ON THE GROWTH OF THE NEWER NONCONFORMITY.
[To THE EDITOU OF THE " SPECTATOR."'
Si,—In the daily Press, and even in the letters published in your columns, Nonconformity is treated as being of one type only. That type is distinctly political ; indeed, the political aspect seems almost as prominent as the religious. It is quite true that such a view of Nonconformity seems almost warranted by the tone of certain publications, and by the leadership of such a disputant as Dr. Clifford. Such Nonconformity is not merely severed from the Church of England, but hostile to it, and its spirit is militant. But yet there is another type of Nonconformist whose existence is often forgotten, and that largely because in the nature of things his views hardly lend themselves to advertisement. He has no hostility whatever to the Church of England. He respects her work and her organisation, and has the deepest interest in her future. He deeply regrets that he himself is forced to remain outside her Communion, feeling that in so doing he loses that deep spirit of reverence, that ordered gradation of office, and that magnificent continuity of history which she can offer. He is kept outside her pale (at any rate in so far as admission to her ministry is concerned) by the presence of the Athanasian Creed and by portions of the Baptismal Service. Looking at her divisions from the outside, he feels that if he entered her Communion he would be logically forced to accept Baptismal Regeneration, and a view of the other Sacrament which would be something other than purely commemorative. In fact, he is unable to convince himself that there is any true locus standi for that Low Church Party to which he is so nearly akin. But at the same time he utterly refuses to serve under Dr. Clifford's banner, or to allow that Nonconformity and Radicalism are necessarily identical. I believe that this newer Nonconformity is gradually becoming more and more prevalent, and especially so at the various Universities. The Student Christian Move- ment has rubbed the edges from strong Churchman and strong Nonconformist alike, and its work in the future will be increasingly great in this direction. But this newer Non- conformist party is exceedingly anxious for a rational com- promise in the matter of education. It would view with the utmost dislike any unfair use of the enormous majority possessed by the present Government, although not able to persuade itself that the Education Act of Mr. Balfour's Government was equitable. This party will be fitted to form in the future the moderate wing of the Liberal Party, and its presence will, I think, be of immense advantage in the struggle between extremists of both parties.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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