The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-03-13 00:00:00

RAILWAY BILL.

There was also another short discussion on the
Midland Railway Bill, which was ultimately read a
second time.
ASH WEDNESDAY.

The usual motion made by the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, "That the House meet at two o'clock to
being Ash Wednesday, was opposed by Sir
J. Pease, and carried on a division by 156 to 82.

DISESTABLISH3IENT OF THE CHURCH IN WALES.

Mr. Dillwyn then moved his resolution in favour of
the Disestablibhment of the English Church in Wales,
and, having stated that in a population of 1,343,227
only 217,412 were members of the Establishment, he
contended that the Church in Wales had failed to pro-
mote the religious interests of the Welsh people.—Mr.
Richard, who seconded the motion, asserted that the
Church of England had never been the Church of
Wales. He traced at great length the history of the
Church in the Principality, and, white arguing that the
religious, moral, and orderly condition of the Welsh
people was due entirely to the efforts of Noncon-
formist ministers, he admitted that during the last
thirty years the abuses of the Church had been
greatly diminished.—Mr. A. Grey admitted that the
Church had failed to promote religion in Wales, and
moved an amendment proposing reforms in its organiza-
tion as best calculated to enable it to adapt
itself more efficiently to the religious needs and
wishes of the Welsh people. He complained that the
attack against the Church had been limited to its
abuses, and had not extended to the principle of a
national Establishment; and insisted that the xistence
of abuses did not justify abolition.—Mr. Maclnnes
having seconded the amendment, Mr. Raikes expressed
surprise that Church questions had been brought
forward so early in the session, seeing that so many
Liberal members had obtained their seats on the
understanding that the attack on the Church was to be
postponed. He protested against the wording of the
motion which suggested that the Church was an alien
Church in Wales, and that Wales was not a part of
England ;;and after relating many facts in direct con-
flict with Mx. Dillwyn's estimate of the position of the
Churcil, he examined in detail his statistics which, he
asserted, had no authority at all and gave an entirely
erroneous view of the relative strength of the different
religious bodies. Next he gave a long aeconut of the
work done by the Church in various dioceses in Wales
which, he contended, entirely disproved the assertion
that she had failed or was the Chprch of a minority.—
Rendel argued that Wales should be treated as a
separate country. Mr. Abraham (Rhonda Valley)
supported the motion, and Mr. Kenyon spoke against
it; and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who twitted
the Conservative party with having started the ques-
tion of Disestablishment at the general election,
contended that it was impossible to separate the
Church in Wales from the Church in England. The
Government could not accept the motion unless
they were prepared to give effect to it by early
legislation, and this, he said, they were pre-
cluded from doing by Mr. Gladstone's manifesto.—Sir
R. Cross explained the position taken up by the Con-
servative party on the Church question at the general
election as one of defence against the attack originated
by the Radical party. He contended that the Church
is, and has been, doing good work in Wales, and dis-
puted Many of the statistics as to attendance at
churches and other places of worship in Wales quoted
by Mr. Dillwyn and Mr. Richard.—On a division, Mr.
Dillwyn's motion was negatived by 241 to 229; and on
Mr. Gray's amendment being put, Sir M. Hicks-Beach
congratulated the Conservative party on having
defeated Mr. Dillwyn in spite of the assist-
ance given to him by the Government, all the
members of which—at least, the half-dozen who were
present notwithstanding the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer's speech had voted for the motion.—The
Chancellor of the Exchequer, however, maintained that
he had followed the usual course for one who had
objected to both motions, and after some confused dis-
cussion as to the form in which the question should be
now put, the House divided on the question that Mr.
Grey's words be Inserted in the main question. This
was carried by 251 to 152, and there was then a third
division on Mr. Grey's resolution on the substantive
question, and it was negatived by 346 to 49.—Some
other business was disposed of, and the House
adjourned at ten minues past two.