§ "DISSENTIENT:
§ "1. Because the usefulness of every clergyman in Ireland would be greatly impaired by the knowledge that he could have no legitimate successor in his parish and glebe house as of right.
§ "2. Because this Bill would perpetuate the divisions into sects of Christians, which the appeal to an open Bible would tend to bring into unity under the supremacy of the Crown.
§ "3. Because the families of persons in holy orders would be deprived of that support which promotion on account of zeal and earnestness in duty has hitherto rewarded the clergy withal in their homes.
§ "4. Because the want of resident gentry being injurious to Ireland, the disturbance of a system which ensured a fair proportion of educated inhabitants would every year be more deeply felt if the clergy could not have houses free of charge.
§ "5. Because the equality proposed by this Bill would weaken the protest against such minor doctrines of the Church of Rome as tend to a reliance on form and on painful observances, and would divert attention from points which pious Catholics considered worthy of being conceded, and which the Queen Regent of France in 1561, in her instructions to be laid before the Pope, so far adopted as to write—' What danger can there be to the Church in removing images from the churches and doing away with certain useless forms in the administration of the Sacraments? It would be advantageous to allow all persons the Communion under both kinds; and to permit Divine worship to be celebrated in the vulgar tongue,' by Protestants.
§ "6. Because as sooner or later the continued opening of Churches in the Reformed Faith would bring all the inhabitants of Ireland into one Communion, and as the people of England desire their Irish Catholic brethren to enjoy all the advantages which they themselves possess as a National Church, it might well be considered at the great 'Œcumenical Council' how far changes should be deprecated subversive of all establishments and privileges.
446§ "7. Because there can be no equality between the Romanists, Presbyterians, and (lawful) Episcopalians of Ireland if the endowments of the latter should be handed over to a paid commission, unless those denominations also permit their property to be confiscated, and because the petition from Killelagh to the House of Commons has been disregarded since 22nd June 1831 until now.
§ "8. Because the phrases ' Gifts of Churches' ' Re-establishment' and ' Re-endowment' apply to the case of lawful possession being invaded, of the disturbance' of a position guaranteed by the Act of Union, and promulgated by a solemn invocation of The Deity in Westminster Abbey, and to the revenues of the Irish Church, which are barely sufficient for the support of all the clergy, and of those who have at great cost been educated with the view of being candidates for Holy Orders.
§ "9. Because the Peers, being sworn to legislate ' according to law,' are invading the first principles of justice in consenting to this Bill, and removing blameless clergymen by commutation or otherwise.
§ "Denman."
§ Clause 68 (Ultimate trust of surplus).
§
Then it was moved, "Not to insist on the Amendments in Clause 68, to which the Commons disagree, but to leave out the said clause, and to insert the following clause in lieu thereof:—
And whereas it is further expedient that the proceeds of the said property should be appropriated mainly to the relief of unavoidable calamity and suffering, yet not so as to cancel or impair the obligations now attached to property under the Acts for the relief of the poor: Be it further enacted, that the said proceeds shall be so applied accordingly in the manner Parliament shall hereafter direct.
EARL GREYI will not disturb the agreement which has been come to by both sides of the House by asking you to divide on this question; but I appeal to your Lordships not to lower the character of this House and of Parliament by inserting words which I cannot help thinking everyone of you must feel to be absolutely idle and futile, and incapable of answering any possible purpose. I should be equally averse to introducing words which will go absolutely for nothing whenever the subject is to be discussed. As far as the substance of the clause goes, it reserves to Parliament the future disposition of the property, and I have no fault to find with that; but it is unworthy of Parliament and of the dignity of this House to introduce into a clause a pledge which has absolutely no meaning, which will not fetter future Parliaments, and which is simply calculated to cover Parliament with ridicule. If these words be added to the 447 clause I may say at once that whenever this subject comes up again to be dealt with I shall treat them as waste paper, and as not binding upon Parliament or any individual.
EARL GRANYTLLEI am sorry to deny the noble Earl the pleasure of having the last word, but I am bound to say I disagree with him. However, I will not trouble your Lordships with any arguments, as I believe the Amendment has the acquiescence of a majority your Lordships.
§ Motion agreed to; words inserted accordingly.
§ A Committee appointed to prepare reasons to be offered to the Commons for the Lords insisting on the said amendments: The Committee to meet forthwith.
§ Report from the Committee of the reasons to be offered to the Commons for the Lords insisting upon certain of their amendments to which the Commons have disagreed; read and agreed to; and a message sent to the Commons to return the said Bill, with amendments and reasons.