have thought, that they would have rejected even his advocacy, and have spurned his leadership. We find, on the contrary, that they welcome him with cheers, and that they follow him with unbounded alacrity. He appears to be a man after their own heart. They like him; nay, they almost reverence him. As he speaks they listen with rapt attention, and they shout with joy when he says that he will never fail them.

Now, our opinion is, that such an institution as the Trish Church never had a more appropriate defender than Mr. DISRAELI. The man and the Church admirably suit each other. Both are shams; both have kept their positions under false pretences, and probably both will go their proper way about the same time. As the crisis of their mutual fates is approaching, it is remarked that Mr. DISRAELI becomes more solemnly prophetic and more gravely devout in his tone. He has given us two remarkable exhibitions of this within the last month. When the Irish Protestant deputation waited upon him, he said :

"The question, therefore, simply is this-Do the people of the United Kingdom wish for a revolution ? Do they wish for a subversion of those institutions to which they owe, in my opinion, their happiness and their greatness? Her Majesty's Ministers will not believe that that can be the case, and they look forward with the utmost confidence to the impending appeal to this great nation, believing that the verdict to be given will be one to uphold the institutions of the country, and among those institutions those in which you are peculiarly interested-the Protestant institutions of Ireland."

At the Merchant Taylors' Hall, the Premier followed up this line :—

"But what is most strange and singular in this eventful history is that at the moment when there is about to be established a Conservative body which will represent all classes, all interests, and all opinions in the United Kingdom, even more fully and more completely than was ever anticipated by those who were most favourable to this change, the constituent body founded upon these enlarged sympathies and interests will be called upon as their first duty to decide whether they will sustain or whether they will subvert the constitution of their country. I confess that I cannot help recognising the hand of Providence in this awful dispensation and when I remember the circumstances under which this change in our political system was first conceived, and remember the state of the political world when this conclusion was about to be arrived at, I cannot believe that it is a mere matter of chance that the nation is now about to be called upon to decide whether it will destroy or uphold the venerable constitution of the country."

And further we are informed, that, supposing we should be successful, "the Protestant cause in England would receive a wound from which it would probably never recover."

These, then, are the old lines upon which the Premier chooses to fight this new battle. A cold chill runs through us when we hear from his lips that he cannot help recognising" the hand of Providence in this awful dispensation;" but we agree with him, and we agree, too, that it a Providence which has given to the Irish Church Mr. DISRAELI as a leader. But are we never to hear the last of revolutionary designs, and of the venerable constitution of the country? Because it strikes us that this kind

of argument will be utterly worn out before the General Election.

There is, however, a more serious meaning in these words than Mr. DISRAELI intends to convey. The constitution is on its trial· - Protestantism is in danger—and that mighty and beneficent Providence which has allowed England to attain to her present greatness, has possibly suffered the question to be raised, in order that both may be saved. Through improvements in the constitution we are the nation that we are, and, if Protestantism needs injustice to sustain it, Providence, we may be sure, will not be on its side.

THE CASE OF THE IRISH CURATES.-The Rev. C. Crosswaithe writes to the Clerical Journal :-" See the hardship in our case. Are not many professions and trades closed against us? Is it lawful for a clergyman to practise as a barrister, or an attorney, a doctor, or apothecary; or even to begin business as a merchant or a shopkeeper? Can he do this, and still, like a Methodist preacher, continue to officiate? or can he even do it, ceasing to exercise spiritual offices? If the law forbids this, is it just to compel our clergy to starve? Should not the law be changed, to wit, Vict. 1, 2, c. 106, which forbids a clergyman, without his Bishop's special license, to farm more than eighty acres ; or to deal for gain in any kind of merchandise, unless in company with at least six partners? Are we to be robbed and compelled to starve too? Is the due reward of our services to be taken from us; and are we to be hindered from earning our bread in any other honest way? Will England perpetrate this injustice upon us? us alone, because we are vowed to serve God's altar, trusting that England would not pass a law to prevent our living by that altar, she having already passed a law that we should live by nothing else?"

