The Sun.
London, England, 1836-11-26 00:00:00

KENDAL CHURCH-RATE.

THURSDAY AFTERNOON.--WC have just terminated the
most decisive contest for the adjournment of the Vestry
Meeting assembled to lay a Church-rate which this county
ever witnessed. The Meeting had been convened three
weeks before, by a public notice of the churchwardens,
nearly all Tories. It was therefore a fair open contest, and
so expectant were that party of a division that they had
decided the duration of the poll, and had got all the voting
books ready prepared.
At eleven o'clock on Tuesday, the 21st inst., the numerous
bands of voters from the country townships, of which the pa-
rish of Kendal contains many distant ones, indicated that the
Yeomen of Westmoreland, who had struggled hard for the
defence of religious liberty, in the arduous election contests
for " Harry Brougham," were unwilling to have their rights
invaded by a continuance of ecclesiastical imposition.
Many came on foot through most inclement weather from
their snow-covered hills, to vote against a proposition which
would have compelled them to pay for ringing bells, that at
six and seven miles distant they could not possibly hear,
however earnestly they might strain their organs to catch
some sweet tones by " distance made more sweet," for which
they had paid.
The business of the meeting was opened by the Vicar,
in the Chair, laying before the meeting the necessity of
continuing to supply those various items to support the
Church, which our ancestors had deemed necessary—such
as ringing bells, tuning the organ, paying the sexton and
the dog-whipper, &c.
The Church-wardens produced their estimates, when
about half of the amount was proposed to be struck off ;
which motion was carried by a large majority.
Daniel Harrison, Esq., then moved that as a id. rate
had been deemed sufficient for the whole estimate before
the reduction, he should now move for a id. rate. This
was seconded by R. Rawes, Esq.
Mr. Councillor Wilson then proposed that the meeting
be adjourned to that day twelve months. He was seconded
by Mr. Robert Docker (a statesman), and supported by
Alderman Wilson.

An overwhelming majority supported the amendment,
on a show of hands. The Church party, therefore, de-
manded a poll, and finding they had to fight the battle,
thought the prize might as well be a -.3-d. as a id. Mr. Har-
rison, therefore, altered his proposition for a id. rate, in-
stead of a;d.
The church was divided into district voting places, and
voting immediately commenced. At three o'clock P.M.,
the poll was adjourned to the following day ; but it was
clearly seen that the tide of votes was against the rate.
The books were not made up either on Tuesday or Wee-
nesday, hut the Church was evidently wanting defenders,
for even old ladies came to her support, whose feeble step
indicated, after all, but tottering assistance ; while scores
of stout hearty yeomen came crowding in to attack—not
her, but her evils. To-day we observed,that many farmers
came to vote from fifteen to twenty miles distance, to show,
not their dislike to pay their small proportion of a farthing
rate, but their disapprobation of the system.
The result has been incomparably beyond all expecta-
tion, and the decision has proved that No CHURCII-RATE
shall henceforth be paid in the parish of Kendal. The
numbers arc—

FOR THE RATE. FOR THE ADJOURNMENT.
Out- Townships 7lout-Townships 783
Kendal

2291 984
Total for adjournment
Total for rate 229

Majority against the rate

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1836.