THE BISHOP OF LICHFIELDMy Lords, this Bill, for which I ask a Second Reading to-night, needs no lengthened explanation. Your Lordships are no doubt aware that there are a, very considerable number of benefices in this country of which the advowsons are in the hands of parishioners or other persons; and on the occasion of a vacancy occurring there are frequently very unseemly circumstances attending the election of the new incumbent; in fact, the election is conducted and attended with all the excitement, if not with the bitterness, of a Parliamentary election. The Bill proposes that the parishioners or freeholders, or whoever the class of persons may be who have the advowson in each case or shall have the appointment, shall meet together for the purpose of electing a body of Patronage Trustees to exercise from time to time the right of presentation. It proposes that they shall have the power of filling up their numbers. After the completion of the election of Patronage Trustees all rights of the advowson owners to choose or present a minister shall cease to be exercisable by them, and shall be vested in and exercised by the trustees. On the occurrence of a vacancy in the benefice, they shall proceed to appoint an incumbent, and it shall be the duty of the chairman to summon a meeting of the trustees, when a minister will be chosen or nominated for presentation to the Bishop, so that they are to have the right of appointment when the living becomes vacant. The provisions of the Bill are so simple, its objects so plain, and the scandal—for it is nothing else than a scandal—which it is intended to remove is so great, that I think I may content myself by simply asking your Lordships now to give a Second Reading to the Bill.
§ Bill read 2a (according to order), and committed to the Standing Committee for General Bills.