§ MR. DARBY GRIFFITHsaid, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for War, Whether a Circular or Memorandum or other document has lately been issued by the War Department or the Horse Guards, forbidding any of Her Majesty's Military Chaplains from officiating or preaching in the usual black gown, and requiring them to wear the surplice exclusively on all such occasions from the date of such Order; and, if so, what is the Ecclesiastical Authority who is responsible for having recommended the adoption of that course?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONsaid, in reply to the hon. Gentleman, he would read an extract from the circular referred to. The direction given was the following: —
The robe issued by Government for your use is the surplice. It is the only robe which you will be expected to carry with you in the event of your serving in the field. You are, therefore, to wear it with a scarf or stole, and the hood of your academical degree, if you be a graduate of one of our Universities, as often as you officiate to troops, whether in a consecrated or unconsecrated church, a chapel-school, a lecture or other ordinary room, or in the open air.That circular was sent out on the recommendation of the Chaplain General, and it was rendered necessary by certain irregularities of some individuals in conducting the service, owing to extreme views held by them. He had not had an opportunity of seeing the Chaplain General, but he did not believe that there was any direction prohibiting the use of the black gown on the ordinary occasions, or that the surplice should be used exclusively.