The Bishops have expressed themselves very decidedly against reviving,—for the
present at least,—any kind of diaconate engaged in ordinary business,—even though such a diaconate should be excluded from the priesthood so long as they did not give up secular affairs and pass a farther examination involving a thorough course of study. The discussion arose on the report of a Committee of the Upper House concerning a Bill which has been introduced into the House of Commons, bearing the names of Mr. Gedge, Lord Folkestone, and some other Members, to amend the Acts which prevent deacons from following secular occupations, and removing the disabilities of clergymen to enter Parliament. The Bishops appear to be agreed that to permit one large class of the clergy to devote themselves to trade or industry as their main pursuit, and to exercise their clerical functions only as a secondary occupation, would introduce a new and large class of difficulties in the enforcement of clerical dis- cipline, and not compensate for those difficulties by any corre- sponding enlargement of the resources for evangelising the nation. We are inclined to think that they have decided rightly. Lay help is no doubt indispensable to the Church, and more urgently needed than ever ; but it should be lay help. A diaconate that was immersed in business would bring a great many more scandals on the Church than lay help, and would not give more efficient aid.
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