CO885-(2-3) — Page 25

2

encumbered with a variety of details justly condemned by "H. M," pages 7 and 8.

I will only observe, further, that in the many communications which I have received from the Colonies (I especially allude to Australia), two points have been uniformly insisted on: first, that the laity should be united with the clergy in framing rules for the government of their Church; and secondly, that the connection of their Church with that of the mother country should be maintained, by securing a right of ultimate appeal in judicial cases to the authorities at home.

Addington,

I have, &c. (Signed)

December 26, 1855.

J. B. CANTUAR.

Sketch of a Bill for Regulating the Church in the Colonies. 1859.

WHEREAS, &c., &c.

Be it declared, &c.

I. No statute, law, rule, usage, or other authority of the United Kingdom shall be construed, or shall extend to prevent any Bishop of any Colonial Diocese enumerated in the Schedule (A) to this Act annexed, or in any other Colony which Her Majesty shall, as hereinafter provided, have declared by Order of Council to fall within the operation of the Act, together with his Clergy and certain Lay persons of his Diocese being members of the Church of England, from meeting together, from time to time, in such numbers and proportions as may be agreed upon, and from making at such meetings, by common consent, or by a majority of voices of the said Clergy and Laity, with the assent of the Bishop of the Diocese, any such regulations as shall in their judgment be necessary for the maintenance of ecclesiastical discipline, and the promotion of Religion, either with respect to one Diocese only, or to more than one Diocese in combination, and by mutual agreement, subject always to the authority of the local legislatures respectively, and to such provisions as they may prescribe: Provided always,

3

that no such regulations shall be made to the effect of altering or putting particular interpreta-

tions upon the articles and formularies of the Church of England, which shall be uniformly held

as the standards of Faith and Doctrine in the churches to which this Act extends.

or

II. It shall be lawful for a Convention locally formed as above to constitute an Ecclesiastical Court for any Diocese, with such rules and regulations as may seem fit; which Court shall take cognizance of any charges brought against any of the Clergy of the Diocese, whether touching scandalous immoral conduct, or heresy and false doctrine, and shall be empowered to pronounce sentence of censure, suspension, or deprivation, according to The circumstances of the case, and subject to the approval of the Bishop: Provided always, that in cases of heresy or false doctrine, there shall be a right of appeal to the Privy Council, and in all other cases to the Archbishop of Canterbury for the time being.

III. Nothing herein contained shall authorize any regulation which shall allow the Bishop of any Diocese to ordain, institute, or license any person to any clerical office, except upon such person having first taken the same oaths of Supremacy, Allegiance, and consent to the Articles and Liturgy as are required of persons ordained or licensed in

England.

1.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TLC.O.885

2 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDO

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

XL11