The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-07-16 00:00:00

Ti,e money valtie of the pro,Arty tk,troyerf by the
thunderstorms is roughly estimated at £lOO.OOO.

PARISHIONERS' RIGHTS.

Lord Saudon'eißill has been printed. The proposed
sidesmeu are to be four in palish. with a population
not exceed,ng 2000,, eight in parishes with more than
2,000 and below 5,000, twelve in par&hes with 5,00
aid upwards. The sidesmen are to be elected annually
with the chuichwardens, and only such inhabitants are
to vote 11.9 are entitled to vote for churchwarden&
Every sidesman is, within 14 days of his election, to
sign a declaration that be is a member of the Church
of England, and "desires" during the ensuing year to
attend the services of the church if the parieb for which
he has been il,cted, and in default " thereof " his
election is to be void ; but it is not stated that the dee
claratien is to be filed anywhere, or even that the fact
of its being signed is to lee made known.

The incumbent, churchwardens, and sidesmen are
to form a parochial council to regulate, as directed in
the Uhl, " the concerns of the church of the parish."
The council are to meet at least twice a year; the
quorum to be fixed by them, is not to be less than
tour; the incumbent, when present, is to be chairman ;
every question is to be deci,led by a majority of votes
of the members present. The council will have the
power of allowing "or making" changes within the
limits authorized by law in the accustomed manner
and times of c nducting the services and ministrations
of the church, in the ornaments or decorations of the
church, Cr in the ornaments of the nduister, or in the
furniture or fittings of the church.

Another clause provides that no change shall he made
without the sanction of the council in the Existing
mouser or times of conducting the services and minis-
trations of the church, or in the ornaments or decora-
tions of the church, or of the minister, or in the
furniture or fittings of the church, provided such
matters or things shall not have been declared to be
contrary to low. The proviso apptars unsuited to the
clans-. Notice of proposed changes is to be affixed to
the church doors. 00j-ctions ot parishioners to any
propcsed change are to be heard and considered by the
council, and the incumbent or parishioners may appeal
to the bia op, their objections to be beard by the bishop
in canoed, and not by the Court of the diocese, Notice
of Imputed changes is to he given to the bi-hop, and
none is to be made to which he objects, unless the
council are unanimous about it fur two consecutive
years.

The parochial council is to be a corporate body, with
the power of accepting and holding contributions. The
bill is not to apply to cathedral or collegiate churches,
The bill would have had more friends if it had been
more moderate. These " paroclnal councils are a
novelty, and might first be tried with a veto on any
change in the service being made by the clergyman
against the will of the parish.

WEATHER REPORT.—In many country parishes
the drought is having one very serious e&ct—the
Sermons are drier than ever.—Push.