The Upper House of Convocation last week had an interesting
discussion on the formation of a proposed House of Laymen, which should meet at the same time as Convocation, and give its views on the questions submitted to it. The proposal is to have ten members appointed by the lay members of the London Diocesan Conference for the diocese of London, six in like manner for the diocese of Winchester, and six for the diocese of Rochester, and four for every other diocese, ten official mem- bers being nominated by the Archbishop of Canterbury. This would, we believe, give a Lay House of about 121 members; and the proposal is, that it shall be opened by the Archbishop, that it shall meet only when Convocation meets, and that it shall be dissolved with every dissolution of Parliament. This is a provisional scheme which seems well conceived for giving the laity a certain influence over the proceedings of the Church; but to work it properly it will require a much more careful and business-like system in electing the Diocesan Conferences than has been usually applied.
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