The Bishop of Peterborough moved on Thursday night the second
reading of his Church Patronage Bill. Its chief idea is to put it into the Bishop's power to veto unfit presentations. A. Bishop may refuse a presentee who has not been three years in deacon's orders, or who is over seventy years of age, or who cannot produce a testimonial from three beneficed clergymen, countersigned by their Bishop,—and the Bishop in question may state his reasons for refusing to countersign. The Bishop may also veto a presentation on the ground of the presentee's physical incapacity to discharge the duties of the cure. The Bill also gives to three or more parishioners the right to bring any moral objec- tions to the appointment, in which case the Bishop may hear the objection ; or if the Bishop's decision be objected to, the Judge appointed by the Public Worship Act must hear it The Bill was read a second time, and referred to a Select Committee. We rather agree with the Bishop of Exeter that it will do some good, till the lawyers find out how its provisions may best be evaded, and after that it will be inoperative.
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