THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND IN CANADA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 310, 20 October 1855, Page 5

THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND IN CANADA.

The Bishop of Oxford on the 25th May, moved for copy of an address presented to her Majesty by the House of Assembly and Legistive Council of Canada, praying for the removal of disadvantages to which the Church in Canada is subject, and to enable it to elect its own bishops ; and for any answer which may be given thereto. The address in question was one that followed upon the adoption of an act by the Canada legislature; in which it was, amongst other things, distinctly declared that it was desirable that the connection between Church and State should entirely cease. When that act which carried into effect the declaration he had just referred to was adopted, the members of both Houses of the Canadian legislature agreed to the address for the production of which he now moved. It would be seen that this was a measure which would not only deprive the church of its national character, but would also deprive the State of its wholesome influence over the Church.—Earl Granville said the Government had no objection to lay on the table the address of the Canadian legislature. No answer had, however, yet been returned to that address.—The Earl of Derby agreed with the remarks of the right rev. prelate, but reminded him thatlie had given his assent to the measure, which, by enabling the Canadian Legislature to dissever the endowments from the Church, was the first step in bringing about ihe

separation between Church and State.—-The Bishop of Oxford denied that, in voting for the Canadian Clergy Reserves Bill, he bad assented to the principle'of the dissolution of the connection between Church and State. What he v<ned for then was that we should keep the pledge we had given to the colonists, of conferring upon them the p'»wer of legislating for themselves—that we should entrust to them the power of dealing with this question, and with the power, leave to them the responsibility. —Trie Earl of Derby said that at the time that act was passed the power of legislating on their .own concerns had been granted to the colonies, subject to certain reservations which that act broke down.—The Bishop of Oxford said the whole question turned upon whether this was or was not one of the points reserved. He believed it was included in the pledge we had given to our colonies—The Earl of Derby: If it was not a reserved point where was the necessity for an act of Parliament?— The motion, so far as it related to the colonial legislature, wag then agreed to.— Home News.