Cross-bench Views of Current Church Questions

Front matter

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Preface

In this volume I have brought together some occasional writings which have reference to matters of permanent interest, and, at this time, of urgent importance. The candid reader will make due allowance for the circumstances under which these writings were, in the first instance, composed. He wUI also, perhaps, remember that the avowed object of most of these pieces was less the advocacy of specific views than the setting forward of considerations apt to escape the notice of advocates. It has long been my practice, which is not without the support of great examples, to consider even matters, upon which necessarily I feel very strongly, as " open questions," to set down accordingly the pros and cons of any suggested course, and to discuss, as from outside, the proposals, with which, it might be thought, I was, personally or professionally, bound to sympathise and agree. The " cross-bench " habit of mind, which this practice reveals and strengthens, is, I know, very perplexing to most people, and highly exasperating to many, but it has, I believe, sufficient justifications, and, in the present state of political and religious opinion, no slight valua

On one practical question it will be evident that I hold a very strong conviction. Recent events have strengthened my belief in the worth of an Established Church as such. I am well aware, of course, that a large, and it may be an increasing, body of opinion, mainly, but by no means exclusively. Nonconformist, is adverse to the Establishment on religious grounds. From that body of opinion I respectfully iU iv Preface

but decisively dissent. If the Establishment of the historic Church of England inflict any civic hardship on any citizen, let that hardship be indicated and proved, and I for one will cheerfully support its removal. Nay more, I would go far in that policy of establishing the non-episcopal Churches, which has already been accepted by the Legislature. It is the merest delusion to attribute to the Establishment that sectarian bitterness which so miserably distinguishes our national religion, and works such lamentable consequences in our national life. The same bitterness is found elsewhere — in Ireland, in Australia, in South Africa — where there is no Established Church. Its cause lies deeper, and I have not hesitated to point out the direction in which I think it is to be found.

Practic€dly disestablishment means little else than disendowment ; and tfuU is a project with which I can make no terms. It implies a great weakening of the material resources of religion at a time when, by universal admission, those resources are utterly insufficient. I can understand, and, up to a point, sympathise with, a policy of " concurrent endowment," though, under all the circumstances, I do not see that it would benefit the community, but the policy of " disendowment" seems to me essentially irreligious, and, therefore, ultimately ruinous to the best interests of the nation. At all hazards the religious endowments of the English people must be respected. Rearrange their distribution if you will, revise the conditions of their tenure, take better securities, if you can, for their honest use as religious endowments : in all this I am ¥rith you, but do not ask me to join in a project of confiscation, which I abhor in any application, and most of all where the ultimate victim is no individual, or class, or trade, but the Nation itself in its highest and most unprotected interest&

Cut honof was issued as a pamphlet, and had a considerable circulation. It has been for some while out of print, and in republishing it now, I yield to many requests.

Preface v

The two lectures on " Dissent in England " were originally delivered in the Chapel of S. Mary's Hospital, Hford. They were printed for private circulation among the members of the Chapel congr^ation and other personal friends, and have been so very kindly received that it seemed worth while to give them a wider publicity. I have to thank Mr. John Murray for his kindness in permitting me to reprint from the Qtuirierly Bevkw an article on Bishop French ; Mr. L. J. Maxse, for similar permission with respect to articles on " The British Sunday," "Foreign Missions," "The Confessional in the English Church," and " The Mivart Episode," which appeared in the National Review during the years 1897-1900 ; to Mr. Percy W. Bunting, for allowing me to include in this volume the article, " Our unhappy Divisions," which appeared in the CofUempcrary Review in December 1901, and has been the subject of much comment and criticism.

The papers on " Church Reform " and " The Chinese Puzzle of Missions," and the two Essays on "The Influence of Critical Theory on the Interpretation and Authority of Holy Scripture " and " The History of the Pastoral Ideal in the English Church since the Reformation," have not been previously published. As an appendix to the last-named essay, I added the paper on " Sermons," read to the Brighton Church Congresa

H. H. H.

Contents

4. essat on ths influence of critical theory on the

Interpretation and Authority of Holy Scripture

Paper read to a Clerical Society, 7tli February 1899.