CHURCHMANSHIP AND STATE-CHURCHMANSHIP.-All that we insist upon is, that a Churchman may go in for disestablishing of the Church without any derogation from his sincere attachment to the Church. Mr. Disraeli's argument is very suggestive on this head, when he maintains that it is the State and not the Church which will be the main loser by the dissolution of partnership. On this principle, the going in for disestablishment is more disloyalty to the State than to the Church. In this light, therefore, it would be somewhat comic to behold the hereditary enemies of the Church led by Mr. Gladstone to accomplish its deliverance from the evils attendant upon its connection with the State.-Church Review.

A STRONG ASSERTION.-To every movement of the sliding scale, between an easy sinecureship on the part of the Irish clergy, down to their working hard on bread and cheese, we could give our assent provided the union with the State were retained; for that connection is the principle and the spring of all that is effective and great materially in the Church of Christ.-Clerical Journal.

WHAT VOLUNTARYISM HAS DONE FOR THE FREE CHURCH.-The following were the sums raised for the various objects of the Free Church of Scotland, for the year from 30th March, 1867, to 30th March, 1868 :£128,549 7 9 56,279 3 5 126,843 17 4

I. Sustentation Fund.
II. Local Building Fund.
III. Congregational Fund
IV. Missions and Education.
V. Miscellaneous

66,729 16 11 17,652 6 10

£395,554 12 41

THE IRISH CHURCH QUESTION.* SOUTH SHIELDS.-On the 8th of June the large hall of the Mechanics' Institute was crammed to overflowing to hear a lecture by the Rev. Marmaduke Miller, in favour of the disendowing and disestablishing of the Established Church in Ireland. The Mayor (J. C. Stevenson, Esq.) occupied the chair, and was supported influentially. At the close of the lecture a petition was moved, and this was met by an amendment which was rejected by a large majority. Respecting the opposition the correspondent of a local journal says:-"Instructions, I have the best authority for knowing, had been sent by some of the clergy to several of the leading members of the Orange Lodges to bring up their members. A considerable number of them did muster, but I know of several others who flatly refused to implicate themselves in the transaction. The Rev. Mr. Atkinson and the Rev. S. B. Brasher seem to have been elected as the champions of the Orange cause. But the old instincts of Liberalism amongst the people of South Shields nobly vindicated popular principles. And the upshot of the matter was that the clerical gentry found themselves in a wretched minority: and they had the mortification to see their followers sit spell-bound for over two hours, listening to one of the most masterly expositions of the shame and disgrace of the Irish Church Establishment ever delivered in the North of England."

BARNSLEY.-On the 16th June, the Rev. Mr. Miller delivered his lecture to a large audience here. It was well reported. The local committee held a meeting a week previously, to receive a report from the delegates to the recent Conference.

THE REV. CHARLES VINCE has lectured at Driffield and at Beverley-in each case to the great satisfaction of large gatherings of people. Both the Members for the East Riding being Tories, and the Member for Beverley also, there was good ground for holding the meetings, which are expected to exert a beneficial influence on the coming election. They are to be followed up by other and vigorous efforts.

BIRMINGHAM.-A highly interesting Conference was held in Graham Street Chapel Lecture-room, on the 1st of June, at the instance of the lately-formed Young Men's Auxiliary. The Rev. C. Vince presided, and addresses were delivered by the Rev. G. B. Johnson and Rev. J. J. Brown on "the disendowment and disestablishment of the Irish Church, in its relation to the interests of Protestantism." The Committee, in their announcement, earnestly invited "the attendance of any Nonconformists who fear that the separation of the Church from the State in Ireland will be a fresh hindrance to the progress of true Protestantism." The force and courage of the speeches of the young men who took part in the discussion were very gratifying. The Rev. W. F. Callaway has also lectured at Steelhouse Lane Chapel, for the Auxiliary, as well as to his own congregation, and to an audience at Smethwick. Our correspondent says that Birmingham is thoroughly waking up in this matter, and is likely to enter thoroughly into the work next autumn and winter.

