The Sun.
London, England, 1854-05-24 00:00:00

felt that attachment towards her which rendered it impos
sible that places of public worship could fall into decay,
and that, so far from aid from the public being good, it
damped the ardour and relaxed the exertions of members
of the Church. Throughout the large towns of the king-
dom church rates had been abolished, and they were
rapidly ceasing to exist anywhere, yet there were no com-
plaints of the churches going to decay ; and the informa-
tion he had received induced him to believe that more was
being expanded on the fabrics than when the church rates
existed. In corroboration of this he could state that he
had received a letter from a respectable nonconformist gen-
tleman at Liverpool, where a church rate had been refused
by a majority of 537 persons, informing him that the con-
duct of the rector was very creditable; that he at once
accepted the decision of the parishioners, and appealed to
his congregation for voluntary contributions every Sunday
which new averaged 151. each Sunday—a sum far more
considerable than the amount of church rates. (Hear.) It
was for these reasons that he was convinced the best mode
was to abolish church rates, and trust to the affection of
the members of the Church to provide funds for those pur-
poses to which they were applied. It was in accordance
with these feelings that he asked leave to introduce this
bill. It consisted of two clauses, but, in reality, there
was only one, the second being a proviso to the first--the
one abolishing church rates altogether, and the other re-
serving them where they had been subverted to other objects,
until the charges to which they were by statute applicable
were extinguished or otherwise met. It was admitted on
all hands that the law could not remain in itspresent state
and he thought he had shown conclusively that no mode
was so desirable as entire abolition. He appealed to gen-
tlemen who were members of the Church whether the time
had not arrived to relieve themselves from the reproach of
not having sufficient earnestness and sincerity in their at-
tachment to the Church of which they professed to be
members, even to maintain the fabrics which the piety of
our ancestors had raised. Was it not time that they should
show themselves too proud, if not too honest, to call upon
those who did not use them to contribue to the expense of
maintaining these places of worship? (Hear, hear.) Was
it not time to close this perennial spring of bitter waters,
to stop this source of acrimonious feeling, and to abolish an
impost, collected in the name of religion, but opposed to
every feeling which religion inspired ? He saw no reason
why there should not be peace. Churchmen and Dissenters
both professed to belong to a religion of peace; why should
not harmony exist? The field of harvest was wide enough
for all, and why should they not pursue with goodwill to-
wards each other their glorious vocation—to instruct, to
enlighten, to elevate, and to humanise ? (Cheers) There
were abundant and sufficient reasons for mutual respect.
Churchmen should not forget that they owed to their Non-
conformist fellow-citizens, or rather to their predecessors,
not only religious but civil freedom. (Hear, hear.) They
should not forget that they had resisted the blandishments
of power and endured the wrongs of persecution. Noncon-
formists should not forgot that the Established Church was
the firmest bulwark of the Protestant faith. They should
not forget that whatever faults they might find with it, its
existence afforded stability as well as dignity to every va-
riety of the Protestant religion. The war into which by
terrible necessity we had been driven, had had the effect of
preventing almost every project of amelioration, but ho
would fain hope that this measure would pass. The hon.
gentleman concluded by moving for leave to introduce the
bill.

