The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-06-21 00:00:00

BLA NDFORD.
CHURCH RATE MEETING.

On Thursday morning last, tile 16th instaat, a vettry
meeting was held for the Parish of Blandon" at the
Torah'll, for the purpose of making a Church Rate.
Much feeling having been inanifmted in the town on
the subject previously. in consequence of the seizure of
property for arrears of the last rate, the result of which
showed itself in the formation of an Anti-Church Rate
Society, the appointment of an efficient committee,
secretary, and president, in correspondence and connec-
tion with the Liberation of Religion Society. As the
town had been well canvassed. the Rector's "respects"
lisving been sent round on the one side, and every exer-
tion nimbi on the other in the circulation of handbills
, with reasons for opposing the rate, a pitched battle was
expected between the parties, who mustered in larger
numbers (abont 120), we were informed, than ever met
previously. The Council Chamber was filled with rate-
layers, and when the chair was taken by the Rev. W.
Harte it was evident that a close struggle was at hand.
The Rceroa opened the proceedings by expressing a
hope that though the meeting might conscientiously
differ, yet that they would at the same time hold towards
each other that Christian love that ought to exist be-
tween the professors of a common Christianity. He
believed this would be the case. It would be deeply
grievous to him were anything said that would jar on
the feelings or hurt the mind of another, and lie trusted
that those who felt themselves called on to address the
meeting would remember that they professed a common
Christianity. He had yesterday met an influential dis-
senter whom be had asked whether he should be at this
meeting, and who had expressed a like hope that kindly
feeling one between the other would be uninterrupted.
The Churchwardens' accounts were then produced, and
a threepenny rate asked for to cover a total of £63.
We may just remark here that the amount required last

year was El3O.
Mr. MALACHI FIVIIKR (deputed by the Anti-Church
Rate Society) then asked for the estimates, and pro-
ceeded to challenge certain items.
Exception was taken to this, the Churchwardens
asking the vestry first to grant the rate, alter which the
items might separately be disputed, & repeat which was
met with derisive cheers and hisses, and by Mr. M.
FISHER objecting, because the vestry might so reduce the
estimates as only to need a three-halfpenny rate instead of
a threepenny one. (Great cheering and laughter.) The
first and chief objection was taken to an item of £9 for
repairs, Ac., to the town clock, and a proposition made
by Mr. M. FISHER, seconded by Mr. HICNST FISHER,
that this item be struck out of the estimates.
The Churchwarden, Mr. JOH sm., said that the repairs
had been ordered at the last Easter meeting and conse-
quently should be now allowed, but he was met by the
fact that they had no right to expect it to be paid out of
a sum of money to be collected trout a rate not then or
yet passed or made.
Mr. Gnoven, sen., then proposed u an amendment,
" That the item be allowed." The amendment was

seconded by Mr. DANIELLS.
A show of bands for the amendment being celled for.
the CHAIRMAN declared the numbers to be 55 for, 56
against, the amendment, but this being demurred to by
both parties, the one aide declaring the numbers 44 for,
and 56 against, and the other party stating that one
person in the room was not a ratepayer which made the

huinbers even.
On this the CHAIRXAN declared the amendn.ent
carried as the numbers being thus equalised, be, as
Chairman, gave the casting vote in its favour ; but
this not suiting, another show of bands was taken, Mr.
Charles lienville, teller, when the numbers were
decided—for the amendment 51, against it 53, one of
the Churchwardens. Mr. Lawrence, not voting at all.
The item WAS then struck out of the estimates. On tire

