The BISHOP of OXFORD,in moving the Second Reading of this Bill, stated that its object was to enable ecclesiastical corporations, 946 sole or aggregate, to exchange their official patronage under certain conditions. It was intended, in issuing the Ecclesiastical Commission, to equalise not only the incomes but the episcopal patronage of the various bishoprics. Many years had elapsed without this latter object being carried out; but at length a scheme, prepared by Mr. Lefevre, one of the Commissioners—and for which the greatest thanks were due to him—received the sanction of the Commissioners and the approbation of the Crown, under an Order in Council. Owing mainly to his right rev. Friend the Bishop of London, and one or two other prelates, who came voluntarily into it, and gave up a very large amount of patronage which they might have retained, this scheme took effect last year. In some cases, however, the patronage of some livings still remained in the hands of Bishops other than those in whose dioceses they were situated. Now, it was clearly advisable that Bishops should have their official patronage as far as possible in their own dioceses; and the object of this Bill was to allow ecclesiastical patrons to exchange benefices now in their gift for those in the gift of other ecclesiastical patrons or of the Crown. It was proposed that the machinery of the Ecclesiastical Commission should be used for this purpose; and it was the opinion of the Bishops and Archbishops that such a measure would tend greatly to the beneficial result of the legislation which had already taken place on this subject.
§ Bill read 2a.