SECOND BEADING. (Hansard, 29 April 1875)

THE BISHOP OF LONDON,

in moving that the Bill be now read the second time, said, that the direct purpose of the Bill was to extend the provisions 3 & 4 Vict. c. 113, so as to authorize certain arrangements with reference to the minor canonries in the Cathedral Church of St. Paul; and next to secure the efficient performance of the cathedral services by the appointment to the office of minor canon of men thoroughly competent to perform the duties. The 3 & 4 Vict. c. 113, provided that after the passing of that Act there should not be more than six, nor fewer than two minor canons in each cathedral and collegiate church. At that time the minor canons of St. Paul's were 12 in number, and were a body incorporate by a Royal Charter. For this reason, and because no power was given by the Act to deal with the estates of minor corporations, no regulations had been made pursuant to the Act for limiting the number and fixing the emoluments of the minor canons; but excepting as to the last two the vacancies of their canonries had been from time to time filled up. But doubts having arisen as to the legality of these appointments, the Bill had been introduced to remedy the inconveniences that had arisen. It provided that all past appointments to minor canonries were confirmed, and the right of existing minor canonries preserved: it limited the appointment of future minor canons until the number was reduced to six, which was hereafter to be the establishment: they were to continue a body corporate under the old style, and the corporate property was to vest in the corporation. The separate estates of the minor canons were, as they became vacant, to vest in the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for the purpose of their "common fund." The Ecclesiastical Commissioners, on the other hand, were to provide residences for the six minor canons, and were authorized to prepare schemes for regulating the office and duties of minor canons, for their residence, and for their enforced retirement on pension when no longer able to perform their duties. It was to this last provision he referred when he spoke of the Bill as intended to provide for a more efficient performance of the services of the cathedral church. Under the existing arrangements, the minor canons were not compelled and had no 1796 inducement to retire when disabled by age or other circumstances from the efficient performance of their duties. The consequence was that they sometimes continued to hold their appointments long after their retirement had become desirable. In fact, the senior minor canon—a venerable gentleman in every sense of the word—was now 94 years of age. He wished to speak with every respect of the minor canons, and the only fault he could find in them was their tendency to grow old, which was not an uncommon or unpardonable weakness: but when minor canons became old they were no longer able to sing. Three of them at St. Paul's were laid up from various causes; it was more than half-a-century since the senior minor canon had performed service in the cathedral church; another of the minor canons was 70 years of age, and two others were almost entirely incapable of discharging their duties. This condition of affairs would not be desirable at a cathedral in a small city, but it was still less tolerable at St. Paul's, which could no longer be accused of being useless, and was devoted to a most important part of the spiritual work of the present day. On Sunday, besides the early service, which was not choral, there were three full services, attended by congregations varying from 1,000 to 6,000 or 7,000 persons. The week-day services were well attended; while classes and lectures had been established for young men, who formed a large proportion of the residents in the City, as well as lectures for the younger clergy. It was not surprising, therefore, that the Dean and Chapter should ask Parliament, as they did by this Bill, to give them the means for providing for a succession of competent, able minor canons, in order that the services might be made as efficient as possible, and that there might be a body of clergy ready to assist in all the other work of the diocese. He might add that the minor canons were themselves anxious for the proposed change—and in fact they might well be, for they would be secured in all their present rights and privileges, while all future minor canons would on appointment be entitled to an income of not less than £300 a-year with a residence; and when the number was reduced to six, each would receive an annual stipend of £400, The Bill provided 1797 that no benefice could hereafter be held with the minor canonry; but probably no grievance would be felt by any clergyman from the loss of his canonry on being appointed to a better benefice. The right rev. Prelate concluded by moving that the Bill be now read the second time.