§ MR. LOCKE KINGasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether he is aware that some of the Clergy have 958 already commenced using the new Table of Lessons, and that a Bishop has written to the Rural Deans to advise the Clergy to begin using the new Table of Lessons on Advent Sunday; and, whether, under these circumstances, he will not feel it his duty to recommend their waiting until the Act of Parliament will permit them to make the change?
MR. GLADSTONE,in reply, said, he thought that he was somewhat behind his hon. Friend in information upon the subject, for he did not know that a Bishop had written to the Rural Deans, as his hon. Friend described. He (Mr. Gladstone) was aware that in certain cases the clergy had used the new Table of Lessons. Any recommendation of his, he was afraid, would avail very little indeed, but if it would avail he would recommend them in the sense anticipated by his hon. Friend; for he did not know why the date should be anticipated. He was entirely of his hon. Friend's opinion, and he hoped that their joint opinions might prevail.