Page:The Church of England, its catholicity and continuity.djvu/209

Rh became law a Society was started, The English Church Union, in opposition to it, to uphold the cause of the Ritualists and to oppose another Society, The Church Association.

As the Church was stirred up to acknowledge its responsibility, other important movements came into birth in the Church of England. Many new Acts were passed by Parliament for the regulation of the Church's affairs. In 1871 was passed "The Incumbents' Resignation Act," through which clergymen were enabled to resign their cures and receive a pension from them if age, illness or lunacy incapacitated them for their duties. This Act was found to be unsatisfactory in its working, so that in 1887 an amended Act was passed to remedy its weakness.

In 1871 was passed "The Ecclesiastical Dilapidation Act," which aimed at preserving the property of our Churches. This imposed duties on every incumbent in England. It makes him liable to keep his parsonage or vicarage, as the case might be, in good repair, and if he fail to do this his successor can legally claim from him or his executors the cost of the necessary repairs.

In 1880 was passed "The Burial Laws Amendment Act." This made it lawful for anyone who was not a clergyman to use what service he pleased in even consecrated ground, and it freed the clergy from any censure if they used the Burial Service in unconsecrated ground.

In 1891 "The Tithe Act" was passed, which ordered that tithes should be paid in money instead of in kind as before. But by this Act the clergy have greatly suffered though they have been benefited thereby in other ways.