WOOLWICH.-On the 10th of June the Woolwich Branch of this Society held a conference at the Albert Rooms. Mr. J. Templeton, of London, presided, and

* Under this head we report only meetings and lectures initiated by the Society, and we fear the list of them is not quite complete.

the Rev. W. Woods, and Messrs. White, Davis, Meikle, Fordham, Wales, and others, took part in the discussion It was resolved to support, at the coming election, only. those who would vote for Mr. Gladstone's policy.

ALDERSHOT.-The Society has paid its first visit here, in the person of the Rev. N. T. Langridge, who has lectured on the great question of the hour to a large company. There was some opposition, but it was not of a formidable character.

Mr. KEARLEY has addressed public audiences on the question at Blackeley and Sandbach.

NEW SHELDON.-Mr. Andrew, the Society's agent, has lectured in this new and increasing district for the first time. A local paper says he threw much light on the subject, and a spirit of inquiry has been awakened.

KINGSWOOD, NEAR BRISTOL.-On the 9th of June, the Rev. Henry Hayward, of West Hartlepool, delivered an eloquent and argumentative lecture on the "Irish Church." There was a large and enthusiastic audience. and the lecture has made a very deep impression on the minds of the people in the neighbourhood. Mr. E. S. Robinson, ex-Mayor of Bristol, presided.

WORK IN SOUTH WALES.

CARMARTHEN.-On the 16th June, Mr. Carvell Williams commenced a tour in South Wales by attending a large Committee meeting in this town. After he had delivered an address of a practical character, it was resolved to arrange for a series of meetings in the county in September and October, and the local Committee was also reorganised. The next morning the students of the Presbyterian College entertained Mr. Williams at breakfast. The Rev. W. Morgan, one of the tutors, presided, and the Rev. D. L. Evans, and other tutors, were present, and expressed their gratification at the fact that the students had formed themselves into an

auxiliary to the Society. After the delivery of an address by Mr. Williams, the best modes of practically working the auxiliary were discussed. The proceedings were of a very enthusiastic and interesting character.

CARDIGAN.-A meeting on the Irish Church question was held in the Methodist Chapel on the 17th June, when there was a good attendance. The Rev. W. Jones presided; and the principal speakers were Mr. Carvell Williams and the Rev. J. R. Morgan, of Llanelly-the latter in Welsh. The Rev. J. M. Davies, T. Edwards, Esq., T. Griffith, Esq., Rev. J. Thomas, Asa Evans Esq., and the Rev. Mr. Price, also spoke, and the proceedings were kept up till a late hour. Resolutions were passed, expressive of pleasure at the efforts of Mr. Gladstone to disestablish the Irish Church, and urging the duty of those who were qualified to vote to get their names placed on the register at the coming registration.

ST. DOGMELLS.-This place, though near to Cardigan, is in Pembrokeshire, but the new Reform Act has added it to the Cardigan Boroughs; and as this involves an addition of 450 voters to the boroughs, it was thought desirable to hold a meeting there. It proved to be a great success, the chapel in which it was held being crowded with men, women, and children, who listened with eagerness to numerous speeches, which were not concluded till a late hour. The Rev. J. Thomas acted as chairman, Mr. Carvell Williams and the Rev. J. R. Morgan attended as a deputation, and the Rev. W. Jones, Rev. G. Williams, B. Rees, Esq., W. W. Mitchell, Esq., Rev. J. M. Davies, Rev. J. N

Richards, A. J. Evans, and the Rev. W. Davies, also spoke.

