IN THE UNITED STATES. 413 



At one time an action at law is instituted against a 

 clergyman of the Established Church for his refusal to 

 bury a Dissenter, or to marry an unconfirmed person at 

 another, against a bishop for declining to induct a person 

 he considers disqualified for a cure of souls and the 

 whole kingdom is agitated, and clergy and laity alike 

 are involved in the excitement. Such things happen, 

 because certain denominations in the island have con 

 sented to barter their freedom of religious action for a 

 special share of the funds or protection of the State. In 

 the United States, all churches deal as our Dissenting 

 bodies do with their own members after their own 

 fashion. What they do carries with it no civil or poli 

 tical disability, or disqualification of any kind. And 

 whether individuals patiently submit to sentences imposed 

 by their ecclesiastical superiors, or betake themselves to 

 other denominations, neither the State, the public, nor 

 their neighbours, concern themselves about the matter. 



I think the recent proceedings of the Pope, in reference 

 to his English hierarchy, have presented to many minds 

 the value and importance of a soundly Protestant Estab 

 lishment in a new light. With much numerical force, a 

 vast amount of educated talent, great political influence, 

 extensive wealth and a concentrated unity of action, a 

 pure Reformed Established Church presents against the 

 encroachments of Popery a barrier which no assaults from 

 without could weaken or overcome. We have reason in 

 these times to regret that our English Church has not 

 been so kept pure, and that its strength as a barrier 

 against Popery from without has been rendered suspi 

 cious by the secret hold which Popery has obtained of 

 some of the strong places within. 



