The Sun.
London, England, 1868-03-26 00:00:00

THE COMPULSORY CHURCH. RATES ABOLI-

TION BILL.
This bill was brought in and read a first time.
NON- TRADERS BANKRUPTCY (IRELAND) BILL.
This bill was committed and passed.
CONSOLIDATED FUND BILL.
This bill was read a second tim.e.
LEGITIMACY DECLARATION (ILELAND) BILL.
Lord SOMERHILL moved the second reading of this
bill, which was read accordingly.

FAIRS (IRELAND) BILL.
This bill was committed and passed.
ECCLESIASTICAL TITLES BILL.

The Earl STANHOI'E moved that a select committee
be appointed to inquire into the bill which had been en-
titled " The Ecclesiastical Titles Bill." He would
remind their lordships that formerly it was for-
bidden to take any title by a clergyman not
of the Church of England. The noble earl (Russell), on
the occasion of Dr.Wiseman taking the title of Archbishop
of 'Westminster, had objected to it. This measure was
then brought in and passed, both in the other house and
in this house, and it inflicted a penalty of £lOO against
any one who assumed au ecclesiastical title. How vain
has this victory proved. Lord Derby told them that the
returns of the penaltiess had been " nil," not a single
penalty had been inflicted. They must now consider
what injuries this act had inflicted. It might be
urged that no penalties had been enforced, but this
made the law most injurious. If there was a country
where respect for law should be enforced it was in Ire-
land ; what must therefore be the feeling of the Irish people
when they found that this law was not enforced ?
The noble earl went into a retail of the objections which
affected the bill. The bill affected both the episcopal as
well as the Roman Catholic bench, and the act was
bound to infl:ct a penalty on the one as well as on
the other. The noble lord also quoted from the opinion
of Justice O'llagan and eminent prelates, that the position
of high ecclesiastical authorities ought to be clearly defined.
The only object of the bill had been to forbid what they
were not able to prevent. He would say to their lordship ,
make concessions while they could, so that they couto
make resistaaco when it was required. The noble earl
concluded by moving the select committee.
Lord REDESDALE said that this was not only not a
party quastion, but also not even an ecclesiastical ques-
tion. It was the fact of a foreign potentate interfering
with the right of this country, and if any one countenance
the right of a foreign power to make appointments ho
would be doing what was most pernicious. The movement
of the Pope in this matter was most unlawful. From
the period of the Reformation down to 1851 there had
been no appointment in this country by the Pope, and
why should it be necessary then. It was an act of aggres-
sion, and most unfortunate and uncalled for. The act
alluded was a protest against this aggression.
(LEFT SPEAXINCL)

HOUSE OF COMMONS-TILIS EVENING.
The SPEAICER took the Chair at four o'clock.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACTS.

In reply to Mr. Piat,

The Earl of MAYO was of opinion that great public
advantage would result if the Act was extended to Ire-
land ; he was also of opinion that great improvement
could be introduced in the taking of polls at municipal
elections in that country. With respect to the Towns'
Improvement Act (Ireland), he hoped after the recess to
lay a bill on the table for the improvement of that Act.