SECOND READING. (Hansard, 21 March 1871)

§ LORD CAIRNS

, in moving the second reading of this Bill, said it differed from the preceding Bill in this respect—that the Primitive Wesleyans, not being affected by the Irish Church Bill, had no need to reconstruct themselves as a Church. Their religious community had been established in 1818, under the name of "The Primitive Wesleyan Methodist Society of Ireland," for the purpose of carrying out certain general principles, agreed upon at a meeting of the representatives of that Society in Ireland in that year. The Society had become possessed of certain funds and securities, and of preaching houses, schools, and other property. The Bill recited that the Society were desirous of obtaining power to alter and regulate their proceedings and powers, and to carry on their work in co-operation with the Church of Ireland and other religious bodies in that country. The Bill then recited that the Society had been since its formation governed by a "Conference," and that at a Conference held in November last, it was determined, amongst other things, to seek for powers to incorporate the Society, and to alter and amend the general principles and constitution of the Society. The Bill, therefore, proposes to enact that the Society should be constituted one body politic and corporate by the name of "The Primitive Wesleyan Methodist Society of Ireland," who should be trustees, to hold and manage the property of the society upon trusts and with powers given in certain clauses. The Bill proceeded to give powers to the 331 Conference to administer the general government of the Society, and, declaring the "doctrine" of the Society to remain unaltered, empowered it to alter and amend its design, discipline, and laws. One clause empowered the Society, by a vote of the Conference, to unite with the Church of Ireland, or other religious body, upon such terms and conditions as might be agreed upon.