The Express.
London, England, 1867-05-30 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

ROUSE OF COM:IIONS.--I.Vr:ixt,Dsv, 3lav 29.
Mr. Fsweerr moved the wound imuling of the
Uniformity Act Amendment Bill. The orly object
of the bill, lie said, was to repeal a clause in the Act
of Uniformity, which rendered it necessary that the
fellows of colleges should conform to the liturgy
and funnulwies of the church of Digliana. The bill
was permissive, because it would have no effect un-
less the colleges by choosing to elect a student as
fellow who was a nonconformist chose to bring it
into operation. He had never said that there was
a majority of the members of the une-ersities who
were in favour of this measure, b..t there was a
strong minority. In his opinion the advantages
and emoluments of the universities ought to be
open to all her Majesty's suNecis, irrespective of
their religious opinions, and he thought the non-
confermists ought not to be content with the pre-
sent compromise.
Mr. Moluitsos seconded the nution. He said
no doubt it would be argued that the endowments
were intended for members of the English church,
but the answer was that the most important of
themit•ere left not for the protestant but for the
catholic church.

Mr. SELWYN moved the rejection of the bill. He
said the real question was whether these colleges,
which had been endowed by private individuals,
and derived nothing whatever from the State,
which were now connected with the church of
England, were by act of parliament to be dis-
severed from that connexion. The great majority
of the members of the university he represented
were against the bill, not a single college had
petitioned in its favour. Dissenters were already
admitted to the universities, and could take de-
grees. They were excluded only from the fellow-
ships and the governing body. These tests, he
submitted. ought to be maintained, and the dis-
senting communities themselves had in their trust
deeds concerning their colleges enacted test.. The
bill proceeded on the assumption that these fellow-
ships were mere prizes, but thin was a mistake, for
attached to the fellowships were duties, some of
which could not properly be fulfilled by a noncon-
formist, or a catholic, or a Jew.

3/1:-606.4T seconded the amendment. He looked
upon a fellowship not in the light of a prize, but
of a trust, and he thought it would be as reason-
able to ask that a nonconformist shoalil be made a
bishop us that he should be made a fellow of a col-
lege.
Mr. POLLARD-URQUHART supported the bill.
Sir W. HEATHCOTH thought this bill, and that
of Mr. Coleridge, were calculated to unsettle the
existing order of thhe only justification for
which would be on are and overwhelming ma-
jority being in fav that being done. The
protestant dissenters who had withdrawn from the
church could have no right to participate in these
endowments, and if, as a matter (4 policy, they
were permitted to share in them, he thought it
better that there should be a contscation to a cer-
tain extent, and that part of the property should be
at once assigned to the dissenters.
Mr. Serjeant Gssette said the fzet that not one
of the heads of colleges had petitioned in favour of I
this hill was, with
ex that a body would
hinrii3,aii),:ctaerment in its favour,
be for it was not to ,
reform itself. The fallacy of the arguments I
against the bill was that these colleges were,
nurseries for the education of the clergy of the I
church of England, whereas they were for the
public.
Mr. GLAD.TONS said he was unable to vote for
the second reading of the bill. It was true that in
some cases duties were attached to fellowships, but
that was not the general rule, and at Cambridge,
and still more at Oxford, the obtaining of a fellow-
ship was the crowning of the university career.
He agreed with Mr. Selwyn, that the education of
the clergy was an important element in the case.
He did not think that the clergy ought to be edu-
cated in an institution where they would not mix
with other classes of society. The religious ques-
tion with regard to the universities ought to be
dealt with as a whole, and he objected to the in-
troducing piecemeal hanges which were calculated
and likely to be followed by other tentative mea-
sures for the settlement of the question. He did
not think this bill was suflicient for a settle-
ment of the question, and it was but fair
to the universities that whatever parliament
thought should be done, should be done
in a complete form. Moreover, he thought
that the principles that ought to govern
this matter ought to be determined by parliament,
and not be left to the colleges themselves. Another
objection to the bill was that it would not admit
the catholic', and in that respect also would there-
fore not be a complete measure.

Mr. B. HOPS believed that more evil would be
done than good effected by throwing open these
establistunenta. He emphatically protested against
these continued attempts to unsettle the univer-
sities.

Mr. CARDWELL felt it his duty to support the
second reading of this bill. By a large majority
the house had sanctioned Mr. Coleridge's bill, the
principle of which was to establish a free univer-
sity. This bill had been spoken of as if it inter-
fered with charters, and called on the heads of
colleges to adopt new rules ; but the bill merely
repealed a statutory declaration, and left the
colleges free to act in the matter as they pleased.
Mr. HARDY said at least in the governing body
of the University they ought to have but one mind
in religion. Believing that this bill was a step to
degrade the colleges into secular institutions, he
trusted the house would continue to resist it, as
they would resist all attempts to destroy the re-
ligious education of the country.
Mr. Boovmuc was in favour of the religious
character of the colleges. There was but little of it,
but he did not wish tosee that little removed, and he
believed that this bill would not in the least affect
it. The bill merely left the colleges at liberty to
pass their own bye-laws.
Mr. HENLEY believed that the strong religious
feeling of the country would set itself against these
endeavours to do away with all distinction in re-
ligious teaching. He opposed the measure on that
ground, and also because it was an attack on the
rights of property.
Mr. FAwcwrr, in reply, said if the bill got into
committee he would introduce a clause which would
admit the Roman catholios.

On a division the second reading was carried by
200 to 156.

Mr. DENMAN moved the second reading of the
Attornies, itc., Certificate Duty Bill.
Mr. Hi-wr moved the adjournment of the debate,
but on a division that motion was negatived by 132
to 91.

Mr. AvaroN addressed the house against the
bill, his remarks being of a discursive character,
and he continued his speech until a quarter to six
o'clock, when by the rules of the house the debate
stood adjourned.
The Local Supplemental No. 2, Bill was read
a third time.

The house adjourned at ten minutes to 6 o'clock.

THE REFORM DEMONSTRATION AT MANCHESTER.
—To-morrow there is to be a meeting of cielegates front the
various branches of the National Reform League at MM.
cheater, and on Saturday afternoon them is to be a great
open air meeting of all classes of reformers. Both the
I,nion and the League are to unite in malting the demon-
etration successful.

REFORM MEETING AT ROCHDALE.—(ht Tnesday
night a reform meeting was held in the Public-hall, Roch-
dale, presided over by the mayor, Mr. Rol.fniion. The hall
was crowded, there being about a thousand persons
present. Mr. Cheetham proposed, and Mr. Hoyle seconded,
a vote of thanks to Messrs. Gladstone, John Bright, Sic.,
for their labours. The gathering weei urged to join the
procession from Rochdale to Manchester on Saturday
next.

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