The Express.
London, England, 1851-07-02 00:00:00

termed robbery of • the funds. (Ikar, hear.) If a sense of their duties, that such people were to he made to
emicanarityootakkimitgorewtatndithdenionteombelemgto hirn to
(Hears hear.) assigned btaievcehuthrishtthe(yuweearer, not the mliaestenrsothfuetanithee ntonithesetepris,icoof
There were bishops who, having speculated in their sees, with which he was best acquainted, and if any
and being disappointed, had certain sums to pay over to the one wished to see churches destitute, neglected,
ecclesiastical commissioners. He found the see of York and a disgrace to ceeleeisietical administration, he had
.
owed to the commissioners 2,3171. ; St. Asaph's, 1,6611. ; only to go to St. David's diocese. The bishopric of tit.
Bath and Wells, 3,4951., which had been paid ; and Ely, David's was one of the new foundations. The income was
9,2121., making in all due from three bishops to the come fixed at 4,500!. per annum. The bishop received 1,609/.
missieiers no less than 11,2'251. And if any person would per annum from Ecclesiastical Commissioners, but he re-
took at the returns they would he astonished to see how any coved 1,000/. more than he was entitled to. All kiuds of
secretary' of the of income so minute as 2/. 31. 4d. for pensions, and 121. I ls.
gentlemen could :suffer themselves to be dunned in the deductions were made. All rates and taxes and collection
manner these bishops had been by the sec
Eccleeeistical Commissioners. (" Hear, hear," and laugh- fee stipends were deducted. The bishop was both dean and
ter.) What with six bishops taking some 28,000/. per year I treasurer of the Collegiate church of Brecon at 7,21.31. 10s.
more than they were entitled to, and the other bishop re- o per annum It was the duty of the dean to preside ovee
fusing to pay what they legally should pay, some 14,0001., 1, the church, and to keep the fabric in repair. lie would show
there was some 40,0001. due to the Ecclesiastical Commis- I how that had been performed by reading an extract from
shiners which ought to be in use, and employed in increas- the work of Mr. Jesse, who had been employed under the
ing the small livings of the lesser clergy, particularly in goverumeut for several year, and who had discharged his
%Vales, where they were miserably salancd. (Hear, hear.) duties so well, that a puce of plate was presented to him
would next conic to the large ones. In May, 1837, it had baronet here read an extract from the work referred to from
He had shown the cases of six bishops of small sees; and he on his resigning his situation, which lie lately did. The hon.
been decided by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, the which it appeared that the church was in a most dilapidattd
bishops of London and SI, inchester should be fixed respec- derived considerable
income' from it. 'Would the Roma
holies suffer these things? (Hear, hear.) Would they
bishops being consenting parties, that the incomes of future and ruinous state, although fifte• n prebendaries had
tively at 10,0001. and 7,0001. a year. Now, it was remark- cat
able that there was not a single instance of any of the allow a great and royal foundation thus go to wreck ? or
bishops giving up anything for the benefit of the church. rather would they not endeavour to increase and extend its
(Hear, hear.) These gentlemen, the Bishops of London benefits. (Hear, hear.) It was no wonder when the bishop
and Winchester, assented to the arrangement that their of Rome sawthese things going on in St. David
successors should have 10,0001. and 7,0001. a year respec- or Minevia, that lie
romantic tively. Now, if the income were sufficient for their to preside over it. (Hear, hear.) 11/ii. it to be
Successor, sure
but Inv ' teed
Each bishop had also two residences-a town and a whitlow a Roman catholic place of worship should have
surely it ought to be sufficient themselves. wondered that in front of its
for should have; appointed a bishop
of their incomes. In 1 years arisen admirable in design and well calculated to meet tho
country one-irrespective
j the Bishop of London should have received 140,0001., but wi-lies of the inhabitants of the district. The lion. baronet
he had received e 57,000/. (Hear, hear.) The Bishop of then read an extract from the report of the Commissioners
Winchester should have received 98,001.11. in 14 years, and who inquired into the state of education in Wales, to show
had received 151,166/. (Hear, hear.) So that these two how much the parish churches had been neglected. But
attend to these matters. He had
200,0001. more than they themselves considered sufficient for not of the bishop to
prelates, had taken in 14 years between 100,000!. and it might be said that it was the duty of the archdeacon, and
