§ MR. KINNAIRDsaid, he would beg to a fit the Secretary of State for India, Whether any information has reached him from the Government of India as to dissatisfaction having been manifested by some of Her Majesty's Protestant soldiers at being marched to Divine Service in churches where Ritualistic ceremonies had recently been introduced; and, if so, whether he has any objection to communicate the Papers to the House?
§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE, in reply, said, some Correspondence had taken place on the subject of an occurrence of this kind, and he could not doubt from the hon. Member's description of it that it was the same case. It appeared there were two churches, one at Fort William 1475 and the other at Dumdum, where Divine Service was performed in a manner objected to by some of the officers, and, as was stated, also by some of the men of the 60th Rifles. The hon. Member asked if Ritualistic Service had recently been introduced there? It was not a place where any service of that kind had been introduced the service was performed in the same way as in the time of Bishop Cotton and his successor. The chief objection taken was in reference to the celebration of the Communion, and two of the officers requested permission to attend the Presbyterian Service and take several of the men there, as preferring the Presbyterian Service to that of the Church of England. Some Correspondence took place between the chaplain and the officers, and the matter was referred to the Government of India. The remark made on it by the Commander-in-Chief (Sir William Mansfield) was that the Correspondence was very military on the side of the chaplain, and very theological on the side of the officers. An arrangement had been come to by the Government, and an Order issued that all officers and soldiers should have full liberty to attend at whatever place of worship agreed best with their private convictions. He thought the matter was now entirely at an end, and it was not desirable that the Correspondence should be produced.
§ MR. BERESFORD HOPEwished to ask his right hon. Friend, If he was aware that since the date of those despatches another chaplain had been appointed to the Fort William Chapel, and that none of the so-called Ritualistic practices existed there?
§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEsaid, he was not aware of that fact.