The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1868-09-22 00:00:00

HOW IS THE CHURCH AND ITS SERVICES
TO BE MAINTAINED?

A vestry meeting was held on Thursday at St. Mary's
vestry, to consider the best mode of providing for
the expenses connected with the church, in con.
sequence of the abolitioa of compulsory church-rates.
The chair was taken by the Rev. T. A. Grooves (rector)
supported by Mr. Mifledge and Mr. W. Talbot,
(chumhwardetui), G. Andrews, Esq., (clerk), J. Timid,
Esq., (Mayor), W. Eliot, lieq„ W. Symonds, Esq., G.
B. "tVelsferd, Req., and Mears. Robertson, R. Thomas,
Potheiery, Hooke, Fun, D. Pidgeon, Page, C. Thomas,
S. Sly, C. Thomas, G. Seaman, R. Commies, In. It
was stated that the liabilities up to the present time
were about £7O and it would cost £l2O or I:130 to put
the church in good repair, and to meet these require-
ments it was resolved to collect subscriptions, and a
committee was funned for the purpose—The Rector
then pointed out that there were four ways
open to them for the maintenance of
the church and Its seniors for the future.
If this were an ordinary parish church, and the pews
not private property, he would strongly advise falling
Is with the letter of the law, and adopting a voluntary
rate. He believed, however, that St. Mary's being •
proprietary church • voluntary rate would be imprac-
ticable. Ile did not see with what faee the church-
wardens could go and ask parties who did not hold pro-
perty in the church to contribute towards the pew.
owners' property. Mr. Gladdone's An did not apply
to • proprietary church. The rate would be of a much
heavier character than before, because the district of st.
John's was not liable for the church-rate for the mother
church. The second plan, which appeared to him the
simplest and the most just, would be that the pew.
owners, considering the pews were their private
property, and they could either let them at • good per
centsge or occupy them, which occupation would be
equivalent to interest on their money, because if they
had no seat in church they would have to pay for •
pew, should be named according to the value of their
property in church. Whether or not the pew-owners
would Wee to this was • question he could not to into.
Personally he wished to keep as clear as he could in the
matter; but certainly the meeting of the pew-owners
was not encouraging, sines, after 180 had received
notices, only 20 attended, and • considerable number of
these were not favourable to the measure. The third
system had been tried in many churches where church-
, rates bad been abolished for many years, and he believed
in every single instance it had been unsaid& tory. This
, was the plan of • quarterly collection in the church for
, the support of the services. Re knew that the plan
! was tried in the parish church of Cheltenham, and even
in the day. of the popular Dean of Carlisle it was ensue-
osufuL The result of the plan was that it compelled a
clergyman to beg four times • year more than be did
at present, and the general feeling was that there
was quite sufficient begging already. If this i'2oo
were raised by quarterly oollections the money
would be taken from the other collections, and dames*
, done to the poor. It was impossible for a clergyman to
be in • more unpleasant position than to plead for him-
' self, and to lay "My dear friends, if you don't pay so
much there will be no gas for use to preach to you, nor
for the organist to play by." The fourth system, which
he understood was tried in some places, and be had
heard with soccer, was the plan of a Sunday offertory.
His own impression was that the system would have
been adopted mach more largely than it had been only
It was taken up by the ritualistic party in the Church,
and became • sort of hedge of their way of managing
their services, and a great deal of prejudito was reused
against this practice. He would not advise any clergy.
man who was suspected of ritualistic practices to adopt
this method ; but, at the same time, it was an admirable
system in mazy ways, and led to a greater degree,of
systematic benevolence. The members of the early
Christian Church adopted the plan and it was admirable
in its effects. Perhaps many would give • small sum
week by week when they could not give large amounts
in • mass. He believed the more the system weld be
adopted in this country the more mosey would be raised
for good object.. There was another advantage in it,
as it relieved a clergyman from the strong begging ap-
peals from which be himself often shrank. He often
doubted whether it was right to urge people strongly to
give to objects to which they should he only too ready
to contribute unaeked, for the fruits of benevolence
should be always ready to drop. He must say, and he
keen that many clergymen were of the sane opinion,
that their most ready givers, in order to obtain • good
collection, required a great amount of pressing, which
he thought was most prejudicial to spiritual work. He
thought that might be avoided by means of a weekly
offertory, and if the system could be vigorously carried
out it was not improbable they might raise a sufficient
sum of money to give the BMe amount to the poor as
at present, also to the local and religious charities, and
yet leaving a sufficient sum for supporting the church.
He believed the plan was adopted at Eastbourne, and he
understood it answered very well, but be could not vouch
for the fact; but he had not heard of a tangle church
where the plan had been tried and had not succeeded.
These seemed to be the only alternative before them.—
Mr. R. Thomas suggested that the collections for the
London City Minions, and for the Jews' Society naight
be omitted ; the latter he thought the "absurdest
thing going."—The Rector said there was no collection
for the London City Missions.—Mr. Sol Sly recom-
mended that as they were starting afresh they should
have a good singing choir.—Mr. W. Eliot believed the
weekly offertory was the beet plan, and be spoke of its
sworn at Bournemouth. He proposed "'j')at it is
expedient for the future to have offertory collections in
St. Mary's Church every Sunday worming and evening,
to be appropriated as follows :—To the poor, £200; the
local charities, £200; the religions societies, £2OO i and
for the repairs and services of the church in lieu of
church-rates, 000; the surplus to be disposed of as
may be decided on by the vestry.—Mr. Andrews
seeonded. He thought it a reasonable plan and it was
right to give it • trial.—The resolution was Shea put
and oarried.—Mr. Sly again advocated "good E 2..
.
Ace, and said this would be his last appeal.
—The Chairman said he took the resolution to •
request to him that he would adept the offertory,
because it meted with him as rector whether he would
have it or not.—Er. Eliot: Yea—The Chairman con-
tinued He was prepared to give it • year's trial, but
he would not in the lent degree delegate to any person
or say committee to decide as to bow the items of tuo
were to be distributed. He would undertake to do this;
be would tell the ',midi beforehand how the money
was to be appropriated, which should be as nearly as
possible as it had hitherto been. He should, however,
entirely reserve to himself the power of slopping it at
the end of the year if he found the system did not work
welL For instance, suppoeing the necessary funds were
; raised, but there was a strong feeling against the system,
, and the cougregation should be reduced in consequence,
be shoald feel bound not to continue • prudes which
would be deleterious to the spiritual well-being of the
pariah, although it might have been successful as
regarded the object in view. He was desirous that his
hands should be pettedly bee to step the antes it it

