After some discussion, the proposals were unanimously agreed to. Resolutions agreed to at a general public meeting of the electors of Paisley, held in the St. James'-street Chapel, on the 8. of April, 1833.

"tances of the hierarchy, and such as pre"tended totally to annihilate episcopal juris"diction."-HUME, Hist. Eng. vol. vi. p. 384.

"The mighty empire of France, with whom "we are now so closely and so intimately con"nected, has abolished the church as an en"gine or power of state. Another great empire, of increasing growth and wonderful power, the United States of America, with

First. That Sir John Maxwell having in the 3. article of his address to the clec-"whom our intercourse is almost daily augtors, pledged himself" To do all in bis power to procure the abolition of all unnecessary offices and unmerited "pensions," it was a violation of that pledge, and a breach of good faith towards the electors, for him to vote against Mr. Hume's late motion for dis-" continuing naval and military sinecures, and in failing to support Mr. Hume's more recent motion for the abolition of

certain naval sinecures.

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"mented, acknowledges religion only as a "civil right; the state has no religion. In their splendid temples at Washington, the "Catholic, the Church-of-England man, the Presbyterian, the Quaker, whichever is the "religion of the president of the year, offer up their praises together, in harmony, to the Most High, according to their respective forms of worship. Can we, in such a condition of the civil polity of these two great "and improving nations, maintain our extraordinary church establishment-the cruel

and oppressive system of tithes the useless "cathedrals, with their enormous wealthy

"All we ask of every Christian man who "shall have a voice in deciding this momen"tous question is, that he will remember

Second. That the petition from the appendages and endowments-the merciless "Protestant church of Ireland, whose sole town against the Irish Coercion Bill, "use is the creating riches, and earthly dohaving been subscribed by a majority "minion, for the near connexions of the miof the electors, and transmitted to Siruister of the day? Can we do all this, in the John Maxwell, to present and support "face of the universal feeling of man? Alin terms of the 9. article of his address, "ready the case is decided. An army of "30,000 men is requisite to collect the tithes where he pledges himself "That he "in Ireland; and what army will be able to "would at all times, and in all things, "collect them in England five years hence?" "act in his capacity of representative -LORD TEYNHAM, How it must work, p. 17. conformably to the wishes of his constituents deliberately expressed," and that failing this, "he should resign to how great a charge is laid upon him, and them the trust committed to him," it" that he will do nothing rashly, nothing for was the duty of Sir John either to sup- "mere political considerations, nothing but "as under the eye of his great Task-master. port that petition, or to tender his re"By all that can bind the conscience and soul signation, and that as he has done neither, but on the contrary declined to support the petition, and voted against its prayer, the electors can no longer have confidence in him, or regard him as their representative. And,

any

Third. That these resolutions published.

of a responsible being, we would implore

every member of both our Houses of Legis"lature-every one who can listen to such an appeal-not to lay a finger on the church, "not to touch a stone of the sacred edifice, "not to pluck out a single golden thread from "the fringes of her sanctuary, till he has first be" well examined and understood what is the "end which a right'y-constituted church is "designed to answer; and has then carefully "ascertained how far our established church 66 answers to this end, and how, in those in"stances in which it may seem defective, it inay, with the least chauce, he made to do "so better."-QUARTERLY REVIEW, December, 1832.

ROB. MUIR, Chairman.

THE ESTABLISHED CHURCH. (From Cobbett's Magazine.)

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"Every meeting of the Commons produced In the last of the above quoted passome vehement barangue against the usurp ation of the bishops, against the late con- sages consists almost all the sober sense Vocation, against the new canons. So dis-belonging to an article which appeared gusted were all lovers of civil liberty at the in the last Quarterly Review; an article, doctrines promoted by the clergy, that these the writer of which would seem to have "invectives were received without control: "aud no distinction, at first, appeared between been so far out of his senses, when he "such as desired only to repress the exorbi- wrote it, that we know not to what to

