Lord Sandon on Wednesday proposed the second reading of his
:annual Bill for establishing Parish Councils. He wants, as our readers may remember, to elect a small Council of Sidesmen in every parish, who shall have power to prevent the Incumbent -from introducing innovations into the service, and shall be, in fact, the lay Parliament of the clerical monarch. The pro- posal was supported by Mr. Cowper Temple, and praised "in principle" by men of both sides, the chief critics being Mr. aleresford Hope, who preferred voluntary Councils, Mr. Hardy, who wanted lay control exercised through Convocation, and Mr. Buxton, who dreaded interference with the liberty of the -clergy ; but Mr. Gladstone finally disposed of it by declaring it premature. He thought the laity should have a greater share in the management of Church affairs, although it was the clergy, not the laity, who had given life to the services which, thirty years ago, were so cold and formal, but the country was not yet ready. The Bill, therefore, was read a second time, with the understand- ing that it would be dropped.
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