The Sun.
London, England, 1833-07-26 00:00:00

IMPORTANT PAROCHIAL MEETING

AT CHARD,
AND REFUSAL TO PAY CHURCH RATES.

(Abridged from the Sherborne Journal of Thursday.)
CHARD, JULY 23.—Thursday, pursuant to notice, a meeting
of the rate-payers of this town, and the connected parish, was
held in the Church Sunday school-room, which proved to be
the most numerously attended of any for years past; and, for
spirited proceedings and results, of such importance as entitles
it to particular public notice. Before stating the particulars,
however, it will be necessary, for the proper understanding
(by some readers) of certain allusions made by some of the
parties who spoke on the occasion, to explain circumstances of
a very anomalous character, relating to the parochial division
of the place. From some cause, not easily accounted for, a
separation between what is called the borough and the sur-
rounding land, from time immemorial, has existed, by which
the respective occupiers and owners in each portion maintain
their own poor, and have their own parish officers ; but as
they have both only one church, it has been the custom
to levy one-third of the church rate on the former, and
the remainder on the latter while only two church.
wardens are appointed ; one of whom is chosen by
the vicar, and the other by about halt a dozen men
who claim the right as a " corporate body." At the
meeting held for this election, it sometimes happens
that two or three of this oligarchy actually exercise this fran-
chise; and an instance has been known in which one of them,
in the absence of all the rest, has used the prerogative of
choosing an officer for the whole town. As sidesmen or locum
tenens, to these officers, two others, without the choice or
knowledge of the people, are also sworn into office. Having
made these explanatory observations, we now return to the ac-
count of the meeting.
The Rev. W. B. WIIITEHEAD, vicar, being in the Chair,
after reading the notice, which stated the meeting to have been
called for the purpose of making a church rate, and to con.
sider the propriety of fencing the church-yard, expressed him.
self strenuously in favour of these objects; adding it was in-
tended to propose the latter to be accomplished by subscription.
He also spoke in defence of the late churchwardens, who had
held office for several years past; and justified their conduct
in the exependiture, which some had complained of as too
lavish, in the alterations of the church. There was, at pre-
sent, the remainder of a loan due to the bank of Stuckey and
Co. several hundred pounds, which the law required should
be paid off in yearly instalments of not less than 104 per c. nt ,
so that it might be said the church was actually mortgaged; it
was, therefore, highly necessary a rate should be made towards
the liquidation of this debt.
Mr. J. BEVIS, Jun., the vicar's warden, was under the ne-
cessity of calling for fifteen rates to defray the current expenses,
and to meet the demands alluded to, as he had not a farthing
in hand.

The Rev. J. GUNN rose to propose a motion which demanded
he decision of the meeting before any other business could be
settled. There was an impression on the minds of some, and
it had been asserted, that the payers in the borough had no
right to come here and vote, and that all they had to do was
to pay their church rates when called for, but not to interfere
in making them. Now he always understood that no man
could be legally required to pay to a rate in the making of
which he had no voice; at any rate, nothing could be more
unreasonable and unjust if he could. He had on former oc-
casions attended the meetings in this place with other borough
payers, and their votes had been taken without hesitation,
and he could not entertain the idea that their money could be
demanded in support of the church without a legal right to
attend and give their votes. But, since suggestions to the
contrary had been broached, he should propose that the ques.
tion should be set at rest in a form which would no longer lay
it open to dispute. Mr. G. accordingly moved--That a stand-
ing record should be entered in the book to the effect, that the
claim of the borough payers to vote should be definitely and
explicitly recognised as their legal right. The motion was
scconded by Mr. Hill, lace manufacturer.
The CHAIRMAN objected to put it, contending that it would
be illegal to resolve on any question not previously specified
in the notice announcing the meeting. He had never objected
to the votes of the borough, but had on different occasions
found them to be of considerable service ; he should willingly
consent to take them at the present meeting. To make a
formal acknowledgment of its legality, however, he thought
quite unnecessary ; but if any persons considered it a doubtful
question, he would agree that counsel's advice should be
taken on the point, and that a memorandum should be made
of the present discussion, till, at a future meeting, the sub..
ject should be decided.
Several other persons having raised quibbles on the ques-
tion, Mr. GUNN could not account for the conduct of the
Chairman and others in refusing to put the motion, unless
there were some motive at the bottom which they thought it
best to conceal; and he should, for one, protest against paying
any rates for the future, unless the resolution was carried.—
(Great applause.)
Mr. NORMAN, of Forton, observed, that as the borough was
more effectually represented than the parish, by their church-
warden, the motion was unnecessary.
Mr. GUNN—But the fact is, that the payers of the borough
have no churchwarden, for the person nominated to that office
was chosen by only six men, who assumed the privilege of
choosing him as a corporation !!
Mr. NORMAN, with surprise—I did not before understand
this to be the case.
Mr. Fermi, organist—Would not such a resolution give a
Power to the borough voters to interfere with questions relat-
ing to the poor's rate ?—(Laughter ) The Chairman referred
him tor an answer to the terms of the resolution, which limited
the right to matters connected with the church. After some
further altercation on the subject,
Mr. HowsE, a resident of the parish division, would bring
the matter to an issue in a very brief way, by moving that this
meeting do adjourn till this day twelve months. He would
justify this motion on several substantial grounds. As 681.
remained uncollected on the last rate, it was not reasonable
that another should yet be called for. The present church..
warden had said, that the distress amongst the farmers made it
extremely difficult to collect the rate; which was an argu-
ment, by his own showing, why another should not now be
levied. The exorbitant expenditure for years past, afforded
another reason why a check should be put on the future sup.
plies, and the pi esent churchwardens be taught that their power
was not uncontrollable. But, above all, since it was a fact
undisputed, that the people had no voice in the election of these
officers, but that one of them was chosen by the vicar, and the
other by the six corporators, no rates ought to be granted
while such a contemptuous disregard to their legal rights was
manifested. The motion was seconded by Mr. Wall, sen., of
Tatworth, with great applause.
The CHAIRMAN then made some observations on the di-
lemma into which the motion, if carried, would involve the
present Churchwardens, and evinced the greatest repugnance
to putting the question. The money borrowed from the Bank
must be paid.
Mr. GUNN—Let the Bank wait.
CHAIRMAN—But they can't wait!
Mr. GoNN—But they must!
Mr. BEvis—But what am Ito do?
Mr. GuNN—You should not have taken office, or at leas
should have refused the books.

