LOW CHURCH QUANDARY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 76, 1 April 1899, Page 5 (Supplement)

LOW CHURCH QUANDARY.

WHETHER TO BEAR THE ILLS IT | HAS; '

OR FLY TO OTHERS THAT IT KNOWS

NOT OF.

(From the 'Daily Mail.')

Sir W. Harcourt's final letter on the subject of the crisis in the Church brings matters to a direct issue, and formulates the definite plan of campaign that will be folio-wed. Some half dozen of the most conspicuous ritual offenders are to be selected as test cases to force the bishops to definitely declare themselves. If they persist in vetoing prosecution, then the present agitation, so far as Sir William can speak in its name, v/ill take the form of a demand for general pains and penalties, Disestablishment, and thorough going disendowment. . That this form of attack is logically very strong there can be no question. Tha veto was obviously intended to be used only exceptionally, and however much its recent exercise may be justified en general grounds of expediency, it cannot be denied that there has been a violent strainipg of the Episcopal, prerogative. In, theory\al least, it is quite contrary to English iientiment that a ••nan with a grievance, for which the' 'aw provides remedies, should be arbitrarily debarred from seeking them in the civil courts. On the other hand, the grievance is a1 somewhat, remote one; for. practically a sort of local option in ritual has established itself, and our readers' wilt remember that the recent disturbances, in churches were caused not by parishioners, but by aggrieved visitors. Will public opinion support the bishops in extinguishing the half dozei^ test cases which it is now determined to raise? • Will the great Low Church party, whose abstention from last week's demonstration at the Albert Hall was so marked, ultimately join forces with those Proteatants outside whose V ATTITUDE TOWARDS ESTABLISHMENT is so different? Certainly the prospects of the Liberationists appear brighter now than they have ever done since the old Reform days, brighter even than in 1885, when the election was largely fought on the Liberationist issue; but, as Mr Gladstone remarked o.n that' occasion, 'The Church is an anvil that has worn out many hammersI.' . - Tliat Nonconformists have a good right to intervene as they have done, . only-ultra-ecclesiastical organs question. The national theory of the English Church being what it is, no Englishman, whatever his religious convictions—not even a member of the synagogue, or a naturalised Parsee—can be logically excluded from participating. But however much. the evangelical clergy may sympathise with this Nonconformist attack on ritualism, they are of all Church parties the strongest supporters of the Establishment; and common sense forbids one to expect that they will hastily and unreflectively second the efforts of those whoi are desirous of bringing the Establishment to an end. Regarding the matter purely- from its political aspect, this question as to the action of the evangelical clergy is undoubtedly the most important feature in the present situation. If .they continue to hold aloof, trusting to LORD SALISBURY'S HUMOROUS ' COUNSEL, now endorsed by Mr Balfour—'Wait for-' the bishops'—there is a strong probability, that the agitation will flare itself out like the 'No Popery' movement of Lord Russell's days. •If on the other hand they ultimately join in the melee, realising, like Mr WebbPeplpe, that the modus Vivendi tacitly accepted sixteen years ago has worked disastrously for them—for the number oC ritualistic churches is now six times a9 great as it was then—the religious cry, will inevitably be the: predominant one at the next elections. How strangely things come round! In iBBS for a few weeks it was as likely as> not that, instead of Home Rule, Disestablishment, the first article of the famous 'unauthorised programme,' would be tha rallying cry of Liberalism. The Low and Moderate Church parties have it now in' their hands to determihe whether this article of the 'unauthorised programme,' disguised more or less under the name of 'Protestant reform,' is to be to the fore at the' next general election. Such an election cry, theu ltimate issues being what they are, might give to Liberalism that rallying ground which it needs* which Sir William Harcourt has been seeking. And, in the opinion of many] politicians, the cross vote inevitably rer suiting would probably exercise a diaintegrant influence on the Conseryativs poll, comparable to that which Horn* Rule exercised on the Liberal. _,^. v