$18 Papers relative to the Established Church in Ireland. (Nov. 1, @ 
medy the evil ef non-residence ; but at 
resent. the execution of the canon law, 
In cases of non-residence, has been\ab- 
structed by appeals ; and theve is a case 
now depending before certain commis- 
sioners of review, appointed by his Ma- 
jesty, which, if it should be decided in 
favour of the ecclesiastical authority ex- 
ercised in that case, will establish such a 
precedent, in cases of non-residence, as 
will supersede the necessity of recom- 
mending to the legislature to make any 
other provision, for the purpose of en- 
forcing residence in Ireland; but if the 
decision in that cuse should be other- 
wise, it may then become advisable to 
apply to the legislature to enact some 
law for enforcing the residence of the 
clergy of Ireland. 
We apprehend, that the laws already 
in being establish the best mode of ap- 
plying such funds as are now applicable 
to the purpose of building or repairing, 
churches, or glebe-houses, or the im- 
provement of glebes; and that the laws 
now in being are also sufficient to pre- 
vent unions, perpetual or episcopal, from 
being improperly made, and to preserve 
churches and glebe-houses from dilapida- 
tions, when duly enforced. 
And we are also of opinion, that the 
due execution of the now existing laws, 
with the small alteration which we have 
suggested, and such grants as bis Majesty 
and the parliament may in their bounty 
make for augmenting the incomes of poor 
livings, purchasing glebes, and assisting 
the building of churches and glebe-houses, 
will be sufficient for the present improve- 
ment, protection, and support, of the es- 
tablished church in Ireland. 
Particular Observations, as made by the 
different Bishops. 
Tf the result of the present commission 
ef review should be in favour of episco- 
pal authority, there yet will be want- 
ing power sufficient to enforce residence 
to effect, so long as there may be three 
appeals against the decree of the bishop’s 
court, viz. To the Metropolitan ; to a 
Court of Delegates; and to the King in 
Council. The protraction and expences 
of such proceedings must greatly discou- 
rage the bishop from embarking in the 
eontest ; to which may be added, the to- 
tal neglect of a parish for years, an evil 
of serious and extensive consequence. 
I must farther observe, that on a decree 
of deprivation the laws do not allow the 
benefice to be sequestered, and the in- 
cumbent, if he be. indifferent. both to 
"duty and character, which will generally » 
be the case when ‘the matter comes to 
this extremity, is encouraged to htigate 
and protract proceedings, however cer- 
tain he may be of defeat, as, in most cases, 
he will retain more revenue than the suit 
will annually cost him. 
I am also of opinion, that the laws at 
present respecting the enforcement of 
building glebe-houses require amend- 
ment. By the 1st of Geo. II. cap. 15. 
the shortest time in which a bishop can 
by law enforce the building of a glebe- 
house is ten years, and the accomplish- 
ment of it generally takes twelve years, 
I never have heard of a single instance of 
this law being enforced through all its 
stages: the reason is manifest. 
(Signed) E. Lercuiin anp Ferns, 
I rutnk there is reason to expect that 
episcopal unions will hereafter be much 
less frequently made than heretofore, 
If, however, any new regulations should 
be deemed necessary, [ recommend that 
the consent of a superior should be made 
necessary to give validity to an episcopal 
union. Aud TI see no present necessity 
for recommending any legislative regula- , 
tions, with a view to the improvement, 
protection, and support, of the establish- 
edchurch. A due regard to the regular 
and steady execution of the laws, and a 
conscientious discharge of the trusts re- 
posed, will, as I conceive, promote gra- 
dually the discipline of the church, ard 
secure permanently its interests. Tt is 
not to be denied, that there are circum- 
stances in the church establishment, 
which, in theory, must be received as-de- 
fects, but it is not so certain that these 
are found, in practice, to be attended with 
the evil consequences which might be 
expected from them; and there is much 
reason*to question, whether, in attempt- 
ing to cure these defects, much more se= 
rious inconvenience would not be let in. 
T am of opinion, therefore, that it is not 
now necessary, and that it would not be 
expedient to alter the Jaws affecting the 
established church in Ireland. Lenter- 
tain no doubt that its discipline and ge- 
neral condition will be fouud to improve 
daily under the operation of the existing 
laws, and the influence of improving 
views and habits manifestly now pro- 
gressive. Cuarves Casuet. 
Many new arrangements of parishes, 
highly advantageous to the establishment 
of the Protestant church, might be made 
m the dioceses of Clonfert, were the go- 
vernment’ 
