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New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 769, 27 August 1853, Page 3

The “ Rcci.f.piasticai. Ri-eobm League.”— -The formation of a new Society, under the title the ,£ Ecclesiastical Reform League,” is announced, for the purpose of hr ncing about a “ thoroughly Conservative reforraat.oa” in the government of the Church of England. Its -attire will be best understood from the following cataIrgue of objects contemplated :—No Clergyman to hold more than one living ; all to be resident; the attempt to sell a presentation to be punished by confiscation of the patronage ; the attempt to purchase a nomination by deprivation of holy orders ; no Clergyman to fill the office of a civil Magistrate ; all canonries, deanrias, and prel;e dal stalls to he abolished, and their revenues applied to general Church purposes ; the property of the Church to be administered bv a Board of Commissioners, composed exclusively of lay Churchmen ippointed by the Government, and subject on all points to the jurisdiction and investigation of Parliament; patrons on a vacancy to submit the names of six persons to the congregation for selection, each nominee to perform duty one whole Sunday before the election; all patronage in the gift of the Crown, of Bishops, and other Church dignitaries to be abolished, and future incumbents to be chosen by' the communicant members of the congregation; one hundred dioceses to be established; divided as equally as possible; each to be divided into four districts, to be presided over by Archdeacons as assistant Bishops ; an annual meeting to be held of the Clergy and Church-wardens in each diocese, in the proportion of one-half of each, presided oyerby the Bishop,.to take into consideration the spiritual state ot the diocese ; a report of the same to be submitted to a general Council of the Church, meeting in June, every year, and consisting bf the Archbishops, Bishops, and lay delegates from each diocesan synod, who shall decide upon all matters of doctrine and discipline. Curates to be paid £l5O a-year; country incumbents, £250; town incumbents, £350; Archdeacons, £750; Bishops, £2,000 ; Archbishop of York, £4,000 Archbishop of Canterbury, £5.000. Church-rates, marriage, and baptismal fees, and Raster-offerings to be abolished j and the Bishops to cease their attendance in the House of Lords.