of Bishops.

UPPER HOUSE.

SESSION IV.-Wednesday, February 24, 1869.

HIS GRACE THE ARCHBISHOP attended, and formally prorogued the sitting until the following day.

LOWER HOUSE.

The House met at 2.30 p.m.; the Convocation having attended the Consecration Service in the Abbey in the morning.

The PROLOCUTOR, Dr. Bickersteth, presided.

Prayers having been said by the PROLOCUTOR, the præconization of members was made by the ACTUARY, and the minutes of the Session of the 23rd inst. were read and confirmed, and ordered to be reduced into Acts according to the ancient practice of Convocation.

The PROLOCUTOR named as his Assessors for the present Session the Dean of Westminster, the Dean of Ely, the Dean of St. Asaph, Archdeacon Denison, Canon Selwyn, and Dr. Leighton.

THE CONSECRATION OF BISHOPS.

CANON SELWYN-I have a motion to submit, which perhaps the House will allow me to make at once. We have a debt of gratitude to discharge in connection with the ceremony of this morning, and I beg to move—

"That the best thanks of this House be given to the Dean and Chapter of Westminster for their kindness in making arrangements for the attendance of this Convocation at the consecration of the Bishops of Lincoln, Mauritius, and Grafton and Armidale, in Westminster Abbey this day."

Amid our regret at losing the presence of one of the most learned and zealous, esteemed and beloved members of this House, it has no doubt been a great comfort to all of us to-day to join in united prayers for a blessing upon his labours in that higher sphere of duty to which in the providence of God he has been called, and also to join in the highest rite of our religion, the Holy Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ. I am sure the kindness of the Dean and Chapter is very warmly felt by those whom I have now the honour to address.

ARCHDEACON MACKENZIE-I second the resolution.

CANON WOODGATE-It may be worthy of consideration whether,

when such a distinguished member of our body is promoted, a congratulatory Address should not be presented to him.

LORD A. COMPTON-Complimentary addresses are often exceedingly objectionable, and that is the only reason why I do not ask the House to offer their thanks to the Prolocutor for his sermon preached in the Abbey this morning. In my opinion all formal acknowledgments are in such cases out of place.

CANON HOPKINS-I have conferred with the Prolocutor in reference to the presentation of an Address to the Bishop of Lincoln, and he suggested that as other distinguished members of this House who have been promoted have not received any such formal mark of esteem, such a course of proceeding might expose us to the charge of making invidious distinctions. I am sure the House is quite unanimous in the high estimation in which the Bishop is held here, but at the same time I concur in the opinion of the last speaker as to the undesirableness of presenting an Address.

The PROLOCUTOR-I will only add that I am glad to find that the House takes so wise and constitutional a view of the question which has just been raised.

By MR. SUMNER-signed by eight of the Clergy of the rural deanery of West Fordingbridge, praying for an addition to the number of elected Proctors, and that the right of voting may be given to all Priests holding the Bishop's licence.

By MR. DAVID WILLIAMS-signed by a layman of the diocese of St. Asaph, praying for counsel and advice.

By MR. HOWELL-from fourteen Clergy of the deanery of Blofield, from nine clergy of the deanery of Taversham, from fourteen Clergy of the deanery of Sugworth, all in the diocese of Norwich, praying for reform of Convocation.

By MR. POTTER-from 133 of the Clergy of the rural deaneries of Bosmere, Carlford, Colnies, Dunwich (North Division), Hartesmere, Horme, Ipswich, Lotting Land, Sanford, South Elmham, Wangford, and Welford, in the archdeaconry of Suffolk, for reform of Convocation.

By DR. FRASER-from four unbeneficed Clergy, representing the Curates' Association of the diocese of London, praying for admission of all licensed Priests to vote at the election of Proctors.

By ARCHDEACON DENISON-from Lord Wharncliffe, upon the subject of free and open sittings.

