CHAPTER V. CONVOCATION. Clergymen formerly in the Commons.-Taxation by Convocation.-Convocation of Canterbury;-of York.-Decay of Convocation.-Burke touching Convocation. -Last Year's Sitting. UNDER the Plantagenets the clergy who were not bishops were summoned to parliament whenever the king required their attendance for money purposes.* Occasionally the convocation was conjoined to the parliament;† the two assemblies were, however, separated in order of time. The writ of summons of the clergy to parliament was directed to the archbishops and all the bishops; the summons to convocation now issues from the sovereign to the two archbishops only. In the middle ages convocation enjoyed the right of imposing taxes upon the clergy, which was, however, exercised under ratification of parliament ;‡ thus, before the war with France, convocation voted money for the war which Henry V. was beginning.§ Since 1664 this right of self-taxation has been abolished.|| Each province has its own convocation; both convocations are summoned coincidently with parliament. The summons of the sovereign to the archbishop has in view the summoning of all bishops, deans, and archdeacons of cathedral and collegiate churches; thereupon the archbishop issues his writ of election; from each cathedral or collegiate church a proctor is sent, and from the lower clergy of each diocese, two proctors are also deputed. In the province of Canterbury the bishops sit in the Upper House under the presidency of the archbishop. In the Lower House there are twenty-two deans, fifty-four archdeacons, twenty-four proctors of the chapters, and forty-four proctors for the lower clergy assembled. *Burns, i., 95. + Modus tenendi Parliamentum. Edidit Hardy, p. 5. "Quod ipsi pro quolibet decanatu et archidecanatu Angliæ per ipsos decanatus et archidiaconatus eligi facerent duos peritos et idoneos procuratores de proprio archidiaconatu ad veniendum et interessendum ad parliamentum." (Anno 1279.) Pauli, iv., 671. § Burns, E. L., ii., 26. || 1b. p. 28. The convocation of the province of York seems never to have been of any importance whatever.* This convocation, like that of the province of Canterbury, also consists of two houses; of recent years, however, of one only, the bishops and proctors sitting in one house.† The members of both convocations enjoyed the same privileges from arrest as members of Parliament. The decline of convocation began from the moment when it surrendered the right of taxation, and when the clergy exercised, like other commoners, the right of voting at elections to parliament. From that time the convocations have exercised no synodal act whatever. They have, however, since 1700 been summoned annually, together with parliament, and have still the right to act as provincial councils whenever the queen may deem it expedient.‡ In the reign of Anne the Upper House of the province of Canterbury came into conflict with the Lower House touching the rebaptism of dissenters, and convocation made strenuous efforts to establish itself anew as a spiritual joint-parliament. In 1717 the entire convocation itself came into conflict with the state Government, and was, in consequence, adjourned; since that period down to the present time it has not had any special business to attend to. As Burke says,-"It is now called for form only. It sits for the purpose of making some polite ecclesiastical compliments to the sovereign; and, when that grace is said, retires and is heard of no more. It is, however, a part of the constitution, and may be called out into act and energy, whenever there is occasion; and whenever those who conjure up that spirit, will choose to abide the consequences."§ Convocation has always, down to the present time, after the discharge of business, been adjourned, pro formâ, until the speech from the throne arrives; but the said speech never does arrive, not even when convocation again resumes business. In 1851 Lord Redesdale attempted, by a motion in the House of Lords, to galvanize convocation, but the Archbishop of Canterbury himself lifted an opposing voice. Certain alterations in the service and ceremonies in the Church of England having become highly requisite, convocation was last year summoned to Burns, E. L., ii., 30. * Hallam, Cons. Hist. iii., 324. Albany Fonblanque, "How we are Governed." (Lond., 1859; p. 92.) § Letter to the Sheriffs of Bristol. effect such alterations. Touching the proceedings of last year's convocation, the newspapers have afforded the following information: The convocation of Canterbury assembled on the 14th of March; a deputation of the Lower House complained to the Upper House of the book entitled "Essays and Reviews;" six clergymen were implicated as the authors, and had attacked in the same the infallibility of the Bible-text. The Lower House was then allowed to name a committee, and to prepare extracts from the heretical book, reporting thereon to the Upper House. On the same day the Lower House debated concerning a petition to the Queen as to a reform of the Book of Common Prayer, without arriving at any result. The day after, the Lower House referred a petition to the Upper House, praying that the bishops might oppose in Parliament the