WELSH CHURCH BILL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1443, 18 May 1912, Page 5

WELSH CHURCH BILL.

« SPEECH BY PRIME MINISTER. financial concessions. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, Mny 16. Speaking in the Hons© of Commons on the second reading of tlio Welsh Church Disestablishment Hill, tiio Prime Minister, Mr. Asquilh, said fiicv might assume that whilo tho Irish Disestablishiiiont Act wa.s unrepealed, it was not contrary to tho laws of morality and lionesty ta deal similarly with Wale's. Mr. Crive (Unionist), in reply, said that because Parliament had onoe been un3list was no reason for injustice being repeated.

The Premier declined to facilitate tho passago of a Welsh Religious Census Bill, introduced by Colonel Sir A. GrifiithBoscawen, Unionist member for Dudley, and honorary secretary of tho Church Parliamentary Committee, AMENDMENTS DESIRED. London, May 16. Mr. Asquith, in the House of Commons, indicated that financial concessions would bo made in tho Welsh Disestablishment Bill in Committee. The "Manchester Guardian" says there is much uneassness aniGng the Liberals l egarding disendowment and secularisation, and that there is hardly one outside the Welsh membors who does not strongly desire substantial amendment of the Bill. SECOND HEADING CARRIED. LIBERALS ABSTAIN FROM VOTING, (Rec. May 17, 9.20 p.m.) London, May 17. In the House of Commons the Disestablishment Bill second reading was carried by 848 votes to 257. A dozen Liberals abstained from voting. Sir E. Beauchamp (Liberal) and Mr. Geo. Harwood (Liberal) voted against tho Government. In the courso of tho. debate, Lord Hugh Cecil (Unionist) said that the establishment being in relation to tho United lungdoui and tho Church, ought to be tieafced Imperially, and not as concerning itales alone. Tho confiscation of property which the Church had held undisjnitaWy for 300 years, and its diversion to secular objects, was wholly indefensible.

Mr. Lloyd-George, Chancellor of t'no Iwchequer, denied that tho funds derived from tithes wero the property of the Church; they were held in trust for the nation. 'I'ho Church, while accumulating endowments, accepted the principle that tho maintenance of the poor was in the service of God, but tho poor's share of the titho had been annexed. Tho Government had been charged with pillagin? the Church, but the Church had set the example when it severed its connection with the ancient faith. Property intended for tho use of the poor and the sick went to great families. The Duke of Devonshire had issued a circular accusing the Government of robbery of God, yet the foundation of tho Duko's fortune lay in property taken from tho Church. Such an accusation should not lie mado by those whose family tree was laden with tho fruits of sacrifice. At tho Reformation tho Catholic churches, monasteries, almshouses, "tho poor, and even tho dead were robbed, and now when the Welsh wero seeking to recover a part of tho pillage for the poor, those dripping with the fat of sacrilege ventured to accuse the Government of robbing God.

Mr. Edgar E. Jones, member for Mertliyr Borough, and Mr. T. Richards (Labour) indicated that the Welsh, whilo desiring a settlement, did not want the Church's money i the Church had failed in its trust, and must surrender it to the nation.

Mr. Bonar Law, Loader of the Opposition, taunted the Government with not being proud of its proposal. The motive of the Welsh members was to weaken the Anglican Church, not to strengthen the Free Clnirchos. He censured Mr. Lloyd-George for his attack on the Duke of Devonshire, which was tho most extraordinary he had ever made in the Houso of Commons. Did he mean that the Duko ought to hand over his property to the State P It was unfair to attack a man for 1 what his ancestors may have done four centuries ago. Ho was satisfied that tho base of the Welsh Church's title to the endowments was on prescription alone.

Mr. Reginald M'Kenm, Homo Secretary, defendc-d disendowment. Tho tithe wns tho creation of the law, and Parliament ought not, after disestablishment, to impose a tax on Welshmen for tho banefit of a Church which was not national.