By MR. SANDERS-signed by sixteen of the Clergy of the rural deanery of Aylesbeare (diocese Exeter), upon the subject of Suffragan Bishops and their payment out of the revenues of the sees requiring such.

By MR. DAVID WILLIAMS-from twenty Clergy of the diocese of St. Asaph, six of the Clergy of the deanery of Mold, same diocese, and ten of the Clergy of the deanery of Penllyn and Edeirnion, praying for reform of Convocation.

By MR. WOLLASTON—from sixty-seven Clergy of the rural deaneries in the archdeaconry and diocese of Chichester, praying for an addition to the number of Proctors elected by the Clergy, and a right of voting to all in Priest's orders. By MR. VINCENT-from twelve Clergy of the deanery of Avon, in the archdeaconry and diocese of Bangor, upon the same subject.

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By MR. BATHURST-from six Clergy of the archdeaconry of Bedford and rural deanery of Clapham, praying for the reform of the Lower House of Convocation. And by MR. PERRY-from twenty-four Clergy of the deaneries of North and South Grantham, for a subdivision of dioceses.

MARTIN V. MACKONOCHIE.

A schedule of gravamen in reference to the late judgment in "Martin v. Mackonochie" was read by CANON GREGORY, which he requested the Prolocutor to take up to the Upper House.

CHRONICLE OF CONVOCATION.

The PROLOCUTOR-Perhaps it will be for the convenience of the House if I state, in reference to the printing of the Chronicle, that the Committee of Expenses saw Mr. Paul after the Session of yesterday, and that he has undertaken to deliver to Mr. West for circulation 200 copies of the Chronicle at 4l. 10s. per sheet, exclusive of reports. First proofs of their speeches will be sent to the different speakers; but if revises are required-that is to say, second or third proofs-the cost of making the additional corrections must be defrayed by the individual members.

DILAPIDATIONS.

The House agreed to the nomination of a Committee on Ecclesiastical Dilapidations, such Committee consisting of the following members:-Archdeacon Hale, Archdeacon Denison, Lord A. Hervey, Archdeacon Freeman, Archdeacon Randall, Canon Woodgate, Lord Alwyne Compton, Mr. Dayman, Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Gibbs, Mr. Sumner, Mr. Fagan, Mr. Tatham, Mr. Howell.

APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES.

The PROLOCUTOR-Some conversation took place yesterday with regard to the appointment of Committees, and it was suggested whether, where Committees are proposed to be moved for, and where no opposition is likely to arise, it might not be expedient to take the sense of the House at once upon the question. I do not know whether any member who has given such a notice is desirous that it should now be brought before the House in that way, but if So, it must be understood that there can be no debate upon it.

The REV. D. WILLIAMS-I beg to move the resolution of which I gave notice yesterday:

"That his Grace the President be respectfully requested to direct the appointment of a Committee of this House to consider the present condition of the Established Church in Wales, and to report thereon."

Carried.

The DEAN OF Ely-I am willing to place my motion with regard to the law of patronage upon the same footing. I move—

"This his Grace the President be requested to direct the appointment of a Committee of this House for the purpose of considering and reporting upon the present system of preferment and patronage in the Church of England, with special reference to the sale of preferments, and the existing condition of the law of simony."

Carried.

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The REV. M. GIBBS-I am also willing, if the House thinks fit, that my motion should be dealt with in the same way. It is

"That his Grace the President be respectfully requested to direct the appointment of a Committee of this House to consider whether any, and if any, what, alterations might advantageously be made in the firstfruits and tenths now payable to the Governors of Queen Anne's Bounty."

Carried.

ARCHDEACON ADY-I should be glad to submit to the same test my notice for the appointment of a Committee of this House to consider what duties other than those at present required by law might be beneficially performed by the different members of the Cathedral Chapters.

Carried.

