The Express.
London, England, 1867-12-05 00:00:00

LONDON PASS AND OPEN CHURCH

ASSOCIATION.

The ordinary monthly meeting of this ammonia-
tion was held on Tuesday evening, at the office, 23, Nor-
folk-street, Strand. Mr. W.. 1. GARNETT, of Quernmore-
park, presided, and was supported by Lientenaut-Cokinel
Alcock, Professor Bentley, Mr. H. Goodenough Hayter,
Mr. O. L. Hills, Rev. Dr. Lee, Mr. R. Townshend Mayer,
P.R.B.L, Mr. G.E. Street, A.R.A., Rev. W. R.
Mr. Wm. White, Sir Chas. L. Young, BaTt,,Z.
A letter on the " Offertory," which had been written on
behalf of the council by Mr. White, for the guidance of
churchwardens, was read. It ran :—" The term offertory
in the Prayer-book applies only to the alms and other
devotions of the people collected during the 'sen-
tences' as well from communicants as from others
who might be present at the time of mike- -
tics, and this whether there were any administra-
tion of the communion or not. The Prayer-book implies
that there shall be an offertory every Sunday before the
prayer for the church militant, whether there is a com-
munion or not ; but it is the bounden duty of the church-
wardens to collect the offertory, as it is one of the solemn
obligations of their office to see that the directions of the
Prayer-book in this matter are implicitly carried out.
Where this has been done there bas not been one case in
ten of failure to provide for all the requirements of
the church without pew rents. The distribution
of the offertory may be to any charitable or pious
uses, including, amongst others, the maintenance of
the services and of the ministers at the discre-
tion of the minister and ehurchwardens, subject
to an appeal to the bishop io case of dispute." Dr. Lee
' said it had been hid down in courts of law repeatedly that
I the offertory should be divided into three parts-one for
the poor, one for the minister, and the other for the
church expenses. The chairman thought • short mum., of
the law on the subject might be useful in the form of a
tract for circulation, which was agreed to. The °mindere,-
tion of certain applications for aid from the special fund
was deferred owing to the inability of the council from
want of money to make any grant. Mr. 0. L. Hills moved,
and Mr. White seconded, the following resolution " That
on and after the lest day of January next one-fourth part
of all subscriptions and donations be carried to the special
fund for free and unappropriated church building
and improvement." After • long discussion, in which
Mr. Street took part in opposition to Mr. Hill's motion,
on the ground that the Incorporated Church Bui!ding
Society could better administer such • fund whilst this
association should limit itself to keeping the whole ques-
tion of free and open churches and the offertory before the
public, the proposition was withdrawn. Mr. Street gave 4
notice of his intention to move, on the 7th January, that
• member's subscription be reduced to :L. Colonel Alcock
understood this to be • church of England association,
without partisanship, and ho thought the proposal to in-
troduce artisan members into the council was • good one.
The work of the association met • great want of the day—
which is a greater sympathy between rich and poor, and •
softening of class distinctions in that which relater: to the
social and moral condition of the people. The
association was aaoulated to promote • gidding
influence for adults, which would act still more beneficially
upon the young who are about to commence life with
privileges which their forefathers never kuew. lie there-
fore thought the council's scheme of obtaining artieans and
labounng men at reduced rata!, in addition to th.- sub- .
scribers of one guinea and upwards, and associate members
as they originally stood, was • matter of censidemble
public interest. The following gentlemen were unani-
mously elected vice-presidents, viz, Mr. W. Longman,
F. 0.8., Major W. Lyon, and Mr. W. Pole Thornhill.
With • vote of thanks to the chairman the meeting closed.

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