The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1884-04-01 00:00:00

WI/UMW
A 8018TEROU8 VESTRY MEETING.

Another of those noisy and suited doing vestry
nesting., which appear to be boom:alai quite an
aontual institution In Wiciaborie, took plane at the
Town Hall on Tours lay night Toe cause ..f
date:moos between the contending parties la
apparently • trivial one, but it touches., it appear.,
Lb. ancient rights and customs .4 the inhabitants.
111. a caw of Vicar versue Town, and the question
at Woe is who Is the legal oheirman of the vestry.
It mity be remembered that last year Mr. Huyehe,
the Vicar, came to the meeting armed with an
opinion from Dr. Deane, Q. 0.. the Bishop's Chan-
cellor, to the effect that his could command the chair-
manship at the Vestry. The opinion of Ors eminent
counsel is dispatsi by many of the parishioners, and
eh., have hunted up an old opinion 01 Mr. Prideedtx,
given some thirteen year. ago to the opposite effect—
that the people out elect their chairman. An amusing
foetus of the sqlebbis, and apparently • childish one,
ia that the parshioner. are always ready to vote the
Vicar to the chair, and they annually do so, but the
bale of oontention I. who possess the right. As
will be seen below, however, the vexed question is
likely to be finally settled, for it has beta agreed
that the diapotaata shall frame • ow to be
submitted to counsel, whops decision shall be bind-
ing.
The Vicar, as usaal, wee vote I to the chair, it
being already in his possession. The minutes were
read by the veetry clerk, Mir. Mtiockt in, and it was
noticed they contained the remark, which had hese
interpolated by the Vicar, "that the Vicar took the
chair by hi. legal right."
Mr. WiLsON a prominent opponent of the Vials,
and Mr. Boon, an equally string penises, rose
together, awl a perfect babel followed. Kr. Wilson,
however. prevailed, and said Si the Vicar had been
allowed to interpolate that he claimed his legal right
he wished to have it entered on the minutes that he
denied his legal right. (Uproar.)
Mr. Boon : Order order.
Mr. WIWI: Quito el,. but I don't want any assis-
tance from Mr. Boor, thank you.
The Vioaa : Mr. Wilson is quite right, I have
interpolated the fact that I claimed the chair at the
list meeting as my legal right, and it is eo entered oa
Ima minutes. Ile objects, and that also shall be
entered on the minutes (Cheers.)
Mr. C. 11 W. Paanuisoli : I hope, Mr. Chairman,
you will maintain order, so that each side may be
beard.
The CHAPMAN : I tell you fairly and &rmly I don't
intend to have any fighting with you at all. You can
all speak, and can all be baud in turn. I tell you
plainly I don't care two straws for being in the *hair,
and I also till you plainly, if you interrupt each other
I shall skedaidle—l shall adjourn the meeting till 12
o'clock to-morrow. (Uproar and one of" No, no,
You may side no, no, but I shall do it, for goodnea
sake, don't behave like babies an 1 children. Why
mewl you bear what each other has got to say /
Let each man speak, whether it is Rowan or not,
but let hint speak, and after ha ha. spoke° let him be
answered. Are you willing to do that now? Wrles
of ' Yes") Mind and do it now. (Cheers.)
Mr. WILSON : I don't wish to Interrupt you, Mr.
Chairman ;I hope I shall always obey you in the
chair—l hope we all shall. (Laaghter.)
The VICLI : I hope so, I am sure.
Wuacm I think you maks an exalted
chairman. (loud laughter.)
The Via.., bowing, Thank y
Mr. Wilson then °tainted to hare hie dieolaimer
enteredon the minutes, notwithstan liar the" amateur
gentleman" eho interrupted him just now.
The Visas then said before they oame to bodiless
he wished to say a few word.; they should not be
long, but they should be to the pilot, It. or.. sure
he should not plow than all; be did not want to—
(laughter)—but hi wished to 1.11 them fairly and
plainly that leers he was again claiming hie position
In the chair as 'Vicar of Wimborne Minster. He then