CANON SELWYN-Perhaps the House will also extend its kindness to a very ancient notice of mine. Thirteen years ago I gave notice for the appointment of a joint Committee to consider the best means of bringing under review suggestions made during the last two centuries and a half for the improvement of the Authorised Version of the Holy Scriptures, and that notice has been renewed. every Convocation since.

LORD A. COMPTON-I think that is a very important matter, and one that ought to be discussed before we vote upon it.

The PROLOCUTOR-Then I must decline to put the question.

LIBRARY.

The PROLOCUTOR-I have received from the Christian Knowledge Society a copy of the People's Magazine of last year, which they request me to present to the Lower House of Convocation. I have also received a Devotional Commentary upon the Gospel of St. Matthew, translated from the French of Pasquier Quesnel.

CANON SELWYN-Has any report been presented from the Committee on our Library?

LORD A. COMPTON-There was a report to the last Convocation.

CLERGY DISCIPLINE.

The PROLOCUTOR-The business now before the House is the question sent down for our consideration from the Upper House as to the best mode of improving the present law of Clergy discipline.

The REV. PREBENDARY JOYCE-I believe, Sir, the question you have referred to has been submitted to us with a view to our returning some answer. The subject of Clergy discipline seems naturally to divide itself into three parts-first, the question of legislative authority; secondly, the question of executive ecclesiastical authority; and, thirdly, the question of executive secular authority; and I think the matter must be considered under each of those heads before we can be prepared to make any answer to the Upper House. Now, as regards the question of legislative authority, I would remark that there have been lately, as we all know, in this country very great

Discipline.

troubles arising from the insubordination of some of the Clergy to Episcopal authority, and in some instances to law. Great blame has been thrown on the Bishops because this evil has not been repressed by them. It appears to me that the Bishops are in relation to this matter a very hardly used body of men. How they were to repress the evil in question I really do not know, and I must say I think they deserve the pity of those who hear them abused on account of an evil for which they could not in fact provide a remedy. Now, I have no doubt this question has been sent down to us in order that we, acting as the representatives of the Presbytery, may make some recommendations to their lordships by which they may be enabled to repress any improprieties which may take place in the Church, or in its services, and at the same time that this may be done in a manner which will not be distasteful to the Clergy as a body; for it may well be assumed that in making recommendations for this purpose, we shall not, as representatives of the Clergy, recommend what might be offensive to the body to which we belong. It is my belief that the difficulties which have surrounded the action of the Bishops in reference to this matter, and the troubles which have fallen upon the Church of late, have arisen mainly from the inaction of the Synods. I think that if the Provincial Synods had been constantly sitting and performing the duty which properly belongs to them, no such difficulties and troubles would have occurred. Bacon, writing on this subject, said, "As men's houses and castles require renovation and restoration from time to time, so laws and institutions can only be properly reformed by means of Synods." Now, as regards Clergy discipline, I conceive that proceeding by means of an Act of Parliament is a very undesirable method of proceeding. In ancient times, as we all know, this kind of discipline was always promoted by means of Canons. So it was also in later times,more recently, indeed, than some people are apt to imagine. It must not be supposed that the method of proceeding by Act of Parliament began as early as the period of the Reformation. Clergy discipline was maintained for many years after the Reformation by Canon and by Canon only. In 1576 Articles were passed Synodically by the two Houses of Convocation. case in 1584 and in 1597; and for several years about that period recourse was had to Canons when any kind of Clergy reformation, or any proceedings in the way of Church discipline, were required. I do not refer to the Canons of 1604, because they are too notorious to have escaped attention. It is an historical fact that it was not till the time of the Great Rebellion that it became the habit in this country to proceed by Act of Parliament, and we all see to what state Clergy discipline has been brought in consequence. I do not wish to say anything offensive, but I must say that our Church has now become almost a Presbyterian rabble. There is no law in force, there is no easy, speedy, and efficient remedy for the evils which arise. What is needed is that every Bishop should be enabled to deal with the evils which spring up in his own diocese on some plain, intelligible plan,-that the Bishop should be enabled to

This was also the