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compare this tissue of frenzy, unless it mundane, practical or theoretical, it does be that series of acts which ARIOSTO at- not signify upon which of these contributes to his hero Orlando after the siderations, the present state of things poor fellow went raving mad. Now, in all has raised a question amongst the this violence of contention (for it does not deserve to be called argument), the people as to whether there ought any writer may be prompted by motives of longer to be an established church. conscience; but, from his manner of The wild rage of the Quarterly only handling the subject, one cannot natu- gives further countenance to the rally suppose him to be so. This arti- wish for absolute destruction to that cle is a great church attack upon all kind of church; he pitches indiscrimichurch-reformers. It seems to have nately upon both her friends and foes, for its object the preventing of any and upon some of the former only bereform whatever, and is composed in cause they will not go through thick such a temper that we might ima- and thin in justifying all the deeds of gine the author to be interested error that the lady for whom he takes in some piece of church property the up the cudgels has unfortunately been least necessary for the good of the guilty of. church, and which the hand of churchreform would be likely to lay its first hold on. The writer feels obliged to admit that the church stands in need of a champion, and that the sacredness of her character alone is not enough to protect her. This, to be sure, does not condemn the church; since the fairest characters are sometimes exposed to aspersion. But the champion's mode of carrying on the contest does little honour to the party he contends for; it would rather create suspicion of the cause in the eyes of an indifferent lookeron. What does the Quarterly Review really mean? does he mean, that there should not be great changes in the established church; and does he, too, mean this as the friend of the church If this be his real meaning, he is but another Orlando Furioso.

In this one passage, however, let the writer's general motive be what it may, we find something which, we confess, is in accordance with our own views on the same subject. The substance of his eloquence is, that the church ought not to be deprived of any more than what necessity requires to have taken away: and to this we agree. But our divine of the Quarterly says, also, in giving this, which is nearly the finishing touch to his undertaking, that nothing should be done "for mere political considerations;" appearing to have quite for gotten all the politics with which his own article is burdened. Heavenly or

Church reform is a subject which has now been so long discussed by all people, of whatever classes of faith, having any pretensions to political knowledge, that we shall no doubt surprise some of our readers by saying that we are at a loss how to begin in making anything like a public declaration of our own wishes or opinions relative to this matter. Not because we choose, like some others, to save ourselves up with mental reservations, nor that we fear to of fend the prejudices of those who may have set their hearts on the church's overthrow. That we do not mean to take such a part as this, will quickly appear; for, humble as our pretensions are, our opinions shall be unreserved ; and, with however much deference we submit to the judgment of wiser people, our opinions happen to be of a kind that the statement of them must necessarily set the particular prejudices we mention at defiance. There is, we know, a very considerable part of the community who do not regard the church establishment, the state church, as at all necessary to the preservation of religion among the people. This notion is one that has been on the increase for some years. It is not our object here, to expose the abuses of the church. Unfortunately, it is not necessary to invoke condemnation upon her head. The tide of public opinion is at least sufficiently against her, and if we desired her complete destruction, we need not, if the stream is

to have its way, take the trouble to add our mite to the strength of it.

brings all the logic of a Jesuit to bear when wanting to show that taking the burden of a monopolizing tax off its own shoulders, would do the readers of newspapers no good!