Sid sot work well. His own belief wan that the plan
would answer, and if it were put plainly and dearly
belie the people he knew there would be but few who
were unwilling to giva—Mr. W. Symonds suggested
that node's abeaid be placed in the pews etsting
"'at • weekly offertory would be mads.—The
Chairman said there was another question which
had been suggested. Ought they not to request the
pew-owners who did not come to church at all, and
therefore would neap scatheless from the weekly offer-
ing, to help them in the mattert—Mr. B. Thomas
, proposed a vote of thiudts to the rector. He also said
that be had beards out-of-doors a greet dead dissentient
shout the tinging, and he considered some little notice
I should be taken of it —The Rector returned thanks for
I the vote. With tempest to the singing, he should like
the vestry kindly just to place themselves in the position
of the rooter of &parish. Personally be had very little
strong prepossession as to how the singing was con-
ducted. He could himself enjoy, and he thought profit
by, a well sung anthem; but he would certainly prefer
to any other singing that of a great congregation. He
thought there was no singing to be compared to that of
a large body of voices uniting in the orals, of God ;
but as to adopting a system to suit everyone that would
be imposaible. He had tried from time to time to in.
trduoe singing of both kinds, and, having had anthems
on certain oomaions, he found that they really
provoked such • hot opposition on the part of a large
body of the congregation that be oonsidered whether
it would be judicious to persevere in them. Having
anthems but seldom, it was impossible that the organist
could get them up well, and he (the rector) came to
the oonalmion he would be best promoting the spiritual
interests of the people if he comp' ad with tbo wish of
the majority of the congregation, and used every exer-
tion in his power to obtain good oongregational singing.
He, therefore, exercised his power in the matter by at
once putting a stop to the anthems, and be trek the
whole blame upon himself. He now asked the oongre-
rtion at large to eo-operate with Mr. Rooks and himself
endeavouring to initiate a new system, and introduce
good smogreptional singing. Let the congregation
endeavour to take up the matter warmly. He waa sure
if the greatest advocate; of anthem singing were to go
to Mr. Spurgeoc's chapel, they would say that the
singing there was mapificent —Mr. Thomas ; He leads
them himself. He is his own conductor—The Chair.
men said Mr. Rook, could conduct the congregation at
St. Mary's. He felt he would best promote the interests
of Divine worship, nod do that which was most accept-
able to the large majority of the congregation, if he
endeavoured to make congregational music as simple is
possible, although be was aware that at present it was
not what it ought to be. Be took in good part a that
had fallen train Kr. Sly.—The meeting then separated.