The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-03-05 00:00:00

SCENE IN A LIVERPOOL CHURCH.

An extraordinary scene occurred at St. John the
Baptist Church, Liverpool, on Sunday. Differences
of a very unpleasant kind have existed sinee the ap-
pointment of the Rev. J. Herring to the incumbency,
about twelve months ago, between him and the
churchwardens, as to the manner of conducting the
services. Previously they had been of a Low Church
type, and it is now objected that Mr. Herring has in-
troduced Ritualistic practices. Most of the congre-
gation side with the churchwardens, and the result
has been some very unseemly displays. The dispute
culminated on Sunday at the early celebrations at
eight o'clock, at which the incumbent was to officiate.
An acolyte came out of the vestry and lighted the
candles on the Communion table. Soon afterwards
the two churchwardens, Messrs. Burden and Kaye,
who were in attendance, walked into the chancel and
extinguished the lights. The incumbent then came
!von the scene, and a dispute followed, which ended
in the police being sent for. Mr. Hering told the
officer to take the churehwardens into custody, but he
hesitated to do so, as he bad not witnessed the com-
mittal of the offence. -Upon this the candles were
relighted, and the churchwardens again extinguished
them. The incumbent thereupon insisted upon giving
the wardens into custody, and they were removed to
Bridewell, where they were detained until liberated
on bail. They will be brought up at the police-court
on a charge of brawling. The remaining services of
the day passed off without any unpleasant incident.

CENTRAL AND ASSOCIATED CHAMBER
OF AGRICULTURE:

The monthly meeting of the Council was com-
menced at the offices of the Society of Arts, John-
street, Adelphi, on Tuesday, the President, Viscount
Ebrington, occupying the chair. A report was pre-
sented from the Local Taxation Committee urging an
early redemption of the frequent promises of read
justment of taxation; also that the growing in-
debtedness of local authorities should be brought
before the House of Commons as soon as possible.
A letter was read from the Earl of Jersey resigning
the position of vice-chairman to which he was
elected at the last meeting, on the ground that there
was a large minority who voted against him. A reso-
lution was then passed unanimously that the council
earnestly requests the Earl of Jersey to reconsider his
determination not to accept the office. Mr. New-
ton moved a resolution to consider the formation of
an efficient department of agriculture in connection
with the motion of which Sir Richard Paget had given
notice in the House of Commons. It was nothing
less than a scandal that we had not an agricultural
department in this country. He was sure that a reso-
lution on this subject would be appreciated by Sir R.
Paget. Colonel Harbin seconded the motion. Baron
Dimsdale said they would never have a thorough
settlement of this question until they had a re-
sponsible Minister of the Crown at the head of
it. They had had promises from both poli-
cal parties, but those promises had never
been realised. Mr. Stanley Leighton said their
position at the present time was not so strong as it
used to be. If the proposed department were estab-
lished, they might have at the head of that depart-
ment a man who would be appointed for his political
services, and who might do more harm than good.
Mr. Knatchbull Hugessen supported the resolution,
as did also Mr. Biddulph, who pointed out that no
Government would dare to place a man at the head
of such an office unless he had some special qualifica-
tion for the office. Sir E. Birkbeck pointed out the
necessity of the Government equipping this depart-
ment with a grant of money, as other countries did.
Sir Richard Paget said he was glad that the mo-
tion of which he had given notice had
met with such general approval. He traced
the history of the movement in the House of
Commons from the time it was first introduced by
Sir Massey Lopes, showing thatnothing was done in the
matter for some years. Agriculture was the biggest
business in the country. Why were these schemes
cast aside? If united, the force at their back was
irresistible. They must have a small grant from the
Chancellor of the Exchequer. As to having a Minister
of Agriculture, they did not want to fill the office with
a merely ornamental man, and he was not disposed to
insist that such a Minister must be aCabinet Minister.
The Chairman said they would not get attended to
unless they made themselves nasty and disagreeable
to the Government of the day. Remarking on a grant
from the public funds, he pointed out that a con-
siderable sum of money was granted every year for
Queen's plates for encouraging the breed of horses
which did no good whatever. It might be much
better applied in this direction. The Earl of Suffolk
agreed that this money was of no use to agricul-
ture; it was a private grant from the Queen, and
therefore it would be better to send a petition to her
Majesty. The resolution was then passed unani-
mously. The Earl of Suffolk moved that the council
support the Hares Preservation Bill brought into the
House of Commons by Colonel Dawnay. The ileums
sity for such a bill was that hares were rapidly becom-
ing extinct, a most undesirable result. The effect of
the bill would be to protect the farmers against the
jet.lousy which had been the cause of the extermina-
tion. Mr. Wilson seconded the motion. Colonel
Dawnay said the petitions he had already received
showed that the farmers were nearly unanimous in
favour of his measure. After a smart discussion, in
which there were two or three dissentients, the reso-
lution was carried by a large majority. The next sub-
ject was to consider the Corn Sales Bill, brought in by
Mr. Rankin. Mr. Biddulph proposed and Mr. Wilson
seconded a resolution in favour of the bill. Mr. Ran kin
explained its provisions, and remarked that it had
received the support of most of the Chambers of Agri-
culture, and urged its necessity on the ground of the
great variety of standards by which corn was sold, so
that it was exceedingly difficult for purchasers to tell
what they were buying. The resolution was carried
unanimously. The last business was to consider the
two bills brought into Parliament—one by Mr.
Quilter and the other by Sir E. Birkbeck—to prevent
the adulteration of beer, and Mr. Wilson moved that
the council support the bills, giving preference to that
of Mr. Quilter.—Sir E. Birkbeck explained the prin-
cipal features of his bill, but said it was immaterial
which bill was carried, provided they secured the
object of obtaiaing good, wholesome beer. A lengthy
discussion as to the polioy of restricting various ingre-
dients put into beer followed, and the opinion was
general that the brewer should attach a card to the
barrel, stating whether the beer contained other in-
gredients besides malt and hops. An amendment
was moved that the words, "giving preference to the
bill of Mr. Quilter," be omitted, which was carried.
The conference then adjourned.