The Sun.
London, England, 1869-06-29 00:00:00

THE RATING OF SUNDAY SCHOOLS.

The supporters of the Sunday Rating Bill at Halifax
;lave got from Mr. Stansfeld an explanation of his vote on
the subject. " I have not been able," he writes, "to
vote for the bill exempting Sunday-schools from rates. The
whole subject of local rates being under Government con-
sideration, and especially in Mr. Goschen's hands, the
Government felt bound to vote against a bill dealing onlywith
fragment of this large and important subject. But though
voting for these reasons as we did, I confess that as an
evidence of sympathy with and appreciation of Sunday
schools, and of those who labour in them, I listened with
great interest and satisfaction to the earnest and effective
speech of the member for Hackney in moving the
second reading of his bill, and that in that sense I do not
altogether regret the result of the division." Mr.
Akroyd, the other member for Halifax. wrote in favour
of the bill.

AMENDMENTS TO THE IRISH CHURCH
BILL.

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Lord Westbury's amendments to the Irish Church
Bill were issued on Monday afternoon, and occupy four
pages. In Clause 7, which contains the powers vested in
the hands of the proposed commissioners, the noble lord
proposes to omit the section providing that every
order or decision of the commissioners shall be final.
Ho will move that from all decisions of the
commissioners, or any two of them, an appeal shall lie to
the Court of Chancery Appeal in Ireland, provided that such
appeal shall be presented within six calendar months after
the pronouncing of the decision appealed from. To Clause 8,
which provides for the rules to be laid down by the com-
missioners to persons making application, he will propose
to add that any person aggrieved by any of the rules may
apply to the Lord-Lieutenant in Council, who may have
power to annul or make such rules. It is provided
in Clause 9 that no commissioner shall hold his office for
a longer period than ten years, but Lord Westbury
will move that this term be reduced one-half ; he,
however, will propose that her Majesty shall have
power by Order in Council to direct that they shall con-
tinue to hold their office for a further period not exceed.
ing five years. To Clause 12 he will propose to add that
where any property is held upon any trust for the use of
the poor, or for any other charitable purpose, the same
shall, on and after the Ist of January, 1872, be vested in
the Commissioners of Charitable Donations and Bequests
in Ireland, subject to and for the purposes of such chari-
table use or trust. Clause 19, which repeals the
laws prohibiting the holding of synods, Lord Westbury
will propose to amend as follows :—lt shall be
the duty of the Archbishop of Armagh, within
six months after the passing of the Act, to convene
a general assembly or convocation of the clergy and laity,
members of the United Church of England and Ireland,
at which assembly the provisions, regulations, and ordi-
nances necessary for settling and defining the form of
government, &c., of the said Church, shall be considered,
made, and framed.

The most important amendment relates to the Surplus
Clause. He will propose that the whole of Clause 67,
which deals with the disposal of the surplus, shall be left
out, for which he will move to substitute the
following:—The commissioners shall set apart two millions
for the purpose of being applied in such manner and form
for the benefit of Roman Catholic priests as the commis-
sioners shall propose and define ; secondly, a sum of one
million shall be set apart for the benefit of the
clergy of the Presbyterian Church ; thirdly, that
all the residue of the surplus shall be applied to the
benefit of the Irish Church: Each scheme will have tabu
submitted in the first place to the Lord•Lieutoiant
in Council. The commissioners to proceed part passe
in appropriating these sums, and without priority or
preference. In the event of any scheme being rejected by
the Lord-Lieutenant in Council, a new scheme may be
prepared by the same body which prepared such rejected
scheme.