ACTS CONSIDERED IN COMMITTEE. BILL PRESENTED. READ 1°. (Hansard, 4 February 1859)

§ MR. WALPOLE

Sir, the Committee will recollect that during the last Session of Parliament two Addresses were moved—one by the other House of Parliament, and the other by this House—to Her Majesty, praying for the discontinuance of certain forms of prayer on the 30th of January, the 29th of May, and the 5th of November. In pursuance of those Addresses, Her Majesty, by warrant, has now directed the discontinuance of those forms of prayer; but on the issuing of that warrant it was necessary for the Government to consider whether there were not certain Acts still in force which would forbid the exercise of that warrant, by reason of those Acts requiring the observance of those particular days. I find that there are certain Acts of Parliament—I think six. seven, or eight in number—in which no provisions are made for any particular service or form of prayer, but in which directions are given to ministers to observe those days, and to the people to attend church. In some instances it is enacted that these days shall be kept as holidays, and that all persons shall abstain from labour and trade; in others, notice is required to be given on the preceding Sunday that these days are to be kept as holidays. I think the Committee will agree with me that as Her Majesty, by 118 warrant, has directed the discontinuance of those special services which were appointed for the particular days I have mentioned, it is right that the Acts of Parliament to which I have adverted should be repealed; and I, therefore, now beg leave to move that you, Sir, be directed to ask that leave should be given to bring in a Bill to repeal certain Acts, or parts of Acts, which relate to the observance of the 30th of January and other days.