ECCLESIASTICAL LAW.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4144, 31 May 1875, Page 3

ECCLESIASTICAL LAW.

Those who are curious in subtle distinctions of ecclesiastical law (says the Fall Mall Gazette), and especially those interested in that particular branch of it to which the Bishop of Peterborough is devoting his attention, will find matter worthy of their attention in many newspaper advertisements, of which the following is a specimen :— Aiwowsox of Country Benefice in shire for Immediate Sale, the Hector having accepted other ] >refermeut. The income is between £200 and £300 a year. The patrons (trustees) will sell, subject to reference, for the low sum of £ISOO, but for reasons above-stated the sale must be immediate.

The " reasons above stated"' mean, of course, the one reason that the rector lias accepted other preferment, and the advowson must therefore be sold before he actually vacates the living, or otherwise the purchaser would not be able to avail himself of the next presentation without being guilty of simony ; and, under such circumstances, the difficulty of finding a purchaser would be considerably increased, tf, however, the advowson cau be disposed of while the living is still technically full—that is, before the "ins itution" of the incumbent in the new living he has accepted—the new patron will be able to prci sent his nominee. To such a point of uicety I has legal iugenuity brought the art of avoiding the sin of Sijnon Magus.