The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1910-07-09
Prime Minister Asquith Introduces
Bill Authorizing Change in
Declaration.
The New Declaration Will not Mem
ton the Catholic
Church.
Leaders in Movement for Abolition,
of Oath are Satisfied With
Change.

AT last active measures are being
taken to have the accession oath alter
cd so that it will no longer single out
and insult the Pope and the Catholic
Church The first step in what will in
all probability result in satisfactory
| change in the accession oath was taxi
en- when Prime Minister Asquith intro
duccd the government bill into the
House of Commons. The Prime Min
lister stated that he hoped the bill
would cause no controversy The in
AZ and it was read the first time amid
general cheers. =
Mr.. AsIuith reviewed the history OF
the oath which is so offensive to the
Roman Catholics oI the empire. He |
said the language of the oath was en- |
phntic. but 1t had been equalled in the |
thirty mine articles of the Church OF |
England ana by that used by the :
Church of Rome prescribed for con-
vcrts in denunciation of Protestant
doctrines.
Roman Catholics, the Premier de-
clared. enjoyed all civil and political
rights. although they were barred
from one or two .offlcaa. -.s..s IS /.
'',rhc Roman Catholic subjects of the
Crown number 12,000.O00. Nobody
doubts their loyalty. and the declara-
ton cannot fail to be offensive to the
sovereign himself. (Checrs.) The late
King found it repugnant duty to
signalize the beginning of his reign by
a. rcpulsivc formula directed against
many OF his subjects. (Cheers) -
There are three distinct statutory
Safeguards for the Protestant success
sion. We could get rid OF the declara-i
ton altogether. but the Government
proposes that 1t shall run as follows:
"I do solemnly and sincerely and in :
the presence of God profess. testify
and declare that am faithful MEM!
Der of the Protestant Reformed Church
by law established in England, and Il
|
the enactments which secure Protest.
ant succession to the throne Of my
realm uphold and maintain said enact,
mcnts to the best of my power accord~l
ing to law " !
The old oath declared the sover-4
cigns disbelief in the doctrine of trans
substantiation and denounced the
alteration of the Virgin Mary and anyl
other saint as practised by the Church
Of Rome as superstitious and idola-
| trOus. 9
Mr.. Asquith expressed the hope that
the House would not enter into full
debate on the bill. r.
Mr.. Balfour, leader Of the OpposiI
ton. Joined Mr.. Asquith in this wish.
He said that the late government, Of
which he was Prime Minister, when
King Edward ascended the throne was
anxious to alter the declaration, but
found it impossible to do so. Mr.. Bal
four said he approved the change in
order to remove the source of Offense
which the Kings loyal subjects take
to the form of the old oath.
During the debate preceding the
vote William Redmond. the Irish Ma
tionalist member, who has been agitE-
ting the question of a change In the
accession oath, said he did not believe
it would be reasonable for Roman
Catholics to object to the new declara-'
ton.
Three Irish Conservatives, Capt.
James Craig, member for the eastern
division of Devon, Charles c. Craig,
representing the southern division Of
Antrim and William Moore, the mems
Der for the north division of Arm-
agh, opposed the bill, as did four Lib-
erals, Sir Clifford John Cory, the Hon:
Thomas Agar Robartes, the Hon. Neil
Primrose, youngest son Of Lord Rose.- T
berry, and Alpheus Morton.
Five Liberal members, Hilare Bell
loc, Sir Joseph Compton Rickett, the
Right Hon. John E. Ellis, Frederick
!, William Verney and George Harwood,
and a Conservative, Harry Newton,
spoke in support Of the bill, "a