§ THE LORD BISHOP OF WORCESTER, on behalf of the Lout) ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY, rose to move to resolve, That, in accordance with the Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act, 1919, this House do direct that the Representation of the Laity (Amendment) Measure, 1922, be presented to His Majesty for the Royal Assent.
§ The right rev. Prelate said: My Lords, I am very glad to think that the first occasion upon which I have to address your Lordships' House should be one upon which I must get through with the least possible delay, and the fewest possible words. The task that falls upon me is due to the fact that the most rev. Primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury, is, as your Lordships are aware, just recovering from a rather sharp feverish attack. The Archbishop of York would have been here to move the Measure if he had been able to stay so long.
§ The matter, I think, is of the very simplest possible character. Your Lordships will remember that in 1919 you helped to create what is called the National Church Assembly. At that time you listened to the explanations of the most rev. Primate with regard to the proposed constitution of that Assembly, but attached to the measure then passed was a. Schedule, and what is before you at the present moment is a proposal to make certain small alterations in that Schedule. For instance, it was found that there was no provision for holding that very important body the parochial church meeting in the absence of the incumbent. Now, the clergy of the Church of England are a very healthy, long-lived race, and actuarially they give a good account of themselves. Nevertheless, it cannot be said of them that they come to no misfortune like other folk, or that they are not plagued like other men, and it happens from time to time that the clergyman is unable to preside at the parochial church meeting. This Measure simply suggests that provision should be made for that emergency.
§ There is one larger matter in the Measure, which is concerned with the duration of diocesan conferences. Some of your Lordships may possibly think that the diocesan conference as an institution should not be occupying you at this stage of a very laborious sitting. Nevertheless, I venture to say to you, if I may do so, that the 213 National Assembly which you helped to create two or three years ago, and which is now a very lusty infant indeed, requires to be more closely connected with the life of the Church in the various assemblies of the Church in this country, including the diocesan conferences, the conferences of the rural deaneries, and even with the meetings in the parishes. Certain provisions are made in this Measure for bringing that about. May I add that the Ecclesiastical Committee, which consists partly of members of this House, has considered this Measure, I have no doubt with its usual care. We look, some of us, to that Committee to guard us against rash actions on the part of the National Assembly, if any such are to be conceived, but the Ecclesiastical Committee, looking at the present Measure, can see, as far as I can gather, nothing in it which affects the rights of His Majesty's subjects. Therefore, it is now my duty to move the Resolution standing in the name of the most rev. Primate.
§ Moved to resolve, That in accordance with the Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act, 1919, this House do direct that the Representation of the Laity (Amendment) Measure, 1922, be presented to His Majesty for the Royal Assent.—(The Lord Bishop of Worcester.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.
§ [From Minutes of April 10.]