A few
parrot words had been learned as to the expediency of fitting the
great and increasing Church of England to the growing necessity of
the age. That the CHURCH OF ENGLAND would still be the CHURCH OF
ENGLAND was repeated till weary listeners were sick of the unmeaning
words. But the zeal of the combatants was displayed on that other
question. Faction was now the avowed weapon of the leaders of
the so-called Liberal side of the House, and it was very easy to
denounce the new doctrine. Every word that Mr. Gresham had spoken
was picked in pieces, and the enormity of his theory was exhibited.
He had boldly declared to them that they were to regard men and not
measures, and they were to show by their votes whether they were
prepared to accept such teaching. The speeches were, of course, made
by alternate orators, but the firing from the Conservative benches
was on this evening much the louder.
It would have seemed that with such an issue between them they might
almost have consented to divide after the completion of the two great
speeches.
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