The Sun.
London, England, 1868-09-21 00:00:00

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7717FREPPOIZT ITIITYI7I7IT artfiltrk
COMMISSION.

Wo give fuller particulars of this report, the leading
features of which have already been announced. The
subjects the commissioners were to inquire into arc first
stated, and a relation of their proceedings follows :
"In order to obtain accurate information, we, early
in November, issued forms of queries to the arch-
bishops and bishops of the Church in Ireland,
to the corporations aggregate, to the deans, dig.
nitaries, and other officers of the cathedrals, al
to the circumstances, revenues, &c., of their clerical
districts ; and to the incumbents of the several
benefices, as to the number of members of the Established
Church, revenues, arca, and general circumstances of
their parishes or districts. Upon receiving the returns
(nearly 2,000 in number) we proceeded to have the con-
tents arranged in the form of a tabular digest. Forms of
inquiries were also directed to the Board of Ecclesiastical
Commissioners to obtain full and accurate returns of the
lands and other property which under the Church Tem-
poralities Acts (Ireland) had become vested in them,
and the mode and purposes in and for which these
revenues were applied. With respect, however, to the
system adopted by this board, we thought it advisable
that, in addition to written inquiries, a personal exami-
nation and inspection should be made ; and accordingly
ono of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners and other
witnesses were examined, and the books of account
and other records inspected at the office in Dublin
by some members of our commission. Having
obtained the requisite information, we directed our
attention to that portion of the duties imposed upon
Its by the terms of your Majesty's commis.
lion, which requires us to report ' whether' in our
judgment `alterations or improvements should be male in
the management, administration, and distribution of the
revenues and property' belonging either to ecclesiastical
persons and corporations, or vested in the Ecclesiastical
Commissioners. In the discharge of these duties we
have felt bound to proceed without reference to the reso-
lutions which have been adopted by the House of Com-
mons with respect to the Church in Ireland after the date
of your Majesty's commission. We now submit to your
Majesty our suggestions with a view to the improve•
meet of its internal arrangements, and the administration
and management of its property. The Irish branch of the
United Church of England and Ireland consists of two
archbishops, ten bishops, thirty corporations oF deans aed
chapters, twelve minor corporations or quasi-corporate
bodies connected with cathedrals, thirty-two deans,
thirty-three archdeacons, 1,509 beneficed incumbents
(including within this term perpetual curates), and more
than 500 stipendiary curates. The number of persons
returned by the census of 1861 as belonging to its
communion was £693,357. Its annual net revenues
amount to about £581,000, of which about £364,000 arise
from tithe rentcharge, about £204,000 from the rents
received from lands, and the residue from Government
Stock or other sources. Of these revenues a con-1
siderable portion, about £113,000 a year, is adminis-
tered for Church purposes by the central board
of Ecclesiastical Commissioners. About R 19,000 a
year belongs to the capitular bodies, and is applied
by them for the maintenance of the cathedral fabrics
and services. The residue supplies the endowment
of the bishops, dignitaries, and beneficed clergy. The
property of the Church has been derived from various
sources before and since the Reformation. With respect
to the property acquired after the Reformation from royal
or parliamentary grants, and property that since the same
period has been the gift of private individuals, we have
insertel in the appendix to this report such particulars as
appear in the Patent Rolls in Chancery, or in the diocesan •

registries."

