ITO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR:I
SIR,—I am afraid that my own experience of Nonconformity and that of "J. A. B." must be of a strangely contradictory character. I know nothing of Scotland, but I have a pretty accurate and intimate knowledge of Nonconformity in Eng- land, as represented by Congregationalists and Baptists ; and I can only say that if, during the late contest, they were in- clined "to sink the Church question," their actions were clean contrary to their words. On the other hand, I have never known an election in which the Clergy as a body took a less active part than the last, and I know that a very large number of my clerical acquaintances voted on the Liberal side. Let me add that the active partisanship of• which your correspondent complains is hardly consistent with "sullen silence." This latter term does, in fact, much more accurately describe the part taken by the clergy. I am not concerned to defend them
nor the late Government, and I freely admit that a Liberal Administration, whatever the price Churchmen may have to pay for it, is better for the nation at large than a Tory Govern- ment. But I should shrink from applying such language as ." loathsome immoralities," "callous indifference," and "posi- tive crime" to honourable men who are my political opponents, or to credit the great body of the English Clergy with mere " self-interest." Quite apart from selfish considerations, the clergy may feel that they have "everything to lose and nothing to gain" by Disestablishment, and may, therefore, honestly oppose it; more particularly when they see it constantly held over their heads in terrorem, by Dissenters and their allies. To a very large number of the beneficed clergy it would be no pecuniary loss whatever, and to many a deserving but overlooked, curate it might be a positive gain. The cool- ness with which Nonconformists assume to themselves all the virtue and self-denial, and leave to the Church and the Clergy only the baser passions and evil motives, is often very amusing to Liberal Churchmen. It is just such harsh judgments, accom- panied by opprobrious epithets, which, when applied so freely to the Church of England, tend to harden the hearts of Church- men, and to make Christian union an impossibility. Timid, Churchmen, under such circumstances, may be fairly excused if they treat with suspicion the oft-repeated assurance that "Dis- establishment is only another name for religions equality," and. that what Dissenters so bitterly hate is "not the religious, but the political institution of the Church." Until this evil spirit 'is cast out, Disestablishment is not likely to promote the "free and united play of national conscience," but rather to widen the 'breach between Chur6h and Dissent, and to embitter Church- men for many generations to come. I do not complain that Nonconformists should regard it as a sacred duty not only to -promote Disestablishment, but to lose no opportunity of under- mining the influence, publishing abroad the shortcomings, and .exposing the abuses of the Church; I only assert that so long as they claim to do this as a right and a duty, they ought to 'do it in a Christian spirit, and ought not to deny to Churchmen the right of retaliation and defence. I am for "fair-play all round." I think the expression of sincere opinion should be free, but that the deliberate imputation of evil motives and -grossly unfair statements by professedly Christian men should be exposed and rebuked. I am an advocate for Disestablish- ment, but on the broad ground of religions equality ; not, as -the tone and language of most Liberationists lead Churchmen to suspect, because I hate and would like to cripple and destroy a -great religious denomination, whose creeds and formularies I .cannot accept.
As to the Burials Bill, I am glad to see that it will be made a Government measure, and will therefore be taken out of the hands of angry and vindictive religions partisans, and committed to responsible statesmen. Although your correspondent ap- pears to consider that the Liberal party is almost entirely Non- .conformist, I am glad that there is a sufficient number of Liberal Churchmen on both sides of the House to save measures of this kind from being unduly harsh and unfair to the convic- tions, sentiments, and, if you like, the prejudices of Churchmen. They have as much right to be treated with tenderness and consideration as the Nonconformists themselves, who are too apt to monopolise "the voice of the nation." As to the indiscriminate use of the Burial Service, I think the clergy are not so base and unserviceable to the State, but that they have a fair claim to be treated with justice, as well as generosity ;
!the idea that so long as they enjoy the status secured to them 'by the Establishment they are not entitled to relief, may be sound Nonconformist equity, but it savours neither of Christian -charity nor of political wisdom. Moreover, it is strangely in. 'consistent with the fact that Dissenting literature is full of -reproach and ridicule of the Church for this same indiscriminate
use. Christianity teaches us not merely to ridicule abuses, but
to remove and reform them. To continue an abuse which a Nonconformist publication now before me speaks of as ,grading, soul-destroying, soul-destroying, and a national disgrace," merely as a means of annoying and punishing the Clergy, because they -enjoy the status of Establishment, is, to say the least, a very questionable and unedifying sentiment.—I am, Sir, &c., A HOSPITAL CHAPLAIN.
Previous page
