LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
LIBERAL CHURCHMEN AND THE NONCON- FORMIST CONSCIENCE.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."]
have read the outpourings of Mr. Hugh Price Hughes, also the deliveries of Dr. Clifford, Dr. Barry, the abounding letters and articles which have appeared in the Press that still supports the party once led by Mr. Gladstone, but must confess an increasing difficulty in finding in any of these quarters a strong grip of the principles of Liberalism. The vote of the Irish Nationalists in support of the second reading of the Education Bill appears to have been too much for the already overstrained Nonconformist conscience. It is time that Churchmen who have been supporters of Liberalism, as led by Mr. Gladstone, should speak out. How about the Church conscience ? Tbe opposition to the Education Bill has had very little in it that is purely political, but has been saturated with an animus against the Church, or rather against denominationalism in general. And the special grant clause (4) has been utilised as a convenient stick with which to belabour the "lame," and especially the supporters of denominational schools. It would be easy to so amend it, that the new Educational Authority should be empowered to grant aid to any school within its dis- trick but then that would probably mean the repeal of the Cowper-Temple clause, as well as the throwing away of the said convenient stick. It would not be favourable to the teaching of that highly watered solution of Christianity known as undenominationalism or School Board religion. Nearly ten years ago Mr. Gladstone raised the danger- signal in his paper on "Heresy and Schism in the Modern Church." In the Parliamentary Opposition the dominant factor is the militant section of Nonconformity which has framed "an undenominational religion much to their liking, divested of many salient points needful for a complete Christianity." This minimum, by no means "irreducible," the civil power is "to authorise by law in public elemen- tary teaching, nay, to arm it with exclusive and prohibitory powers as against other and more developed methods." There is no other meaning to be attached to the violent outbursts against Clauses 4 and 27. Nonconformity is to play the part of religious faction, and to raise the standard of religions persecution and intolerance. It is feared that if the Cowper-Temple muzzle, placed on full religious liberty, is removed, the Anglicans and Roman Catholics will be the chief gainers. Hence the outcry at the Lish Nationalists voting in favour of a measure of justice to English denominational schools, while for voting in favour of Welsh Disestablishment they were lauded to the Non- conformist heaven. Home-rule is suddenly discovered to be Rome-rule.
If this spirit of intolerance is to continue the prevailing element in the Liberal Opposition, Liberals who still believe in Liberal, Progressive, and democratic principles will have to find them elsewhere ; while those who are Churchmen as well (and who have hitherto supported the political party led by Mr. Gladstone) will necessarily have to withhold such support. It looks as if the Education Bill would cause other political readjustments besides that between the Irish Nationalists and the militant section of English Noncon- formity, and that the much-abused " clericals " will have to. raise the flag of religions and civil liberty which is falling from the hands of the "Free Churches."
One way of so doing is to support the educational measure introduced by Sir John Gorst, as going far to advance that "impartiality of treatment between different religions bodies and freedom of municipal action," which Mr. Forster held to be the two guiding principles of his Bill.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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