The Sun.
London, England, 1837-09-21 00:00:00

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LONDON.
THURSDAY EVENING, SEPTENIBER 21,1837.

The Church-rate agitation goes on well.
People are determined that this unrighteous impost
shall not disgrace the land much longer, and are acting
bp to this determination by vigorously opposing the ex-
actions of the ecclesiastical cormorants wherever they at-
tempt to enforce them. The Church-rate question is in
reality settled as far as regards the abolition of the abomi-
Ilati". The only point that remains undecided is whether
the Establishment, of which its foolish friends are endea-
vouring to represent Church-rate as an integral part, shall
:fall along with the abuse which it fosters. Appearances
seem
to indicate that the parsons will go the whole
•hog in this as they have done in most other cases
which they have had to defend their ancient
'4l urpations against the searching eye of modern intel-
-I'Benee, and the pruning hand of modern reform.
Other men, and other classes of men, profit by expe-
nee--parsons never. There is not a single instance
'thin our recollection of an ecclesiastical community
Yielding its prejudices, and surrendering supposed ad-
-.lartages, however unjustly obtained, or invidiously
held, To grasp everything was the policy of the
R
n'uish Church in the plenitude of its power ; and in
At dark and barbarous age that policy was at least in-
telligible, if not excusable. But for a Church pretend-
li-ftg to found itself on holier principles to cling with a
'death-grasp to every thing that in the antecedent system
:rnaeked most of worldly ambition and moral injustice,
:45,...a0t a proof that the administrators of ecclesiastical
,qairs under the later dispensation have imbibed more
liritual influences or purer principles of action from a
renovated theology.
is In the matter of Church-rates, indeed, the iniquity
o grievously enhanced on the part of the successors
f
-Romanism in England. It was bad enough in the
ginisb clergy to shift the burden which the law had
upon their shoulders to those of the people. But
:_" re is this to be said in extenuation that there was
o burden imposed upon the conscience. As all were
konf
Athe same religion, the whole thing was a matter of
Ashillinos, and pence. But the character of the
-11.1V''st has been completely changed by that glorious
r:cirmation, whose fundamental principle, as well as
e justification, was the right of private judg-
.l.4 efht 113 matters of religion. When a Catholic
4e:3re this era was called upon to repair the Church
Which the piety of his masters had set apart ample
.40 m "a) he veil/ naturally grumbled. It was a hardship
tolewhich he felt he ought not to be subjected, but
le Vied ended. Now, when the Church-rate is
the eu.,, by the members, and for the benefit, of
di4t stablislied Sect, the Catholics, the Metho-
tiBt:' the Presbyterians, the Independents, the Bap-
ft and all the other religionists who differ
°ln that r,preSect, feel their consciences aggrieved and
wor;sed, by the compulsory support of a system of
kah "P which many of thew. detest, and none of them
rProye.
It is, however, cheering to p
therceive the spirit with
thi, e People are exerting themselves to get rid of
Nvnrk I."'sanee, for such it is, in the true sense of that
We had, the other day, to record several in-
'the abs
ii:'" which a fierce struggle took place betweien
the ro"'tionists and their oppressors. In most cases
1144 rifler gained the point at issue ; but that is a
t tou_e7,l _ .minor importance. Let there be but a
unnediate
g' lattle and we care but little which party are the
victors.
she real .
We know right well who are
ka• gainers, and who the losers, in all these con-
lets. I, ,
'''ery contested rate is a heavy blow to the
4ation _
11..eaken3it ()I the Church. Every such contest
'or m in public opinion, takes from it the good will
Way any of its professed adherents,
and prepares the
ay for their
The complete withdrawment from its pale.
yiee
tChurchwardens of Bungcy are doing good ser-
f thre ° the cause. They some time ago—nearly
e Months, we believe—seized the goods of a

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