The Sun.
London, England, 1837-01-28 00:00:00

The MANort (Thomas Brightwell, Esq.) on taking the
Chair said, he had acceded to the request of a numerpus
body of his fellow-citizens, and he hoped they were assem-
bled together with the disposition to meet the question fully
and fairly. The individuals who had called the meeting, felt
that they were labouring under a grievance, and they were
taking a legitimate mode of representing their sentiments to
the Legislature. It was not his intention to defend the con-
duct of those who had taken an extra e course with re-
spect to the Church Rates—he meant those who had refu'sed
to pay them. He never had done so himself but once, and
then he considered he had sufficient grounds to object to
the amount of the rate imposed upon him. If, however, a
person did conscientiously object to the payment of Church
Rates, he had surely a right to refuse, and leave the law to
take its course. He had this morning hail a periodical sent
to him called the C'liu chnzan. More gross and scurrilous
abuse—more foul-mouthed language he never read, than
was contained in this work against the Dissenters. He
hoped that mother-church ,knew better than to own such
advocates ; if she did not, it would fare ill 'with her. if a
fair view of the question was taken, he believed that many
liberal churchmen would be desirous of aiding the efforts
of the Dissenters in having the question of the Church-rates
brought to a settlement. But in the periodical to which
he had alluded, Dissenters were placed on a par with high-
wayman ; and Mr. Childs, who had been a martyr in the
cause, was described as little better than a robber and a
thief.—(Cries of " Shame!") No one could possibly object
to the course which this meeting was pursuing, it was the
legitiMate right of every Englishmen who felt himself ag-
grieved to petition Parliament, and that Dissenters were
aggrieved he was ready to argue with any loan who would
enter upon the subject fairly. The Church Rates were an
obnoxious impost, because persons had no fair or legitimate
means of redress when they felt themselves aggrieVed. In
several instances he knew that things had been foisted into
the rates which bail no more right to beinserted than the
purchase of the clothes upon his back. One parish in this
city had in 19 years spent out of the Church-rates upwards
of 1,000/. in feastiugs. The rent of the gardea of the Mi-
nister, the repair of his house, were in one parish made ex-
penses out of the Church-rate. Why they might with
equal justice have put in the rent of the Dissenting Minis-
ter's house ; and, indeed, he could but wonder that
any -Clergyman should accept of such a mode of increasing
his income. The Church-rates could only be properly ap-
plied the repair of the building and a few other' matters.
When the sum was less than ten pounds, there was
an appeal to the Magistrates ; but ease the le-
gality •of the rate • was disputed, Magistrates could
only diimiss the parties to the Spiritual Court,- and
it. had been decided that this Spiritual Court can-
not examine the churchwardens' accounts. He knew that
it might be replied to him that he might appeal to the
Court of King's Bench, but even that Court will not exa-
mine the accounts, but if the case should be very gross,
they may quash the rate. They won't-interfere where the
case is very small, and moreover the expense of an applica-
tion to the Court of King's Bench is greater than most
persons would be willing to encounter. He would ask
Church-ten whether they will not assent with us to the set-
tlement of this question ? In parishes where the majority
are Churchmen, rates to any amount may be imposed, but
where the majority consists of Dissenters, no rate will be
obtained. He thought therefore that Churchmen, looking
at the existing state of things, would agree that it was high
time that some course should be adopted that would be
satisfactory to all reasonable men. , Lord John Russell
,had intimated that it was his intention to bring for-
ward soma measure, and he (Mr. Brightwell) trusted that
it would not be longer postponed; but that they should
soon get rid of what be could not but term a legal nui-
In his own parish, was it fair or decent that
.caving paid the Church Rate foi peace sake, should have a
'teetind ratein"ii'ly. since thiS' subject hai been agi-
tated, they have had two rates—one the Church Rate—
the other the Church Organ Rate—and he, a Dissenter,
was called upon to pay for the gilded organ of the Church-
man. He was surprised that in a parish like St. Stephen's,
which contained so many opulent Churchmen, there should
not be spirit enough amongst them to subscribe the amount.
amongst themselves.

sance.