ile7u.for ringing the changes,
Mr. M. FISHES asked if the ringer WWI to be paid,
supiosing lie did not ring the bells at 6 o'clock in the
morning, and suggested that if paid for, the Churchwar-
dens should ring them themselves. (Much laughter.)
After several more objections a rate of 3,1. was pro-
by Mr. E.. A. SMITH (Town Clerk), and seconded
by Mr. 'ls see.
A propostitMn was then made and seconded—that a rate
be only 111Wl.! to cover the £O4, whereas a 3d. rate would
pneluce £OO.
Mr. JOHNS said a 3d. rate was needed, inasmuch as
many were excused, and, after a desultory conversation
wherein Mr. &own POND stated that twenty thouamd
pounds' worth of property had been excused from pay-
ment last year, being £l9 108. on the whole rate, which
was not denied, the Churchwardens proinised to pro-
duce the excused list to a committee who should decide
the matter. The proposition was then abandoned.
Mr. MALACHI FINHEII rose to propose an amend-
inet.t. He said that he did hope that they would never
he asked for a rate again, and that church-rates would
now have been abolished by the Legislature; but they
had demanded a rate, and it surprised him, for he could
not have imagined that the members of an establish-
ment so wealthy would End the least difficulty in nixing
,or small a sum if they asked it as a voluntary
offering. But they must make it compulsory. Why?
He had been trying to find out, but could not think.
Was it to show a superiority, or to show they had the
power and to make Diasenters feel it? He could not
think it, much less would he suppose that it WILS for the
sake of persecution; but when be saw extreme mea-
sures taken in one case, when many better able to pay
were excused, it looked indeed like persecution. He
knew he should be met by the hackneyed assertion
" It is the TAW ;" he would tell them it was not the law
unless they made it so' (great cheering,) by their
vote at this !fleeting. And at a time when they were
boasting so of the spread of Christian principles and
knowledge, he did not think they would vote it into a
law, so laying a heavy burden on those who opposed it
conscientiously, but collect in some other manner those
funds necessary for the repair of a superior building
which he wished heartily to see kept in repair. Were he
in the Rector's position, be should rejoice to see his
parishioners voluntary contributors towards everything
connected with their place of worship. He hoped the
time world come and was not far distant, when it would
be No. The times were different now to when he was a
young moan; he believed it arose from the spread of the
voluntary principle. Witness the number of noble edi-
fices erected throughout the land, and be wished to see
the application of that principle at work in Blandford ;
he believed it would result successfully. His amend-
ment advocated that voluntary principle which had not
been fairly tried yet, and he believed there would be no
difficulty in carrying it out. Mr. Fisher concluded by
moving as an amendment "That this vestry declines to
make any rate, and requests tile churchwardens to col-
lect the funds requisite by some other means." (Cheers.)
Mr SAMUEL Loran in seconding the amendment said,
that he would rather give five pounds voluntarily than
be compelled to pay one pound; this was the pride of an
Englishman, and if they were Englisilunen and prided
themselves on civil and religious liberty, let them act
up to those principles and refuse the rate.
While the wording of the resolutions was being altered,
Mr. CHARLES HENVII.LR addressed the meeting. He said,
that he did not oppose the rate on conscientious grounds,
but would oppose it because, looking at what the
Church of England was become in our rural districts,
and what amount of instruction it imparted, in giving
secular and religious teaching be would rather give it
to support at if it needed it, than wish it ill. But
his objections were the injustice of compelling • dissenter
to support • church with such varied emoluments., and
the richest in the world, who felt the support of his
own place of worship quite enough for him. He was
surrounded by a body of the most respectable men and
tradesmen, who would not take a sixpence in over-charge
in matters of trade, who yet came there and asked for
lOs. 6d. or lbs. or se. from their dissenting brethren,
who were poorer and less able to support their church
than themselves. Was it just! Was it honest? Was
it right? The law was a permissive law. They might,
or they might nut, rock,, the rate, and why
because a statute law allowed it, should they, neighbours
WI they were, coiupel them to pay (Or their religion?
If Iris neighbour, A. 8., living beside him said, " I have
the force of the law, and though you may ha" scruples
of conscience you must pay a Church-rate, or I will seise
your tables and chairs, or your dung•cart." Was it
neighbourly ? Here Mr. Henville was intemipted by
the Chairman who requested him to desist, but the
meeting manifesting its wish to hear Mr. Henville con-
clude, who protested against being interrupted, not
being out of order, and concluded • very eloquent and
telling addresa by espnesing a hope that the ratepayers
would, on their return home, try and find • tingle passage
iu the New Testament—which they all professed as their
rule of life—in favour of • rate, and they would surely
fail, for it vousopposed to such proceedings altogether, and
Ire could not think of a greater libel ou Christianity and
religion than to protean religion and religious liberty and
yet actively Rupport and carry out such • system. It
was either religion or irreligion and if irreligion then he
trusted such • system would be strangled that day.
(Cheers.)
The wording of the amendment having been altered,
but not meeting the views of the Chairman, Mr. Fisher
withdrew it, and substituted his original amendment,
which the Chairman demured to put, and argued that a
vote of rate or no rate should be taken; but Mr. Fisher
true to his tidied', which the Chairman and pro-rate
party mewed not to give him credit for ',messing,
urging the trouble it
.would cause them, —pushed the
aniendment to a division which Was loudly called for.
But the Chairman on consultation with the lawyers
beside him, at last declared that he was advised to
refuse to put tle amendment at all.
On this • silence ensued which i•sted • few minutes,
and was broken by
THOKAS HODGES HIIINITT rising and proposing
that the amount be collected in the room by voluntary
contributions- This motion was seconded by Mr.
BoagltT HICKS, and several sums were offered.
Yr. RUST FAR= caring COL, end Mr. SAMUEL
POND MX

- -ii• NAUMAN taking DO ootios ot Ws row
Wien said, " I shall Moos to put bolls the ameltdmodes