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» ECCLESIASTICAL AND EDUCATIONAL.

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» ECCLESIASTICAL AND EDUCATIONAL. IN his recent visitation address Archdeacon Eva.ns touched upon several topics of considerable interest and importance. The contention he advances that people who fail to act up to the full instructions of the rubrics are just as guilty of breaking the law as thos e who act in excess of provisions defined therein, is by no means new. As a matter of fact it has been the stock retort of the Ritualist to his Evangelical confrere for many a decade. Surely, however, it is something less than wise to ignore the fact that, as matters stand in this connection, the law can only provide against sins of commission; not against sins of omission. A line is drawn up to which it is legal to go, beyond which it is illegal to proceed. Where, however, is the authority, other than a court of casuistry, that makes it illegal for people to refrain from taking full advantage of their privileges; and where is the enactment that provides for the punishment of those who conduct services with a smaller degree of ritual than the prayer- book makes it legal to use? The remedy for the whole matter, as we have stated many times before, lies in a measure of Disestablish- ment-apart altogether from one of Disendow- ment—which will leave Church Synods free to regulate Church affairs in consonance with the bulk of Church opinion. Anything short of this is only tinkering with the question; and it is gratifying to know that opinion in this direction is rapidly growing within the pale of Establish- ment. It is not necessary, it is not even desirable, to introduce into a controversy of this kind any single one of the arguments that are advanced from time to time by those who draw their inspiration from the fountains of the Liberation Society. We would rather regard it from the point of view of those who desire to witness a cessation of hostilities that prove a source of weakness to the ministrations of a great spiritual agency; and that are bound to go on so long as the "unholy alliance" between temporal and spiritual authority is maintained. That in the Church in Wales ritualism is not unduly prevalent may be admitted; but it is somewhat difficult to see, as Archdeacon Evans appears to suggest, that stagnation is necessarily the alternative to conditiùnsnihat: meet with cen- sure in other directions. Stagnation may be due to many causes, but certainly not the least important of these is the enervating effect follow- ing in the train of the present relations between Church and State. Archdeacon Evans also alludes to an education problem that, at the present time, is attracting much attention in the country and admits that the National Schools are still on their trial, but urges that Church people who contribute largely to the rate-aided schools are justly entitled to a fair share of the rates in aid of their own schools. This is another specious argument. The general mass of the people have no more right to expect to share the benefits of Ecclesiastical Endowments bequeathed by bye- gone generations of Churchmen to the Establish- ment without conforming to the provisions laid down for regulating the expenditure of such endowments than" voluntaryists" have to claim to share in the benefits of funds drawn from the public purse, in accordance with Parliamentary enactments, for a specific purpose, without meeting the requirements of that pur- pose. What is the purpose? To provide education compulsory as to attAdance; free, inasmuch as no fees are charged; and un- denominational in so far as teaching the principles of any particular sect is concerned. The State has ruled that such education is necessary and that every dweller in the State benefits by its existence. To take a larger portion of funds so subscribed than is now taken, in order to assist schools that cannot by any stretch of reason be held to meet these require- ments, would be manifestly unjust, and it is high time we heard the last of such suggestions.

■'"■■■■♦ •>— NOTES AN-0 NOTIONS.

The Liberal Club.

■+ A Forthcoming Musical Treat.

Local Authorities and J.Ps.:

4 A Groundless Charge.

Worse than Brutes.

»■ RURAL NOIES.

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