their maintenance. (Hear, hear.) It might be said they lately asked an archdeacon why he did not do so. And the
were bishops of the old foundation, and as such the new answer was, that the bishop forbade it. In North
income was not to apply to them, it being applicable only Wales, where some time ago it was difficult to
after the voidance of the see. That was perfectly true find a Roman catholic, that religion was rami-
according to act of parliament. But when they considered tying the entire district. If he were not afraid of
the nature of the office held by a bishop, and also that the wearying the house, he could go on multiply-
Bishop of London was always seeking money for church ing abuses which existed in his church. Persons
purposes, it would be more setiefactory did he confine might think that it was a satisfaction to him
lii:uself to the appointed income. (Hear, hear.) Cu- to show up these abuses. But he could assure the house
der the new foundation of 1836 the Bishop of Durham that it was with the greatest pain he did so. lie hail been
was appoiuted at 8,0001. a year. In 11 years he should at great pain- to ',Nei up these abuses, and nothing would
have received 112,000/., instead of which he bail received have induced hint to spend his time and labour on the volt-
-191,648/. So that taken in connexion with the Bishops of jcct but the hope that he would contribute to remedy some
London and Winchester, these three prelate, in 11 years, had of these abuses. (Hear, hear.) A fair question had
deprived the church of upwards of a quarter of a million of been put ; it was this : You are ready to state
money. (Hear, hear.) These were facts that could not be abuses, but what is the remedy you propose ? lie (Sir B.
got over, because they were contained in the report of the Hall) could not base looked over these things session after
Ecclesiastical Commissioners, and certified as correct by the session without endeavouring to apply his mind and under-
bishops themselves. (Hear, hear.) Now, it might be standing to find some remedy for these gross, and lie would
apposite to look at the manner in which the duties were add deliberately followed-up abuses. (Hear, hear.) Now
performed in reference to the sums paid ; because it his plan was this-Ile would say Take the whole of tho
was necessary to make the people believe the clergy were property ,of the archbishops cud bishops, deans and
doing their duty in their respective localities. (Hear, hear.) chapter, whether sole or aggregate, and let tho
lie would go through four dioceses in different parts of working clergy have a good and proper income. (Hear,
England. lie would begin with the diocese of Ely ; hear.) The Archbishop of Canterbury had an income of
first, take the parish of Wisbeach, which adjoined the 15,0e11. a year, with two palaces-an income which many
town, and it furnished a good example of what was re- pettv sovereigns did not possess. Well, he woul 1 say, let
quired to be done before the people were called on to sub- him have the same income as the prime minister of tho
scribe largely in order to found new churches. Of Wis- crown. (Hear, hear.) His noble friend had very truly
beach the Rev. li. Fardcll was vicar; value of living, observed, that the secularities of the bishops dinn-
Wiebeach, St. l'eter's 1,3111. 10e.; St. Mary's, 8791. ; nished very: much' the [`fling of their spiritual
total, '2,190!. 10e. Absent, about six months in the year. functions. Ile quite concurred in that opinion ; his
is also prebendary of Ely, 7001. ; and vicar of Waterbeach, remeilv therefore would be to send them out of the House
5301.; total, 3,3901. 10e. Of Wisbeach, St. Mary's, the of Lords, and let them attend to their dioceses. (Cheers.)
population was 1,600; no resident clergyman. And these He would give between two and three thousand a year to
he obtained because he was sou-in-law to Bishop Sparkes. those who had the superintendence of the ecclesiastical
SBear, hear.) Walsoken : Rev. J. Black, rector, non-resi- body, and he would raise the position of the miner clergy.
ent, value, 1,2931. Its. 4d. Lemiugton : Mr. Sparkes, He would get rid of such miserable examples of ceelesiasti-
rector, non-resident; value, 2,099/. ; canon of Ely, 7001.; cal poverty as were exhibited by clergymen in his own
rector of Gunthorpe, 534/. • total, 3,333/. ; son of a former country, who were obliged to live on from 25/. to 301. a
bishop. Emneth: Rev. Mr. Jackson, rector, non-resident; year, said who had to walk sor 6 or 7, and sometimes
value, 2,990!.; prebendary of Christ Church, Brecon. 8 miles to perform the services of the church, whilst
Syd. St. Giles's: Rev. Mr. Watson, rector, nun-resident; those who received the large incomes lived at a great dis-
value, 1,2001. ; this gentleman resides in Germany, and Liner from what should be the scene of their labours.