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discreet lessening of the taxes. Church reform is a famous stalking-horse for them; Tithes, deans and chapters, bishops' and over the back of this measure, led salaries, pluralities, non-residences, liv- along by liberalism, they are now letings, large and small, curacies, &c., ting fly at those poor tithe-rebels, the church loaves and fishes of all sorts, in Irish, and must needs have credit for short, we shall put aside; these promise good motives with the "Destructives," to be, before long, fully discussed, if since, at nearly the same shot, they prothey have not been so already. One pose to knock over no less than ten writer, especially, merits particular at- bishops! The "liberal" press is too tention; Dr. HAWES, whose book (pub-much elated with such sport to conlished so long ago as 1802) relates to sider the matter as worthy of any serious these matters, and contains more in- consideration; that same press, which formation than is to be derived from any other one source. It is a pity that the wise advice of Dr. HAWES was not taken. What is to be the end of the now-coming church reform, who can say? Mr. STANLEY and Lord ALTHORP But we digress too far, though it was undertook with great haste to inform us our intention, imitating the Edinburgh that their reform of Parliament was final: Review, to write something to be called will they venture to predict just where "our homily," a calm, political sermon ; their reforms in the church may be ex-in doing which, the subject matter was pected to end, and whether they do not simply to be what we regard as quintesthink that the revolutionists in church sential in church reform; that is the matters have, under an administration question, Ought we to have any eslike theirs, some ground to place hopes tablishment" at all? In answering on? We put this in the form of a mere which, for ourselves, it is our own opiquery, in order that the reproach may nion that this nation has been much be as mild and mellifluous as possible, more religious and happy under the inlike the language of the Chancellor of fluence of the Protestant established the Exchequer himself, even while he church than it is ever likely to be in is contending for his coercive bill. It case that church were abolished. To appears to us that by far the most curi- make the question still more close, let it ous object just now is, the government be this; Whether it be reasonable that measure of church reform taken in one any one should be called upon to contriview along with all that calls itself bute towards the maintenance of a church "liberal" in the press. Any one who the tenets of which he dissents from? watches well how things are carried on This is making the question as home as must have seen that church reform has it can well be. And we do not hesitate been the greatest, most efficient, most to say, that there is, to us, nothing so useful, and expedient stalking-horse with outrageously unreasonable in the idea. the Whigs; and that the "liberals" (the One thing is certain, that, if all are not name is all their own, and let them to remain liable to pay for the church, keep it to themselves) seem to have an- it is no established, or, at least, no naticipations in the workings of the Whigs tional church. Reasons are not wantupon sacred matters which, being rea ing to show the benefits of a national lized, would, no doubt, lead to excellent religion, or a mode of worship, or some results. The Whigs know well, that religious establishment, the peculiarities though they should, by pulling of which are under the especial patrondown half the bricks and mortar age and exclusive favour of the Governof the established pile about the cars ment. In judging of such a matter we of its congregation, do harm to so- can only be guided by experience, and ciety, this ruin would not endanger their experience is not less wisdom here than present power half so much as an in- in all other things. What was it that

pristine infallibility of our church, and that the titles to church lands, tithes, benefices, &c., are all registered in heaven. Within the short space of half an age what a change has there been in opinions touching the church! Amongst the farmers, more particularly, the clergy have had to view the most lamentable part of the change. When corn was dear, what deference was paid to the church; but now, how little love, and with how little ceremony the reverse is expressed!

first converted Roman Catholics into breast; that the church brood have run Protestants, if not those abuses belonging away from under their mother's wings to the former which became a ground of only because they found her feathering protesting? What is it that has given her own est at the expense of their rise to so much dissent from our Pro- plumage. We have no intolerance, no testant church, if not other grounds for religious persecution, in our church; protesting against similar abuses? In nothing to prevent others from "worthe book of Dr. Hawes a vast number " shipping God according to the dictates of historical details on these matters" of their own consciences." We have are brought together. That part of not even so much as GALILEO (with his his work which relates to pluralities big spectacles) had to endure from the and non-residence is particularly in- Catholics, who, according to his own acteresting, by showing how almost ex- count of the affair, was not persecuted actly alike has been the conduct of both at all. "No," say some, "but there the Popes and their Protestant succes-are civil disabilities remaining." This sors in church power. But it does not shows, that if we would reason with the follow, because an institution has been Dissenters, we must talk politics with abused, that it should be done away them. It is no longer of any use to enwith, if the institution itself be neces-deavour to make them believe in the sary or beneficial. Even kings may require now-and-then to be driven from their thrones; but that does not prove the necessity of doing away with the throne. As the question of the established church is raised by the Dissenters, we must address ourselves to them. This part of the community is subdivided into classes almost innumerable. Some of them belong to the most sober, sensible, and sincere part of the nation; others, sincere or false, are pure fanatics; and others, again, whether openly or hiddenly, have, in their hearts, no religious respect whatever. The one ought not to be insulted by being mixed indiscriminately with the others: yet, it may be supposed that the far greater part of the whole, taking the mass of dissent altogether, have had one common cause for their origin. Great cries have been raised of late about intolerance. Alas! the want of toleration has but little to do in giving rise to dissent. For every man that objects to the Athanasian Creed, or anything else in our mere matters of faith, how many twenties are there whose aversion to "The master of superstition is the the church is with reference to tem-" people, and in all superstition wise poral matters alone! Her fault, in the" men follow fools; and arguments are eyes of the vast majority, has not been fitted to practice in a reversed order. her want of bearing with others, but" The causes of superstition are pleasing that she herself has been hard to bear; “and sensual rites and ceremonies; that she is the very opposite in maternal" cess of outward and pharisaical holicharacter to the bird which is said to "ness; over great reverence of tradifeed its young with the blood of its own tions, which cannot but load the

