§ SIR JOHN HAYasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether, as the state of public affairs in the Soudan and elsewhere has constituted a case of great emergency, he will advise the Crown to issue its mandate for public Prayer to be offered to Almighty God for our seamen and soldiers engaged in warlike operations, and for the success of Her Majesty's arms by sea and land?
§ MR. SEXTONasked whether the right hon. Gentleman did not consider prayers voluntarily offered to the Almighty of more efficacy than prayers consequent on the mandate of Her Majesty's Government?
MR. GLADSTONEIn reply to the Question of the right hon. and gallant Gentleman, I have already informed him that I have had communications with the Primate of the Church of England, and I have found that provision had been made, by means not political, for the offering of prayers of this kind, and I believe they are universally used at the present time throughout the country. That being so, there is no intention on the part of the Government to attempt any interference.