The Express.
London, England, 1855-06-29 00:00:00

CONVOCATION.

NEW POWERS DEMANDED OF THE CROWN.
Yesterday, the prelates and clergy of the province
of Canterbm assembled at Westminster, in pursuance of
adjoarmasat from last session. There wu a fall attendance
of members, and the proceedings appeared to excite mach
interest.

17PPZI. HOITBI.
The Archbishop of Canterbury presided ; and there were
also present the Bishops of London, Winchester, Oxford,
Exeter, Salisbury, Gloucester and Bristol, Bath and Wells,
Lincoln sad St. Asaph.
The Bishop of London brought up a report from a com-
mittee; appointed last session, pointing out a mode which,
with the sanction of the crown, would be both safe ending
for removing the anomalies at present existing in the repn-
eentation of the clergy in the Lower Rouse of Convocation;
and declaring that it would at this time be expedient to
limit to this point the address to be presented to her Ma-
jesty, and that they have prepared accordingly the heads of
each an address.
The Bishop of Lwow moved, and the Bishop of Ox-
/ODD seconded, the adoption of this report.
The Bishop of BT. ABAPII objected to it. He said that the
real queston at issue was, whether it should be an acting or
enacting, or a merely deliberative body. The real question
was, whether members of Convention were to be man ad-
visers, or whether they were to be a body to whom fall
legislative powers were to be entrusted. Ills own opinion
was that, as a mer.ly deliberative body, Convocation might
be of the greatest use to the church; bat that, if it attempted
to usurp legislative functions, the result would be very
disastrous. Re believel that Convocation was in au infinitely
better position while it deliberated and recommended ; and,
under those circumstances, he felt bound to oppose the

adoption of the report.
The Archbishop of Cagrzannith said that the report
which had been presented by the right reverend prelate
was in direct opposition to that agreed upon last J uly. It
was then decided that it was undesirable to adopt measures
for the revival of the active powers of Convocation.
The Bishop of OXFORD thought the reasons advanced by
the right reverend prelate (the Bishop of St Aleph) unin-
telligible. No sort of ashen was proposed in the Bishop of
Lenden's report. It was simply a proposal that her Majesty
should be pleased to sanction such a representation as would
tend to the efficiency of Convocation and the benefit of its de-
liberations. The Archbishop of Canterbury had alluded to
the fact that, at the last meeting of Convocati.in, it was
agreed to say nothing farther on the revival of its active
powen. That was certainly the fact, but cireumstanoes
had changed. It was decided not to proceed further with
the question then. Last July he (the Ballot. of Orford)
pressed upon the house that it would be undesirable then
to propose any change in the tonstitivion of Convocation
as there were doubts in the mind of the church upon the
subject. At the very time he ventured to make that recom-
mendation to the house, the whole question was before her
Majesty's Solicitor•Oeneral, who said that if Convocation
would give him time, he would satisfy it as to the means of
carrying out what it wished. He said he was ready to give
an opinion at once, but that it would be an off hand opinion
—worth nothing. The learned gentleman was then of
opinion that Convocation ought to go to parliament in order
to secure the desired changes, but since that time his
opinions had undergone a change, and he was no longer of
opinion that it was necessary to go to parliament, as her
Majesty's sanction was all that was required. The follow-
ing was the opinion of Sir Richard Bethel' and Dr. Robert
Plifilimors, M.P.
Crimes:J.—The writ to the archbishop respecting the
assembling of Convocation orders his grace to summon the
clergy (Ckrtun),and is silent aa to the manner and mode of
their representation. It would seem that the mode of re-
presentation has varied at different times in different ways,
and, among them, by the omission and addition of proctors.
Nevertheless, it appears to us that it would not now be
, .err
competent to Convocation to put a construction upon the
word dense, or clergy, 1 so as thereby to enlarge the consti-
tuency beyond the limits assigned to it by usage without
the consent and ratification of the Crown. We are of
opinion that it would be competent to Convocation, having
obtained the license of the Crown, to discuss the question of
the alteration of their representative body, and to make a
canon enlarging it ; and that such canon, if it subsequently
obtained the approbation of the Crown, would be sufficient
to eff ct, legally, a new representation of the clergy in Con-
vocation.

is RICHARD BETRILL.
RODIRT PHILLIMORIA"

On such authority he (the Bishop of Orford) thought
Convocation might safely ask the Crown to sanction what it
required. They did not want to make a canon, but to frame
a constitution. To make a canon would be to affect the state
of things without, whereas all they wanted wu to secure a
reform within. The Crown had never refused en address
from Convocation, and he had no hesitation an saying that
if this were refused, it would be unconstitutional and with-
out precedent.
Oa a division, there appeared—
For the sdoption of the report, 6—the Bishops of London,
Oxford, Butter Salisbury, Gloucester and Bristol, and
Bath and Wells.
A it, 3—the Bishops of Winchester, Lincoln, and
St. Asaph.
The motion was therefore declared carried.
The following address to her Majesty was then agreed to:
—" We, your Majesty's faithful subjects, the archbishop,
bishops, and clergy of the province of Canterbury, 'ambled
In Convoution,liumbly represent to your Majesty that
committees of Convocation have sat, and after careful con-
sideration have reported to Convocation on various subjects
deeply concerning the spiritual welfare of this realm—via.
on the measures needful for enforcing discipline amongst
the clergy, the extension of the church, the modification of
her sees, and the reform of the representation of the
clergy in the provincial synod of Canterbury. We are °Pa-
yload that the hill consideration of these aljects is of great
moment to the well-belog of our church ; but, in order that
our deliberations on these, or such other matters as your
Majesty shall as fit to submit for our consideration, may be
se conducted ma to give to the church the tulles; satisfac-
tion that in them the mind of the clergy will be fairly ex-
pressed, we humbly submit to your Majesty that the repre-
sentation of the clergy in the Lower Reuse of Convocation
ought to be amended. On consulting very high authorities,
we are informed that sash an amendment may lawfully be
tarried into effect, if your Majesty shall be pleased to grant
layout royal license to consider with a view to agreeing on
any such amendments, and than afterwards approve of the
same when submitted to your royal consideration. We ven-
ture, therefore, humbly to pray your Majesty to grant us
your royal license to consider of a constitution hereupon;
and in order that these deliberations may include the clergy
of the northern province, we further pray your Majesty to
punt a similar house to the Convocation of the province of
York, and to sanction our communicating with that body,
I with a view to uniting, under your Majesty's approval, our
deliberations hereon." .

