The Sun.
London, England, 1844-04-20 00:00:00

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS

ittSIE TIIE EVENING PAPERS OF YESTERDAY.
GLOBE.—No official notification has yet been given
that Ministers have yielded to the general disapproba-
tion with which their new scheme of Ecclesiastical
Courts Reform has been received, and withdrawn it from
the further consideration of the Legislature. An allu-
sion was made to this measure last night in the House
of Commons. In reply to a question by Lord John
Russell, respecting the order in which the business be-
fore the House was proposed to be taken, Sir James
Graham said, " He should propose on Monday, as the
first order of the day, the Factories Bill; arid then the
Ecclesiastical Courts Bill." The debate on the second
reading of the latter measure is contingent on the de-
bate on the second reading of the Factories Bill being
a short one. We think there is small chance of that
being the ease ; th cro ror. have no idea that
the second reading of the Ecclesiastical Courts Bill
will be proceeded with on that evening. With a
view to drawing the attention of such Hon. Mem-
bers as wish to acquaint themselves with the
character and tendency of the measures on which
they are called upon to vote, we have already analyzed
some of the clauses of this Bill. As it yet lingers in its
course, opportunity is afforded us for continuing the exa-
mination. The more the Bill is investigated, the more
clearly will its destitution of all claim to approval and sup-
port be perceived. The unjust and uncalled-for interference
with donatives, which is proposed by the Bill, calls for ani-
madversion end resistance. The ancient and unquestion-
able rights of the patrons of these donatives have, from
time immemorial, been exercised in a way which de-
serves commendation and protection, instead of depriva-
tion. Take, for examples, the selections made by the
Hon. Societies of Lincoln's Inn or of the Temple.
Have not these societies bestowed their patronage on
clergymen of acknowledged fitness—of first-rate talent,
unquestionable morality, and of deep and sound learn-
ing ? Two of the present incumbents of these dona-
tives may be mentioned :—Benson, whose reputation
as a scholar and a divine is known and admitted by all
—And,,rson, whose recent appointment is universally
reearded as no less honourable to those who discerned
and rewarded his merits, than it is to himself. What,
then, is the necessity for, and where is the recommenda-
tion on which is founded, the proposed change with re-
spect to donatives ? The disregard which is shown
throughout the Bill to the recommendations of the Ec-
clesiastical Courts' Commissioners, on whose reports it
is professedly founded, is one proof, among many, of its
questionable character and design. We have already
gone into this part of the subject at some length. We
Members the necessity of carefully, and with now allude to it for the purpose of impressing upon Hon.
newly-
awakened jealousy, examining its details, that they be
not ensnared into supporting it by their votes, or
into being absent from the discussion and division.
Before pledging themselves to support Ministers on
this Bill, let them at least examine and compare its
provisions with the report of the Ecclesiastical Courts'
Commissioners. The discrepancies and contradictions
between the report end the Bill will be at once seen.
The superiority
of the suggestions made by. the Com-
missioners to the substitutes supplied by the authors
of this project, will forcibly strike the mind of every
impartial person who undertakes to make the corn-
parison. The duty
imposed on those whose votes will
determine the fate of the Bill is obvious. Another
point—and it is one of considerable importance to the
public ...13regouta wad for consideration, We re-