The commissioners state that "there are in Ireland
1,074 benefices the net income of which is under £3OO a
year. About 356 of these are above £2OO a year, about
421 of the remainder above £lOO a year, and about 297
under £lOO a year. Amongst these are many with large
Church populations—some in important towns and others
so circumstanced that a supplementary provision for
suitable Church ministration is much needed. Wit's
a view to provide funds for the augmentation
of such benefices we have examined into the
existing distribution of property, and considered
how far additional provision may be made for them.
Previous to the Act 3 and 4 William IV., c. 37, there
were in Ireland four archbishoprics and eighteen bishop.
rics. By this Act the sees were consolidated, and tin
number reduced to two archbishoprics and ten bishoprics.
There are now twelve united dioceses. The net annual
revenues of the twelve prelates amount to about £58,00/
After a full consideration of the circumstances of these
several united dioceses, we are of opinion that a further
consolidation of dioceses, and with one exceptioa (Cask)
a is dection of the incomes of the bishops, may take place.
The dioceses which we think may be consolidated with
others are (1) Meath ; (2) the united diocese of Killalue,
Kilfenora, Clonfert, and Kilina.cduagh ; (3) the united
diocese of Cashel, Einly, Waterford, and Lismore; (4)
the united diocese of Kilinore, Elphin, and Ardagh. The
consolidation may be effected as follows to bs
united to Dublin ; Killaloe and Kilfenora to Limerick ;
Clonfert and Kilmacduagh to Tuam ; Cashel and Early
to Limerick; Waterford and Lismore to Ossory ; Kil-
more to Armagh, and Elphin and Ardagh b Team. If
this arrangement be carried out, we recommend that the
diocese of Ardfert and Aghadoe be transferred from the
see of Limerick to that of Cork. A majority of the corn•
missioners are of opinion that one archbishop of the
Irish branch of the Church ought to be sufficient ; that
the archbishopric to be retained should be Armagh, and
that the Archbishopric of Dublin should be reduced to
a bishopric, with precedence over every other bishopric.
The other commissioners think this alteration is not re-
quired. Taking into account the extent of superin-
tendence which, in consequence of this reduction of the
episcopate, must devolve upon the prelates, the various
claims upon their bounty, and the social position cull-
ceded to the office, and having regard to the scale of judis
cial incomes in Ireland, we are opinion that there
s'lould be provided for the primatial see of Armagh an
income of £6,000 a year ; for Dublin, if retained as an
archbishopric, £5,000 a year, and if reduced to a bishopric,
£4,500 a year ; and for every other bishopric an income of
£3,000 a year ; with an additional allowance of £5OO a year
for such of the bishops as in each year attend Parliament.
These incomes and allowances should be free from any
tax or deduction for ecclesiastical purposes." The
commissioners recommend that, with the exception of
eight, all existing corporations of deans and chapters be
dissolved, and the deaneries and other dignities connected
with them suppressed. " The eight cathedrals which in
our opinion should be preserved as such are those of
Armagh, Down, Derry, Tuam, Kilkenny, Limerick,
Cork, and St. Patrick's, Dublin, being all, except
Down, situate in the cities in which the bishops of the
sees which we recommend to be retained, have their
residences." Several changes of less importance in the
capitular bodies are also suggested. With a view to a
rearrangement of benefices, it is proposed that Ecclesiasti-
cal Commissioners shall have extended powers to suppress
or unite benefices. All benefice not having a Protestant
population of forty to be abolished. The estates of all
capitular bodies and of the bishoprics abolished are to be
vested in Ecclesiastical Commissioners, and the surplus of all
property vested in them to be applicable at their discretion
mtoissauiognmiesnttoabtion emoodf neifibeedbfiyces.
the Ti
nhter
duetion
o Ecclesiasticalf t Cn
hr
ee
un-
paidd laymen and two paid commissioners, one appointed
by the Crown, the other by the Primate. The management
of all lands is to be taken out of the hands of ecclesias-
tical persons and placed in those of the Ecclesiastical
Commissioners. Ecclesiastical persons not to be able
to encumber official incomes by deeds. No further recom.
mendations are made as to the distribution of incomes or
of revenues. Tables accompany the report, giving full
statistical information. The commissioners expressly state
that they have conducted their inquiry, and now report,
on the assumption that the Irish Church will continue by
law established and endowed.

The date is 27th July, 1868, and the names attached
are—Meath (chairman), Stanhope, De Vesci, Joseph
Napier, Robert Alexander Shafto Adair (except as to sec.
16), John T. Ball, Evelyn Philip Shirley, George Clive,
Edward Howes, J. F. Elrington (secretary).

The Bishop of Manchester has laid the foun-
dation stone of a new dispensary for sick children in
Gartside-street. Amongst those present were Mr. Jacob
Bright, M.P., Mr. B. Whitworth, M.P., and other gentlemen
well known in Manchester.
We are informed that Lieutenant-General Charles
Craufurd Hay, who was formerly commandant of the
School of Musketry at Hythe, and was in Friday's Gazct:e
transferred from the colonelcy of the 58th Foot to the
93rd, is to be the new commander-in-chief at the Cape of
Good Hope.
The Bishop of Norwich has presented £l,OOO to
a fund which is being raised for the erection of a 11CNV
church in the extensive and populous suburb of lligliam,
Norwich. Nine years since another church was erected
in the same suburb, and the bis Lop then contrilute i £SX
to the establishment fond.
Two of the railway po terr, ',urnt with turd-II:. on
the Queenstown line, have died. T Ile coroner's jur bcou
in a verdict that there was great want of caution on I he pal t ot
the railway company. There was no cock used with the of
barrel, from which the men were engaged in filling lamps ; it
bad a timber plug which was taken iu or out as occasio;
required. The directors of the Midland Railway of Irelane
have announced that they will transmit no paraffin, ot
other mineral oil, on any day of the week except Friday. Th 4
oil must be removed from the station within twelve hours of
arrival, and under no circumstances will it kg stored en/
.of the company's warehouses.