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be maintained。 For this tardy recognition of the rights and duties of
laymen I am very thankful。 A great principle has been established； and
I trust the clock will never be put back。
But though I lay no claims to infallibility of judgement； I must
respectfully express a doubt whether these new Houses of Laymen meet
the wants of the day； and are anything more than a temporary makeshift。
I might say something about the extreme difficulty of getting a really
representative House of Laymen to meet at York！ But I will not dwell on
this。 I will only point out three objections which appear to me not
easily answered。
（a） In the first place； these Houses of Laymen will have no legal
status； unless they are formally authorized by the Crown and
Parliament； and will be nothing more than voluntary debating societies。
Convocation； on the contrary； is one of the oldest legal institutions
in the realm。 How these two bodies are to work together under these
conditions is not very clear。 It is an attempt to unite iron and clay。
It is sewing a new patch on an old garment。
（b） In the second place； the mode of forming； posing； and electing
these Houses of Laymen appears at present far from satisfactory。 If
they are to consist of laymen elected by the various diocesan
conferences； they certainly will not be a fair representation of the
laity of the Church of England。 For one thing； the constitution of
diocesan conferences is not uniform； and differs widely in different
dioceses of England and Wales。 For another thing； it is notorious that
in most dioceses very few lay Churchmen attend a diocesan conference；
and most of them ignore it altogether。
（c） Last； but not least； it does not seem quite clear what these Houses
of Laymen are to be allowed to discuss。 The idea which has been
propounded； that they are never to open their mouths about 〃questions
of faith and doctrine；〃 is to my mind most objectionable。 It is
unreasonable to suppose that intelligent English laymen； men of light
and leading and intellectual power； will ever submit to be practically
muzzled； and forbidden to speak of any but temporal matters。
Such prohibition； in my opinion； is sure to lead ultimately to friction
and collision。 If you call in the laity to aid in the administration of
the Church； you must trust them； and give them liberty of speech。
It is very possible that answers may be found to these objections；
though at present I fail to see them。 I am thankful for the avowed
expression of a desire to call in the help of the laity； and make use
of their opinion on Church matters。 But I have a firm conviction that
no movement in this direction will ever do much good； until we have a
real National Council； posed of the 30 bishops； and some 60
presbyters； and 120 laymen； elected from the 30 dioceses of England and
Wales； and including laymen of the middle class； as well as of the
upper ranks of society。 But I believe that the best and ablest lay
Churchmen will never join a mere voluntary assembly； in which their
discussions and decisions would be utterly destitute of any authority；
and their resolutions would carry no weight。
Above all； we want a Council in which bishops； presbyters； and laymen；
shall sit together and consider subjects face to face。 The clergy would
then have an opportunity of finding out what public opinion is； and
discovering that they are not infallible。 The laity would have an
opportunity of showing the clergy what is really going on in the world；
and introducing practical business…like wisdom into their councils。
This plan would be of immense advantage to all parties。
I leave the rights and duties of lay Churchmen at this point。 I have no
time to pursue the subject further。 I am conscious that I have advanced
opinions which are distasteful to some minds； and startling because of
their novelty。 But I have yet to learn that the reform in the position
of the laity which I have suggested is not most desirable in the
abstract； and most imperatively demanded by the times。 Between
Liberationists； Romanists； and Agnostics； the good ship of the Church
is on a lee shore； and the breakers are in sight。 Clergy and laity must
co…operate； if the ship is to be saved。 It is no time to prophesy
smooth things； and look through telescopes with blind eyes； and cry
〃Peace； peace！ Let us sit still。〃
（a） 〃Sacrilegious reform！〃 some will cry。 They think it downright
wicked to let the laity have anything to do with spiritual matters。
They wish them to be nothing but Gibeonites； hewers of wood and drawers
of water for the clergy。 They talk gravely about Dathan； and Abiram；
and Uzzah putting his hand to the ark； and Uzziah taking on himself to
burn incense in the temple。 To such men I reply； 〃Look at the Irish
Church； and learn wisdom。〃 If Disestablishment es；and many
far…sighted men say it is sure to e at last；you will be obliged to
cast yourselves on the aid of the laity； whether you like it or not。
Even if it does not e； you will never be really strong； unless you
place the laity in their rightful position。 As to the vague talk about
sacrilege； it is all nonsense。 Touch the idea with the Ithuriel spear
of Scripture； and it will vanish away。
（b） But 〃it is a dangerous reform；〃 some men will cry。 〃The laity will
take the reins into their hands； and lord it over the consciences of
the clergy。〃 Such fears are simply ridiculous。 There is far more real
danger in letting the laity sit idle； and giving them no active
interest in the Church's affairs。 I have a better opinion of the laity
than these alarmists have。 The new ecclesiastical machinery may work
awkwardly at first； like a new steam…engine； when its joints are stiff；
and its bearings hot。 The laity may not understand at first what they
have to do。 But give them time； give them time。 Show them that you
trust them； and make them see what is wanted； and I have no doubt the
laity would soon settle down in their place； and work with a will。
Remember how admirably the Irish laity set their house in order after
Disestablishment； and have more faith in English laymen。
（c） 〃But it is a useless reform；〃 some men will finally cry。 〃The laity
are unfit to advise bishops； or sit in Church councils； or give an
opinion about the fitness of incumbents。〃 I do not believe it for one
moment。 The lay members of our Church may not be critics of Greek or
Hebrew； or deep theologians； pared to many of the clergy。 But many
of them have quite as much grace； and quite as much knowledge of the
English Bible。 Above all； they have； as a rule； much more mon sense
than the clergy。 No man can be ignorant of that who knows how our best
laymen conduct themselves on the mittees of our great religious
Societies。 The observation of Lord Clarendon about the clerical body
is； alas！ only too true。 After long experience； he declared his
conviction that 〃clergymen understand the least； and take the worst
measure of human affairs of all mankind that can write or read。〃 I
fear； if he lived in the present day； he would not give us； as a body；
a much better character。 Nothing； I firmly believe； would be such an
advantage to the Church as to leaven all its action with a judicious
mixture of the lay element。 The true cause of half the Church's
mistakes in these latter days has been the absence of the laity from
their rightful place。
The greatest peril of the Established Church in this day consists in
the favourite policy of total inaction which pleases so many； and their
inability to see that we are in danger。 〃A little more sleep！ a little
more slumber！ Why cannot you let things alone？〃 This is the reply
continually made when Church reforms are spoken of； and pressed on
men's attention。 〃Why should we fear？〃 they cry。 〃There is no real
danger。〃 Will any one tell me there is no inward danger； when the real
presence； and the Romish confessional； and ecclesiastical lawlessness；
and Home Rule； are quietly tolerated on one side； and the atonement；
and Christ's divinity； and the inspiration of Scripture； and the
reality of miracles； are coolly thrown overboard on the other？ Will any
one tell me there is no outward danger； when infidels； Papists； and
Dissenters are hungering and thirsting after the destruction of the
Establishment； and passing sea and land to acplish their
ends？What Z no danger； when myriads of our working classes never
enter the walls of our Church； and would not raise a finger to keep her
alive； while by household suffrage they have got all power into their
hands！ What！ no danger； when the Irish Church has been disestablished；
the Act of Union has been trampled under foot； Protestant endowments
have been handed over to Papists； the thin edge of the wedge for
severing Church and State has been let in； and the statesman who did
all this is