ENGLISH NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 67, 17 April 1852, Page 2

ENGLISH NEWS.

We have extracted the following paragraphs from the V. D. L. papers brought by the " Will o' the Wisp :"—

Church Kefobm.—The Advertiser states that a series of meetings is forthwith to be held throughout the country, for the purpose of propounding a very extensive measure of church reform, with the view of bringing the question before parliament early in the ensuing session. The chief details are as follows:—A complete re-adjustment of the connection of the Church with the State. An increase of bishops, with salaries from £1,000 to £3,000 per annum. Exclusion of bishops from the house of lords, and compulsory residence in their diocese. The right of election of bishops to be vested in the Church and not in the crown. Dissenters to be exempt from the payment of church-rates and tithes. Free synodical action to be given to the Church by the formation of a national council, composed of bishops and delegates of the provinces of Canterbury and York, to meet in three years, or oftener, as a final council of appeal. The revival of the existing convocations of each province. The organization of diocesan synods in each see, and the formation of local synods in each deanery, to be presided over by a suffragan, or the principal^" the ancient Chorepiscopi, and to meet every month. At the monthly synods, the rectors and' curates within the district shall settle all matters brought before them: and they are to be at liberty to consider the doctrine or conversation of parochial ministers, as also to censure all infidel opinions or projects, heresies or schisms, within the circuit, with liberty to the parties to appeal from it to the diocesan synod. The diocesan synod to be held once or twice a year, to which are to be summoned all the suffragans and the ministers, or a certain number of delegates from every deanery in the diocese, with whose consent (that is to say, the majority), all disputed points may be settled by the bishop, or in his absence by one of his suffragans, whom he is to despute to be the moderator of the synod in his stead. At this synod all matters of greater moment are to be considered, and the orders of the monthly synods revised; and,, if necessary, reformed; and' if, in any difficult matter, the members should so wish it, they may be referred to the next meeting of the national synod. The provincial synod to consist of all the bishops and suffragans, and such other of the clergy as may be elected out of every diocese within the province. The archbishop of either province to be moderator of the meeting, or one of the bishops appointed by him. A council of the bishops and suffragans, and such other of the clergy as may be elected, to be formed as a general national synod, wherein all appeals from inferior synods'may be received, all their acts examined, and all ecclesiastical constitutions and canons, which concern the state of the church, be established. — London Paper.