§ MR. FURNESS (Hartlepool)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the correspondence in the Western Morning News, of 24th January, and other publications, between the Bishop of Exeter and the Rev. Herbert Marriott, from which correspondence it appears that, in consequence of the Rev. Herbert Marriott having attended a Baptist chapel, the Bishop of Exeter has peremptorily withdrawn from the reverend gentleman his licence; whether he is aware that the action of the Bishop in thus suspending a clergyman for attending a Nonconformist chapel has given rise to grave dissatisfaction in the country; and whether the Government intend to do anything in the matter?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. MATTHEWS, Birmingham, E.)I have been supplied with a copy of the newspaper containing 8 the correspondence, from which it appears that the Bishop of Exeter requested Mr. Marriott to resign his licence as public Preacher in the diocese on the ground that he was in the constant habit of attending a Baptist chapel and taking part in the services. I have no means of knowing whether dissatisfaction has arisen in consequence of the course which the Bishop, in the exercise of his discretion, has thought it right to pursue. The matter is quite outside the jurisdiction of the Home Office, and I have no authority to interfere.