We observe that the English Church Union take our view
of Mr. Dale's imprisonment, as they have withdrawn their advice against the use of the vestments disallowed by the final judg- ment in the Ridsdale case, and would evidently be glad to get a good many more martyrs to the cause of Sacramental garments. Fortunately for them, Lord Penzance has been discouraged from applying the penalty of deprivation to the offence of dis- regarding his inhibitions, or public opinion might not be hostile to deprivation, as it undoubtedly is, and very rightly is, to the imprisonment of these mild fanatics. For our part, we think that while violations of the ecclesiastical law on one side,—the Broad- Church side,—are permitted with impunity, as they undoubtedly are in the case of omitting the Athanasian Creed, violations of lest; moment on the other side should be permitted, too. But we also think that deprivation is not an unreasonable penalty for any clergyman who, taking the pay of the State, persistently declines, when ordered, to comply with its condi- tions. Only this principle should be fairly applied to all violations of its rules, and not to unpopular violations only.
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