The Sun.
London, England, 1825-12-23 00:00:00

ciri" TITHES.

Yesterday .ms held the adjourned Vestry of
the inhabitants of the parish of St. Olave, Hart-street. It will
be recollected that it was adjourned for the purpose of receiv-
ing the report of the Tithes Committee, as to the result of a
conference with the Bishop of London.
The Rector (the Rev. Dr. Owes N) again took the Chair, and
there wax- some expression of dissent from this proceeding, as
indelicate, and restraining the freedom of debate.
Mr. JONES, the churchwarden, read the letter which had
been sent by the 'lithe Committee to the Bishop, in pursuance
of the resolution of the last Vestry, expressing the earnest hope
of the parishioners that the conference which the trustees of
the parish were about to have with his Lordship would lead to
an amicable adjustment.
Mr. Jorews also read a reply from the Bishop, stating, that
he had communicated with the trustees, and also four other
parishioners ; but that nothing had been determined at either of
the meetings that had been held. A letter was also read,
signed by Mr. Morgan, Mr. Woodley, and Mr. Rixon, three
of the gentlemen who had conferred with the Bishop, and who
stated, that they did not feel authorized to communicate to the
meeting the result of a private conference. If the Tithe Com-
mittee were sincere in their wishes to terminate the existing
disputes, they should have no objection to make a communica-
tion to them, which might be conducive to an amicable ed-
justment.
Mr. NODIN deeply regretted that the three individuals
whose names were signed to that letter, had not thought
proper to communicate to the parish the result of this confer-
ence on parish business ; but there was one Gentleman present
(Mr. Jackson), who, by not signing the letter of his colleagues,
would probably be inclined to state to the meeting what it con-
cerned them so much to know.
Mr. JACKSON said, he was in a great degree restrained, by
the determination of his colleagues, from giving the full par-
ticulars of the conference with the Lord Bishop; but he hoped,
from what had transpired, that if the Bishop were convinced
that the sum offered by the parish to be given to the future in-
cumbent was more than had been oared in the parish of
Ilishopsgate, he would consent to a similar arrangement. In
that parish a compromise had been made for an allowance to
the incumbent, at less than the rate of Is. 6d. in. the pound.—
The Bishop consented to a similar allowance being made in
this parish for the future incumbent, and the tithe-committee
offered him 1,200/., but he could not be convinced that Is. 6d.
in the pound would produce less than 1,3501. per annum.
Mr. NODIN, on the part of the Tithe Committee, denied
the justice of the imputation conveyed in the expresion—" If
they are sincere in their wishes to terminate the existing dis- '
putes." Now, he begged to say, that no single act of the
Committee could be cited to warrant an imputation of insin-
cerity, and nothing could be more unjust or more unmanly,
than such an accusation, when the committee having consider-
ed with the parishioners, that they made a liberal offer in pro-
posing 1,0001. as the stipend, at the request of Mr. Calcraft,
and for the sake of unanimity, consented to its being raised to
1,200/., which sum was so far above the justice of the case, as
to excite the complaints of many of their constituents.—(Cries
of" Hear !")—Every, complaint was taken advantage of.
Mr. ATKINSON.—The Bishop to fix the stipend at Is. 6d.
in the pound. Now, Dr. Owen, will you be content with that
sum ?
Dr. OwxN—No ; you recollect that it is settled that I ant
to have 1,8201. per annum.
Sir. Jacxsore—The Bishop wishes to proceed on a calcula-
tion of the rack rent.
A Parishioner.—]tack, indeed !
Another Parishioner—Did you not, Dr. Owen, inform the
Bishop of the rental of the parish, on which his Lordship has
made the calculation of what he considers to be the sum the
parish ought to give ?—Dr. Owen. 1 believe I did.
Here several Parishioners began to exclaim loudly, that the
Bishop had been deceived by false and exagerated calculations
of the rental.
Mr. JONES (the Churchwarden)—The rental of this parish
is 11,6001. per annum, and you have given the rental to the
Bishop at 18,0001.
Dr. OwEN declared, that he believed his calculation was
under the mark. He had only given the Bishop an account
of what he did know. How much beyond that the rental was
he could not tell; but he believed the rental was upwards of
20,000/.
Here a number of Parishioners said, that they had been ex-
orbitantly rated beyond their rental ; and one parishioner al-
leged, that not only himself, but his lodgers and under-tenants
had been rated for their tithes.
Dr. OwEer declared, that the course he had a right to take
was to go to the under-tenant, and ask him. what rent he paid,
and then go to the upper-tenant and ask him what is the value
of the remainder.which is in your possession ? This course he
had an undoubted right to take.
Several Parishioners loudly declared that they had been
rated even beyond the rack-rent.
Mr. Nom en—But even at 18,000/. the rent of St. Botolph,
Bishopsgate, being 58,000!., 1,200/. is too much, in proportion
to pay for the subsequent incumbent of this parish. Bishops-
gate gives 2,2001. only.—(Hear !)
Sir. JACKSON was asked, from what had transpired at the
conference when he was present, what was the fit course for
the parish to pursue, and whether there was any chance of the
subject being again brought before the Bishop ? He replied
that he thought the Bishop was fully open to further considera-
tion on the subject.
Mr. Roi.PH said, it was clear that the Bishop had not been
made acquainted with all the particulars. For himself he would
say, when he knew of one rector who was contented in this
parish with 300 pound per annum, that so large a claim as