passing of a bill allowing marriage with a deceased wife's sister. The prolocutor thereupon adjourned the house till the 14th of May of this year. The Lower House has, since then, on expiry of the adjournment, delivered its sentence condemnatory of the "Essays and Reviews." The Upper House of the province of York having assembled at the same time, delivered an address of condolence to the Queen, relative to the decease of the Duchess of Kent. The Lower House was then required to constitute a petition-committee with intent to obtain leave from the Queen that the revision of the 29th canon might be taken into consideration. The Lower House received the address of the Upper House. Numerous petitions were presented, among which was one respecting the admission of laymen to convocation. CHAPTER VI. THE UNIVERSITIES. The Universities more Ancient than the Colleges.-Merton College.-Autonomy of the Colleges.-Exclusiveness of All Souls'.-Stringent Discipline.—Oxford.— The Chancellor.-The Vice-Chancellor.-Congregation.-Convocation.-Constitution of Cambridge.-Durham.-London University. THE universities are more ancient than the colleges. So far back as 1244 Oxford received from Henry III. its charter, and a chancellor of its own. The colleges have been founded for the most part by private persons for the maintenance of fellows, and for the training of theologians. The oldest college in Oxford is Merton. In 1427 Lincoln College was established by the Bishop of Lincoln, and was then founded for the purpose of uprooting the doctrines of Wycliffe. In 1438 "All Souls'" was founded, and in 1457 “Magdalen."* The colleges are autonomic corporations, and are only connected with the university through their members. The fellows lead a monastic kind of life, but of a very comfortable type; besides free residence and board, receiving a liberal yearly stipend. Upon marriage, or the acceptance of an ecclesiastical charge, the fellowship lapses. The appointment to a fellowship of a college in Oxford and Cambridge takes place, generally speaking, by election. Every undergraduate must belong to some college. The colleges, however, are not bound to receive undergraduates. All Souls', for instance, has shown a complete spirit of exclusiveness against the admission of undergraduates. Lectures are delivered in special edifices apart from the colleges. Generally speaking, the undergraduates are trained like the scholars in our gymnasia. They must always wear the official costume, and after nine o'clock in the evening cannot, without special permission, leave their respective colleges. For the better control of the students, the university exercises police authority * Crabb, 330. from nine in the evening until six in the morning. That it should be the strict duty of the fellows and undergraduates to attend "chapel " is a matter of course, considering the ecclesiastical character of the universities of Oxford and Cambridge. Of late years, parliament has effected the first breach in these two bulwarks of the church, inasmuch as,-admittedly by a violation of the rights of corporations,-it has ordered the admission of dissenters. Oxford possesses nineteen colleges and five halls, presided over by their respective "Head." The university has always been governed by statutes of its own making, which in 1629 were digested into a code, "Corpus Statutorem Universitatis Oxoniensis," and confirmed by charter of Charles I. in 1635. Except on points where modern exigencies have compelled amendment or abrogation, they continue to be in force. The style of the Corporation is, "The Chancellor, Masters, and Scholars of the University of Oxford." The Chancellor holds his office for life, is usually a nobleman of distinction who has been a member of the university, is elected by the members of convocation, and attends only on extraordinary occasions. The Vice-chancellor, the highest resident officer, is annually nominated by the chancellor from the heads of colleges, but of late has generally held office by re-appointment for four years. He convenes all courts and meetings, enforces the laws, punishes delinquents, licenses taverns in the city, and is a magistrate for Oxford, Oxfordshire, and Berkshire. He appoints four deputies, or pro-vice-chancellors from the heads of colleges, who exercise his power when he is unwell or necessarily absent from the university. The High Steward is appointed by the chancellor, and approved by convocation; he is always a nobleman, and holds his office for life; he assists the chancellor, vice-chancellor, and proctors in the execution of their respective duties. If required by the chancellor, he hears and determines capital causes affecting members of the university, and, either personally or by deputy, holds the university Court-leet at the appointment of the chancellor and vicechancellor. The proctors are two masters of arts of at least four years' standing, and not more than ten; they are chosen out of the several colleges by turns. They are the immediate guardians of the laws of the university, and in all respects acting magistrates. The whole corporate business of the university is transacted in two distinct assemblies, called the House of Congregation and the |