CHURCH REFORM LEAGUE. The Church Reform League concerns itself solely with Church Reform. It is a non-party and non-political association, and does not deal with questions of doctrine. It advocates five principles of Reform. 1. That, saving the supremacy of the Crown according to law, and, in respect to legisla tion, subject to the veto of Parliament, the Church should have freedom for self-government, by means of reformed Houses of Convocation (which shall be thoroughly representative, with power for the Canter bury and York Convocations to sit together if desired), together with a representative body or bodies of the Laity. 2. That the Laity should have the principal share in the administration of Finance, and, within the fixed limits of Church order, a real control in the appointing of their Pastors, and in all matters of eccles iastical organization and administration, a concurrent voice with the Clergy. That the Communicants of every Parish should have a recognized power to prevent the arbitrary alteration of lawful customs in ritual. 3.
That all Ministers and Church Officers should be re movable by disciplinary process, benefices being made tenable only during the adequate performance of the duties, and that a " Godly discipline " for the Laity should be established. 4. That all transfers by sale of next presentations and advowsons should be made illegal, but that where patronage is transferred to a Diocesan Trust reasonable compensation may be given. 5. That in each Diocese a Diocesan Trust be formed to receive and administer Diocesan and Parochial Endow ments on lines similar to those on which the Ecclesiasti cal Commissioners administer their Trust. As an
example of the spirit which animates the Church Reform League, its suggestions with regard to the election, number, and income of Bishops are significant and worth quoting. " Compared with freedom for legislation all else seems to us at present secondary. None the less, it is obvious that a better method for the nomination of our Bishops should be found than the choice of names by a Premier of any views or creed for approval by the King. It is notorious that within the lifetime of many of us such powers have been used for party purposes. Throughout the last century it was commonly so, and especially in the case of the Church in Wales. The appointments made by the Crown ruined the Church in Wales and paralysed the Church in England." Again, " surely it is time to do away with the income limit of £3,000 per annum that so seriously thwarts the founding of new sees. The work of the Church calls for a large episcopate; it in no way calls for a rich episcopate. On the contrary so large an increase of income is a draw back. The old sees have, indeed, heavy obligations attached to them that it may not be easy or wise to sever from them. No such obligations need attach to new sees. Hence to cripple our progress with such a condition, in itself a very doubtful blessing, is a spiritual folly. It only points a contrast that alienates the artisan, while it weakens a standard of living that is bast and most effective when entirely simple and apostolic." See the Leaflets of the Church Reform League.