Year: 1869

At an advanced hour on Wednesday morn
government measure for disestablishing and
disendowing the Church In Ireland was brought
to close. Mr.. Gladstone's speech in summing
up seems, like the speech with which on the
lst Of March he introduced the measure, to
have been q masterpiece of Parliamentary
oratory. It certainly was crowned with the
highest kind Of success. In q House full
almost beyond precedent the second reading
was carried by majority of one hundred and
eighteen. The enthusiasm with which the
result was greeted, not only in the House but
in the lobbies and on the street, shows how
completely in this matter of justice to Ireland
the people are in sympathy with the govern
ment


In due time the bill will come up again for
third reading. That the government majority
will diminish in the interval there is not the
slightest probability. There is just as little
chance that the bill will, in any important
particular, be altered. In its present shape
it may be taken for granted it will
on an early day be sent up for the con-
sideration of the Lords. How it will fare in
the upper house is question as yet ex-
tremely doubtful 1t is not q bill en-
tirely to the taste Of that class of men
of whom the House of Lords is COM
posed. 1t is sweepingly revolutionary
measure, although, perhaps, no revolutionary
measure was ever conceived in a spirit so
obviously conciliatory or took shape 80 little
calculated to offend. The presumption is,
however that their lordships, yielding to the
all but unanimous wish of the people, will
make no stubborn resistance If they should
resist we are quite satisfied that Mr.. Glad
stone has this matter so thoroughly at heart
that he will strengthen his hands by fresh
appeal to the people, and, if necessary, will
create as many new peers as will give him
majority.


On almost all hands the excellency Of Mr..
Gladstones bill is admitted. The English
press has been warm and enthusiastic in its
praise. Nor has this praise been confined to
the liberal journals only. Many journals,
tory and even High Church in sympathy,
have confessed its fairness, Its comprehensive
ness, its completeness. It is no small
triumph. 1t argues the very highest kind of
craftsmanship to be able to disestablish and
dsendow an ancient and wealthy religious
corporation like the Episcopal Church in
Ireland, and to do so in manner which
leaves that Church in possession Of a freedom
she never enjoyed before and substantially as
comfortable as ever. Mr.. Gladstone has had
to deal not only with the Episcopal Church,
but with two more religious bodies-the Roman
| Catholics and the Presbyterians-and the
skill with which he grapples with the
| difficulties in the two latter cases is quite as
conspicuous as that which he manifests in
| dealing with the first. Mr.. Gladstones pro-
posed plan Of dealing with the Church question
in Ireland may be stated in few sentences.
| The time required for settlement Is to cover
three separate periods. The first period will
date from the passing Of the act until January
/, 1871. The second period win extend
from January l, 1871, to January l, 1881.
The third period is to stretch indefinitely from
1881. Directly the bill becomes law COM
mission, appointed by the Crown, is to enter
into the technical ownership Of oil the tempo
ralities of the Irish Church and to assume all
the functions now exercised by the Ecclesias-
tical Commission, which will no longer exist.
Vacancies occurring during this preliminary
period will be filed up as formerly; but all
such incumbents will hold their Offices subject
to the provisions of the act, and the archbish-
ops and bishops then and so appointed will
have no right to seats in the House of Lords.
1t is expected that during this period the
Church will appoint representative body,
which will fairly represent the bishops, the
clergy and the laity. BY the end of this first
period Church and State will be fully ready
for business On the 1st of January, 1871


the Irish Church will be disestablished


Irish archbishops and bishops will no
longer sit in the House of Lords


the Crown win appoint to no more livings, and
all private patronage will be thing of the
past. From that date the Church will assume
the character Of q voluntary organization. 1t
is not to be imagined, however, that indi-
viduals are TO suffer. Every incumbent is to
receive an annuity equal to the clear yearly
sum he has been receiving formerly. No pro-
perty is to be taken from the Church which
has been gifted to 1t from private sources since
lG6d, or which has no marketable value. All
other property shall be taken up by the gov
ernment. The income OF the Irish Church is
about seven hundred thousand pounds ster-
ling year. About seven millions viii be
given the Church as compensation for
the loss Of its property. The Presby-
terians in the shape Of Regium Donum re-
ceivc some fifty thousand pounds year.


Existing incumbents among them are to
be treated like the Episcopalians. They are
all to have life annuitIes, provided they con-
tinue to discharge their duties. In addition to