The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1871-06-27 00:00:00

ST. PETER'S VESTRY MEETING.

A veatry meeting was held at Sir Peter's Church on I
Thursday, There were present—the Rev. B. W. Pears '
(chairman), Mums. G. J. Andrews and W. DrirdiJn
(churchwardens), Mr. J. F. Hodges, men,, Mr. J. F.
Hodges, jun., Mr. G. Symonds, Mr. T. Coombs. Mr. G.
Came, Mr. H. Darden, Mr. G. Pouncy, Mr. G, J. G.
Gregory, Mr. T. Baseombe, Mr. H. Buoombe,
Bryer, Mr. Soritt, Mr. Barter. Mr. How, Mr. J. Penney,
Mr. Borah., Mr. 3. Pearce, Mr. Mandela, /co.
The meeting was called to examine and pass the
churchwardens' accounts, to make a church-rate, and
to consider the appointment of an organist.
The Chairman having read the notioe of the business
tube transaoted,the oburobwardeus, bieurs.G. Andrews
and W. Darden, submitted their account'. from which
It appeared that the receipts had been RBO 14s. 6iti.,
and the expenchtare 1165 12s. 70., leaving a balance in
hand of £l5 Is. lid. It was mentioned that the persons
declining to pay the rate were not more numerous (41)
than last year.
Mr. G. etlflUe proposed, and Mr. G. Pounoy seoonded,
that the amounts be approved and passed.
This was agreed to.
The next matter bsing the subject of making a rate,
the churchwardens produced their estimate; in which
the receipts from a fourpenuy rate were reckoned at
£6O Si. 7d. (including the balance of £l5 Its. 11d.), and
the expenses at £5O ss. 104., thus leaving • probable
balance of about £lO.
••_ • eelel tbe*. In mak,. •
rate.
Mr. Coombs: And get it if you can. •
Mr. Andrews: Just so; that's the anomaly of the
law. Unless we make a rate we are liable to all sorts
of penalties--excommunication.
It was remarked that the rate last year was 61.
In reply to Mr. Coombe, the sexton said the vestry
gave him £l4 a year—he bed certain fees for marriages,
So., £2 from the Burial Board, and a payment by the
Town Council for ringing the one and eight o'clock
bells.
Mr. Coombs remarked that formerly each parish used
to ciontribute for the one and eight o'clock bells, but
some time back they discontinued it, and the Teen
Council, considering the ringing for the advantage of
the inhabitants generally, undertook the pigment.
Mr. T. Basoombe proposed, and Mr. G. °arms
seconded, that a fourpenny rate be made, and it was
carried without dissent.
' The Chairman said the next business wee to consider
the appointment of an organist.
In answer to Mr. Hodges, the Rector said the late
Mr. F. W. Smith was elected by the vestry.
Mr. Hodges said that it would be the best way for
them to do now as they had done before.
j Mr. Coombs : What is the worse ?

Mr. Hodges : To make an appointment.
The Rector: Will you pay one if you appoint?
Mr. Hodges: The parish always has done so, and no
doubt will continue it.
Mr. Curme : There is nothing in the estimate for
paying an organist.
Mr. Andrews said it could not be expected they could
reduce the rate from 6d. to 4d. without making great
alteration in the estimate.
Mr. Hodges was not aware before that the salary of
the organist had been withdrawn from the estimate.
Mr. Andrew* said they had not paid the organist's
salary for a certain time; he did not intend to take
upon himself the liability of paying the organist, and
he supposed his brother churchwarden was equally un-
willing to do so.
Mr. Darden assented.
Mr. Coombs thought the vestry bad been rather too
quick in granting the rate; the question of the organist
should have preceded it.
Mr. Hodges believed the parish would be willing as
they had been heretofore, to pay the organist.
The Chairman said they would endanger the whole
rate if they included the organist's salary.
Mr. Coombs : What do you 112011•111 by endangering?
In point of law or collection
The Chairman : in point of collection.
Mr. Coombe: You will give those gentlemen who
shirk paying the rate another excuse.
The Chairman : 1 don't mean that at all. I mean
that it would lead to • great many of the ohief payers
ceasing to pay altogether.
Mr. Coombs could not see how they could proceed to
an election of organist until they had provided for his
salary.
Mr. Curme : It's no use making a rate if people
won't pay.
Kr. Hodges thoaght if the organist's salary were
withdrawn it would look as though the parish would
sot pay one; and in Mr. Smith's timo they paid.
The Rector observed that in Kr. Smith's time 41
refused to pay the rata, and that was the number who
declined paying this year.
Mr. Hodges said be should be very sorry to see the
vestry disinclined to vote for an organist, as part of
the proper ceremonies of the church. He should like
to see all done properly.
Mr. Andrews: We ain't legally make • rate for an
organist.
Mr. Helps : You can't legally make • rate at all.
Mr. Andrews: I beg your pardon, we are bound to
make a rate.
Mr. Hodges: Hitherto we have made a voluntary
rate, which embraced the organist's salary, and there
has been so complaining about it.
Mr. Andsews pointed out that they bed passed the
estimate, and if they wished to increase the amount
some person must move an amendment to that effect.
Mr Symonds inquired if there was any legal objec-
tion to including the organist's salary in the estimate.
He was not aware of any.
Mr. Andrew.: Allow me as churchwarden to take
my own course. The vestry may to what they please,
but I take the coarse which I think I am right by law
in taking. If I err there are legal means of putting
me sight.
Mr. Hodges said it was the first time the organist's
salary had been omitted; and they bad gone very well
with it hitherto. He should wish the same to be paid
as before,
Mr. Andrews said that was £3O for the organist and
£2 101. for the blower. He wished to lend his humble
efforts with other people to keeping things comfort.
able; and, seeing that • number of people refused to
pay • sixpenny rate, he thought perhaps they might be
Wdueed to pay one at fotirpenoe in the pound.
Mr. Hodges did not think any one would be dimwits.
fled with the amount.
Kr. Andrews said the real matter was whether they
were to pay for an organist when they could get mime
one to play for them without it. Should they Indulge
In the luxury °tiering themselves 2,1.. In the i., Imams
they wnold appoint some one?
Mr. Coombs replied that Mr. Aadrews was 'dewing
the matter in • false light. It wee not a pima's) of
24. or 31. in the 2. The question was In whom did
the appointment rest, and whether the perlah *tumid
forfeit its right is the matter.
Mr. Andrew,: I don't like to as. • 1.4 qt.olso Yost
talk about giving up a right? Yos, 41.10, shim, Is was
wroog to propoae that the county wowitehshery should
be appointed to the borough.
Mr. Coombe: I must ask that yoss he 0.1111.1 to order,
You have nothing to do with the ounstabelary here.
An organist is not • mutable.
Mr. Andreersthad no wish to say anything unplea-
sant. When Kr. Coombs urged that this was not a
lineation of d s. d., but whether an organist should be
rated, he (Mr. Andrews) willsoat manias to
nol rig that Mt. Oostabo's mind amend lot.