§ SIR J. JARDINE (Roxburghshire)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether, since January 1st, 1900, the Government of India has in regard to any buildings belonging to the Government of India, or built wholly or partially at its expense, sanctioned the performance of the rite of consecration according to the forms of the Church of England.
§ MR. MORLEYThe Secretary of State in Council decided in a despatch dated March 1st, 1900, that thenceforward no churches at military stations built wholly or partially at the public expense should be consecrated, except in places where separate provision existed or might be supplied for meeting the requirements of the Presbyterian and Wesleyan forms of worship. Since then the consecration of churches has been limited in accordance with this decision at all stations where British troops are quartered; but some assistance was given from public 930 funds in four consecrated churches in Assam, which were built to supply the place of previously-existing consecrated churches which had been destroyed by an earthquake.
§ SIR J. JARDINEI beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he will lay upon the Table of the House the legal opinions given to Lord George Hamilton about the effect of the rite of consecration according to the forms of the Church of England, upon buildings built by or belonging to the Government of India; and whether, as a matter of practice under the rules made by the Governor-General of India in Council, to regulate the use of Government buildings for public worship, buildings so consecrated are available for public worship by Presbyterian and Wesleyan chaplains and troops, without previous licence from the authorities of the Church of England.
§ MR. MORLEYIt would be contrary to precedent to lay upon the Table legal opinions given by the law officers of the Crown, or other legal authorities consulted by the Government; but the hon. Member will find the substance of those opinions stated in Lord George Hamilton's despatch of March 1st, 1900, printed at pages 47–48 of Command Paper No. 129 of 1900. As stated in that despatch the authority of the Bishop is by law necessary for the admission of services other than those of the Church of England in churches which have been consecrated for the service of that denomination.