On this page

• Text (2)

  Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

  • 

    OXFORD MAN7CHJEISM

  • 

    Untitled Article

• Transcript

  • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

    Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

    Untitled Article

    relations of life , where a sufficient force of numbers , and a sufficient weight of concurrent opinions can be brought to bear . The principle applies particularly to that question which is ' somewhat absurdly called " the rights of woman . " We know no rights of woman that are separated from the rights of man . There is no injury inflicted upon the one that does not recoil upon the other . If the Turk keeps woman in subject slavery , the Turk himself becomes a degenerate slave . The brightest days in the history of Tslaji were those when the Saracen of Spain was a model of

    chihas an opinion on the subject , of one kind or other , indulges the , vices of cowardice , hypocrisy , and procrasiStation . If our matrimonial law , as it now exists , has been designed in . perfect wisdom , Lord Campbell is right ; we ought to have new enactments in order to punish people who depart from it in the least degree . Gretua' Green is , as that learned Scotch-English-Irish Lord-Chancellor Chief-Justice declares , an abomination . The English people looks solemn and shakes its head , as if nodding

    the opinion that Lord Campbell , is right ; but as to its customs—let tis look around , from Gretna Green to the Consistory Court , and ask what they are ? There is every variety of laxity under the veil of hypocrisy . " The rights of woman ! " Why , there can be nothing but the wrongs of woman , and of man , where profligacy , veiled in the cowl of hypocrisy , dispenses statutes which give licence under cover of prohibition . It is not Parliament that denies the rights of woman , but men themselves ,

    Women themselves . The practical question at the present day is , whether the public as a body is prepared to render justice to the component parts of itself a& individuals . " We have had many cases of the grossest injustice for Which , chivalry apart , the simple Spirit of equity ought to make us demand redress . It still is the law that the woman accused of matrimonial infidelity has no effectual position before the tribunal : it still is

    the law that the . fault which is alleged against the woman , Gan in very few instances be alleged against tlie hxisband : the English love of fairness lias not yet settled that point . We published the other day a petition signed by several ladies , stowing how women are debarred from equal rights over their own property : mere ti-adesmanlike probity ought to make us call for . a redress of that grievance . In many , States of the American Union the consent of

    the wife is required before the husband can part with family property , even though it come through himself—marriage being recognised there as giving more than a oner-aided community of interest . If a girl is deceived , the only redress is through some fiction , by which it is pretended that her father or somebody else " loses her services . " Society has settled that a husband may marry his sister-inlaw after the death of his Avife , but Society has lected to

    neg make Parliament register that law . The jurisdiction in matrimonial cases is still reposed in those ecclesiastical courts that have become a joke , a scandal , and a disgrace to the country . There is abundance of interest in these questions , plenty of latent public opinion , numbers enough to influence a Parliamentary vote , if those who have these reforms at heart would only speak out and come together . But they live in terror of that conservatrix of all abuses— " Mrs . Guundy 1 "

    valry , when Abd-er-Bahman imprisoned the contumacious fair behind a wall of loose gold ingots , from which she could release herself by appropriating the precious bricks . The laws of IslAm might give to the Saracen King the right of coercing tlie lady ' s will , but a higher law deprived the Prince of the power ; and in obedience to that higher law , he rendered himself a greater , a stronger , and a happier man . That principle of social vitality holds good at the present day , and will hold good as-long as plants grow and men breathe . The lay ? frolds good most es |> eiciaily in the vitality of all * relations that exist between man . and

    woman . The man who can absolutely and HteraHy carry out tlie rule to demand nothing and yield eyerytliing , r sliall exercise a sway such as lid despot can kttairi . It is remarkable that in commerce alone has the sound principle of governing been freel y developed , and that ati absolute trust in the free working of the natural convictions , affections , and necessities of educated men , has been , permitted to bring forth the MesWxesults of civilisation .

    At present We have to deal with a chaotic state of ojjinion , where antiquated prejudice mingles mth the crudest aspiration . We have ladies ^ nd gentleinen pressing upon Parliament pefetions framed in every conceivable spirit ; we' have reformers ^ demanding the laws of th £ miliennium , while our highest authorities are declaring themselves **? unable to grapple with the absurdefct relics of the middle ages . We have alreadyrelated the case of Taxbot verk « s TktBOT . One of the ittost respectable

    judges on the Irish bench had given a judgment based , as we believe , upon misconception ; he took up the allegations in lieu oif the evidence ; and delivered judgment on the case asserted instead of the caSe proved—that is , on a case riot before him . Resting on the high character , the learning , and probity of the judge , the other : judge ' s have . declared : it impossible to reopen the question ; and judicial co ' urtesied close' th £ door ; against justice . ' In the natural order of thingsthe husband ought

