§ LORD REDESDALEpresented a petition from certain Members of the Convocation of the Province of York, praying the House, before preceding with the Church Discipline Bill, or any measure specifically affecting the clergy, the same may be submitted to the clergy of both Provinces in their Convocations now lawfully in being under the Royal writs addressed to both Archbishops respectively. He thought it unjust that one set of proceedings should be adopted with regard to the Province of Canterbury, and another mode of proceeding with respect to the Province of York. He entertained a strong opinion that if the Convocation of the Province of York was put upon a proper footing much good might result from it. He thought the manner in which the proceedings in Convocation of the Province of Canterbury 398 were conducted showed that all those apprehensions which had been entertained by parties as to their dangerous character were altogether unfounded. Of course, in all public assemblies they must expect differences of opinion, and when discussions took place they were not always conducted in the manner in which it could be wished they should be; but because matters of difference might occur that was no argument against such assemblies altogether. It was very desirable that the Church should represent itself. At the present moment the Church was abused for many things for which it was really not responsible, and it was unjust that it should not be allowed to express its opinion as to what should be done in reference to such questions. At the same time, some improvement ought, he thought, to take place in the constitution of the bodies to which he was referring, and the first and most obvious improvement was the fusion of the two Provinces. Nothing, he was aware, could be done now beyond calling public attention to the matter, but he hoped some attention would be given to the subject of the petition, and that the same privileges would be given to the Convocation of one Province as were enjoyed by the other.
§ Petition to lie on the table.
§ House adjourned till To-morrow.