WELSH DISESTABLISHMENT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1331, 8 January 1912, Page 6

WELSH DISESTABLISHMENT.

Canon Hensley Henson has appealed to 'Nonconformists through the '"limes'," inviting them to leave tho .Established Church in Wales her.endowjnonts, while apparently not-objecting to Disestablishment. The Bishop, of Winchester,' Dr. Talbot, seconds this appeal. - He admits that Disestablishment may be inevitable, lint deplores a proposal "which would fake awav from, a Church, poor, strug--gling, but full of life, all but Is. 6d.'' in the , pound of its ' resources; i should, liavo hoped—l almost'dare still to hopethat what is generous,-large-minded, and deeply religiousi in "English. Nonconformity would call-a truce; and'insist that no such plunder of the pittances of hardworking. Christian brethren should .fctain the records of Liberationism." i' : ■ V

Tho "British Weekly"' says-."we. will go so far as to say "that, if Disestablishment can be effected by consent and by' compromise, we. believe that' .-Nonconformists ' would go >a's"far .as their consciences allowed them in sfiarch of peace, As ■we v Hnderstandy i hovjevor, the, defend'ers of the Welsh-'Church declare that there is to be no compromise whatever. Tliey will have all or ■nothing., Mr. Ellis Griffiths points out, in-a'letter to the "Times," that tile Church in AVales after .Disestablishment will retain' all the fabrics, including., cathedrals, ..palaces, dcauc'rics,-can6iiries ; parsonages, in addj: Hon- to.all private. .benefactions! ■ since 1662,'. .the date; at ''which the '" Church as a-spiritual."organisation may,:.be- said ai-have assumed.■its present form. In' addition to these',-all life interests, are safeguarded." ' What"thc"-"Bill doe's is. to dispossess the ■ Church ■--of--tithe rent charge,"-which is a'-tax, Tand,- speaking generally, oE its- pre-Keform.ition endow-; meiits. We have * noble " men' in . 'the Church of England, speaking.bravely for Union, but, from all we can learn, tlie body of the High-'Cluii'ch": clergy' are more aggressive"and. less' friendly than they have ever been." 'We lyilL'use 'no stronger language.'". In- Wales, also, i w;e fear this is'the'case. .Is it'to'be supposed," a-sks tho- "British Weekly," "that the Vast majority- of the religious community will consent to put national property in the hands, of men who uso it to harass and- obstruct, their work ill every possible way?" '■■ '-•; ■ . « The Bishop of St. David's says that "none of the replies'made to Canon Henson attempted to show why Nonconform,ists as Nonconformists should take up'iii 'theinielve'i the political function '.inf.' urging the State to secuftirjse. Church, property.' .' Nb.no of-- the''replies • suggested thiit the State was in: need of tho money, nor that the''en'downient^'of/tilts'' Church in Wales were in excess'of tlie needs of its. growing work. '..Welsh .Churchmen could accept no' compromise on' a Bill of piecemeal Disestablishment.' Church' Disnieiiibenueiit, and secularisation of religious • endowments. Each- *eeK brought'fresh assurance that the Welsh Disestablishment Bill, which the''Government proposed to press through Parliament next year without any mandate from the electors, would be resolutely opposed with ' the< whole strength of the Church of England and with, the support of a growing number' of thoughtful' Nonconformists in England and! Wales." ,