The Sun.
London, England, 1860-05-09 00:00:00

CHURCH RATES.

Petitions against the abolition of church rates were pre-
sented by the Earl of Cawdor, Lord Feversham, the Earl
of Shaftesbury, and several other peers.

Lord BROUGHAM also presented a petition against the
unconditional abolition of church rates.

DUCHY OF CORNWALL BILL.

The Duke of NEWCASTLE moved tho second reading
of, this bill, which: was one for defining the rights of the
Duchy of Cornwall.
The bill, after a few remarks from Lord VIVIAN and
Lord ST. LEONARDS, was road a second time.

BANKRUPTCY LAW OF SCOTLAND AMEND-
MENT BILL.

The LORD CHANCELLOR moved the se, md readingof
this bill, the object of which was to prevent persons who had
been resident in England having sequestrations served out
in their own names in Scotland after a residence there
of forty days. The effect of such a proceeding was, The
creditors were put to the expense of attending an exami-
nation of such perions in a distant part of the country, or
allowing them to pass without opposition.
After a few words from Lord BROUGHAM and Lord
CHELMSFORD, the bill was read a second time.
PAWNBROKERS' ACT AMENDMENT BILL.

This bill passed through committee without amendment.

ALTERATION OF THE PRAYER-BOOK.

Lord EBURY rose to move the following resolution :
" That it is the opinion of this house that, whereas
the particular forms of Divine worship, and the
rights and ceremonies appointed to be used
therein, being things in their own nature so indifferent
and alterable, and so acznowledged, it is but reasonable that
upon weighty and important considerations, according to the
various exigencies of times and occasions, such changes and
alterations should be made therein as to those that are
placed in authority should from time to time seem either
necessary or expedient. And whereas the books of
canons are fit to be reviewed and made more
suitable to the state of the Church. And
whereas it is desirable, as far as may be, to re-
move all unnecessary barriers to an union of the'
people in the matters of public worship. And also
that an humble address be presented to her Majesty, pray-
ing her Majesty to be pleased to appoint a com-
mission to prepare such alterations and amendments
in the canons , and Book of Common Prayer
as to them may appear desirable ; and to consider
of such other matters as in their judgments may most con-
duce to the ends above mentioned. The noble lord in bring-
ing forward the subject said he was sensible of the great
importance of the subject and of his own inadequacy to deal
with it, and he therefore trusted that his shortcomings
would be overlooked by their lordships. The object of the
commission, if; it should be appointed, was not to alter a
single word in the Prayer-book, but it was simply
proposed to give power to inquire into the subject. (Hear.)
He was afraid he could not, owing to its extreme
importance, spare their lordships the infliction of another
speech, because it was two years since he had last brought
the subject forward, and many of their lordships present
that evening might have fork tten many of the arguments
he then used. The principal object he had in view was
that the services of the Church of England should be fully
renewed, and then any alterations that might bo suggested
could be fully considered. He was desirous that such alte-
rations in the Book of Common Prayer should be effected
as would render the text comprehensible, and enable con-
scientious Nonconformists to unite heartily with Church-
men. Some might say that any alteration for that purpose
would not succeed in conciliating Dissenters, while it
would be likely to alienate Churchmen. He was not of
that opinion. Churchmen and Dissenters were now co-
operating in many useful works, such as the London
Mission, the ragged schools, &c., and if those alterations in
the liturgy which he suggested were effected there was
nothing to keep them apart. He was fully convinced that
large numbers of Dissenters would at once join the Church,
if a proper revision of the liturgy were made. He would
recommend the abridgment of the Sunday morning ser-
vice. He could offer medical testimony to the injurious
physical effects of those protracted services. It also had,
according to the testimony of eminent divines in the
Church, a bad effect morally. He would recommend the
removal of the damnatory clause in the Apostles' Creed,
the avoiding of repetitions of the Lord's Prayer, and the
abridgment as far as possible of the whole service. The
marriage service also required revision. As for the mar-
riage ceremony, it was obvious that it required alteration ;
and then, as to ordination, there were expressions used
which were susceptible of beneficial change. It was, of
course, impossible for, him to do anything like justice to
such a subject as the representative of thousands out of
doors, but he had done the best he could to familiarise him-
self with the merits of the question. (Hear, hear.)
The Archbishop of CANTERBURY thought that
whetlfer the particular changes of the noble lord were de-
sirable or not, some change was necessary. There were
few probably who were of the opinion that the services of
the Church were not susceptible of some amendment; but
there was by no means an agreement as to what the alte-
rations to take place ought to be. (Hear, hear.) Whether,
however, the particular changes proposed by the noble lord
were desirable in themselves or not, they must admit that
some change was necessary—(hear, hear)—but previous to
any change coming into effect, it must have the approba-
tion of both Houses of Convocation and Houses of Parlia-
ment. Was it worth while to expose themselves to all the
bitterness which would arise from such a discussion ? This
was the reason why so large a body of the clergy was
opposed to revision.
Lord LYTTELTON supported the motion.
The Bishop of LONDON could not agree in the views
expressed by the noble lord who brought forward this
motion ; and he protested against the oft-expressed opinion
that the Church was like a tottering fabric, which they
were afraid to touch one stone of lest the whole building
might tumble. On the contrary, the Church was not only
venerable in its antiquity, but it had a strength and per-
manency about it that no such circumstances as those
which the noble lord had referred to could affect or injure,
and those parts of the rubric which the noble lord desired
to see altered or expunged, were so clung to by masses of
lay churchmen, that to comply with the noble lord's des&
would prove ruinous to the Church.
Earl STANHOPE opposed the motion.
Earl GRANVILLE said her Majesty's Government
were quite satisfied to leave the matter in the hands of the
right reverend Bench, and hoped the noble lord would not
consider it necessary to press the question to a division.
The Bishop of OXFORD opposed the motion.
The Bishop of CASHEL likewise disapproved of the
measure.

Lord EBURY replied.
The question was then put, and negatived without a
division.

Their lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(YESTERDAY.)
The SPEAKER took the chair at four •'cleek.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The North Eastern Railway (Extension of Time, &c.)
Bill was read a third time.

The following bills were considered and ordered for third
reading :—Carrickfergus and Lame Railway, Dublin and
Wicklow Railway, Matlock Water, and Sovereign Life
Assurance Company.