THE CROWN AND THE FREE CHURCHES
SIR,—In a recent issue you gave space to an enquiry and a reply, as to why ministers of the Established Church of Scotland should not be entitled to seats in the House of Lords. No suggestion was made that in the interest of justice and democratic equality there should be an alteration in the law of the land.
May I submit this question: Is it a fair condition of things in a democratic country that at the Coronation the Sovereign shall take a vow promising to maintain the Church of England and its clergy in all its privileges, thus showing a partiality to one Church and, by implication, excluding other Churches from any such privileges ? Many disabilities of the members of the Free Churches have been removed, as they were admitted to he an intolerable wrong to about half the citizens of the country—entry to the older Universities, Chairs or Fellowships, Heads of Grammar schools, etc. ati Scant recognition Is made at the Coronation of the Free Churches, and no protest is voiced by leaders of the Established. Church that their fellow Christians in the Free Churches are not treated as equally worthy of notice by the Sovereign, for their scholar- ship and spiritual influence in the life of the nation, and work for the community.--Yours
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