HL Deb 01 June 1865 vol 179 cc1118-9

Against the Third Reading of the Clerical Subscription Bill.

"DISSENTIENT:

"1. Because that while agreeing that it is expedient to simplify and assimilate the Laws of Clerical Subscription in all the Provinces of the United Church of England and Ireland, and while acquiescing in the general Reasonableness of the Recommendations made in the Report of the Royal Commissioners upon which this Bill is founded, we deem it inconsistent with the ancient Customs of this Church and Realm that in a Spiritual Matter so nearly affecting the whole Body of the Clergy, Canons enacted with the Assent of the Crown by the Bishops and Clergy synodically assembled should be altered or annulled without a Royal Licence previously given to them to re-consider and alter those Canons.

"2. Because the Course taken in the bringing in and passing this Bill, which alters, without the Concurrence of all the Bishops and Clergy of the Church in England and Ireland synodically assembled, Canons of the Church respecting Clerical Subscription as a Condition of Admission into Holy Orders, is regarded by us as not only without adequate Precedent, but without sufficient Ground of general Expediency.

"3. Because we think that the passing of this Bill, with the Concurrence of the English, but without the Concurrence of the Irish Bishops and Clergy synodically convened, may appear prejudicial to their undoubted Right to a full Participation in the Common Privileges of the Spirituality of the United Church, a Right declared by the Parliaments of Great Britain and Ireland to be an essential and fundamental Part of the Union of those Kingdoms.

"RICHD. C. DUBLIN.

"WM. KILLALOE, &c.

"H. KILMORE."

House adjourned at a quarter past Six o'clock, till To-morrow, half past Ten o'clock.