THE BISHOP OF NEWCASTLE ON DISESTABLISHMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7824, 18 December 1886, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE BISHOP OF NEWCASTLE ON DISESTA BLISHMENT.

* At a Diocesan Conference which was opened at Newcastle, the Bishop, in his opening address, said that when they met last year political Agitation was running high, and ho thought it advisable to deal with organized attacks that were being made upon the Church of England. Her mission to the people of this realm, her providential position in the country, her propeity : these were assailed from different quarters by men actuated by very different motives, Theee attacks had not only failed in their object, but had been greatly overruled for good. They had exercised a beneficial influence upon the Church herself, inasmuch as they hud enabled men to seize the favourable opportunity to carry out some measure of reform long wished for and much needed. (Applause.) And they had shown to the country at large how baseless were most of the accusations brought against the Church by the ignorant, tho prejudiced, aud the self-interested; and now that the smoke of battle had temporarily cleared away, men eaw more clearly than ever the true position of the Church of this country, and her indefeasible right to her own possession*. He was, indeed, informed that as a direct cousequence of these attacks many who formerly belonged to other denominations had novv formally joined the Church of England. Having been led to examine the historical question for themselves, they had found the facts relating to the Church to differ very widely from the pictures which had been held up before them, while their prejudices had melted away before a patient examination of the truth. But let no one be so unwise as to mistake a partial drawing-off of battle troops for a complete abandonment of attack. There were not wanting signs that weapons were sharpening in secret which might yet find out joints left unprotected in their armour. Thereforo, while they could view with calmness the assaults made by enemies upon that in the Church which was of Divine origin, it behoved them to see that all in the Church which was of human origin was kept in the highest state of perfection possible. (Applause.) His Lordship then paused on to other subjects. He suggested that tithes should be received by other means than at present.—Papers on Church reforms and other subjects followed.