pays his curate only 1201. per annum: population, 900, very (Cheers.) There were 353 churches in Wake, and only
few of whom attend the church. Syd. St. Mary's : Rev. 451 services; whilst in some there were no services at aIL
Mr. Bouverie, rector, non-resident; value, 1,200/.• are- Let them, therefore' pay the working clergyman and
bend of Liucoln, 1,0001.; rector of Woulbrailing, ; get rid of the absentee incumbent, who slid nothing,
total, 2,3271. Five clergymen receiving 11,113/. Ile. -Id., and pocketed the money. Ile would have no cler-
not doing any duty ; auir I clergyman receiving 3,3901. 10e., gyman receive less than '2OO/. a year, and none receive more
and doing duty when it suited his convenience. (Hear.) than 5001. or 600/. a year. (Cheers.) And as to church exten-
Was not this a scandal to the church ? (Hear, sion, he believed that within the church itself there were
hear.) The Bishop of Rochester was appointed in 1829. ample means not only of promoting that object but of en-
lie held the deanery of Worcester and some other Mine- tirely getting rid of church rates, which were prosluctivc of
tires, which lie resigned in 1016 to receive a stipulated in- so much dissension and were so objectionable in them-
come of 4,5001. per annum, by which he gained considerably. selves. liis object would he, in fart, to make the church
lie received, according to his own returnes,37o/. One of his efficient and useful to the community, so that the
duties was to hold triennial visitations of the cathedral, to people could respect it, so as to make dissent less popular,
correct abuses, and to see that the statutes were observed. and Rome less rampant. His object was to make the church
Now he (Sir B. Ilan) made inquiry on this point, and the of which he was a member a blessing to the country at
result was that the bishop had not made one of these cache- large. (near, hear.) But if there were persons in tho
deal visitations. lie not only ought to do this, but he hail church who received enormous incomes, whilst the infe•
sworn to do so. And when he made a speech in another rise clergy were in such wretchedness-if there were such
place on the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill, the reason he a want of discipline that a bishop could one thy sanction the
waived for not voting for it was that he had taken a cer- acts of a clergyman, and the next desire him to be turned
tain oath. lie seldom or ever preached in the cattle- omit, whilst lie had not the courage to proceed against him;
dad, except on Easter day last. (Hear, hear.) if a bishop could one day consecrate a cram, and the next
Was it likely that the people would subscribe their order its removal-if a bishop could one day say that
money for the building of new churches if these flowers were not to be used at the altar, and the next say
things were known. (Hear, hear.) Ile might be asked they might, if they were not used in profusion ;
why, if ho were a friend of the church, he made public it a bishop said one doe that a clergyman
these things ? iiis only answer was this-that they lived might preach in a white surplice, and ou tho
in an age when there was no chance of a remedy, except next that he must do it in a black one ; when they Saw this
by bringing forward these matters before the public. want of discipline, this extortion, this want of principle,
Ile brought them forward in the hope that he might- and he would add this system of peculation as regarded
however humbly and ineffectually-aid in putting au end church property, how could they expect to WC the church
to these things, and that one day sir other he might be able respected or the people pressing forward in favour of church
to feel that by throwing up these abuses he had helped some- extension ? (Cheers.)
