4 MARCH 1871, Page 3

The second reading of the Dissenters' Burials' Bill was carried

on Monday by a majority of 62 (211-149). The Times proposes that only distinctively Christian services shall be allowed in the -churchyards of our national Churches. Why ? Are Theists to be refused a religious service? Will a theistic service desecrate a Christian burial-ground ? Besides, what does a Christian service mean? We think we hardly ever heard a more imbecile limitation proposed. How are we the worse Christians in church for the -fact that some one who was not a Christian was buried without any false pretensions of Christianity during the week ? To bury them with such false pretensions is common enough, and no one is -shocked at that.