BISHOPRICS OF SHEFFIELD, CHELMS FORD AND FOR THE COUNTY OF SUFFOLK BILL. (No. 190.) (Hansard, 14 August 1913)

§ EARL BEAUCHAMP
My Lords, I beg to move the Second Reading of this Bill. Your Lordships will remember that in previous sessions this House has approved of a Bill bearing the title "The Bishoprics Bill," which was rather wider in its scope than this Bill. This Bill, however, is on the same lines and provides for the institution of three particular bishoprics. Therefore I venture to hope that your Lordships will not only give the Bill a Second Reading, but will allow it to pass through all its stages to-day. I think we may congratulate ourselves that the Bill has successfully passed through the other House.

§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY
My Lords, I am quite sure that your Lordships in all parts of the House will share the noble Earl's feeling of satisfaction that this Bill has at length passed through the House of Commons and has now come up for your Lordships' assent. I ought to say, on behalf of noble Lords sitting on this side of the House and also on behalf of many Churchmen who are deeply interested in the question outside, how deeply grateful we are to the Prime Minister for the personal interest he has taken in this matter and the efforts he has made in a busy session to get the Bill through. I believe this Bill to be of the greatest importance to the dioceses concerned. The truth really is that it is absolutely necessary that something should be done to relieve the overworked Bishops. It is almost impossible in some cases to believe that a Bishop who thoroughly does his duty can do so without the greatest peril to his health. The effort is almost unexampled. I regret to think that many noble and devoted Bishops have sacrificed their health, and indeed their lives, in an effort to keep abreast of the tremendous work imposed upon them. I hope the general Bill, the Bill to which the noble Earl referred, will before long be passed into law, by which it will be possible without coining to an overworked Parliament to gain relief, to obtain such changes in the division of dioceses as are really absolutely 1952 called for if the work is to be efficiently carried through.

§ EARL BEAUCHAMP
My Lords, I have full information with regard to these Bills, which are all of the same kind and have been promoted by the Charity Commissioners. I shall not, however, venture to intrude the full particulars upon your Lordships unless any member would like information with regard to either of these Bills, in which case I shall be happy to supply it. I understand that there are a few more of the same kind of Bills, also promoted by the Charity Commissioners, which are on their way now to your Lordships' House.