The Disestablishment Question.

Evening Star, Issue 6842, 4 March 1886, Page 3

The Disestablishment Question.

The question of disestablishing the Church of England cannot bo raised in the present Pailiamcnt with any hope of settlement. That large and vital controversy stands over for tho ‘further and fuller consideration of tho English constituencies. But as regards Scotland and Wales, tho sense of the House of Commons is to bo taken. Dr Cameron intends to move his resolution in faVor of tho disestablishment of tho Church of Sootland, It is understood, however, that the debate will bo what is called “ academic,” and that the Kirk is safe against anything more than an argumentative assault during the present Parliament. Mr Gladstone said as m uch in MiJ-Lothian, and the elections wore conducted on that looting. Dr Cameron is right in principle. The current of opinion, tho progress of modern thought, the spread of the belief that religion is distinctly a matter of individual concern, make for Dr Cameron. As Mr Mathew Arnold would put it, tho spirit of tho ago is against religious establishments. The Scotch Church may claim tho credit of having so surpassed the rival sects in tolerance and comprehension that many Liberals, in defiance of abstract principle, are unwilling to meddle with it. The fact that a very largo proportion of Scotcli Tories are Episcopalians, and therefore unconnected with tho Kirk, while an almost equally great number of Scotch Liberals belong to the Church of Scotland, must further lie taken into account. Dr Cameron and his friends are no doubt on the winning side. But they must bo content to wait. Mr Richard intends to bring forward a similar motion against the Established Church in Wales. There is, cf course, uo such thing as a Church of Wales. Tin; Church of England bolds the same position in Wales as it holds in Yorkshire or Middlesex. Walts, however, is predominantly Nonconformist, and Parliament might, if ii pleased, enact that the English Church should not bo legally recognised in the Principality. Mr Richard is fully justified, and is indeed discharging a public duty, in raising a debate on tho point. He, too, must have patience beyond tho present Parliament, and trust to the solvent influence of education in weakening biatoiical prejudices.— ‘ Daily News.’