what to abolish these monstrosities. (Cheers.) Let them After a few words from Mr. MoOtels in vindication of the
now see how matters were conducted by the whole capitular Bishop of St. David's,
body : The dean preached twelve times from December 1 Mr. A. B. HOPE doubted that any good could result
to April 1, and attended service four times ; his income from multiplying churches, and suggested that the exist-
was 1,1001 per annum. Ouo canon preached twelve times ing edifices would suffice if additional services were per-
in two years ; has a residence, with income of 6801. Another formed in them at different periods of the day. The division
canon preached twice last December, and not since • ho of parishes would produce serious evils. What was wanted
takes income of suspended canonry, 7801. ; vicar of Chad- was an increase in the staff of curates for the present
ham, with a population of 16,000, and three villages in churches. Objecting to the schemes for throwing several
Dorsetaiire. Another canon has not been in Rochester for hundred advowsons, now under the control of the Lord
three years, and has sold Wall his goods and gone oft'. Up Chancellor, into the market, and for creating a series of
to the month of June, 1851-up to yesterday-no canon " curate" bishops out of the present deans, he nevertheless
preached on any day, not even Whit Sunday, with the confessed the necessity of enlarging the episcopate, and con-
exception of Ascension Day. (Hear, hear.) Minor canons veiling the hierarchy into a body of working bishops,
did all the work, with no additional pay ; two of them got where aIS should be equal in dignity, and, to a great extent,
1501. per annum, the others 301. (Hear, hear.) lit a few in revenue also. Important questions were now afloat con-
deys the cathedral will probably be closed, and then they mailing religious faith and practice ; aid to settle these tho
might go and enjoy themselves as they generally did. lion. member suggested the convocation of a kind of cede-
(Hear, bear.) The bishop receives from 5,0001. to 6,0001. a siastical parliament, where bishops, clergy, and laity might
year ,• the dean, 1,100/. ; the Clllloa2 6001 each, and 1001., represent the three political estates of the realm.
3,5001. ; making a total of 10,9001. The Beau and Sir G. GREY said he had listened with great satisfaction
five cumin hold additional incomes to the amount of to the speech of the noble lord (the Marquis of Bluntlford),
7,7401. ; total, 17,610/. per annum. (Hear, hear.) the tone of whose observations could leave no doubt as to
As he had said before, the see of Rochester had become his earnestness and sincerity in the promotion of a most im-
very notorious. A fund had been left for the support of six portant object. But before the house agreed to this address,
old bedesmen. They were to receive 401. ayear each, but It became them to inquire what specific measure. if any, it
there was no bodesman in Rochester since 1,90, the last of pledged them to adopt. (Hear, hear.) The first objection
them being an old man named Thomas Featherstone. The which occurred to him on reading the address was, that it
2,4001. that should have gone to the support of six Poor was indefinite and vague. lie thought it undesir-
men was taken up by the chapter, (Hear, hear.) The able to address the crown again in vague and gene-
, chapter clerk till lately went through the farce of calling rat terms, unless some specific measure could be adopted
out the names of these men. (" Hear, hear," and laughter.) by the crown or by parliament, at the suggestion of tho
He regularly called out, "Thomas Featherstone, come for- crown, tending to promote the object iu view. The noble
ward and receive your annuity"-(laughter)-" John lord began by alluding to the spiritual destitution which
Smith, come forward and receive your annuity." (Re- undeniably existed among a large portion of the population.
newed laughter.) Yet these abominable impositions, for After making the most liberel allowance fur all the means
he could call them no less-(hear, hear)-went on under of spiritual instruction in this country, they must come to
the eye of the dean and canons, although they knew the conclusion that there were densely-peopled districts
full well that these men were in their coffins for which were inadequately provided with• the means of reli-
ght, years. (Hear.) In consequence of the exposure pious instruction, whether within or without the pale of the
which had been made by the return which had been pre- Established Church. But the question was, whether per-
muted at his instance to the house, and therefore he might liarnent could apply any specific remedy for the evil.
take credit for having done some good-(hear, hear)- He admitted the vast importance of the object,
new appointments of six deserving poor persons, from 65 even in reference to the general good conduct of
to .75 years of age, one of whom fought in Lord llovre's ac- the population, and that no exertion for its attainment
don in 1791, and another at Waterloo, were made. (Hear, could be too great, provided it was made with discretion,
hear.) A payment of I/. 10s. 10d. was made a few days ago and in the right direction. The first means by which the
to some of these men, and he was sure the house would noble lord proposed to remedy the evil was an improved
scarcely believe it-the chapter clerk had made a deduction management of church property, so as to make it available
of 10s. from each as a fee-(hear, hear)-although no de- for the spiritual wants of the people. They must nll feel
auctions hail been made in the clerical incomes. (Hear, that there was a large amount et property vested in the
hear.) The corporation had been receiving this money for church which did not now produce what it might produce if
50 or 60 years, and when they did give it they stopped 30 properly managed. But, in dealing with the motion, they
per cent. from the incomes of these poor persons. Were they must consider what had already been done towards the ac-
so ready to give 3 per cent. of their own incomes when his complishment of the object. The object of establishing the
right hon. friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer asked ecclesiastical commission in 1431 was identical with
them for the income tax ? (Hear, hear.) Then there:was an that of the noble lord, namely, to transfer rove-
hospital in the diocese of Rochester, of which the dean had nues from those who did not perform corresponding
taken the income to himself. In one year he received duties to channels iu which they might be rendered more
3,000/. for fines, and it was only in consequence of the ex- available for the cure of souls, and much had been done
posurc which had taken place that a stop had been put to towards the accomplishment of that object. Following on
kd
ritualparts
this mode of misusing the charity. (Hear, hear.) It was that commission was what was termed Sir Robert Peers
called the Lepers Hospital, but a foul moral leprosy had Act, under which money was borrowed from the commis-
stepped in
chtaoruitlya.