The Bishop of Oxroso then moved the following resolu-
tion : " That linos the last meeting of this house, the house
having received an opinion of her Majesty's Solicitor-
O l and Dr. Hobert Phillimore, pointing out a safe and
easy mode, if it should be sanctioned by her Majesty, of
emending the representation of the clergy in the Lower
House, it appears to this hones that the reasons which led
them, at the lest session, to postpone the consideration of this
subject no longer exist, sad that they can most effectually
°omit for the cause of church extension, by seeking, in the
first instance, an amendment of the representation of the
clergy is the Lower House of Convocation."
The resolution, having been seconded, was agreed to.
The Prolocutor was then summoned, and the resolution
and address were presented to him, with a request that he
would submit them for consideration to the Lower House,
and report upon them, if poesible, to-morrow.
Their lordships then adjourned.
LOW 11017111.

The Lower Hoes* assembled in the Jerusalem Chamber
at 11 o'clock. After prayers the names of the members
were called over by Mr. Burkett, of Doctor'-commons,
actuary, when there were present and represented by proxy
the following gentlemen: The Deans of Norwich, Ely,
Landoll, Christ Church, Canterbury, Exeter, Lincoln,
Llandeff, Worcester, St. Asaph, St. David's, Bath and
Welle,!Brietel, Gloucester, and Hereford ; the Veoerebles
the Archdeacons of Bath,Tauntoo, Bristal, Salop, Coventry,
St. Albans, Gloucester, Wells, Gsford, Barnstaple Corn-
wall, Essen. Colchester, Maidstone, Canterbury, Barnstaple,
Somerset, Coventry, Llandaff, St. Aesph, Hereford, &e. ;
the Rev. Dr. Peel, Dr. Russell, Dr. Jelf, Dr. Grant, the
Hon. and Rev. Canon Villiers, Canon Hills, Reeds. Biota-
field, Iteldnbeard, Spencer, Vincent, Dr. M'Call, Rev. J.
H. Cox, Hill, &e.
The PROLOCUTOR nominated the following gentlemen to
act as his assessors: the Dean of No; wick, the Dean of
Woreseter, the Venerable the Archdesoon of Nottingham,
the Venerable the Archdeacon of St. Albans, Dr. Hume%
and the Bev. Chancellor Marten.

lßoma iiiiial buiness bavist ban disposed of,
The PSOLQOUTOR tea behre the boon the report of the

committee on church rates. It recommended that church
rates be hessforth limited to charges strictly necessary for
asaintainlog the fabric of the church and churchyard in
&sent order and repair, and that, in order to enforce the
makieg of rates so limited, it should be imperative on the
eitarchwardens, within a certain period after their appoint-
naent,to submit to the vestry an estimate of the expenses to be
Sewed in the ensuing year, together with a detailed state-
ment of the items. That if the vestry refuses to make a
rate, or make owe for lose than the churchwardens require,
it shall be competent for the churchwardens, or either of
tbem, to appeal to the next quarter sessions, who shall have
power to make a rate, or to confirm the rate, or to increase
the amount thereof to any sum not exceeding the church-
wardens' estimate.
The PROLOCUTOR having bees summoned to the Upper
House, on his return read documents reporting the proceed-
ings of that house in the matter of the address to the Queen.
The Rev. Chancellor M•RTIN moved the adoption of the
address agreed to by the bishops.
The Archdeacon of Taunton was compelled to oppose it.
After considerable discussion in support of the original
motion and for the amendment, in which about twenty
member of Convocation expressed their opinions on the pro-
priety of admitting the laity into Convocation, it was sug-
gested that the discussion of the subject should be adjourned
till the next session, but
The Archdeacon of Hamm, objected to an adjournment,
until they had decided what course they intended to adopt.
He should vote for the addrese, and he hoped that Convict•
lion would carry it, as it would then enable them to do that
which they could not at present. By a fuller representation
of the clergy they would be enabled to originate many
matters of great importance. He certainly was surprised
that there had been objections raised to the address.
Dr. JILI, most cordially supported the adoption of the
Wrest, but at the same time he did not consider himself in
say way bound by its statements, but he believed that it
vs the best step which could be taken at the preset time,
is order that they might put themselves right with the
publia
Rev. Mr. VINcINT—By asking to be able to reform Con-
vorattea at the present time, they were admitting that they
were not able to do anything before.
The Rev. D. Russell, the Archdeacon of Worcester, Dr.
Archdeacon Thorp, Archdeacon Denison, and the
Archdeacon of Barnstaple, having suggested some slight
alterations in the address,
I The PRoLocuroa said the opinion of the lawyers did not
go wear as to admit the laity.
The several amendments were then withdrawn, where-
upon
The Rev. Dr. M'Crar, gave notice that be should move
an amendment, when, of. er some farther discussion, the
house adjourned without coming to a vote.