Clement Cl. 3
Miscellanen.
Ms Kik
CONFIDENTIAL.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
C.O.
Reference →
885
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDO
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
I HAVE thought it well to reprint the Bill of the Session of 1854, which bears a close resemblance to the one prepared by Mr. Merivale, and which failed in the House of Commons. Mr. Merivale's plan only differs from this one in subjoining a clause preserving the powers of the Colonial Legislatures.
(Signed) H. LABOUCHERE.
Colonial Office,
December 26, 1855.
Preamble.
A Bill to relieve the Clergy of the United Church
of England and Ireland resident in the Colonies from any Disability as to the holding of Meetings in such Colonies for the Regulation of Ecclesiastical Affairs therein.
Whereas by reason of the laws, statutes, and ordinances which affect or bind the Bishops and clergy of the United Church of England and Ireland, doubts may exist whether the Bishops and clergy of the said Church resident and performing spiritual duties in the Colonial Possessions of Her Majesty can lawfully hold or be present at meetings of the Bishops, clergy, and lay persons professing to be members of the said Church in any Colony, for the purpose of agreeing on rules and regulations touch- ing ecclesiastical affairs; and it is expedient that such Bishops and clergy should be relieved from any such disability: Be it declared and enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with
[403]
2
the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parlia- ment assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows.
I. No statute, law, rule, usage, or other authority Indemnity to the of the United Kingdom shall extend or be con- Clergy attending
Meetings for regu- strued to prevent the Metropolitan of any province lating Ecclesiastical or the Bishop of any diocese in the Colonies of Her Affairs.
Majesty, together with his clergy, and the lay persons of such province or diocese, being members of the United Church of England and Ireland, from meeting together from time to time for the purpose at such meetings of making or entering into any such regulations, agreements, or arrangements as local circumstances shall in their judgment render necessary for the management or conduct of eccle- siastical affairs within such province or diocese: Provided always that such meetings, or the regula- be tions, agreements, or arrangements that may made thereat, shall not obtain any force or authority from the enactments hereby made.