The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-08-22 00:00:00

THE PUBLIC WORSHIP REGULATION

ACT.

The Act for the better administration of the laws re-
specting the regulation of public worship was issued.
A portien of it. as to the appointment of the new judge,
comes into force at once, and Lord Penzance, on the
nomination of the Archbishops of Canterbury and
York, with the approval of her Majesty, is to be the
new judge ; and on a vacancy of the office of the Dean
of Arches, and also of the Master of the Faculty, the
offices are, es op.°, to vest in the judge. Another
part of the statute oau be acted upon before or after
the lit of July, as to the making of rules and orders.
As to complaints against clergymen for alterations or
additions to the services as well as omissions from the
Prayer-books, the lit July next is the day of the opera-
tion of the statute. The mode of procedure is to be by
an archdeacon, churchwarden, or three parishioner,
of one year's residence or more, and three persona
residing in a diocese, making a representation,
supported by a declaration of its truth, to the
1 Bishop, of the practices complained of, and if the
Bishop is of opinion that proceedings should not be
adopted, he is to give his reasons in writing. If he
considers proceedings should be adopted, be is to send
a copy of the representation within 21 days to the
person complained of, and require both parties to state
whether they are willing to submit to his directions
without an appeal, and if they do, he is to hear the

matter and pronouncejudgment If, however, the parties
do not express their willingness to submit to the Bishop's
directions. then he us to transmit the repre,titation to
the Archbishop, who is to send the same b. the judge to
hear the ease, anti before hearing security for costs to be
given. The person complained of is to transmit to the
judge an answer to the representation, and in default
of such answer to be deemed to deny the allegation.
The ease is to be heard in open court on rico voce evi-
dence, and the judge to possess the powers of a curt
of record. The parties may appear in person, or by
counsel, or by proctor, attorney, or solicitor' and there
is an appal to her Majesty in Council. Obedience
to a monition by a Bishop or the judge is to be enforced,
and the clergyman to be inhibited for three months;
and if a second inhibition within three years the
preferment to become void, unless a Bishop should
postpone it for three months, and on such avoidance a
new minister to be appointed as if the incumbent was
dead. The Bishop during the inhibition to provide,
for the spiritual charge of the parish, and to raise funds
for the purpose by a sequestration. With reference to
cathedrals and collegiate chi:lrene N as to the fabric,
ornaments, &c., the person complained of is to be the
Dean and Chapter, and the visitor or judge to enforce
a monition, and, if necessary, to enforce payment of
costs by a sequestration ; if the complaint is against
the ornaments of a minister, or as to the observance of
the Prayer Book, then to be against the clerk in holy
orders. For the same complaints procee tinge are not
to be against a clergyman under the Church Discipline
Act, and this Act. New rules and orders to be made
and laid before Parliament. The schedule contains
two forms as to the judge being a member of the
Church of England, and as to the manner in which a
representation is to be made to a Bishop.