The Sun.
London, England, 1836-12-24 00:00:00

PARISH OF LAMBETH-CHURCH

RATES.

Agreeably to notice given by advertisement, a meeting was
holden yesterday, at the " Boys' School Lambeth Green,"
which was numerously attended. Mr. Wagstaff (we believe)
who, by the plurality of votes system, has six votes, was called
to the chair ; but in consequence of the seeming expression
of feeling against the nomination he disappeared, in conse-
quence of which, Mr. Bernard was -called to the chair, and
accepted the office.
The CHAIRMAN requested order to be maintained, and that
a calm attention should be given to each speaker.
The clerk having read the preliminary notice,
Mr. RooEns, the Churchwarden, proposed an annual
Church-rate of 2d., in the pound, and sincerely wished that
the law bad made a diiferent arrangement, by which every in-
dividual in the parish could meet without that collision of sen-
timent and feeling which, unfortunately on that subject, was
too prevalent. Ile sincerely trusted that no riot would arise,
and all personal attacks would be avoided. He then entered
into an estimate of the expenses incidental to the period inter-
vening between Dec. 26, 1836, and Dec. 26, 1837, amounting
to a sum of 2,2681. Bs. 4d.
Mr. ROSSITER seconded the motion. _ _ _

Mr. FALL—I move as an amendment that the consideration
of this Church-rate be postponed until the 18th December,
1837. So chary and cautious are the Churchwardens, that
they will not specify the items of their accounts. To the
claim made for a strong box for the Vestry Clele's books he
totally objects, as 1 also object to the repair of the tower,
which I denominate a mean job. I called last night for the
production of the architect's bill, and I find that a sum nearly
amounting to 3,000/. has been expended on a matter uncon-
nected with the Church, and to which the assessment of a
Church-rate does not apply. The tower is in reality a light-
house, and from having been an useful and ornamental work,
it is now, by the bad taste of the jobbers in the transaction,
converted into a deformed eye-sore. The bill of the parti-
culars I have already required, and my request has been
answered by a refusal of the Churchwardens to produce this
bill, on the futile, if not false ground, that he has it not in
his possession.
Yet this meeting are to vote a sum of money
for a purpose which is not explained. Besides, the Rector,
on a former occasion, stated that the expense should not ex-
ceed 7001., and we are now called on to pay a sum nearly
.amounting to 3,0001. What can be the object of conceal-
ment ? What again can be the reason of taking an account
from December, 1826, when the Midsummer Vestry regu-
lated the matters which occurred up to that time. The people
have no right to pay this rate, as it is a retrospective, and
not a prospective levy ; nor are we called upon, under
any circumstances, to discharge a debt incurred by the im-
prudence of the Warden. This tower is a mere laughing
stock to those who voyage along the river. I will refer to the
letter of Dr. Doyly, the Rector, which he addressed to Lord
Grey, in which he complained of the hardship imposed upon
the clergy, for the repairs of the chancel. This expense is
now thrown upon the public, and forms an item (100/.) in
the churchwarden's bill ; yet this Dr. Doyly retains the reve-
nues arising from the sale of the valuable pews.—(Here Mr.
Fall requested an adjournment until the bill which Mr. Rogers
asserted did not contain these items should be produced, which
being declined)—Mr. Fall continued, " I have to complain of
the time selected for holding this vestry, at a time when the
parishioners that are to pay the rate are most busy, and which
is taking them at an unfair advantage, and in reality taxing
them in their absence. A portion of this rate had already
formed an item in the Midsummer account, and the regular
voucher for the amount was signed by the auditors at a time
when the bill had not been furnished. Again, referring to
the Rector's letter, I beg leave to state that he is a pluralist
with an annual income amcnoting to 2,800/., and in his
pamphlet he states that the average income of each clergy-
men is 250/. Whence it inevitably follows that he is in re-
ality equal to ten clergymen, as his income is tenfold the
amount of theirs.
Mr. GRADY, in an able and argumentative speech, com-
plained of the gross claim of church-rate upon a parish occu-
pied principally by Dissenters, and that, too, by a church pro-
fessing to be based in its spiritual and temporal power over pri-
vate opinion. The old clergy made no such tax as a church-
rate, yet they supported the poor, and built edifices, which are
to this day monuments of architectural grandeur.
Mr. M. O'CONNELL said that the situation of the Dissen.
ters and of the officers who were to collect this rate was ex-
tremely disagreeable ; the one to pay, the other to enforce. It
was the duty, then, of each party to come speedily to a collision,
and have the matter at once set at rest.
Mr. NORTHHOUSE, the Parliamentary agent, disclaimed the
tome and temper of the three previous speakers. He was,
howeYers prepared to arrive at the same conclusion, and to
suprrt the amendment. He did not believe that the Church
of nglai:d deserved the odium that had been cast upon it.
Considering the
.infirmities of human nature, it was as
ablishment as could be expected, and perhaps
tolerant an ees:
would be more tolerant if equally favoured
no existing sect .
hear.) H. e respected it and venerated
by the state.—once
dissented from it, and one of
it, though he conseieni.")nsisr
from
the chief grounds of his ent
arose
forgot-
ten or forsaken its own origel2,l its having
principles.—(Hear, hear.)
.
Like the other reformed, churcele9 of Europe, it was based
upon the sacred right of private opina.'n 2n
matters of faith:—
(Cheers.) It denied the right of the Cai..'olic Hierarchy to im-
pose its dogma by force upon the human mall It protested
s
against the existence and the exercise of stteh power—its
died at the stake with that protest:estion in their
mouths—its brightest luminaries—its Cranmers, it; Latimers,.