went on to show that it was not an arbitrisry swamp
' Lion of power, meow appeared to think. If. begged
of them to believe him, he did not take the chair for
any pommel wish. Did any of them think It gave
him any pleaeure to emus there and be chairman, or
did they suppose he hopel it would aid any dignity to
him to be there se their chairman Not at all. But
he would tell than why he did it; because the parish
Ii now a eeperate vioaragis ; her. are not three
ministers. There la but one vicar, and be was the
onforturiabe man. (Lsughtex.) That being so,
the Act sald plainly (as he read to them
LW you) foe the more orderly conduct of
vestries, be it further enacted. In ow the motor, or
vicar, or perpetual carat*, shall not be present, the
parishioners eta go and chow the charmed' they
Ilk*. What he maintained wait this, that the
vestry being assemblei In the pariah of Wimborne
Minster, he being the Vi :ar, end th law being what
III.," that the re t vi,i kr. or p.rpitual carats if he
Is present, shall take d.e chair," he mratained that ,
he, without any voting of theirs, without any wish
of theirs, was simply planed by law in the chair.
(Uproar.) Very will, be did not want to be in the
chair, and if any of them wished to divots it, the
remedy was clear—propose somebody 31,e. He
should then vacate the chair. lie c',! nit fight
them all—(laughter)—althou.h be cool! fight I,me
of them. (Mikes.) If they Prot:old.' ear bode' Si.,
he oh 'all voted sgainst It. Let them du it—try it.
lie should at oats leave Ut• room, and say the eh le
of the meeting wa. Illegal, because they heti turned
out their legal and proper chairman. Tnat would
bring the matter to an isms.
Mr. &LAMM : We pat yla there. (Claire and
op-oar.)
The VICAR: I 'tea+ you did, but I d m't want to
be pat there by you. (Renewed laughter.)
Mr. WHaos : I say it is not your legal right.
The You may vote in. there, but it le just
like passing • vote that this coal I have on lielongs to
me. (Laughter.) But I say the °oat I, mi.., whether
you like it or nit; in fact, I believe thia oh air le more
alias than this coat is, beciaues I am n d at all sure
I have paid for the cost. (Great laughter.) I am
quits sure of this,that being the oohs vicar of Wimborae,
this seat," being held in the pariah, and the law being
what it is, I am y mr legal chairman here to-aight.
(Hear, hear, and no no.) It 1, 001 an honour I wish
for—it is not • dignity I claim; bat the law simply
Imre It, and I take it aa my duty and my I. g l right.
Mr. WILIMI : But we deny it, sir. (Claws.)
The VICAR: You may g on denylag It, of course;
bat it le no good denying it. I last year aekei the
eminent *mussel, Dr. D ear, or rather the Bishop did,
and he wrote the opinion which I then read oat to
you. / think some of you must have very short
memories to ft We again. (Cries of 'N., no.") I
will read it (Ni, no.)
Mr. WILSON: You are in the &air. (I feer, heir.)
The VICAR: I know Late. .

always deny it ; we shall
always base this &pets sir.
Tha Therefore I want you to have it out in
a straightforward, honest way. I don't want you to
do it In this smeakine way. (Uproar, and oriel of
"Order.")
Mr. Wilsoir : Don't begin that laaguaes, el,.
The Vioaa : I beg your pardon. I will own my
(antis; it la not • word I should hays used. rheeirs.)
Don't do It by this aide wind I should hays said.
Mr. Wilson : That Is bettor.

flow—Ru. It ;at 117.1;* honest way. I is
I Mk your lagal chairman of this voltry, sad you say I
aso_not

Mr, Vilma : Yee.
The Vlcal : Theis bars It out Ls • fair way. Will
somebody else be obslnnan 1 ("No, no.") Well,
tbat being so, I may my I ma here as your legal
clubman. (Laughter, and • Vorog : Thews you go
a(aia.^) Now, th• mooed point I bars to bring Wore
your Notice Is that I thlak Ibl. rasetlag has bees culled
In • very irregular 16111i10111% I ouuses Die.* you, I
know, bet here Is sootbse M your hts-hosottred
outran going. I am afraid.
Vaiql It Is sok