莱尔主教upper_room-第74章
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ordained； his friends tell you that he is 〃going into the Church；〃 as
if he had not been in the Church long ago！
With every desire to make the best of our Church and its constitution；
I cannot avoid the conclusion that in the matter of the laity its
system is at present defective and infra…scriptural。 I cannot reconcile
the position of the English lay Episcopalian in 1888 with that of his
brother in any apostolic Church eighteen centuries ago。 I cannot make
the two things square。 To my eyes； it seems that in the regular working
of the Church of England； almost everything is left in the hands of the
clergy； and hardly anything is assigned to the laity！ The clergy settle
everything！ The Clergy manage everything！ The clergy arrange
everything！ The laity are practically allowed neither voice； nor place；
nor opinion； nor power； and must accept whatever the clergy decide for
them。 In all this there is no intentional slight。 Not the smallest
reflection is implied on the trustworthiness and ability of the laity。
But from one cause or another they are left out in the cold； passive
recipients and not active members； in a huge ecclesiastical
corporation；sleeping partners； and not working agents in an unwieldy
and ill…managed concern。 In short； in the normal action of the Church
of England； lay Churchmen have been left on a siding。 Like soldiers not
wanted； they have fallen out of the ranks； retired to the rear； and
sunk out of sight。
：Now； what is the true cause of this anomalous state of things？ It is
one which may easily be detected。 The position of the English laity is
neither more nor less than a rag and remnant of Popery。 It is part of
that 〃damnosa haereditas〃 which Rome has bequeathed to our Church； and
which has never been pletely purged away。 Our Reformers themselves
were not perfect men； and the characteristic jealousy of Queen
Elizabeth prevented their perfecting the work of the English
Reformation。 Among other blots which they left on the face of our
Church； I must sorrowfully admit that neglect of the interests of the
laity was not the least one。 To make the clergy mediators between
Christ and man；to exalt them far above the laity； and put all
ecclesiastical power into their hands；to clothe them with sacerdotal
authority； and regard them as infallible guides in all Church
matters；this has always been an essential element of the Romish
system。 This element our Reformers； no doubt； ought to have corrected
by giving more power to the laity； as John Knox did in Scotland。 They
omitted to do so； either from want of time or from want of royal
permission。 The unhappy fruit of the omission has been that gradually
the chief authority in our Church matters has fallen almost entirely
into the hands of the clergy； and the laity have been left without
their due rights and powers。 The effect at the present day is that the
English laity are far below the position they ought to occupy； and the
English clergy are far above theirs。 Both parties； in short； are in the
wrong place。
What are the consequences of this unsatisfactory state of things？ They
are precisely what might be expectedevil and only evil。 Departure
from the mind of God； even in the least things； is always sure to bear
bitter fruit。 Lifted above their due position； the English clergy have
always been inclined to sacerdotalism； priestism； self…conceit； and an
overweening estimate of their own privileges and powers。 Fallen below
their due position； the English laity； with occasional brilliant
exceptions； have taken little interest in Church matters； and have been
too ready to leave everything ecclesiastical to be managed by the
clergy。 In the meantime； for three centuries the Established Church of
England has suffered great and almost irremediable damage。
Seldom considered； seldom consulted； seldom trusted with power； seldom
invested with authority； the English lay Churchman； as a rule； is
ignorant； indifferent； or apathetic about Church questions。 How few
laymen know anything about Church work in their own diocese！ How few
care one jot for Convocation！ How few could tell you； if their lives
depended on it； who are the proctors of their diocese！ How few
understand the meaning of the great doctrinal controversies by which
their Church is almost rent asunder！ How few exhibit as much personal
interest or anxiety about them； as a Roman spectator would have
exhibited about the fight of a couple of gladiators in the arena of the
Coliseum！ How few could tell you anything more than this； 〃that there
is some squabble among the parsons； and they don't pretend to
understand it！〃This is a melancholy picture； but I fear it is a sadly
correct one。 And yet who can wonder？ The English laity have never yet
had their rightful position in the management of the Church of England。
You may lay it down as an infallible rule； that the best way to make a
man feel an interest in a business is to make him a 〃part of the
concern。〃 The rule applies to ecclesiastical corporations as well as to
mercial ones。 The Scotch Presbyterians； the English Nonconformists；
the American Episcopalians； the Colonial Episcopalians； all realize the
importance of this principle； and take care to carry it out。 The Church
of England alone has lost sight of this principle altogether。 The laity
have never been properly employed； or trusted； or considered； or called
forward； or consulted； or placed in position； or armed with authority；
as they ought to have been。 The consequence is that； as a body； they
neither know； nor care； nor feel； nor understand； nor think； nor read；
nor exercise their minds； nor trouble their heads much； about Church
affairs。 The system under which this state of things has grown up is a
gigantic mistake。 The sooner it is cut up by the roots and turned
upside down the better。 If we want to remove one grand cause of our
Church's present weakness； we must pletely alter the position of the
laity。 On this point； if on no other； there is great need of Church
reform。
III。 Let us； in the last place； consider our own immediate duty。 What
ought we to aim at； in the matter of the laity； in order to strengthen
the 。Established Church of 。England？
When I speak of aims； I shall have to e to practical details； and I
shall not shrink from saying precisely what I mean。 Grant for a moment
that we have at length discovered that our lay Churchmen are not in
their rightful position。What is the remedy for the evil？ What is the
change that is required？ What ought to be done？
The answers that some men make to these questions are so puerile； weak；
and inadequate； that I am almost ashamed to name them。 They tell us
coolly that the laity may bee lay… agents and Scripture… readers；
though even this at one time； I remember； was thought a shocking
innovation。 They may even exhort and give little addressesmay teach
Sunday schools and be parochial visitorsmay manage Reformatories and
Houses of Refugemay attend mittees； and superintend Church finance
I My reply is； that all such suggestions are ridiculously below the
mark； and show woeful ignorance of the Church's need。 I marvel that
sensible men can have the face to make them。 Oh； mighty condescension！
Oh； wondrous liberality！ We will let laymen do rough work which could
not be clone at all without them； and which they have no need to ask
the clergy's leave to do！ If this is all that people mean when they
talk of enlisting 〃lay co…operation；〃 I am sorry for them。 Such
doctoring will not heal the wounds of our Zion。 Such reforms will not
win back the lukewarm sympathies of our laity； and make them the right
arm of the Church of England。
The reform I plead for in the position of our laity is something far
deeper； higher； wider； broader； more thorough； more plete。 I plead
for the general recognition of the mighty principle；