its Jeremy Taylors, made this great principle their
ng
cry--ethe sacred right of private judgment in matters of fain;.—
( Cheers.) The modes of coercion were then threefold—
loss of life, loss of liberty, loss of goods. These were en-
forced in a dark and cruel age—we lived in a more en-
lightened period. The governing Church does not now invade
life or liberty, but only goods. The non-believers in the
noel' existing State Church are deprived of their goods ; the
difference is not one of principle, but of degree—we who
protest, as our fathers protested, against the tyranny of in-
vading private judgment in matters of faith as to suffer in
our goods,--our lives and liberties are not sacrificed, but the
principle remains, and the Church of England so long as
it does enforce these rates is but the successor in principle
of that tyranny against which the flames of Smithfield and
the " holy army of martyrs" rise up in terrific array.—
(Loud cheers.) He called upon them to stand fast by the
first principles of Protestantism, and refuse a rate which bore
upon conscientious Dissenters,—he would gladly conuibute
'his humble mite towards a voluntary subscription to meet
oee expenses, as lie recognised and acknowledged the use-
fulness of the Church—but he would not do so upon com-
pulsion. It was clear that the law itself was opposed to
compulsion, Why were they there? Why did the law
allow them to meet and determine whether any and what
rate should be made? It was clear that church-rates were
altogether voluntary in their character. Before the Re-
formation tithes were held to be sufficient to repair the
churches, in addition to providing for the clergy. Our an-
eTstors were jealous of airy invasion of personal liberty o
personal property—they.aid tithes are not in some pa-
r
rishes sufficient to repair the churches, in addition to the
provision for the clergy, meet, and fix what sum you ought
to pay. This was the origin of church-rates. They met
in open vestry, and when the income wes so small that it would
not accomplish their purpose, they agreed to tax themselves,
to wake that income equal to the demand upon it. They did
not think of taxing Dissenters, for there were few Dissenters
then, but only of providing sufficient means for public wor-
ship, andfrom this voluntary taxation church-rates arose.
The very fact of their being assembled, was the best proof
that the law considered church-rates to be merely a volun.
tary addition to church revenue, and as the church revenues
of that parish were fully equal to its expenditure, lie felt that
they were justified in reeisting any rate whatever.—(Cheers.)
In these times of change, when violent, foolish, and unphiloso-
phical attempts were made to effect organic Omegas, the con-
sequences of which no man could foresee, it became a sacred
duty to remove every palpable evil, go that the true Conserva-
tives, who desired to amend and not to destroy institutions,
might triumphantly
ask, ,‘Where is your practical grievance ?"
The Church-rates were a practical grievance, and hence he
called upon every honest Conservative to oppose thorn.—
(Cheers and laughter.) lie was opposed alike to those who
rushed to extremes on the Radical side, and those who desired
to conceal their corrupt objects by hypoctically professing
reform, and modestly assuming the name of Conservatives.
He opposed both, yet reverencing the Church, of England as
he did, he would say to the members of that Church—give up
this Church-rate question ; you will do more good by so doing
to your own establishment than by any enforcement the law
will allow you; the stream that you now oppose of public opi-
nion will be gentle, and will irrigate the land if you allow it
to pass on—resist it, and it becomes a torrent, sweeping away
institution after institution, and spreading desolation aid de-
struction in the place of improvement and ameForation.
Let them adopt the language of the New Testament, and " do
unto others as they would that others should do unto them."
Let them recollect that our blessed Saviour especially com-
manded Iris ministers to "go into every house, to take neither
purse nor scrip, but to say peace ;" and not to go into every
house, and take both purse and scrip, and say "rates.")
The Rev. Dr. Seeees, of Holland Chapel, thought that
every church should stand on the voluntary principle. He
thought the officers of the church would have come to-day to
offer an act of grace on the part of the dignitary who sat on
the anti-episcopal throne, and to inform the parishioners that
they ranted no rate for their church, but a voluntary rate,
But in this lie bad been disappointed. The Reverend
%Gentleman then entered into a detail of some annoyance
which several of the Dissenters of the parish of Lambeth had
recently experienced from the clergy of the parish. He con.
sidered that the national church had no claim upon any except
her own members.
Mr. RAINBOW then addressed the meeting, and contended
that the voluntary principle was not applicable to the case
either of large towns, or of a country where the population
was thinly scattered. It war totally insufficient to provide for
the spiritual wants of the nation at large.
Mr. QUIN said the question was now not so much whether
they were to have a church-rate or not, or whether the Church
of England, as an establishment, was to he destroyed.—( Hear.)
The parishioners had on former occasions granted tree rate by a
large majority, and he hoped they would do so again.—(Cries
of '4 No, no.")
Several ot:ier gentlemen then addressed the meeting.
Mr. Rooeus, the churchwarden, entered into a detailed ex-
planetion of the various items of the expenditure objected to
by Mr. Fall.
The motion, with ti:e rtmendment, was then put, wheit the
latter was carried by a- great majority, amid loud cheer:T':
Mr. Recces then &wended a poll, which was commencesimmediately, as we understood, on the principle of Sturges
Bourne's Act, and as these who bad voted, cemeidering that
they had already carried the amendment, went away in crowds,
the Tories who were left behiud bad the room to themselves,