§ 16. Sir J. D. REESasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether endowments of non-Christian religions recognised by pre-British governments in India have in like manner been recognised and confirmed by the British-Indian Government; and, if so, what is the proportion of such endowments to the amounts paid by the British-Indian Government in the last financial year for buildings, services, and ministers in India in respect of different branches of the Christian religion?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Mr. Montagu)In reply to the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on the 15th July. I am unable to give the information asked for in the second part 1250 of the question, as figures as to the total amount of Indian religious endowments are not available.
§ 17. Mr. KINGasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the charges of ecclesiastical establishments in India, as given in Parliamentary Paper No. 81, of 1908, still continue to be paid to a similar amount as in the year 1906–1907, to which that Return relates; whether the total sum paid out of the revenues of India for clergy and establishments of the Churches of England, Scotland, and Rome approximates still to 3,500,000 rupees annually; and whether it is the policy of the Government of India to increase, diminish, or maintain the charges under this head?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second, my hon. Friend has arrived at his figure of three and a half millions of rupees by adding together the totals of two returns of the same expenditure. The total sum expended in 1906–7 was 2,300,000 rupees. The corresponding sum in 1911–12 was 2,280,000 rupees, showing a small decrease.
§ 18. Mr. KINGasked how many Wesleyan places of worship have been erected in India since 1905, and how many previously, towards which the Government of India have made contributions; and whether, before making contributions to Wesleyan places of worship, application for contributions was made to the Wesleyan Centenary Fund?
§ Mr. MONTAGUFrom the Return communicated to my hon. Friend it appears that three Wesleyan places of worship have been erected in India since 1905 towards which Government contributions have been made. As to the remaining questions the Government of India have promised to furnish information.
§ 19. Mr. KINGasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he has information showing the number of Presbyterian places of worship in India towards which the Government have since 1905 made or promised contributions; whether, before granting such contributions, the Government of India was satisfied that no funds were available for these places of worship from the Presbyterians of Scotland and elsewhere; and whether it is part of the settled policy of the Government of India to spread and 1251 support Presbyterianism with funds raised by taxes levied on Hindus and Mahomedans?
§ Mr. MONTAGUFrom the statement furnished to my hon. Friend it appears that there are eight Presbyterian places of worship erected in India since 1905 towards which Government contributions have been made. The Government of India have promised to furnish information in respect of the second question. With regard to the policy of the Government in the matter, I would refer toy hon. Friend to the answer I have just given to the hon. Member for East Nottingham.
§ 20. Mr. KINGasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that since 1905 no Christian places of worship have been erected in Madras with Government contributions, and that, in the same period, seventeen Christian places of worship have been erected in the Punjaub by the aid of Government contributions; whether a different policy is pursued in this respect in Madras to that pursued in other parts of India; and, if so, what reason can be alleged for the different policies?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe facts which my hon. Friend gleans from the Return recently communicated to him are due to difference, not of policy, but of circumstances. No additional churches are built until or unless they are required.
§ 21. Mr. KINGasked the Under-Secretary of State for India how many Christian places of worship have been erected since 1905 in India towards which the Government have contributed; what is the total seating accommodation of these places of worship; whether any census has been taken of the attendances at these places of worship; and, if not, what inquiries were made to show that the places of worship were required or, after erection, were properly attended.
§ Mr. MONTAGUFrom the statement furnished to my hon. Friend, it appears that there are fifty-two Christian places of worship erected in India since 1905 towards which Government contributions have been made. The Government of India have promised to furnish the information asked for in the last three parts of the question.
§ 22. Mr. KINGasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether an opinion was 1252 sought in 1899 by the Secretary of State for India, either from the Law Officers of the Crown or from other learned counsel, on the point whether buildings maintained wholly or in part by the Government of India, or to which the Government of India had made contributions for building, could be used for the religious services of His Majesty's troops of all denominations; whether the bishops and clergy of the Anglican Church had sole control and use of such churches; whether the opinion obtained was based upon the law of India or of England; whether the bishops and clergy of the Anglican Church have on any occasion since 1899 been requested to allow the use of churches and buildings under their control for the religious worship of Presbyterians, Wesleyans, or other Christians; and, if so, what answer had been received?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe point put to learned counsel, and subsequently to the Law Officers in 1899, was solely as to the effect of the consecration of churches in India by Anglican bishops with the consent of the Government. The opinion given was that churches so consecrated could not be used for religious services other than Anglican without the sanction of the Anglican bishop. The opinion was based upon an express or implied agreement subsisting between the consecrating bishop and the Government, and no question of Indian law was involved, except as to how far the English ecclesiastical law governing consecration applied to India. I shall be happy to send my hon. Friend a copy of the White Paper of 1908. With the sanction of the bishop consecrated churches have frequently been used for Presbyterian and Wesleyan services.