    , to'Bave proceeded to tlie House of , Lords , for the purpose of civilly cottfirinntg and' settling the divorce which . he had obtained ecclesiastically : he had suspended that ulterior stage , and no appeal on behalf of the wife seemed to be possible . Here -wds a distinct grievance , arid the friends of . the ladyiVent to tfhe House of Commons , theproper resort in all grievances of the people . The Very ; appeal spontaneously taken , up'by Mr ; JVhin' George Phillimore was tested ; as a scandal ! It ' was an interference

    of the Commons witli the judges , they cried . It was , however , really an appeal to the Commons for making good a . defect in the state of <> ui law . It happens , luckily , that the husband does proceed in tlie ^ outte of Lotfls . and ¦ y ^' $ > therefore , have a higher appeal . ' Justac « M&Tfefnderea to ttie one" party only through r ^ vffl ^^* ^ 9 PP osilQ ' S P arty ia billing ^^ ? ^ f ' aP P ^ v ' W is in **< & » wying ™ W& > ^ iHtts ^ ci 01 i of tU ^ famous state J ^^^ the la ^ doeb but mark the state jJS ¦ « S G ^^ V ^ *** state of public o $ U 6 n % ^ MM ; Ucm * e the public which

    Oxford Man7chjeism

    revenge , as some feigned heathen deity might be ; and even man can forgive a debt . In the sacrifice of Je £ us perishing for the attestation of a truth , man is reconciled to God . " Goo is unchangeable ; it is we who are reconciled to Him , not He to us . " There is no difficulty in understanding this interpretation : it is consistent with all of truth which limited lruman nature is permitted to know ; and so far as that particular doctrine is concerned , the new construction removed every barrier between

    the Church of England and the Universal Church . It necessarily offended those whose idea of religious truth lies in the unintelligibleness of doctrines , and the exclusiveness of forms . The accusers Were found ; J . D . Macbride and C . P . CtOlightly recorded an appeal to Mr . Vice-Chancellor , " saying , " These passages appear to us to contain doctrines contrary to that of the Church of England , as set forth in her Articles of Religion and Book of Common Prayer . " Mr . Vice-Chancellor at

    once put Benjamin Jowett to the test , by calling upon him to sign the Thirty-nine Articles over again . He signed them . It does not appear to have occurred to J . D . Macbride and C . P . Golightly , that if this plain and simple understanding of the Atonement were contrary to the Thirty-nine Articles and the Prayer Book , it was so much the worse for the Thirty-nine and the Book ; but it seems there are means of recdnciling this , the desiderated

    Fortieth Article , to the others , sinee the author of the Fortieth can again , affix his signature to the Thirty-nine . It is not for tis to understand how the feat was accomplished ; the process is reconditely effected ammo imponentis Sufficient for us the fact , that an intelligible , natural , and religious view of the Atonement has found its expression within the Church of England . A . great fact , we say ; but Oxford will not tolerate the reconcilement .

    If Mr . Jowett had refused to sign the Thirty-nine Articles , the Pharisees that reside on the junction of the Thames and Jsis would probably have inade him a new sacrifice for the sake of truth ; but as he disappointed them of that opportunity , they were forced to take a different course . Wanted , a Champion ; and one was found , in Dr . Edward Mkyrick Goulburn , Head Master of Rugby School , Chaplain to -the Lord Bishop of Oxford . He mounted

    the ecclesiastical rostrum , struck his apostolic fisb on the pulpit ( drum , ecclesiastic ) , and made it resound again with the true rataplan of Churchi parade . On the first Sunday in Lent he preached before the University of Oxford his sermon " On the'Goodness and Severity of God as manifested in the Atonement ; " and the counterblast is published " by request of the Vice-Chancellor . " Here , then , is the manifestation of Oxford against Benjamin Jowett .

    OXFORD MANICHiEISM . Oxford will not tolerate a Christianity that is reconciled to human understanding , or to the instinct ? implanted in us by the Author of our being . The intellectual head of the Church which calls itself " of England , " revolts from Any new light that would convert it and its dogmas to a consistent Christianity . Oxford has jusfvmade a demonstration—haa performed a studied " mystery" before the world , for the express purpose of setting itself right . We have already mentioned the really great and beautiful idea thrown out b y Mr . Jowett , which so completely reconciled a fundamental doctrine of the Church of England to the broadest principles of religion , to the doctrines of other sects , and to the Catholio and Eternal Church of Humanity . Thro \ igh the Atonement ,, argued Mr . Jowrtt , God ia not reconciled to humanity by the satisfaction of

    " We must , " says Dr . Goulbuun , " ascertain that we are rooted and grounded in the ' principles of the doctrine of Christ , ' for assiircdly unsoundness of the groundwork would vitiate the whole stracture of our religious belief . We must be careful to accept , with the utmost simplicity , the intimations of the Holy Scripture . We are children , —natural in stincts , and even ottr so-called , moral sense , are no safe guides ; childish notions and puerile instincts as little help us to

    understand the doctrine of the Vicarious sacrifice , as the little child of an Alpine region can understand the severity of the father that makes him walk at a distance on the ice to disperse the weight , and buries him in the snow , to shelter him from the night cold . Nay , it is part of God ' s dealings with us , to try us by our moral sense . He would have us firmly believe , that He is love , goodness , wisdom , holiness , justice , ttuth . Believe , I say , and not see . To' the Patriarch AbisaHam He put the ques-

    Untitled Article

    J&L ^ .. ,. ^^ :., :.. ^____ i . ,. ^ JSA jLl AP ^ B . [ No . 311 , Saturday ,

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), March 8, 1856, page 230, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2131/page/14/