Page:The house of Cecil.djvu/304

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

264 THE CECILS

clamour. The policy adopted of importing rice into Bengal without interfering with the export trade was completely justified by its success.

The Public Worship Regulation Bill, of 1874, gave Lord Salisbury another opportunity to expound his views on the Church of England and the relation between the Church and the State. With much eloquence he defended his position, that the existence of the establishment depends on its frank and loyal tolerance of three schools in the Church the " Sacramental," the " Emotional " and the " Philosophical" which arise, " not from any difference in the truth itself, but because the truth must necessarily assume different tints, as it is refracted through the different media of different minds." ' The problem you have to solve," he said, " is how to repress personal and individual eccentricities, if you will, how to repress all exhibitions of wilful- ness, of lawlessness, of caprice : but, at the same time that you do that, you must carefully guard any measures which you introduce from injuring the consciences or suppressing the rights of either of the three schools of which the Church consists. On this condition alone can your legislation be safe." In this attitude, he showed himself far more moderate and statesmanlike than the majority of the Lords, who passed the Bill in sympathy with the popular cry against Ritualism.

This Bill, which was officially supported by Disraeli, was again the occasion of a difference of opinion between the Premier and the Secretary

�� �