Mr. S. MITCHELL, in introducing the first resolution,
said that, as Dissenters, they contended that it was a vio-
lation of good government to interfere in matters of consci-
ence, and they also contended that no man ought to he
debarred of any civil rights on account, of the religious
tenets that he might hold. Formerly Dissenters were
abridged of their civil rights, but they were very
thankful for what had been done to remove their disa-
bilities and for the regulations lately passed respect=
in g Registrations and Marriages ; they would be still more
thankful if the Government would relieve them from tha
burthen of Church rates. It appeared by the report of the
Ecclesiastical Commissioners, that there were about 11,000
churches ; some with cures, some without. But these
would not embrace one-third of the population. And if
it had not been for the voluntary aid of Dissenters, in what a
situation would London, Manchester, or this great city have
been with respect to religious instruction. There were
8,000 .places of worship belonging to the Dissenters, and
it would not be denied that the pure principles of the
Gospel were preached to large congregations, and that an
immense amount of good was done by them. The Dis-
senters not only raised their own buildings but supported
their ministers, and upwards of a million annually was
voluntarily subscribed. Every reflecting and generous
heart amongst Churchmen would, say, relieve these Dis-
senters ; they are 'exerting themselves for the same
object as ourselves, - the religious instruction of the
people. The Aristocracy, the wealth of the country, was
attached to the Church ; it was ungenerous then to call
upon the Dissenters to help to pay for their wine and their
organs, their siuging boys and singing girls. As Dissenters
they objected to the payment of Church-rates, because they
received no value for their money. In the payment of
other taxes they did, they had their property protected and
they shared with others ; but for the Church-rate, as Di!--
seaters, they received no equivalent. It might be said it
was their own fault, the Churches were open to them—but
they could not conscientiously avail. themselves of it. The
remark had been made that if the Church-rates were

abolished or only confined to ChurchnTZl;;;id be a
premium on dissent. Where could persons go, he would
ask, to save their pockets? If they went to the Methodist
Chapel they would be expected to contribute—applica-
tions would be made to them for Ed. a penny a week, or
Is. a quarter for keeping up the building. Ile had been
brought up a Churchman, and when he left and joined the
the Methodists his mother took him to task ; she used to

say,
." they don't want you, they want your money." He
could tell them people would not have the Church to save
their money ; he knew it was so as to the Methodists, and if
they went to any other class they would find themselves
very little better off. If a gentleman was to, come to the
chapel to which he belonged (the Independent) he would be
allowed to come occasionally ; but if he was regular in his
attendance, their manager at the quarter time would go to
him and say, " Perhaps you would like to take a scat or a

sitting, it is only ss. or 75., or that pew is 30s. a quarter."—
(A laugh.) He mentioned this to show that people
would not save their pockets by leaving the Church.
When the Government grant to the Society for the Pro-

iteoinvtarsaryu,rgthe(el
that ilagtiot no,ofultdheruGinospthele wsoacsievtvy'it;hdraonwtnh,e
Society had as it were awakened, and the funds were made
up larger than before. A new Society, the Church Build-
ing. Society, had since been formed, and he read the noble
donation of 6,000/. anonymously given, the donor put-
ting down his name as a " Clergymen seeking treasure in
heaven." Ile believed that if churchmen were left to
their own voluntary resources, they would be more at-
tached to their church, and more zealous to pro Mote its
welfire. Mr.. Mitchell concluded by moving the first reso-
lution.

The• Rev. Mr. Puntis, of the Particular Baptist Persua-
sion, the Rev. Mr. Bakewell (Unitarian Minister), Mr. H.
Bictwell (a Member of the Society of Friends), the Rev.
Mr. Dryden (of the Lady Huntingdon Connection), the
Rev. Mr. Scott (a the General Baptist Persuasion), Mr
J. Cozens, 111 r, pigg, and Mr. Banks, all of them Dissen-
ters, siwaie in support of the resolution ; and a vote of
thanks having been passed to the Mayor, the Meeting
separated.

The following singular circumstance is published in.
the Quotidienne of MOnday last :—" AVe have already an-
nounced Mr. Green's arrival in London with his monster
balloon. The l)uke of Brunswick, whose adventurous
spirit is -well known, went immediately to. visit the spiriteil
-aeronaut, and offered him a large spun of money to attempt
a passage to the United States. The answer of Mr. Green,
has not been communicated."