§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading, read.
*THE BISHOP OF LICHFIELDThe Bill which I ask your Lordships to read a second time to-night is so simple in its character, and so obvious in its purpose that it will require the fewest possible words of explanation. By various Statutes passed within the last 150 years, some of the prebendal stalls in the Cathedral Church of Lichfield have been attached to Canonries, and some to benefices, for the purpose of increasing the endowment of these benefices. As the prebendal stalls have now ceased, as your Lordships are aware, to have any income attached to them, the purpose for which they were thus annexed has come to an end, and it is very desirable that appointments may be made to fill up the number of Canonries in the Cathedral. That really is the whole purpose of this Bill, and the method by which it is proposed to proceed is, to authorise and give power to the Lichfield Cathedral Chapter to frame a Statute or Statutes with a view to accomplishing these objects. I move, my Lords, that this Bill be now read a second time.
§ Read 2a (according to order), and committed to the Standing Committee for General Bills.