In the debate on Mr. Dodson's Bill for abolishing the
Oxford tests for graduates, and admitting to the MA degree without the present condition of subscription to the Articles and Prayer-book, Mr. Neste took Lord R. Cecil to task for his Oxford speech, for his wild statement that "no Churchman exists who is worthy of the name who is not also a good Conservative," and especially for his at- tack on the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who, said Mr. Neate, "had always kept religion a sacred thing apart from politics, who had always loved and respected the Church too much to make her the instrument of a party, who had given to her that which no political combination could give, the assistance of a great intellect humbly submitting to her doctrines." Mr. Neate prophesied to the Church nothing but damage from "the noble Lord's disastrous advocacy." It is impossible, however, to snub Lord Robert Cecil, whose aristocratic aplomb was quite undisturbed by the contrast which was thus put before the House between the great elastic intellect of Mr. Gladstone, and his own cold, square, limited understanding. But if not put down, he was more than answered by Mr. Goschen's masterly speech against the men who wished to turn Oxford into a clerical seminary for priests, and against the mingled martinetism and unscrupulousness of a party which first defends severe tests on principle, and then taunts as " morbid " the consciences which cannot swallow them. The majority for going into committee was only ten (236 to 226), but as the Tories mustered very strongly it was a respectable Liberal victory.
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