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We will, nevertheless, in addressing the sensible and patriotic class of the Dissenters,, submit that there is nothing so very shocking in the thought of a church established in connexion with civil government, and that, though "eivil and religious liberty" be an excellent toast, religious peace and good order among the people are as necessary as civil security. Religion is a thing that must always be. Lord BACON's essay on Superstition contains so much in a few words, and is so much to the point, that we will extract a part of it.

ex

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"church; the stratagems of prelates sists in preventing all religious broils "for their own ambition and lucre; the amongst the religious, in keeping reli"favouring too much of good inten- gion free from the reproach of reli❝tions, which openeth the gates to con- gious discord. There are some abso"ceits and novelties; the taking aim at lute nuisances to religion that require to "divine matters by human, which can be repressed when they are seen, or to "not but breed mixture of imagina- be averted by good example. The new "tions; and, lastly, barbarous times, police are not one whit more useful in "especially joined with calamities and keeping pickpockets in awe, than "disasters. Superstition without a veil would be some such class of persons "is a deformed thing; for as it addeth fully authorised to sweep the streets, "deformity to an ape to be so like a nooks, and squares, of those schemers man, so the similitude of superstition in religion who infest such places, "to religion makes it the more de- bawling out their offensive cant, and "formed: and, as wholesome meat cor- squeaking or groaning out their unrupteth to little worms, so good forms known and undiscoverable tongues, to "and orders corrupt into a number of the great annoyance of all sober persons, petty observances. There is a super-and to the detriment of those who are "stition in avoiding superstition, when naturally weak, or timid, or nervous. men think to do best if they go farthest In short, imposture, and particularly im"from the superstition formerly re-posture in religion, ought to be hunted out "ceived: therefore care should be had and exposed with all possible activity; "that (as it fareth in all purgings) the because nothing is so likely to create a good be not taken away with the bad, general suspicion of religion as rank im"which commonly is done when the postures suffered to assume a religious people is the reformer." garb under any name. Let no modern "There is a superstition in avoiding philosophe' start up and taunt us superstition;" meaning, that fana- with bigotry for saying this, and thrust ticism and infidelity produce similar re-the enlightenment of the age in our faces sults. Now, as a superintendent over to put us out of countenance. It is matters in which such results may pos- quite enough to know the fact, that the sibly arise, we are always pleased in" unknown tongue" people do find beimagining GOLDSMITH's beau réel of a parson. The opportunities which such a minister must have of doing good are innumerable. Not an ignorant person; nor a dandy, frizzled to the last hair, and as highly-scented as any lady in his congregation. But a sober, intelligent, and pious man. In former times the most clever and industrious men were to be found among the ministers of the gospel. Of late, somehow or other, this has ceased to be the case. Dissent, taking advantage of our want of church zeal, sent forth its emissaries, who have become the most fashionable preachers. Along with this improvement of the pulpit, however, sprung up fresh causes of superstition and saintly roguery, which have been advancing, hand-in-hand, along with the falling off in faith in our episcopal flock.ar

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A considerable portion of the duty of a vigilant and virtuous priesthood con

lievers; from which, in spite of all that liberalism may have done to destroy bigotry, we are forced to think now, as PERSIUS did hundreds of years ago, that the ears of mankind are about as long as ever. If it be allowed (and we think it ought to be) that an "establishment" is desirable for such a purpose, the sensible classes of the Dissenters cannot well object to paying a clergy of a different persuasion: the establishment cannot consist of all creeds, or the swaddlers themselves would have a right to form a part of it. As we have before said, the church is not national, unless all be taxed towards its support; and, for the sake alone of preserving decency for religion, it appears to us to be no more

In the French Dictionary of CHAMBAUD and DESCARRIERES (1826), there is a new.. sense found for this name: by abuse," it says, "unbeliever, deist, wrangler."