Item 120 - Letter from James Martineau to Henry Sidgwick

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Reports having 'read and re-read' Sidgwick's essay on casuistry, which, he believes, will give 'true direction to many perplexed consciences among the clergy, and valuable suggestions of reform to laymen who are earnest in ecclesiastical affairs.' Is certain that their Committee will adopt it. While acknowledging that HS has successfully proved 'the incompatibility of a fixed liturgy with an unrelaxed clerical sincerity', Martineau doubts 'whether the former is worth retaining at the cost of the latter', and owns to be shaken in his nationalism by Sidgwick's paper. Refers to the free prayer of Scotland and the Continental Protestant Churches, which 'affords no protection to the congregation against the idiosyncracies of the minister.' Stresses the importance of ministerial sincerity, and claims it to be more important even than doctrinal protection. Refers to the suppression of clerical pre-thought, which arises in part 'from fear of ecclesiastical consequences'. Believes that if Sidgwick's rule of 'frank confession of divergence were acted on, the gain to the conscience of the teacher would be countervailed...by inevitable forfeiture of religious power.' Claims that the sacrifice incurred for the sake of Nationalism 'would drive all the popular fervour and much of the spiritual purity of the country into voluntary organisations, which, at least for a time, would give them freer scope and firmer trust.' States the published casuistry must be 'the ruin of any Church.' Refers to the theological struggles of the clergyman. Questions Sidgwick's view on 'the deviations of individual opinion from the prescribed standards of worship'. Puts forward a scenario involving a 'simple groundwork of Christian Theism', but fears that 'it is too late for such a revolution. Sends back the MS [not included].