The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-05-16 00:00:00

THE PUBLIC WORSHIP REHULATION BILL„

Thu Archbishop of Canterbury moved the second reading
of the Public Worship Regulation Bill, and the Archbishop
of York, in seconding the motion, said the bill was rendered
wicessary by the great irritation created by practices in the
celebration of Divine Worship which Were offensive to the
laity. and he maintained that the Bishops were powerless to
prevent them on account of the great expense and delay
neeitiTing before a steis could be put to such practices by
legal process. Ile contended that it was not requisite to
submit the proposed bill in the first instance to Convoca-
tion, and he }pointed out that it was, in reality, very
much the same in substance as the propoeal recom-
mended by the Colleyeatiun of Canterbury in itiCAI
The bill was not a penal measure, but the promoters of it
wished that, in conformity with the old rules of the
Church. the Bishop's Court should be the exponent of the
be, and that no Incumbent should be allowed to buds! go at
his own caprice in practices offensive to the laity, and which,
unless eheeked at once, would cause congregations to drop
off from the Church. Ile admitted that communications on
the subject of the bill which had been received by the
Bishops showed that certain modifications were required Pa
the measure, and at ter mentioning certain amendments
which they were willing to agree to, he observed that this
question must not be looked on as a squabble between the
Bishops and a portion of the clergy, but as a matter vital to
the constitution of the Church
Lord Shaftnebury was not prepared to oppose the second
read tug of the bill, for he thought that a measure proposed
by the right reverend prelates was entitledsto respectful con-
sideration ; but though all persons were agreed that " some-
thing " must be done, he was of opinion that that " some-
thing " should not be done in the proposed fashion. It did
not appear to him that the proposed amendments,
so far as he uuderstood them, were adequate for the
purpose, hut, taking the bill as painted, he first
ut all objected to the constitution o the new
Court. and especially to the great pun-era e"'ii • the Bishop,
as well as to other matters connected witll 11 t iurisdietion
of the twat, and among other Dances,.
m the immediate exe-
cution of judgment, eeen after notice of appeal should be
Oren. He did not sue how anything in the bit could reach
such practices as the Archbishop of Canterbury alluded to
the other night. or how it wools! deal with the Confessional,
which was spreading very rapidly and was fraught with great
danger to the constitution of Clue Church.
The Bishop of Peterborough replied with much vigour to
some of the remarks of Lord Shaftesbury, and maintained it
was incumbent on the House to find sonic remedy for
practices grievous to the people. It would be unreasouode
to delay applying a remedy until the law was reformed. for
then the result would he that, by the time the law shoold be
reformed, there would he no Church left at all. Therefore,
after much consideration, he had most reluctantly come
to the conclusion that some legislation on the sub-
ject was necessary ; but lie hoped the hill is ould be
much nioditied Cu Committee. The real evil was that we
are endeavouring to govern the Clinrch by olisolete laws
passed more than 200 years ago. Therefore. the retnedy was
to be sought in effecting a searching and complete returns of
those laws If the Church were given stales internal power
of self-regulation with regard to these minute rubrical de-
tails, he wuta satisfied that the good feeling and good sense
of the great majority of churchmen would soon find a happy
solution of the present unhappy difficulties

After remarks Ny Iddd Ehury, the Duke of Ntarlhorongh,
Lord Nelson, Lord ilarrowly, Lord ilatherley, Lord bath,
Lord Ne!bourne, and Lord Limerick,

Lord Salisbury said the Government wool not oppose the
second reading of a bill introducml with a concumnee of
the Right Rev. Bench ; but they did not take on themselves '
responsibility for the mode in which the bill dealt with
the subject. It could not be denied that the bill was
not introduced without cause, for the lawlessness of a
certain portion of the Clergy called for legislation. while
at the sonic time it was impossible not to be struck
with the extreme difficulties by which legislation on the
subject was surrounded, as ninny of the things objected to
were precisely those which no legislation could reach, and
the question arose whether legislation would Hot destroy
some things which it was desirable to preserve. lie rant
the Government would reserve their opinion on the details
of the measure until they saw what those details really
were, but be warned the House to take care lest a mat
party should be alienated from the Church by the passing of
the bill

Lord Grey said it was clear that an attempt was being
made by a certain number of the clergy to bring hack the
Church of England more nearl3 to the Church of Sonic, aud
it was against such an attempt that the present bill was
directed. Ile looked upon the bill as affording a fair ground
on which legislation might he based, and he trusted the
present Session would not be allowed to terminate without
an endeavour being made to put an end to the objectionable
practices which had been complaimd of.

The Archbishop of Canterbury replied to some observa-
tions whish had fallen from Lord Salisbury, who, he hoped,
would separate himself from those now bringing about great
Injury to the Church by open disobedience to it. taws. Th,
bill would have the effect of preventing many objectionable
practices at present being carried on by certain clergymen.
An endeavour was being made in cettain quarters to represent
that the bill would cauae confusion and hearthurnings, but
he had such confidence in the good sense and loyalty of the
people of this country as to believe that if Parliament
created a tribunal easy of access to them they would be
found satisfied with it. He would propose that the bill be
committed pro forma this slay, in order to base the amend-
ments inserted in it.

the Duke of Richmond said that from what had passed in
the course of the debate it was quite evident that some
legislation in the matter was absolutely necessary • but when
any attempt Was made to deal with it practically it was
. . .

found to be full of difficulty, because the Church consiated of
more than one party. and care must be tako that in
endeavouring to conciliate one party another hitould not
be alienated.

The bill was then read a second time, atol the other
business on the paper being klisp.ed of, their lordships ad-
journed at nye minutes to twelve o'clock