it (Hear, hear.)
expects that
thl! otfurt hoe
s.
in which
return m most
movednee d e the
r b increase a s
right of
hon.
subscribe stepped in and pocketed the money which was intended sooners of Queen Anne's bounty for the benefit of those
owpioeuldwouasi
towthekepe
subscribe their money for new churches when they saw gentleman the member for Wilts (Mr. S. Herbert), it apt-
these abominations. (Hear, hear). It was from a sense of peered that the aggregate amount of augmentations for
the shame and disgust which such conduct was calculated spiritual purposes derived from capitular estates and
to inspire, that he felt bound to show up these proceedings under Sir Robert Peel's Act was above 75,000/. per
41e the deans and chapters, and bishops of his church, and annum, to which were to be added grants by
who ought to be the ministers of God. (Hear, hear.) lie the ecclesiastical commissioners for church extension. A
new came to the see of London, which he would lightly commission appointed to inquire into the mode of sub-
pus over. There were seven prebends attached to St. dividing large parishes had prepared the draft of a bill for
Paul. The duties they had to perform were to preach in giving effect to its recommendations. That had been
turn-that was to say, twice a year each. That was the duty recently brought before the house, and the debate on tho
they had to perform, but what had become of the property second reading was adjourned. A bill had been introduced
of St. Paul's, or, as it ought to be called, the property of the into the other house to remedy the undoubted evils with re-
Church? Gone. (Hear, hear.) He was the representa- gard to fines on the renewal of leases. That bill had been
Live of the parish of St. Pancras, in which they had property referred to a select committee, and he must candidly confess
that was rated to the relief of the poor at 208,000/. But that he shared in the doubts which had been expressed
the canons had entered into an agreement by which the whether it would be passed in the present session. (Hear.)
church was robbed to the whole of that amount with the The equitable rights of leesees were mvolved,and that mecum-
exception of 3001. (" Hear, hear," from Mr. Goulburn.) stance would create delay. The only other means to which
He was glad to hear that the right hon. gentleman cheered, the noble lord looked for the accomplishment of his object
fir it was an admission from one of the ecclesiastical corn- was the sale of the Chancellor's livings, with the view of
ntissioners that the case was • very bad one• He contended raising a fund for the erection of new churches. Now on
it was a robbery of the church for its dignitaries to lease that point he would first remark that the proposal ought to
away the property of the church and put the heavy have been brought before the house clearly and distinctly,
fines which they received for so doing in their own
pockets. in order that it might have been argued on its own merits,
(Hear, hear.) The bishops should be contented with the and not as part of an address which was very general in its
revenues of their own sees, and should not take fines in ad- terms. Looking to the declaration of the commissioners
dition for giving leases of church property. (Hear, hear.) that the whole of these livings should be put up to public
A short time since his noble friend the Earl of Carlisle, auction, he thought there was great force first, in the objcc-
brought in a bill for the purpose of doing away with the tion that the scheme would take away a large share of re-
fines on leases of church property. But that bill was re- sputibility from the crown ; and secondly, in the objection
ceived with the greatest opposition by those who received that in the present state of the church it was probable
those fines. (Hear, hear.) He doubted if they would see that the two parties would be found to bid against each
any more of that bill in the present session. (Hear.) It other. The erection of 600 churches would require a sum
was only by exposures of this kind, and by
.calling the not exceeding 2,000,000/. The aggregate annual value of
attention of the public to the abuses that existed in the the livings in the gift of the Chancellor was nearly 300,0001.,
administration of church property it was only by bringing and the exposing of them to public auction, or to private
forward tltesu gross cases, and by shaming them into • lager, Which would be the MU in effect, would be at-