HC Deb 17 May 1887 vol 315 cc258-9
THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)

Sir, I rise to move— That, in celebration of the Fiftieth Year of Her Majesty's Reign, this House will attend at the Church of St. Margaret, Westminster, on Sunday next, the 22nd of May. In making this Motion I do not propose to support it by any argument or by any statement of facts. If I were to attempt to do so I am conscious that I should weaken the sense of obligation and thankfulness under which, I believe, hon. Members in all parts of the House desire to take part in this religious service. On occasions like this silence is more eloquent than words; and I therefore submit the Motion, with confidence that it will be accepted with complete unanimity.

MR. W. E.GLADSTONE (Edinburgh, Mid Lothian)

I desire, Mr. Speaker, with perfect concurrence and pleasure, to second the Motion which has been made by the right hon. Gentleman. I agree with him that it requires no lengthened explanation; and I am satisfied that it will be received with general concurrence by the House, and will not lead to an expression of any difference of opinion.

Motion made, and Question proposed, That, in celebration of the Fiftieth Year of Her Majesty's Reign, this House will attend at the Church of St. Margaret, Westminster, on Sunday next, the 22nd of May."—[Mr. William Henry Smith.)

MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)

I wish to put a Question to you, Mr. Speaker, upon a point of Order. I wish to know, whether you can inform the House of the exact terms of the Motion made by the right hon. Gentleman the First Lord of the Treasury some time ago, giving preference to the Crimes Bill? Is it not the case that the Crimes Bill must be the First Order of the Day, if it is to obtain precedence on Tuesday? I am not in possession of the exact terms of the Order, and therefore I shall be glad if you will cause the Order itself to be read—I moan the Order which gives precedence to the Crimes Bill on Tuesday.

MR. SPEAKER

If the hon. and learned Gentleman will look at the Paper he will find that the First Order of the Day is the Criminal Law Amendment (Ireland) Bill. The Motion which the right hon. Gentleman has just made was put on the Paper in the place it occupies by my direction; because, in the first place, it affects the proceedings of the House, and it is for the general convenience of the House that the Motion should be made now. I am informed that more than 400 Members have signified their intention to be present.

MR. T. M. HEALY

As a Catholic, I, for one, have no objection to the Motion, and I have no doubt that it will meet with the concurrence of the House. I will only remark that in a House which contains so many Irish Members from Ireland, it is greatly to be deplored that the 50th year of Her Majesty's Reign should be signalized by the passing of a Jubilee Coercion Bill.

Question put, and agreed to. Resolved, That, in celebration of the Fiftieth Year of Her Majesty's Reign, this House will attend at the Church of St. Margaret, Westminster, on Sunday next, the 22nd of May.

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