But would the functions of the governing body be confined to the management of the estate of a benefice and to the appointing and, where necessary, to the dismissal of the incumbent? Yes. It seems to me that the functions of a governing body should go no further. That was a golden rule which Lord Palmerston laid down for the governing bodies of our endowed schools, and which these bodies have generally had the wisdom to carry out in practice--“Get the best man you can find and--get out of his way!” It should be no part of the duties of the governing body to interfere with what may be called the internal affairs of the church and the ministrations of the parson. These should be matters of arrangement between the congregation and their minister. Let the powers and the duties of churchwardens be defined as clearly as may be--let the number of the churchwardens be increased if you will, or let the old _sidesman_ be revived; but let it be clearly understood that the parish is one thing and the congregation is another. Let it be understood that the rector of the _parish_ as a parish officer should be accountable to the governors in so far as they are trustees for the _parish_ reserve fund; but in matters with which only the congregation worshipping habitually in the church are concerned, let no outsider have any _locus standi_. If in his administrations a clergyman insists on doing or leaving undone certain practices which are hateful to the congregation to which he ministers; if between priest and people things should come to a deadlock; by all means let it be allowable, as it ought to be, for the people to demand redress, and let them ask for that redress with authority and a claim to have their grievances considered. In such cases there would be no need of rushing into the law courts, no spiteful resort to costly legislation to crush or ruin a foolish, obstinate, and ignorantly conscientious clergyman. The congregation--speaking through their representatives, the churchwardens, sidesmen, or whatever other name you might choose to call them by--would lay their complaint before the bishop first, and as an ultimate resort would go to the governing body, and claim that their parson should be dismissed, on grounds which should be, of course, properly formulated.