The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo. TUESDAY, MAY 1, 1894.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 103, 1 May 1894, Page 4

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo.

TUESDAY, MAY 1, 1894.

For the causa that lacks .assistance), For the won? that needs resistance, Fer th« future ia the distance. And the good that we can d».

There is very little doubt that the Bill introduced into the House of Commons by Mr Asquitb, the Home Secretary, for the disestablishment of the Church in Wales will stir party feeling to its depths, and toll cause intense Excitement throughout the United Kingdom. The interest evoked, especially in England and in the Principality itself, is likely to equal, or very nearly so, that recently taken in the struggle connected with Home Rule for Ireland. It is true the interests involved in the present instance are not so vast, and to the world at large they may appear comparatively insignificant. But it is hardly necessary to say that there are no disputes so bitter as those into which the religious element enters, and it would be difficult to persuade the Welsh people that the question of the disestablishment of their Church is of secondary importance to any great constitutional measure that might engage the attention of Parliament.

The steadfast support accorded to Mr Gladstone by the Welsh members during the passage of the Home Rule Bill through the House of Commons was, to some extent, due to the expectation that when that measure was disposed of the affairs of Wales would be dealt with, and they were furious when the disestablishment question was shelved for the time being. Lord Rosebery's Administration would be glad, no doubt, if they could escape untying this ecclesiastical knot; but, owing to the pressure brought to bear upon the Cabinet, Ministers have nothing for it but to face the music. The Welsh members have openly threatened to withdraw their support from the Government if their demands are not acceded to, and even it they were willing to forego the advantage ] they possess and to suspend the question for a time, the only effect would be the forfeiture of the confidence of the great'majority of their constituents.-

As we might expect in connection with a measure that threatens to affect so differently the respective interests of the rival parties, there is the widest divergence of opinion in the Principality as to the expediency of disestablishment. The reasons assigned by the Nonconformists for the view they take are of a very practical nature. They say that the majority of the population are dissenters, and that it is monstrous.that a Church which represents only a small minority should enjoy special advantages, and be supported by revenue derived from the whole people.

Stress is laid upon the fact that in many districts the churches of the Establishment are only attended by the landed gentry and members of the professional class, while the masses look to Nonconformist teachers * for spiritual guidance. It is said, too, that the stately liturgical services are not suited to the genius of the Welsh people, whose fiery impassioned natures find Methodism and kindred forms of worship more congenial. In addition to other grounds ot complaint the Nonconformists urge that a Church which has been so unmindful of its duties in the past has forfeiied its claim to be a Stale establishment.

It cannot be denied that there is some ground for this reproach. Until quite recent times, no Church in Europe neglected its mission so shamefully as the Church of Wales. In the last century the morals of the Principality were in a deplorable condition. Drunkenness, gluttony and licentiousness prevailed. The Church appeared totally indifferent, many of the bishops were absentees, and numbers of the clergy were ignorant of the Welsh language.

It cannot be said that the Church had not a fair field, for in 1715 there were only thirty dissenting chapels in the Principality, and as late as 1736 there were only six in all North Wales. The advent of Methodism changed the" Whole face of thjngs, and notwithstanding the efforts of the Church in modern times to recover lost ground, the leaven of dissent seems to have thoroughly permeated the Welsh nature. On the other hand, the advocates of the Establishment point to the great work the Church has done in Wales during the last generation, as a proof that it is desirable to maintain the present system intact,

Of the details of the measure Ihe j cable message supplies but little in- j formation^ The Bill, however, is j evidently drawn with an eye to popular favour. Surplus funds of the | Church are to be devoted to parish 1 and county councils, hospitals and educational purposes. Care is taken I to make a suitable provision for j existing incumbents. We are not j informed as to the amount of funds to be left at the disposal of the ecclesiastical authorities, but probably, as in the case of the Irish Church, the terms will be liberal. The proposal to treat the Cathedrals as national ... property, if accepted, would lead to many complications, and we think is hardly likely to be carried out. | We have little doubt that the fate | of the Welsh Church as a State establishment is sealed. There is every prospect that the Bill will pass the Lower House, and although it may meet with considerable opposition in the House of Lords, the resistance is not likely to be protracted; The Bishops will, doubtless, show fight, and their zeal will be quickened by the fact that they look upon the measure as only the thin end of the wedge that is to break up the English State Church. It is hardly likely, however, if public sentiment is shown to be decisively in favour of the Bill, that the Peers, whose position is at present rather ticklish, will be inclined to risk much for the sake of maintaining an unpopular Church aganist the wishes of the great majority of the Welsh people.