The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1874-10-20 00:00:00

norset Count Express.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, NU:

NOTES OF THE WEEK.

In estimating aright the authority attaching
to the Synod of this diocese, it is important to
note the numerical strength of the various
parochial meetings now being held for the elec-
tion of lay representatives from amongist whom
the Synoamen are hereafter chosen: and, what
do we find 1 The utmost indifference to the
' whole subject amongst Churchmen of all ranks
and parties, as shown by the choice being made
for pariah after parish, having from 1,000 to
3,000 inhabitants, by a mere handful of the
parishioners—in many cases not more than six
or a dozen, and often half of them officially con-
nected with the church. There has been no
more interest manifested in the matter than in
the granting of • poor-rate. And this is an
ample answer to those who have insisted on the
value of the'Synod, how it would knit together
the laity for good works, and what advantages
would be derived from its deliberations. By its
past deeds the Synod is judged, and the laity
will have none of it. If the Bishop and the
clew like they may sit in conclave with whom-
soever they can get to join them, but the passive
resistance which has been indicated by the great
bulk of the people abstaining from any part in
the elections, is more powerful than all the reso-
lutions they may pass, and casts discredit on the
whole scheme. 'Theoretically, a conference of
representatives front the various parishes of the
diocese may conunend itself to the minds of
many, but everything depends on its manipula-
tion. To secure good results the assembly must
be fairly constituted and have freedom of action.
In this case, however, the supremacy of the
Bishop and clergy is carefully secured; and, to
avoid the possibility of surprise, Dr. Moberly
declares that he will adopt only such resolutions
of the Synod as he pleases. Consequently, the
Synodsmen assemble at Salisbury in fetters, and
all they have liberty to do is to register the
decrees of the Bishop. They may tails, but he
rules; and why should busy men waste their
time over such playing at legislation? As chief
pastor of the diocese we acknowledge his autho-
rity to occupy the position of governor, subject
to the rights (4 the inferior clergy; but, that
being the case, why make is show of taking the
opinion of the diocese at all? However, the fact
is—the first Synod was powerless, the second
will not be even representative. In days gone
by the laity had full confidence in the clergy and
in difficulties and triabi naturally went to them
for counsel as friends, but the growth of the
sacerdotal principle has completely severed the
old intimacy. As a pastor the clergyman was
ever a welcome friend, buts priest is instinctively
regarded with aversion in every English home.
The Ritualistic clergy have alarmed the people
by their assuinption of special caste and priestly
functions, and the prevailing feeling is that their
power has increased, is increasing, and ought to
be diminished. This Synod is seen to have a
tendency to enhance their ascendancy, the laity
therefore regard it with mistrust, and hence it is
they have so generally kept aloof from any par-
ticipation in the choice of its members. At any
rate let the fact of this prevailing paucity of
numbers be remembered; and, by and bye, when
we are called upon to bow down before the reso-
lutions of the Synod, we shall know that they
have had little more real authority to speak in the
name of the diocese than the framers of a cele-
brated document which commenced—" We, the
people of England."
"Hang politics, handsome is as handsome
does; Mr. Floyer is a gentleman, a man of
honour, a kind landlord, and a true friend—
that's the sort of man we want" Thus tersely
and emphatically Sir M. H. Nepean, Bart.,
summed up the virtues of our senior county
member, when speaking at the dinner of the
Melplash Agricultural Society, and we feel con-
fident the county at large will heartily endorse
the hon. baronet's sentiments. The game of
politics is largely a battle between the "ins"
and the" outs' for place and power, with which the
people have little concern; while the every-day
virtues of honour, and kindness, and truth come
home to the experience of every one of us. Few
county members, we venture to think, devote
themselves so earnestly to the service of their
constituents as does Mr. Floyer; and, whether
in his place in Parliament, or acting as Deputy-
Chairman of Quarter Sessions, whether presiding
as Chairman at the Dorchester Board of
Guardians or addressing the pupils of the School
of Art, whether giving counsel to the agricul-
turista of the county or speaking at a religious
meeting, the hon. member always displays strong
common sense and earnestness of character; he
regards every question in its varied phases, pays
his audiences the compliment of thinking before
he speaks, and utters his opinions freely yet with
kindly consideration for those who may differ
from him. At Melplaah Mr. Floyer, as a sup-
porter of the Government, naturally took credit
to them for extending the area of rating, and
contributing from the Imperial exchequer half
the cost of the police and of the maintenance of
lunatics. He recognised the desirability of rating
monied property, but pleaded the inability of
combining national expenditure with local man-
' &gement. So, in regard to the appointment of
Minister of Agriculture, which tenant farmers as
a body generally desire, Mr. Floyer mistrusted
, Government interference, and, following the
Conservative bent of his mind, preferred the
existing state of things. But, the manufacturers
' of the North have a President of the Board of
Trade, mad by the associations through which he
is approached, exert, as farmers believe, an
adverse influence on legislation favourable to the
country party. At any rate such an official does
I seem to be an advantage to merchants and
numufacturers, and why should not the first and
• the last occupat of the country—the cultiva-
tion of ths soil—have any help that a Minister
of .Agriculture might afford! If there were a
; responsible Minister for dealing with agricultural
' lineations, we should not find year after year that
I any Government could tickle the ears of the
farmers by promising the repeal of the Malt Tax
' —at a re convenient season, or such injustice
being perpetrated as throwing upon tenant
; farmers the chief cost of 'maintaining highways
and turnpikes, and meeting the charges incident
to the carrying out of the Education Act. But
without a Minister to whom they can represent
their position, they ate powerless. It is taper-
ativu on them to pay, and we believe no Govern-
mount merits their confidence that fads at least to
provide them with the compensating clause in an
Englishman's privilege--the liberty and the
1' opportunity to grumble.
Two cares of considerable interest in the
administration of the Poor Law have just come
before the lk,ard of Guardians at Poole. A
servant girl 'lamed Turner was seized with fever
at the house of her employer Mr. T. Sliule. On
the 15th August the Relieving Officer was asked
to have her re 1111 l ved to the Union Infirmary,
and presented with a medical certificate stating
the tiaturt: of her illutss and that her early
removal was desirable. But there was sone)
delay in taking the girl away, and she became
• so ill afterwards that she could not leave the
' house till August 31st. Meantime Mr. Slade
I removed his family to Bournemouth, lest the
fever should be communicated to them, and he
. now claimed of the Guardians £lB for six weeks'
lodgings and travelling expenses. The question