpose of the meeting. If Prince Bismarck's methods are to be followed in England, instead of having less of the exclusive and bigoted sectarian spirit than before, we shall have, in relation to one Church at least, nothing else. Dean Stanley might almost as well attend a meeting against vivisection and pass a warm eulogy at it on Professor Schiff.
Previous page
