The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-01-22 00:00:00

CITY TITHES.

Yesterday a meeting of the inhabitants of Allhallows RarkiNt
was held at the parish church, for the purpose of taking into consi-
deration the propriety of joining with the other parishes of the City
of London, in thcir intended application to Parliament for a general
Bill to provide stipulated salaries for their clergymen, and to re-
peal the Act of the 37th of flew yin. The Churchwardens
presided.
The Report of a Committee appointed tb ctinfer with the Tithe
Committee of the Corporation, was then read. It stated that the
parish was invited to come forward and co-operate with the other
parishes who intended to go to Parliament as A united body, in
doing which they expected the aid of the Corporation.
Mr. OR INIC AID, an moving a series of Resolution's founded upon
the Report, said, that if the parish was sure of remaining in its pre-
sent condition with respect to the Vicar, he should not have thought
of coming forward on the present occasion, for he believed the
parish was generally satisfied with the demand made by that gen-
tleman, and whatever grievances might at present exist, he did not
think they reached such a height as to induce them to apply. to
Parliament with respect to them. It was true there was great in•
equality in the demand for tithes. Some were charged sixpence in
the pound, others ninepence, and others one shilling and sixpence,
which inequality was a ground of complaint ; but the tithe was
in general levied leniently, and the Vicar was so respectable and
mode-ate a man, that with respect to him few would be inclined to
engage in hostile measures. Unhappily, however. good Vicars
were mortal, and experience had proved, in the City of London. that
bad ones were by co means scarce. The measure he proposed was
not to diminish the present allowance to the Vicar, but to fix his
stipend, and to guard against the consequence of a probable change
for the worse. 11'hen, unfortunately for the parish, the Vicar in the
course of nature should be taken from amongst them, what would
be their condition if another Vicar were placed over them ? They
would in all probability have the demand of 2s. Std. exacted, ai had
been the case in st. Olive, Hart-street, and St. Botolph, Alcigate.
IVould they therefore consent to have all their security in this res-
pect depending solely upon the life of the present Vicar, or would
they seise the opportunity for protecting themselves at a cheap rate
by going forward with the oppressed parishes and giving their aid
to a benevolent object while they protected themselves from the
probable consequences of having a needy pastor placed over them ?
Ile concluded by moving Resolutions expressive of the opinion of
the meeting, that however great might be the regard entertained by
the parish for their Vicar, yet that the inhabitants ought to unite
with their fellow citizens in applying to Parliament to ob,sin an
equitable and permanent arrangement with respect to the future
payment of tithes, and the repeal of the statute of 37thHem7
That this course was the more important, as there was great and
unjust inequality in the exaction of tithes : that to rely an the pro.
bable moderation of the successors of the present Vicar, was to rely
on a false security : that the claims set up in the several parishes
for N. it,. in the pound were the more dangerous, as they were
made upon questionable legal authority, which, if even valid, ren-
dered it necessary that the money so raised should be applied for
the repairs of the churches and the relief of the poor.
Mr. HALL, of IVool.quay, in rising to second the Resolutions,
objected to the wording of the Resolution which complimented the
Vicar. Compliments to him were unneerssicy, and as far as his
experience went, undeserved. Neither was it proper that they
should treat the pretended statute of the 37th Henry VII!. as a
law, for he was convinced it was no law, and his own opinion was
strengthened by that of four Counsel, whom he had consulted tipon
the subject. If these alterations were not made, he should feel it
his duty to move rn amendment in the Resolutions proposed by his
friend Mr. Dninkald.

Mr. Mt t wx.ar.ti consented to make the alteration proposed, and
Mr. HALL proceeded. He did not join in the praise given
to the Vicar for his moderation, since he had experienced none.
He had been charged the full sum of 2s. 9d. in the pound, and
made to pay no less than 2601. per annum for a considerable
time, until at last, having taken advice, and found, upon reference
a the Act, that he was not obliged to pay more than two-thirds of
that sum, even under the Act, he posinvely refused to pay any
more tithes whatever, and declared that he would act single-handed
by the validity of the Act. Since that time he had heard no more
about the matter, and for two years he had paid no tithes what.
ever. He thought that Clergymen, as men of respectability and
education, ough: to be liberally provided for ; (hear, hear ;) but at
the same time they ought to be compelled to do their duty, and not
to be allowed to take a living from the hard earnings of others
without making some return. He would do all in his power in aid
of the general measures, and would go with the oppressed parishes
into the contest, if he went wi'h them singly.
Mr. SsitTri warmly opposed the motion, and before he went at
length into the question, he begged that the RCSOLItiOR entered
into at a former Perish Meeting, not to join in such an application
to Parliament, might be read.
Several Parishioners here stated, that the question was carried at
one Vestry, but the proceedings were negatived at a second, by a
casting vote only.
Mr. SMITH begged to ask the Chairman whether he hat ac-
quainted the Vicar himself of the intention to call the present
Meeting ?
The CHAIRMAN replied in the negative, and said he had not
thought it necessary, as the notice was sent to the Vicar's agent,
which was the usual course. _ _ _