HL Deb 20 May 1833 vol 17 cc1379-80
The Bishop of London,

on the presentation of a Petition for the Better Observance of the Sabbath said, that it would be a subject of great regret to many persons, if the throwing out of that Bill by the other House of Parliament should prevent the adoption of any measures of amelioration. He thought that some person, either in that or the other House, should bring in some Bill of a simple and moderate nature, which might pass both Houses without difficulty; and that they ought not to leave this country under the imputation of having thrown aside, without even considering it, a measure of so much importance, whether it were regarded in a religious, in a moral, or even in a political point of view. It was of infinite importance at the present time, when the public mind was so much alive to the subject, that a simple measure should be proposed, such a measure as if brought forward would have no difficulty in passing. This had been strongly urged upon himself, and several of his reverend brethren; but they had a great objection to taking upon themselves the responsibility of bringing forward such a Bill, and for reasons which might be easily guessed. If they brought forward a measure which did not come up to their own notions of the manner in which the Lord's Day ought to be observed, it was needless to say what bad consequences would arise from it. There was a large class of persons who, if such a Bill were brought forward, under the auspices of the Church, would be ready to reproach the Bishops on account of it. "This, then," they would say, "is the standard of the Bishops for the observance of the Sabbath." That was one among the many reasons which would make the Bishops decline to submit any measure of the kind to Parliament, but he certainly wished that some person would again lake up the subject.

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