churchwardens who really do great things for the Church I am well
aware。 But they are such brilliant exceptions that they only prove the
truth of my rule。 If all churchwardens would do their duty always； as
some churchwardens do their duty sometimes； the Church of England would
be a far stronger Church than it is。
Of course I shall be reminded again that lay Churchmen occupy a
prominent place in Church confesses and conferences； and fill a very
useful position on the mittees of religious societies。 I am quite
aware of this； but it is entirely beside the question。 All these are
purely voluntary agencies； which form no part of the Church's
authorized and normal machinery。 It is the organized system of the
Church that I am looking at； and not the gratuitous service of
exceptional lay volunteers。
But some one； again； will remind me that the House of mons
represents the laity of the Church of England。 Surely the less we say
about that the better！ The man who talks in this way must have read
history to very little purpose； or has been asleep for 200 years。 We
are not living in 1686； but in 1888。 The pleasant old theory that
Church and State are co…extensive and identical has long since vanished
into thin air； and is a thing of the past。 The House of mons is a
powerful body； no doubt； and 〃monarch of all it surveys。〃 But it is no
longer an assembly of none but 〃Churchmen。〃 Moreover； it is notorious
that there is no subject the House of mons 〃cares so little to
discuss as religion； and that there are no religious interests which
fare so badly in its hands as those of the Church of England。
But unhappily this is not all。 There is something more behind。 The
laity of our Church are not where they ought to be in the direct work
of Christ； and the furtherance of Christianity in the land。 A
mischievous habit of leaving all religion to the parson of the parish
has overspread the country； and the bulk of lay Churchmen seem to think
that they have nothing to do with the Church but to receive the benefit
of her means of grace； while they contribute nothing in the way of
personal active exertion to promote her efficiency。 The vast majority
of church…goers appear to suppose that when they have gone to church on
Sunday； and have been at the Lord's Supper； they have done their duty；
and are not under the slightest obligation to warn； to teach； to
rebuke； to edify others； to promote works of charity； to assist
evangelization； or to raise a finger in checking sin； and advancing
Christ's cause in the world。 Their only idea is to be perpetually
receiving； but never doing anything at all。 They have taken their seats
in the right train； and are only to sit quiet； while the clerical
engine draws them to heaven； perhaps half asleep。 If an Ephesian or
Philippian or Thessalonian lay Churchman were to rise from the dead and
see how little work lay Churchmen do for the English Church； he would
not believe his eyes。 The difference between the primitive type of a
lay Churchman and the English type is the difference between light and
darkness； black and white。 The one used to be awake and alive； and
always about his Master's business。 The other is too often asleep
practically； and torpid； and idle； and content to leave the religion of
the parish in the hands of the parson。 Each is baptized。 Each uses
means of grace。 Each hears sermons； and professes himself a Christian。
But the Churchmanship of the one is utterly unlike that of the other。
When this is the case…and who will deny it？there must be something
painfully wrong in our organization。 If the Philippian lay Churchman
was right； the English lay Churchman cannot be right。 We are weighed in
the balances and found wanting。 The very language in mon use is a
plain proof that there is something sadly wrong。 The 〃Church〃
now…a…days means the 〃clergy；〃 and when some young man proposes to be
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