2,0001. was enormous and iniquitous, and lie was glad to have
an opportunity of declaring before the rector, that the words
of the Prophet Ezekiel against the shepherd who sheared his
sheep of all their wool, fully applied to his case.—(Bear, hear!)
—He was glad to make full and honourable provisions for
gentlemen placed in such situations, and ample remuneration
had been offered by the parish for future incumbents.—(Hear !)
Mr. HOWELL stated, that a case had recently been heard
before the Vice-Chancellor, in which he held that it was in-
cumbent on the lay-impropriator to prove the enrolment of the
decree, under the statute of the 37th of Henry the Eighth ;
that the suit for tithes had, in consequence, been dismissed
with costs. An action was then brought for them in the
Common Pleas, and just before the trial seas called on, the
defendant, Mr. Young, was much surprised that the record was
withdrawn. This circumstance encouraged hint to hope that
they had not merely the justice and equity, but the very law in
their favour.—(Hear, hear !)—lle thought that it should be
made known to the Bishop that they were willing to make the
same allowance as had been made in Bishopsgate parish. His
Lordship's attention should be called to the figures, and he
should be shown that the calculation of 1,3501. was erroneous,
even upon the exaggerated statement which had been last be-
fore him.
A Parishioner said, it seemed to be a principle with the
Bishop, that if the church had once obtained any property (what.
ever might hare been the means made use of for that purpose),
that it should never part with any of it.—(Hear, hear!)—lf
they were at the mercy of the clergy in these matters—and he
sincerely thanked God they were not—he knew not what would
be the consequence. Here they had provided the incumbent
with a-rectory-house, they had from time to time voluntarily in-
- creased the customary payment, in consideration of his numer-
ous family, to a sum far beyond what was enjoyed by numbers
of the most respectable clergymen, yet he was not contented,
but exacted front his flock an exorbitant sum beyond what was
deemed fair and honourable, in the parishes of St. Andrew,
Holborn, and St. Botolph, Bishopsgate-street.
Dr. OWEN said that neither of the cases had been fairly re-
presented. In both would the livings be delivered down to the
future incumbents in better condition than the present incum-
bent found them.
The Parishioner begged to remind the Doctor that, in the
present case, the parishioners were the patrons of the living, and
where there existed greater claims to forbearance the greatest
rigour had been exercised. For his part, he considered that the
clergy were benefitted by reducing their incomes ; for it was
found the more they received, the less they attended to their du-
ties, as this parish could well attest.—(klear !)—By enabling
them to ride in their carriages, the points of sympathy were dimi-
nished between them and the multitude who walked on foot.—
, (Cheers.)—They became above their ditties, and were only seen
by deputy. For his part, he was well persuaded that they were
seriously injured by their emoluments being made so exorbi-
tant. Ile said this upon extensive observation. He had seen
the Protestant clergy of Holland and of Switzerland, who were
moderately paid, and they performed their duties well and
zealously. The stipend given in this instance was most liberal
and munificent, and was double that with which the rector's
most worthy father was satisfied., He feared that the me-
mory of the son would not hereafter stand so high in the
parish.
Dr. OWEN (with much warmth.)—lt was because my
father was weak and foolish enough to suffer himself to be
worked upon—to be bamboozled out of his property—for I
can call it nothing else but bamboozling—that Mr. Bark-
land was enabled to make the reproach to me which he did
—that my-mother died in the poor-house, No, no, I will not
be so weak.
After some further discussion,the vestry came to a resolution,
to the effect that the Tithe Committee was entitled to the entire
confidence of the parish, and that it was to be hoped that by a
continuance in the conciliatory conduct they had hitherto pur-
sued, they would succeed in convincing the Legislature of the
justice of the claim made by the parish.
After an ineffectual endeavour to induce the rector not to
interfere, and take the chair in future at vestry meetings on the
subject of' tithes, it was left to the discretion of the committee

to convene general meetings of the inhabitants, but not in
vestry.
Dr. Owsie-1. hare a right even then to come as a parish-
toner.
Mr. NODIN —You may have; but surely you must he
aware that an amicable conclusion of this business is not then
so likely to be effected, and I must say, that we have reason
to fear you will misrepresent to the Bishop the true feelings of
the parish.
Dr. Owrx—No ; I will be quite passive. I will not inter-
fere one way or the other, or with the Bishop as to the amount
to be paid to future incumbents, my own annual sum being se-
cured. lam ready to shake bands with and to forgive every
one of you, even Mr. Rolph.
Mr. ROLPII—Why me in particular? The parishioners
have nearly one and all expressed their reprobation of your
conduct.
Several parishioners—We are the aggrieved parties. Surely
it is we who, having been fleeced, are to forgive.
The vestry being about to separate and cose the fatigues of
the meeting, it being considered that the Tithe Committee was
invested with ample powers Co communicate with the gentle-
men who had lately conferred with the Bishop, as also to arrange
if possible with his Lordship, a vote of thanks was proposed to
Dr. Owen for taking the chair at this vestry, and answering all
questions put to him, which motion was strongly resisted, and
an amendment for an adjournment was moved and carried, with
only one hand held up against !t.