The Suspensory Bill has been published in extenso, and consists
of a preamble and five clauses. The preamble declares that its object is "to prevent the creation of new personal interests in the Established Church in Ireland through the exercise of any public patronage." Therefore, by the first clause it is forbidden to fill up vacancies in any Archbishopric, Bishopric, or ecclesiastical benefices, and their revenues when vacant are transferred to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. By the second, the person already enabled to do the work of any diocese during a vacancy is appointed " guardian of the spiritualities " of the vacant see, and vacant benefices are to be provided for, just as the benefices sus- pended under 3rd and 4th NVilliam IV., cap. 37 are. By the third, the Ecclesiastical Commissioners are forbidden to make grants to Irish parishes ; by the fourth, lay officers of the Church hereafter appointed are warned that they must hold office subject to the pleasure of Parliament ; and by the fifth, the operation of the Act is limited to August 1, 1869.
