HL Deb 16 March 1888 vol 323 cc1405-7

Order of the Day for the House to be put into Committee, read.

THE BISHOP OF CARLISLE (Dr. GOODWIN)

, in moving that the House go into Committee on this Bill, said, that he had received a representation on the subject of the cathedral church of Manchester, the case of which was a peculiar one. It now appeared that Sub-sections 2 and 3 of this Bill, if made law, would enable the Dean and Chapter to drive a coach and four through a late decision of a Court of Law with respect to the funds of the cathedral church of Manchester. No such intention could have been conceived by himself or any of the promoters of the Bill. He ventured to doubt whether the opinion was a correct one. He did not think that under the clause as it stood there could possibly be any interference with the Chapter of the cathedral, and certainly none was intended. But with regard to the whole question of the Manchester Cathedral, he understood from Lord Egerton, who was not now in his place, that it would probably be necessary to introduce a separate Bill. If any noble Lord would move that Manchester be excepted from all action of the Bill, he did not know that he should offer any opposition; but he thought he should be going beyond his proper office if he had excepted from the operation of the Bill a cathedral which was submitted to their consideration by Her Majesty's Commisssion.

Moved, "That the House do now resolve itself into Committee upon the said Bill."—(The Lord Bishop of Carlisle.)

Motion agreed to; House in Committee (accordingly).

Clauses 1 to 10, inclusive, agreed to, with Amendments.

Clause 11 (Transfer of canonries between Crown and bishops).

EARL BEAUCHAMP

said, he objected to the proposal in the clause to give to the minor canons and other officials of a cathedral the right to priority of presentation to benefices in the gift of the Dean and Chapter. When an important town living in the gift of the Dean and Chapter of a cathedral became vacant, why should a minor canon have an absolute right to be appointed, although possibly not well qualified? The clause would create now rights, and he feared that the interests of important parishes might suffer if this proposed change were agreed to. Of course the Dean and Chapter of a cathedral ought to have the right to present any qualified official to a living in their gift; but it would not be wise to enact that a minor canon should have a preferential right to appointment at the conclusion of his term of office.

THE BISHOP OF CARLISLE

said, that the question whether a man was fit or not was to be loft to the judgment of the Dean and Chapter.

THE BISHOP OF LICHFIELD

said, he could not see why the Dean and Chapter should be limited any more than the Bishop.

On the Motion of the Bishop of CARLISLE, Amendment made, making the clause applicable to collegiate as well as cathedral churches.

Moved, to leave out Clause 11 as amended.—(The Lord Bishop of Lichfield.)

On Question, "That the clause, as amended, stand part of the Bill,"

Their Lordships divided:—Contents 6: Not-Contents 44: Majority 38.

Clause struck out.

Remaining Clauses agreed to.

House resumed.

Bill to be printed, as amended. (No. 46.)