The Sun.
London, England, 1862-04-09 00:00:00

Mr. BOUVERIE, on moving the order of the day for
he second reading of this bill, said that the object of the
bill was to remedy what was admitted on all hands as an
evil. During late years a great number of those who had
entered orders in the Church of England had changed their
religious opinions, and had thought it their duty to resign
their benefices. He referred to the case of such men as
Archdeacon Manning, Baptist Noel, and Archdeacon
Woodhouse. There was considerable ignorance in the
public mind in reference to this subject, and it was
not generally known that persons entering holy
orders for the Church of England were saturated
with oaths of subscription. They were compelled by the
Statute of Elizabeth to subscribe to the 39 articles, the oath
of supremacy, and the oath of allegiance. It had happened
frequently that an alteration took place in the minds of
ecclesiastics as well as other persons, and in reference to the
Book of Common Prayer they might cease to believe that
it contamea all that was true, though they had originally
subscribed to that dogma of the Church. He drew atten-
tion to the fact that the Book of Common Prayer was
formed with a view of excluding from the ministry of the
Church of England some of the worthiest men of the time.
He contended that clergymen who were desirous of
seceding from the Church of England were placed under
circumstances of great hardship, because they were not at
liberty to become dissenting ministers, as was laid down
in the case of Berries v. Shore. This act of William and
Mary was intended to relieve clergymen under such cir-
cumstances, but it was rendered imperative by other enact-
ments. A clergyman was prevented from becoming a
barrister by the 6th canon of 1603, and in the case of a
clergyman whose petition he had presented to the house,
the benchers of the Middle Temple had refused him admis-
sion to their body in accordance with the provisions of that
canon. A clergyman could not embrace any other lay
occupation without being liable to prosecution in the
Ecclesiastical Court, and, on conviction, being sentenced
to six months' imprisonment by the act of George 111.,
passed in 1794, It appeared, however, that clergymen of
the Church of England might become priests of the Roman
Catholic Church with impunity, which he asserted was a
more anomalous state of things. Having adverted to the
publication of the "Essays and Reviews," which he con-
sidered a work of no great ability, but 'which had the effect
of introducing difference of opinion in the minds of members
of the Church of England, be said it was a great hardship
to compel persons to remain in the ministry of that Church
when they desired to be released from their sacred func-
tions. The object of this bill was to facilitate the release
of persons from such functions, when it was according to
their wish to be exempted from them, which, he contended,
would promote the purity and prosperity of the Church of
England. He was aware that the object which he proposed
by this measure was one of great difficulty and delicacy,
and, as he was only desirous of securing proper legislation
on this important subject, be would not, if agreable to the
house, refuse to refer the bill to a select committee. (Hear,
hear.) He concluded by moving the second reading of
the bill.
Sir H. HEATHCOTE—who had an amendment on the
paper, to the effect that in the event of the bill being read
a second time he could move its being referred to a select
committee—saietthat he would not press that amendment
after the concession that had been made the hon. member
(Mr. Bouverie). He contended that the house ought
to proceed with great caution before they con-
sented to an alteration in the existing law,
which affected the inner life of an important religious
community. He denied that the hon. member (Mr,
Bouverie) had made out any case in support of his argu-
ment by reference to the writers of the "Essays and Le-
iews," because these persons did not want to be released
from their functions, but assumed to themselves to be the
Church itself. Ile considered tit the i 11 •yould halo tc
undergo great mod. Mere :tee. ie mtteee Letore it satisfied
the public mind, or effected the ol:ject which it proposed.
(Hear, hear.)
Mr. M. MILNES considered that an alteration in the
existing law was requisite, but that the present bill would
not meet the case. He thought that the Church should be
empowered to release clergymen from their functions with-
out branding them with degradation.

Lord STANLEY supported the principle of the bill, and
and quoted a pamphlet by the Bishop of Exeter, published
in 1849, commenting on the hardships of clergymen
being coerced to remain in sacred orders in the Church of
England, when their opinions had undergone an alteration.
He thought it was most desirable, both on the ground of
conscience and for the benefit of the Church itself, that such
persons should not be retained in the ministry against their
inclinations. As the bill was to be referred to a select com-
mittee, he would not offer it any opposition in its present
stage, but he thought it required alteration before it could
be efficient in obtaining the object for which it was
intended.

Mr. WALTER also supported the principle of the bill,
on the ground that it was for the benefit of the Church
itself. Men entered holy orders at an early age, and before
they had opportunities of mixing with the world and test-
ing the soundness of their views on religious doctrines, and
he considered it would be desirable if the Church en-
couraged persons to enter the ministry later in life than they
did at present.
Mr. HUBBARD and Mr. NEWDEGATE opposed the

Sir G. GREY said as it was agreed that the ;bill should
be referred to a select committee, he would not offer it am
opposition at present.

The bill was then read a second time, and referred to a
select committee.

[LEFT SITTING

HOUSE OF LORDS-YESTERDAY.

The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.

PUBLIC WORSHIP BILL.

Viscount DUNGANNON gave notice- that on the
motion for the second reading of this bill he should move
that it be read a second time that day six months.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The Bollington (Prestbury) Improvement and Lighting,
Berwick-on-Tweed Harbour, Weston-super-Mare Pier,
Barnsley Local Board of Health, Wareham Roads, Dundee
and Perth and Aberdeen Junction, and Dundee and New-
tyle Railway Bills were read a second time.
The Tyne General Ferry, Redditch Railway (Capital),
and Carnarvonshire Railway bills were read a third time
and passed.

REAL PROPERTY.
The report of amendments on the Declaration of Titles,
the Security of Purchasers, the Transfer of Land, and the
Real Property (Title of Purchasers; Bills were brought up
and received.

INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS ACT (1861) AMEND-
MENT BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.

WHIPPING BILL.
The report of amendments on this bill was brought up
and agreed to.

PlErt6 AND HARBOURS ACT AMENDMENT
BILL.
This bill passed through committee, and was reported
with

THE EASTER RECESS.
Earl GRANVILLE said on Friday next he should move
that the house at its rising do adjourn until Tuesday, the
29th.
Their lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS---YESTERDAY.
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock, when there
were only 40 members present, which merely constituted
the house.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The following bills were read a third time and Passed :
Bristol Exeter and Chard and Taunton Railways--
Brighton, and South Coast Railway (Enlargement of Sta-
tions, &c.).--North Devon Railway and Dock.
The following bills were considered and ordered for third
--London,
reading :—Rathmines and Ratbgar Improvement—Trent,
Aucholme, and Grimsby Railway.

PETITIONS.
Several petitions were presented praying for the exemp-
tion of all incomes under £l5O a-year from the income-tax,
against the Parochial Assessment Tax Bill, from several
Poor Law Boards in Ireland for an alteration of the Poor
~..l
Law in that country, &c.
THE GRANT TO MAYNOOTH.
Mr. WHALLEY gave notice that on the 6th of May ,
e
would move that the hou-e resolve itself into a eon,„„ tee
'l
to consider the policy of the grant to Maynooth
(Great laughter.) College.
CLERKS OF THE INSOLVENT DE
COURT. BT ORS

Mr. RoEBT:CK asked the First Lord of the Treasury
meant to propose any measure for the relief of
sof the Insolvent Debtors' Court; and whether
htwhh eenetilleternrkde he d
to introduce a
The AT TORNEY-G ENE R declaratory act for that purpose?
replied to the question,
and said that the matter to whi•-th the hon. member alluded
to required some consideration. He thought that the
clerks in question should present their claim, which would
be referred to a select committee, and then the house would