The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1867-04-16 00:00:00

LORD 811AFTIMURY'S AMENDED CLERICAL

VIMITM girt% BILL
The following is • copy of the Bill, with certain verbal
and other amendments, which was laid on the table of
the Mouse of Lords on Friday lust :
A Bill for better enforcing uniformity in the clerical
vestments and ornamenta to be worn by ministers of the
United Church of England and 'relied in the per-
formance of public worship.
Whereas by the reoeived and accustomed practice and
usage of the United Church of England and Ireland
am tam n clerical vedrnente and ornaments hays been worn
by the ministers thereof, *a well in the saying of the
public) prayers as in ministering the sacraments or other
rites of the Church, the same being the elerioal vest-
ments and ornaments specified as proper to be worn in
such saying and ministering in the Fifty-eighth CIMOU
of the Canons Ecclesiastical passed in the year one
thousand six hundred and four, and enjoined sad com-
manded by his Majesty Xing James the First by letters
patent to be observed, executed, and kept both within
the province of Canterbury and York: And whereas it
is expedient for the preservation of uniformity that there
should be no deviation from the provisions of the add
Canon, except as shall he by this Act provided.
Be it spaded by the Queen's most Eso•llent Majesty,
by and with the advice and consent of the Lord, spiritual
and temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament
assembled, and by the authority of the same, as
follows:

_
I. Every minister when saying the public prayers or
ministering the sacraments or other rites of the Church,
Oral wear a surplice with sleeves, and if be think fit he
may wear over such surplioe, according to the present
customary manner, a plain black silk sesrf of such form
and description as that now accustomably worn; and if
he be • graduate of an University, he may also if he
think fit wear upon his surplice snob hood as by the
orders nf his University is agreeable to his degree ; or
If he be not a graduate, may. if he think fit, wear upon
his surplice, instead of • hood, some decent tippet of
black, so it be not silk. H any question arise touching
the matter, decency, or comeliness of such surplice or
scarf or tippet, the same shall be decided oy the
Ordinary.
2. Any minister who shall in any Church during such
saying or ministering wear any other clerical vestments
or ornaments than those beretnbefore mentioned. or
otherwise knowingly and wilfully violate the provisions
of this Act, or aid or assist in the commission of such
offence shall be guilty of an offence against the laws
Beclernastiesl, ss well as spinal this Act.
3. All statutes, Ecclesiastical Canasta, and customs
in England or Ireland, so fares the sans sreeontrarient
or repugnant to this Act, shall be of no force or effect.
1. In the construction of this Let the following words ,
and expressisns shall, if not inconsistent with the eon- I
text, have the meanings hereto assigned to them; that '
Is to say the word
"Church" shall mean and include any Cherish. Chapel,
or otter building consecrated for the paths-manes
of public worship, according to the use of the
United Church of England and Ireland: or any
building licensed for the performanee of each publie
worship.
" Minister" shall mean any clerk in Holy Orders
qualified and suthorised to officiate in any Church,
except an archbishop or bishop.
"Saying the public prayers," or "ministering the
Sacnuaents," or "other righte of the Church,"
shall mean the public ministration of the Sacra
meats and the using in public of any of the public
prsyers in the Book of Common Prayer as therein
Prescribed.
5. Thin Act may be cited as "Th. Clerical Vestments
Act, 1867."
6. This Act shall only extend to England and Ireland,
the Isle of Man, and the Islands of Jewelry and Guernsey
and their dependencies.
7. This Act shall commence sad have effect one month
next after the passing thereof.