LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
SACERDOTALISM IN THE COUNTRY.
(TO THE EDITOR OF TIM " SPEOTATOLI
Sin,—Yon have allowed me to protest against the substitution of Idolatry for worship by the Sacerdotalists. By your permission, I will point out some others of the evils they are bringing on us. And first, as to country parishes.
The speakers and writers of the Liberation Society scoff at what they are pleased to call the "educated-gentleman-in-every- village theory" of the Establishment. We country squires know that, whatever may be the case in the cities, to us it is no theory, but the most important of all realities. Squires and parsons may have been a little prone to a oat-and-dog life, to relieve the monotony of rural existence, but it has always been with a con- viction that both eat and dog are alike essential members of every well-regulated household. Just in proportion as the squire feels and knows that he has a vocation, with its proper duties and re- sponsibilities to those around him, he feels and knows how much work there is in the pariah which he cannot, and the paison can, do. Ile must be a singularly strong and self-sufficing man who can meet the various claims for guidance and help from his dependents, without the desire to have the help of one who is not himself a dependent or agent, but an alter ego,—who acts, not under him, but with him, on the ground of a common right and duty ; mid so that, being equals in social position, the knowledge, age, or experience of either can combine freely with the energy, youth, and enthusiasm of the other, in their common work. Such has hitherto been the relation of squire and parson in the country, but who of us does not sadly and hopelessly recognise the fact that it is passing away ? The country clergy are being drawn more and more into that sacerdotal caste which has its central agencies in the cities. Sacerdotalisin is essentially anti-national, and the country clergy, as the older generation passes away, are becomieg at once more sacerdotal and more alien from the national, as distinguished from clerical, life. They are timid as yet, and work by sap and mine, rather than by open attack ; but they are steadily though silently destroying the old relations of the parson and his parishioners, and substituting the new relation—or rather separa- tion—between a priesthood holy from its ordination, and a laity who have no spiritual place or rights except what are dispensed to them by their priests. Others, like myself, may have undoubting confidence in this or that individual clergyman ; but there is a rapidly growing distrust among us all of the body, because we know that they are gradually giving themselves up to the sacerdotal system which is so alluring to them. Disestablishment may not matter so much in the cities, whore in fact we have the Voluntary system already in full force. But in the country parishes it is a terrible calamity to look forward to. Yet on the day in which the Priest has secured his position in the country parish, it will become inevitable. And perhaps the tune has already come when those who look forward for their country should consider not how the Church of England can be yet saved, but rather what can take its place and do its work, when it has perished at the hands of these its false and faithless ministers.—I am, Sir, &c.,
EDWARD STRACLIEY.
P.S.—My reference in a former letter to the controversy be- tween Mr. Maurice and Dr. Piney was made from memory. I now find, from a friend who has looked at the letters (in the Times, of March 11 and 12, 1864), that it was Dr. Pusey who first wrote, "We do not believe in the same God ;".and that it was in reply that Mr. Maurice said, " Their God condemns men to everlasting sin. I accept Dr. Pusey's own statement, tre- mendous as it is."
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