we have again two plans laid before us, not precisely, how-
ever, those of last year. One of them originates with my
hon. friend (Mr. Packs), and I am quite sure he brings it
forward with an earnest and sincere desire to satisfy all
classes of the comnunity. (Hear, hear.) But I confess,
looking at his preposition, which provides an exemption
from the payment of certain temporary expenses—l con-
fess it appears to me that the distinction drawn is too
minute to give satisfaction to those who object to be taxed
at all. For I would impress upon the house that this
question has never been raised as one of money. If I
take the total amount that is raised from the noncon-
formists, I believe that at the very highest computation
it has never exceeded 200,0001. Tee amount, therefore,
becomes a totally insignificant one when the question
of feeling is taken into account. (Hear, hear.) The
question throughout, it cannot be concealed, has not been
one of money, but one of principle. (Hear, hear.) And
that being so, I believe that if we continue to uphold our
old law—if we are still to resort to the old machinery of
imposing a rate—although we may diminish its amount—
although in other ways we may alleviate the amount of
the pecuniary burden—that the daily objection on the
ground of principle will not be removed, and that all that
will have been done will be to render our rate less produc-
tive in amount, though no way less objectionable on the
ground of feeling. (Hear, hear.) Well, then, the propo-
sition brought forward last year by the hon. and learned
member for Tavistock (Mr. Phillinaore) was founded, in
some respects, upon a different principle. It proposed the
entire exemption from church rates of those who did not
belong to the Church. Now, I believe that there was
nothing in that proposal which could be called unfair
or unreasonable. I confess I cannot see anything of
the character of hardship or persuasion in simply
calling upon men—not so much to make a declaration
of their religious opinions—but to declare whether
they intend to use the church or not, and if they do they
must pay for it. So far as my own opinions are concerned,
I think that a compromise might be effected ; but the re-
sult will be, whether such a measure be passed or not, that
in a few years the principle of collecting those rates will
be abandoned, and a different system will be resorted to.
(Hear, hear.) But the proposition of the hon. and learned
member for Tavistock was not received by this house ; and
inasmuch as it was not brought forward again this year,
I regard it as being entirely out of the question. The only
alternatives we have to consider are these—we may keep
the law as it - but that, I apprehend, is not desired by
anybody. Well, then, we may adopt the proposition of
the hon. and learned member for Tavistock, to which I
have referred ; but I confess I think that this proposition
would not produce the effect he anticipates—that of
satisfying the claim of nonconformists. There is, then, a
third course—namely, that which is proposed by the hon.
baronet. It is proposed to settle this question for all
interests in the way in which one-half of England has
already settled it. Sir, I think that the hon. baronet
has exercised a wise discretion in not attempting to de-
termine
from what sources these funds are to be taken
which are to replace church rates. In regard to the ex-
penses of the Church, it is proposed that they should be
defrayed from the lands of the Church. Now, that is a
plan which I think is surrounded with considerable diffi-
culty. In the first place, we hardly know the amount or
value of that property. In the next place, it is wanted for
many other ecclesiastical purposes. And, lastly, and in
my mind the most important consideration is—it appears
to me a very objectionable principle to say that you will
provide for local wants and local circumstances out of the
general central fund. Whether the contribution be volun-
tary or obligatory, I think that it is a sound principle to
say that every place shall pay the expenses of its own re-
quirements. (Hear.) The proposed measure of the hon.
baronet omits to deal with thi4 part Of the question. It
simply declares the abandonment of the principle of a com-
pulsory rate. Well, sir, I think that the time has come
when that abandonment is necessary. (Cheers from the
dissenters.) I do not say that the doctrine of the new
system, of this voluntary system, is altogether free from
risks and difficulties. Those risks and difficulties have
been alluded to already. I see them as cLarly as any hon.
member here ; but I believe that there is no option now
left us. I believe that the country has already decided
this question ; and I am of opinion that it is our duty and
best wisdom to acquiesce in that decision. (Cheers.)
Mr. CROSSLEY said he thought that the measures
should not only relieve dissenters from the payment of
church rates, but also infidels, who would perhaps be in-
duced to return to the faith if those unjust exactions were
given up.
Mr. PHILIPPS said, he had a great wish to see this
question amicably settled. He had great faith in the volun-
tary principle for the building of churches, but he confessed
that he had no such faith in that principle for the repairs
of churches. Living in a country where the Church was
not only exposed to moral difficulties, but wheredissenters
were very numerous, and churchmen very poor, when the
churches were going rapidly to decay, he felt it impossible
to overrate the enormous advantages of having a fund ap-
plicable to the dilapidations of churches which were con-
tinually occurring. That was a difficulty for which he saw
no remedy in any alteration of the law. Under those cir-
cumstances, he could not support the measure of the hon.
baronet.

THE.SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MAY 24, 1854.

LONDON GAZPITTE OF LAST NIGHT.

LORD CEAMBERLAIN'S-OFFICE, APRIL 18.

Notice is Lereby given, that her Majesty will hold a
Levee, at St. James's Palace, on Friday, the 9th June
next, at two o'3lock.
ST. JAMES'S PALACE, MAY 22.
_ • • -- •

The Queen has been pleased to appoint Major George
Howard lryso, )f the Second Regiment of Life Guards, to
be one of the Gentlemen Ushers Quarterly Waiters in
Ordinary to Lei Majesty, in the room of Edward Hob-
house, Esq., deceased.

FOREIGN-OFFICE, MAY 18.

The Queen has been pleased to approve of Mr. John
Albert Bencke as Consul at Liverpool for his Majesty the
King of WurtErberg.

DOWNING-STREET, MAY 20.
The Queen ias been pleased to appoint William Young,
Esq., to be Attorney-General ; Lewis Mr. Wilkins, Esq.,
to he Provincial Secretary ; William A. Henry, Esq., to be
Solicitor-Gene-al ; and James B. Uniacke, Esq., to be
Commissionerof Crown Lands—for the Province of Nova
Scotia.

Her Majesty has also been pleased to appoint William
Henry Rawstcrne, Esq., to be Postmaster for the Island
of Mauritius.

HORSE GUARDS, MAY 19.

The Qneen has been pleased, on the recommendation of
the General Commanding-in-Chief, to appoint Charles
James Lindarl, Esq., late Lieutenant Rifle Briga,le, to be
one of her Mljesty's Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms, vice
Taylor, deceased.
OFFICE OF ORDNANCE, MAY 22
- _ .

Royal Regiment of Artillery—Second Lieuenant Henry
Thomas Arbuthnot to be First Lieutenant, vice Winn, re-
tired, May 16
COMMISSIONS SIGNED BY LORD LIEUTENANTS.
County of .southampton—Edgar Atheling Drummond,
Esq., to be Daputy-Lieutenant, May 15.
Hampshire Militia Artillery—Edward Gocdove Goble,
Gent., to be first Lieutenant; Albert Newby Clay, Gent.,
to be Second Lieutenant, April 3.
Royal Cornwall and Davon Miners Regiment of Militia.
—Reuben Frelerick Magor, Gent., to be Second Lieuten-
ant, May 2.
Regiment of Royal London Benwell
Letts, Gent., to be Ensign, May 19.
Royal Montgomeryshire Rifle Corps of Militia—First
Lieutenant John Hayward Jenkins to be Captain, vice
John Edward Harryman Pryce, promoted • Second Lieu-
tenant John Matthew Jones to be First Lieutenant, vice
Jenkins, promoted, May 22.
Denbighshire Yeomanry Cavalry Cornet Richard
Wakeford Atiree to be Lieutenant, vice Williams, re-
signed.

The Lord Ciancellor has appointed Henry Berry, Vern
lam-buildings, Gray's-inn, to be a Commissioner for ad
ministering oaths in the High Court of Chancery.
BANKRUPTS.

George Saunders, gas-fitter, Seymour-street, Euston-
square, to surender, June 2 and July 7, at twelve, at the
Court of Bankruptcy. Canaan, official assignee, Alder-
inanbury ; Ttiomson and Son, George-street, Minories.
Charles Fitton, joiner, Newton Heath, Lancaster, June
3 and 30, at twelve, at the Manchester District Court.
Hernaman, official assignee, Manchester ; Whitworth,
Manchester.

William Biadley George, bill broker, Gloucester, June
5, and July 3, at eleven, at the Bristol District Court.
Acraman, official assignee, Bristol ; Bretherton, Glou-
cester.

Robert Burr, boot and shoemaker, Gosport, June 1, and
July 6, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Johnson,
official assignee ; Burr, Paternoster-row.
Thomas Fin !hett and William Finchett, brewers, Chorl-
ton-upon-Medlock, Manchester, June 14 and July 5, at
twelve, at the Manchester District Court. Fraser, official
assignee, Manchester ; Higson and Robinson, Manchester.
Thomas Hoy Burton, cowkeeper and dairyman, Win-
chester, June 2, and July 7, at eleven, at the Court of
Bankruptcy. Caunan, official assignee, Aldermanbury ;
Wood, Aldersgate-street ; Woolridge, Winchester.
John Jackson, commission agent, Kingston-upon-Hull,
June 7, and July 3, at twelve, at the Leeds District Court.
Carrick, official assignee, Hull ' • Preston, Hull.
William Wright, butcher, Thetford, May 31, at two
o'clock, and July 5, at half-past two, at the Court of Bank-
ruptcy. Stansfold, official assignee ; Houghton and James-
son' Gray's-inn.
Joseph Best, jun., scrivener, Kidderminster, June 6 and
22, at ten, at the Birmingham District Court. Bittleston,
official assignee, Birmingham ; Roberts, Gray's-inn ;
Reece, Birmingham.
James Hunt, builder, Lupus-street, Pimlico, May 31,
at one, and July 5, at two, at the Court of Bankruptcy.
Graham, official assignee ; Fitch, Southampton-street,
Bloomsbury.
Thomas Holland, tobacco broker, Islington, June 1, at
one, and July 6, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy.
Bell, official assignee, Coleman-street-buildings; Eagleton,
Newgate-street.

William Johnson, butcher, Bradford, Junel3, and July
4, at eleven, at the Leeds District Court. Hope, official
assignee, Leeds • Terry and Watson, Bradford; Bond and
Warwick, Leeds.

Richard Bond, builder, Brighton, June 2, at one, and
July 8, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Whitmore,
official assignee, Basinghall-street ; Barrow and Clarke,
Bloomsbury-square.
Hugh Eldrid, grocer, Oxford, May 30, at half-past two,
and July 3 (and not June 3, as advertised in the Gazette of
the 19th inst.), at two, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Lee,
official assignee, Moorgate-street ; Skynner, Coleman-
street.