SECOND READING. (Hansard, 15 July 1859)

SIR GEORGE LEWIS
said, the effect of this Bill was twofold. In the first place, it substituted a declaration for the declaration which on the abolition of the Test and Corporation Acts was substituted for a sacramental test. It was intended for the protection of the Established Church, but how far it would accomplish the object might be seen by the declaration itself. 1360 By the existing declaration all municipal officers testified on the true faith of a Christian that they would never exercise any power or authority with which they were invested to injure or weaken the Protestant Church as by law established, or to disturb the said Church, or any Bishop of the said Church, in the possession of any right or privilege to which they were or might become entitled. The second clause of the Bill repealed the statute of George I., by which municipal officers were prohibited from attending any place of worship other than one of the Established Church in their official dress or the badges of office. He was not prepared to say that either of these two clauses afforded any substantial security to the Established Church, but there was no complaint that any inconvenience was experienced by their existence. It was for the House to say whether they would agree to the Bill.

§ MR. SOTHERON ESTCOURT
said, he was of opinion that the House should not agree to this Bill without very full consideration. He hoped, therefore, the hon. Member would agree to the adjournment of the discussion to give the House an opportunity of reading the Bill.

§ SIR WILLIAM MILES
said, he would remind the House that in some cases corporations enjoyed church patronage.

MR. GILPIN
said, he hoped his hon. Friend would not divide the House now, because the question, as put, would not decide the issue which he wished to raise. The right hon. Gentleman opposite stated that he had not an opportunity of understanding the Bill, and his hon. Friend ought to give him that opportunity.