The Express.
London, England, 1866-08-02 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT•

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—WzoNsfiDAT, AIRS. 1.
THE COMPULSORY CHURCH RATE ABOLITION
BILL.—ADJOURNED DEBATE.
After the close of our yesterday's report,
Lard J. MANNERS pointed out that even the nominal
rappertors of the measure had argued against its prin-
ciple and questioned its proposed compromise. He urged
that by the bill the very essence and life of church rates
was sacrificed, while the principle was established of the
for seats in pariah churches—a principle which
Crrt been always strenuously resisted ; it effectually
brought about the separation of church and state, while
its operation would be productive of anything but that
pesos and concord which were its professed objects.
Sir G. GREY observed that the upshot of the debate
was to show that whoever undertook to deal with church
rates, except on the principle of absolute and uncondi-
tional abolition, undertook a very thankless task. The
principle of the present bill, however, was a sound one,
for it practically abolished the rate, while it left machi-
nery adequate for the raising of the rates in such parishes
as were still willing to raise the tax.
Mr. SELWYN urged against the bill that it was an in-
effectual attempt at a compromise, inasmuch as it was not
founded on mutual concession ; for it took away an undue
share of the rights of the church, while the machinery of
its details was calculated to throw obstacles in the way of
those voluptary contributions for the repairs of the church
*erbieh the law now favoured, and which were perfectly
oometent at the peasant time.
Mr. HOLDEN, in reference to the Wesleyan body,
stated that they were opposed to church rates ; and what-
ever may have been the case formerly, they were no
longer in favour of the oonnexion between church and
state, and this change of feeling was brought about mainly
by the imposition of church rates.
Mr. N 'nYDEGATE said that he objected to the bill
because by its provisions the whole of the legal control of
the ordinances, serrims, ministrations, and appropriation
of seats in pariah churches would be given to the
officer called the ecclesiastical churchwarden. The
representative of the minority in a parish would
have the sole control of the interior and exterior manage-
ment and administration of the church. He declined to
receive the statement of the hon. gentleman who had just
sat down, as representing the opinions of the whole body
• •of Wesleyan, because a case bad occurred in his own
county, in which the Wesleyan had paid church rates
when the question was in dispute. He considered there
was a spirit of exclusion in the bill which would destroy
the nationality of the church. He had himself presented
to the house a bill by which he would strip away every
vestige of liability of which the dissenters could com-
plain. That bill was a real compromise, and trans-
ferred the expense of the maintenance of the fabric from
the occupiers to the owners of property. The bill before
the bonse professed to bee compromise, but it armed the
minority with a power amounting to a power of exclusion,
to which he could never give his consent. In conclusion,
he could only express his regret at being compelled to differ
so widely with the right hon. member for South Lanca-
shire on this important question.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said that he had en-
deavoured to frame a measure which would eventuate in s
fair compromise of this question, and he hoped that it
would receive due consideration from all parties. The
principle on which it was founded was, that every person—
a dissenter—who did not desire to pay church rates should
be exempt on simply giving notice of his objection ; while
it so guarded the rights of the church as to render it
acceptable to the episcopal body. He contended that the
bill in hand effected ease of the purposes of the compro-
mise which it was sought to bring about ; while its details
wen so complicated as to render it impracticable.
Mr. HADFIELD having briefly spoken,
Mr. GLADSTONE stated that he had received a com-
munication from a member of the government that the
second reading of the bill would not be opposed, on con-
dition that it was not pressed further ; and he was there-
fore surprised to find several members of the government,
including a cabinet minister, objecting to the measure,
and expressing a wish to divide against it. Some of the
objections which had been taken to the bill arose palpably
from its provisions not having been read. The right hon.
gentleman then proceeded to examine end reply to the
objections. and argued that the encouragement be bad re-
ceived in regard to the bill was amply sufficient to weigh
against the dissatisfaction of some of those who must
have been expected to be its opponents, and who seemed to
think that, because they disapproved of it, it ought to be
withdrawn. He, however, had found so much sympathy
with his measure that be was emboldened to bring the bill
to the issue of the opinion of the house.
The second reading was then agreed to.
Mr. HARDCAMTLI withdrew his Abolition Bill, which
stood for committee.
Mr. Remission also discharged his Commutation Bill :
and the same course was followed with regard to the Soli-
citor-General's Amendment Bill.
The Appropriation Bill was read a third time, and
passed.
The Reformatories Schools Bill, as amended, was con-
sidered, and the other business having been disposed of,
the house adjourned at a quarter to 6 o'clock.