Untitled - Electric Scotland

i86o-68] LORD SHAFTESBURY S BILL 409
investigations to a wide range of subjects. I do not wish that it
should touch doctrine ; but whatever bears upon public worship
must come within its sphere. One it
thing, appears, would be a
necessary result of the deliberations of such a Commission the
law must be made clear. I do not mean that liberty should be
altogether restrained, but that liberty shall be legally secured, not
licence seized by individuals in the hope that they may escape in
immunity from the consequences of their licence. . . . Any
legislation which is to be complete, having settled what the law
is, must also strengthen the hands of the central authority, what
ever it is to be whether we refer to the Bishop called on by
appeal from the laity, or the Bishop subject to the Archbishop,
the central authority must be strengthened. . . . Depend
upon
it, if this nation once loses its Protestant character, it will suffer
very greatly in the position it occupies. I believe that the Church
of England has before it at this moment as great a work as ever
lay before any Church. It is a time, I think, for anxiety, but not
a time for alarm, still less for despondency. Even in these very
eccentricities there is some proof of zeal, and zeal is a good thing.
This Church more than any other has power to deal with the
civilisation of this age to deal with the very dangers civilisation
causes it is the Church s duty not to thwart the course of
events ; but while it follows, at the same time to lead and guide
the men of the nineteenth century, and this I believe our Church
can do beyond any other body, either of our Protestant or Roman
Catholic brethren." 1
On a division being taken, Lord Shaftesbury s bill was
thrown out by sixty-one votes to forty-six. Seven Bishops
voted in the majority, and eleven (including Bishop Tait)
in the minority. A fortnight later 2 the Royal Commis
sion was appointed to inquire into
"
the varying interpreta
tions put upon the rubrics, orders, and directions for
regulating the course and conduct of public worship, the
administration of the sacraments, and the other services
contained in the Book of Common Prayer . . . with a
view of explaining or amending the said rubrics ... so
1 Hansardi May 14, 1867, p. 507, etc.
The Commission is dated June 3, 1867.