NONCONFORMIST POLICY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 697, 23 December 1909, Page 7

NONCONFORMIST POLICY.

AND THE LIBERAL BUDGET. • PROTEST BY A WESLEYAN LIBERAL. (By; Telcerap'h-Presi) Assoclatlon-OobyrlitßU London, December , . 21.* Sir Robert Porks (a leading Wosleyan and Liberal M.P., who disagrees with the Budget, and who has threatened not to".'stand again for Louth), in criticising the action of Free Churchmen at Mr. Lloyd-George's meeting at tho Queen's Hall, comments on the marked abstention of the Wesleyans. The Wosleyans, said Sir Robert, will not tolerate polities in the pulpit; in other words, clerical dictation. Mr. Asquith's programme is Homo Rule for Ireland, Socialism for the Labour party, and nothing for the Nonconformists. NONCONFORMIST DIFFERENCES. There have been several- signs of a cleavage also of a Unionist effort to detach Nonconformists from their Liberal allegiance.. On December. IS it wail 'cabled: "The Nonconformist Unionist Association ie circularising its branches, urging Nonconlormisft to_ sign its petition against any interference (ran tho legislative union of Great- Britain and Ireland. .:'.'■■ .. ■'> . . -~ ■ Following on this, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Lloyd-George—whoso' great hold on the. Nonconformists and tho welsh liascaused him, to be. saddled -with the- onerous burden of soothing t'leir annual. disappointments on the subject of Welsh Di6estaplishraent and education—made a remarkablb. appeal to Nonconformist sentiment Addressing si large meeting of Free Churchmen,,'ho said:—'"The Methodist,: Congregational, and Baptist chapels are the only places in the villages that stand up to the baronial castles. All who doclino to cringe and orawl are there. , The chapels are the sanctuaries and citadels of village independence, consequently the Peers put the Methodist and the poacher in tho tamo category.". -V. . ■';. .'. ;:-'■ ....... ;, : Sir Robert Perks; as a leading contractor and an anti-Socialist Wesleyan,.no </r gives Noncon-. fprmity the benefit of his views,. wliicU".needless to soy do not. tally either in matter or' manner With those of the author-of the Budget..: Sir Robert had some tinio ago declared that the Liberal partr is marching to destruction;under'. the Red Flag to the .tune , of the "Marseillaise," and ho did not vote for' the Finance Bill. , His,argument that thoro is "nothing for tho ' Nonconformists", is - also '-■, old ground, and the "Christian World" recently reminded him that, "the Jlouso of Lords baa frustrated the Government's intentions." But Sir Robert Perks is a powerful-personality and a great Wesleyan, and his influence tells. "; • ■ The "Daily /News" thus: rebukes' Sir ~*R.. ■Perks: "The injustice, with which be assails the Government for '.what he ■ denounces as their desertion of the Nonconformists is selfevident. Tho effort of the, Government , to secure justice to the.Nonconformists.was twice defeated,. directly or indirectly, ; by the Lords whom Sir R. Perks is now supporting on the Budget. To that great instrument of Liberalism bo applies' all the vague and unintelligent 'abuse of. the Tory hack. ...... .■;:■.,,..' V. "The truth is that antagonism to thoChurbh: is not a sufficient basis for. liberalism in these days. . Apart from, that. Sir 'R. Perks has long ceased to have any relation toany conception of Liberal policy." ;'..'.' :■■•■ ■'■''■■■: