The Sun.
London, England, 1838-12-13 00:00:00

ECCLESIASTICAL DOINGS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Carmarthen, Nov. 30, 1838.
Sir,—Having read a letter addressed to you, as Editor of
The Sun, bearing the subscription " Pro Grege-Lege,"
dated Carmarthen, 26th inst., and as you have deemed its
contents worthy of a place in a column of your Paper, and
deserving the observations which you bestowed upon the
Rev. Clergyman mentioned therein, I take the liberty of
informing you of a few facts relating to the case in question,
which have been omitted in the alleged plain and unvarnished
tale of Mr. Pro Grege-Lege, and as I cannot suppose
that you would either lend yourself or your paper, from
any party or factious motives to misrepresent or vilify any
individual, much less persons holding so respectable and
responsible stations in life as those reflected upon do, then,
allow me to say, that the parish of Llanelly, in this county,
is a very large parish, with a dense and varied popu-
lation consisting (besides the respectable inhabitants
of the place), of colliers, miners, copper-men, and
other such description of labourers who, from earning
large wages, and certain habits, are not the most de-
corous people in the world, and on that account the
attendance of both churchwardens became, or was
deemed necessary, in the Church of Llanelly during divine
worship there on Sundays ; and after several messages in
vain to Mr. John James from the officiating clergyman re-
questing his attendance, a formal notice in writing was
served upon Mr. James requesting his attendance, and stat-
ing its necessity, but all in vain ; and here I have to say, that
Mr. James upon being appointed to the office expressed
no conscientious scruples at the performance of its ecclesias-
tical duties, nor made any offer of a deputy, but voluntarily
took the office, and without any objections subscribed the de-
clarations then lately substituted in lieu ofthe oath of office, and
thereby solemnly promised and declared, that he would well
and truly perform the duties of the office of Churchwarden
of the said parish for the ensuing year; but he never once
attended at Church although repeatedly requested, and in
consequence of his disobedience, and the necessity of his
attendance, he, in August last, was cited to answer for his
conduct at the Consistory Court at Carmarthen, and
he appeared and acknowledged the truth of the charges
made against him, and he was then admonished
by the Court, to regard the obligations of his declaration,
and to attend in future and perform the ecclesiastictical
duties of his office in person, or to appoint some one to
officiate in his stead. He then promised in Court that he
would personally perform the duties of his office, and there-
upon he was exonerated from any punishment upon paying
the costs, which at that time were of very trifling amount,
but that he refused to do, and he never after attended the
Church during the whole period of his office. He was again
brought before the Court, and on account of his continuous
obduracy, the Court was pressed to dismiss him from his
office, that some other person who would perform the duties
should be appointed in his room, but the Court only con-
demned him in the costs of the proceedings which were
taxed at 71. 6s. 10d. only, and he was served with the taxed
bill of costs, and was urged to pay them, but all in vain. A
monition was then applied for, and served upon Mr. James,
whereby he was required to appear in Court, and
show cause why he had not paid the costs ; but
to this he never appeared, nor showed any cause,
and the costs of the monition and executing it, and
returning it into Court with an affidavit of its due execu-
tion, amounted to only 21. 125., and he was served also
with this bill, and was then requested to pay the 71.65. 10d.,
and the 21. 125., but all in vain ; he refused to pay any
part of such costs, upon which it was explained to him that
he would be decreed contumacious, and that a sig-
nificavit would issue, and a writ would be issued from
the Court of Queen's Bench to the Sheriff of the county
to imprison him, and that such proceedings would
greatly increase the costs against him, but he continued
resolute and obdurate, and the consequence was, that he
is imprisoned for his contumacies, and the costs have been
thereby necessarily increased, and are about 201. 11s. sd.
Now, Sir, you are in possession of the plain, unvarished tale,
and you must thence acknowledge, that there was no foun-
dation in truth, for your assertion that the Eccle-
siastical Court had fined Mr. James in the sum of
201. And here I leave you to say or do whatever you
may think right in the premises ; but I do, in accordance
with Mr. Pro Grege-Lege, cordially agree, that such doings
should not lie hid under a bushel, though, Pro Grege-Lege
may not be deserving of thanks from the persons attacked--
Magna est veritas, et ariete fortior.
I am, Sir, your obedient Servant,
VERIVERBIUM.

[This letter, though dated Nov. 30th, only reached us
on Saturday, or it would have appeared earlier. We must
add, that it does not make out a case for the party of the
writer.—En.]