DOINGS OF THE LIBERATION SOCIETY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3657, 4 April 1883, Page 4

DOINGS OF THE LIBERATION SOCIETY.

[Fr.oar the Loxdox Times. ] On January - 1- the annual meeting of the Scottish Council of the Liberation Society "was held in tlie hall Society of Arts, Edinburgh. Mr J. Dick Peddie, M.P., presided. The report gave an account of the work done during the past year, and stated that petitions in favor of disestablishment had been presented by a number of own councils and public meetings, iv addition to sixty-four Presbyteries and the Synod of the United Presbyterian Church, fifty-six Presbyteries aud the General Assembly of the Free Church, the annual conference of Congregationalists, and fourteen other miscellaneous meetings and associations. The census of church attendance showed, as far as taken, that the Established' Church had less than a third of the church-going people, and about oneteuth of the population at her ordinances. The chairman said that the question of disestablishment having now assumed a practical character, they might expect even more interest in the movement than previously. The society advocated disestablishment on the ground that there should be no establishment of religion. Ever since Lord Hartington's speech at Edinburgh the ministers of the establishment had been crying out against disestablishment, and, at the same time, boasted of its dignified silence. Establislrmentarians had not held public meetings, because it was hardly possible to hold an open public meeting south of Inverness in favor of tho establishment. On the other hand, Liberationists held theirs freely all over the country. He moved that the_ report be adopted, and that the Council should recommend increased efforts to secure early legislation for the disestablishment and disendowjueiit of the EatablisbcdJCluirch. The Rev

Principal Cairns seconded the motion, which was supported by ex - Provost Alorton (Greenock;, and agreed to. The Rev. Dr. Hutton (Paisley) moved the next resolution, io the effect that disestablishment and elisendowment'was an act of legislative justice Imperatively demanded by tho great majority of "the people, and that, comprehensive measures of disestablishment should be passed at an early period. Air Ai'Alicking (Helensburgh) , seconded the resolution, which was unanimously carried. The Row Professor Calderwood " moved a resolution congratulating Liberationists south of the Tweed on their energetic prosecution of the movement, aud urging on friends in Scothind to continue energetic action, and noting with satisfaction the great prominence attained by tho question during the past year. The motion, which was adopted, was seconded by Air Stewart (Glasgow). Bailiie "Burt (Glasgow! moved a resolution approving Air Dick Peddie's motion, and recommending that petitions be presented to Parliament iv it- favor. Air Lockhart. a delegate from the Baptist Union, seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Councillor AValcot (Edinburgh) moved thatdiscstablishmoiit he maelo a test question at elections, and every legitimate means taken to secure the return of members willing to support Mr Peddie's motion. The Rev. Professor Paterson seconded the motion, which was adopted. The proceedings then terminated. Tbe Executive Committee of the Liberation Society have published a special minute relative to'the resignation of St. Albans by Alr Alackonochio, and his appointment to St. Peter's, London Docks. It recites that hehas persisted in ritualistic practices declared to be illegal, and pursued a course calculated to bring the legal tribunals into contempt. That in assenting to the suggestion of the lato Primate that he should resign his benefice, ho expressly stated that he could withdraw nothing that he had said or done in regard to tho"Courts. That the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's having presented Air Suckling, of St. Peter's, another ritualistic clergyman to St. Albans, Air Alackonochio was" appointed his successor at St. Peter's, and that both clergymen wore immediately instituted by the Bishop of London. The Committee say that " the result of these secret arrangements, and of this connivance of bishops and other Church dignitaries at clerical contumacy, has been to shield a disobedient clergyman from the legal consequences of his disobedience, _by enabling him to continue his illegal practices in another parish in the diocese, in which, iv the event of his _ he would have boon disqualified from officiating." A further result is that in both churches there will bo a continuance of illegal services, and that the Bishop will not" sanction further prosecutions. The Committee think the conduct _of the several parties to this transaction "is deserving of the severest reprehension, as Icing inconsistent with the obligations imposed by their official positions, and as setting an evil and most injurious example to tho rest of the community." They protest against the obvious endeavors of bishops and patrons of the Established Church to virtually repeal the Public Worship Regulation Act, independently of tho action of the Legislature, by the preferment of clergymen who, however conscientiously, have persistently violated the law, and endeavor to weaken" the authority of those by whom it is administered. AVhile fully recognising the inaptitude and tho futility of attempts to regulate the affairs of a religious community by means of prosecutions and the machinery of parliamentary statutes, they strongly object, alike in the interests of religion and of justice, to any changes direct or indirect, which, on the plea of toleration or comprehension, would have the effect of giving State sanction to antagonistic religious beliefs and observances, and would virtually free the Established clergy from national control, while maintaining them in the possession of national authority, emoluments, and privileges. The Committee aro convinced that no fresh legislation can avail to put an end to, or oven seriously diminish, tho discord and confusion now confessedly prevailing in tho Church of England. They believe that the peace and efficiency of that Church cannot lie secured without an abandonment of that system of State interference which has been the source of so many evils, aud without that right of self-government which would be secured to the church by the renunciation of State patronage and of State support.