There really seems at last some hope that the Church-Rate
question will be settled. Mr. Gladstone moved the second read- ing of his Bill abolishing the compulsory powers attached to the• Church-Rate, except so far as promises of contribution have really been given, and the fund so promised has been drawn upon by the proper authorities,—in which case,—so Mr. Gladstone explains the meaning of his sixth clause,—the Churchwarden is to have the same power to recover the rate promised that the treasurer of a Dissenting chapel would have under the like circumstances. As the Bill abolishes the compulsory powers absolutely, it was neces- sary to give them back again under these circumstances, or the Churchwarden would have had less power than the treasurer of a voluntary subscription to a Dissenting chapel. Mr. Henley grumbled, and Mr. Hardy was rather sour, but Lord Cranborne supported Mr. Gladstone, and the Bill passed its second reading without a division.
Previous page