NEWPORT, PEMBROKESHIRE.-No Liberation meeting has ever been held here, and it was regarded as quite an experiment. The result showed that there was no need for fear, for there was a very large meeting, and as much earnestness as was displayed in other places. The Rev. J. G. Morris was chairman, and besides Mr. Carvell Williams, the Rev. E. Lewis, Rev. J. M. Davies, Rev. L. Jones, of Fishguard, Rev. W. Davies, of Cardigan, Rev. J. D. Roberts, Rev. D. George, Rev. D. Jones, and Rev. G. Williams, spoke. Much of the speaking had reference to the approaching registration and election.

CILGERRAN.-At this place-near Cardigan-the speaking was altogether in Welsh; the Rev. J. R. Morgan, of Llanelly, being the deputation, and the other speakers being the Rev. S. Evans, of Hebron, Rev. W. Jones, Rev. W. Davies, Rev. E. Thomas, Rev. J. Griffiths, of Llandilo, and Mr. Harris, of Llechryd. It was a capital meeting.

WORK IN NORTH WALES.

The Rev. J. Milton Davies, of Llanfyllin, the Society's North Wales agent, has concluded a series of meetings extending from the 26th May to the 11th June. It included meetings at Conway, Trefrew, Bangor, Carnarvon, Menai Bridge, Amwlch, Lanerthymedd, Holyhead, Llangefni, Beaumaris, Ebenezer (near Carnarvon), Bethesda (near Bangor) and Penmaenmaur. The Rev. Joseph Jones, of Menai Bridge, accompanied Mr. Williams to several of these places; and Dr. Wm. Rees, of Liverpool, Rev. J. Prichard (Calvinistic Methodist), and the local Methodist Minister spoke at Menai Bridge. In almost every place ministers and laymen of the Baptist, Independent, Calvinistic Methodist bodies gave a helping hand. Most of the meetings were well attended, and at some the audiences were very large. The meetings have evidently aroused the district, and now a Conference is called for, to be held in September at Carnarvon. Hitherto the Society has been able to do very little in the county, but now it has, it is hoped, obtained a firm footing.

THE SOCIETY AND ITS MODE OF WORKING (From the Free Churchman for May.)

Ir is hardly possible, in reviewing these results, to ascribe too high a value to the way in which the work

of the Liberation Society has been conducted. The Society has, with remarkable skill, so steered its course as to command the respect of opponents, without losing the hearty attachment of its own supporters. Its leaders have understood that there is a time for silence as well as a time to speak, and have gathered force almost as much by their patience and quietness, when it was their "strength to sit still," as by their decision and energy when circumstances indicated that the time for movement was come. With a thorough singleness of purpose they have pursued their great end, without entangling themselves in any political combinations, and, provided their object was secured, have never been unwilling to do work of which others have reaped the honour. They have often been credited with a greater subtlety of purpose and more elaborate organisation than they would have claimed for themselves; for their strength has consisted mainly in the simplicity of their spirit, their loyalty to truth, their anxious care to do, and to do with all their might, the work to which they had set their hands. Now and then questions have arisen, more or less related to their main object, on which the opinions of their own friends were divided, and which might, by a very little mismanagement, have ended in serious dissensions; but their moderation, their prudence, their determination to keep out of the Society everything that did not necessarily enter into its work, saved them from disasters, by which the labour of years might soon have been destroyed. Firm and decided in the utterance of principle, they were never unwilling to employ any reasonable measures of conciliation, even going so far as to change the name of the Society, in order to obviate the objections of those who shrank from the antagonism expressed in the designation of the Anti-State-Church Society, and preferred the better known, but we can hardly say the better loved, title under which it has since become so formidable. The popular character of its constitution, the careful exclusion of everything like cliquism, the wisdom of the practical measures adopted, and last, but not least, the careful economy of its expenditure, have all contributed to the success obtained. Never were such important and extensive operations conducted at so small a cost, and we hesitate not to say that, could the records of the Society be studied, it would be confessed that, in this respect, they furnish a model for the imitation of all our great societies.