CO885(2-3) — Page 70

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CONFIDENTIAL.

23

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference -

LIPTIC.O.

885

2

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

I HAVE desired that these papers relating to the

state of Church affairs in the Colonics should be printed for the Cabinet, because it appears to that their consideration and decision with regard to“ them is imperatively required.

The question of the policy to be adopted for the Colonial Churches, is now forced upon us by events which have occurred in two Colonies very distant from each other: 1st, By the Bill which has been passed by the Legislature of Victoria at the instance of the Bishop, and to which our Law Officers advise us that the consent of the Crown cannot constitutionally be given without the sanction of an Act of Parliament; and, 2ndly, still more. gravely by the Address of the Legislature of Canada, supported by the memorial of the three Anglican Bishops of the Colony, and to which no answer has yet been given.

I think that the papers now circulated will place the facts of the case fully before the Cabinet, who must now decide what course they shall advise the Crown to adopt. My own opinion is, that the time has arrived when we can no longer attempt to deal with this important subject by any temporizing expe- dient, but that for the sake of the contentment and religious interests of our Colonies, as well as in consistency with the policy towards them which has been adopted, in leaving all matters of internal con- cern, as far as possible, to their own management, we must deal boldly and firmly with this remnant of ecclesiastical authority over a portion of their inhabitants.

The churchinen in our Colonies complain that their connection with the State gives them no advan- tages over their colonial fellow-subjects of other

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