The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-06-12 00:00:00

HALESOWEN.
To th Pinter of the" Oh‘erver."

SlR,—Things are in a most fearfal state here, and it
is only throng the modium of your widely simulated
paper that I wall show where the fault lies. In the first
phase. Sabboth breaking is earned on to • most fearful
extent, and the reason of this is that many who wourd
like to attend starch have applied for sittroga time altar
time, and have been refused. It is a well known fact
that Borne of the gentlemen when politics are liberal"
hove two or three seats allotted to them, awl though very
often two out of the three are empty, yet the mats are
awarded to them, and nobody moat take possession.
This, Mr. Editor, is the reuse of Su much Sabbath break-
in• in Iftlesowen. The churchwardens are both Liberals,
and also wish the church to be disestablished, and the
property handed over to Roman Catholics. They demo{
care a toss what becomes of the poor, as long as they
can do what they like. Surely this should not be. If
people aro anxious to attend church it is a great pity that
room should not be found for them. And this is not all,
As I hnve before stated, both of Cie churchwardens are
Liberals, ar.3 if by chance they happen to find out that
a man is a Conservative, there is not the alightest chance
of his getting a seat now, and several gentlemen who
ham had seats for some considerable time, have beau
made moot uncomfortable, through their political °pins
ions not being the same as the churchwardens. Thn is
a matter for serious consideration. The church is •
parish church, and eel tainly ought not to be under the
control of men who wish to destroy it. The time was
when Halesowen could find good men and true to he
churchwardens ; men that loved and reverenced their
church; but now, alas !there cannot be found two toes
respectable enough to fill that office. but two must be
found that not six months ago voted to send • member
to Parliament to disestablish it. It is • deep matter for
regret thst the power of setting the pews should be left
to nice of this standing, and still greater that when •
person loves his church and wishes to attend there, he
should be refused a sitting by men who can neither un-
derstand nor appreciate his patriotic and noble devotion
to the ordinances of thechurch.

Another matter for regret is that though there ace now
three curates in the place, scarcely any visiting is done.
Our two junior curates can be seen running races with
two doge of the best breed, or ericketing ; and I can po•
iiitisely avow that when one of them viontell my brume all
that was talked about was the breed of dogs ; and it is a
fact that at the last cricket match in which one of them
was engaged, be bad to rush off the Gild to bury • corps*,
and then malted back again. I will admit that there ii
no harm in this, but at the same time there looks no-
thing very sacred about it. I earnestly hope we shall
satin see au alteration, and that our church will not be
pointed at as & disgrace, which it is now, but will boon be
what it ought to be—the church of the parish, where all
classes can go to hear the word of God.
Apologising for troubling you,