Mr. GUNN further addressed the meeting in support of Mr.
Howse's motion, and complained of the extravagance of ex-
pending nearly 1,0004 besides subscriptions and grants from
the church.building fund, for altering the church. A case re.
cent'y occurred, in which the judges had ordered sums ille-
gally entered in the parish books of Bedminster, to the amount
of some thousands, to be struck out and disallowed. With
regard to the embarrassment likely to attend the present offi-
cers, as the question of Church Reform was now agitated
throughout the kingdom, it was probable some act of the Le.
gislature would, ere long, relieve them from the difficulty, by
opening a source from which the means of church expenses may
be drawn, of a less oppressive, unjust, and unequal character than
the present mode of obtaining them. They were doing so with
Ireland, and he did not know why a similar act of justice
should not be extended to England.--(Here it was complained
of, by several payers, that the alterations in the church had,
instead of proving a general benefit in pew accommodations,
turned out to be a source of invidious distinctions, partiality,
and preference; inasmuch as many of the most considerable
renters and payers had been deprived of their sittings, to suit
the convenience of the rich attendants, some of whom scarcely
paid any thing to the rate.)
The CHAIRMAN endeavoured to palliate the conduct of the
officers alluded to by Mr. Gunn, and expressed an opinion that
nothing was charged but what was necessary, and called on
any one to point out any item in the account which could be
objectionable, when some one present instanced an entry of a
large sum to the ringers, three guineas of which were for beef
and beer, to furnish them with a feast on Guy Fawkes' day,
sth November.—(Cries of " Shameful !")
Mr. 'WHITEHEAD concurred in the opinion that this custom
ought to be abolished.

CHURCH WARDEN—What must be done with the bells, then ?
Mr. WALL—Why, sell them, to be sure!
After some further discussion, Mr. NORMAN proposed, as an
amendment to Mr. Howse's motion, which was seconded by
Mr. Deane, that the adjournment should be for two months
only, which, on a :division, was lost, and Mr. Howse's car-
ried by a majority of about seven to one; the minority includ.
ing the vicar, two churchwardens, two sidemen, and the
organist.
The Chairman having announced the motion carried by a
large majority, the meeting separated.
It is but justice to state, that, though there were many Dis-
senters present, who voted for the motion, the question was
not mooted on any dissenting principles; for both the mover
and seconder were Churchmen, and it was supported by others
of the establishment, who are large payers to the rate.

COURT OF CHANCERY.-(THIS DAY.)

IN RE CRAMMOND, A SUPPOSED LUNATIC,

A gentleman behind the bar, but not in the usual habit of
practising in this Court, entreated permission, when his Lord-
ship took his seat, to address his Lordship upon a subject of
great importance affecting the liberty of the subject. A
friend of his—a Mr. Crammond—had been confined in a
lunatic asylum called Brook House, at Clapton, on the ground
of insanity; he (the Learned Gentleman) had had two
interviews with him, and he appeared to him to be perfectly
rational, notwithstanding the keeper had represented him to
be very incoherent. Mr. Crammond had written letters to
a solicitor in town, to Sir Edward Sugden and to Mr. Knight,
all of which had been intercepted.
The LORD CHANCELLOR informed the gentleman that an
application had been made to him on this subject which had
been forwarded to the Metropolitan Commissioners to make
the necessary inquiries.
The Gentleman then applied for his Lordship's authority to
have access to Mr. Crammond, as he had last night received
a very pressing application from him to visit him.
The LORD CHANCELLOR thought that it would be better
to allow proceedings to go on regularly as prescribed by the Act
of Parliament.

The Gentleman feared that some very melancholy result
might take place in consequence of that.
The LORD CUANCELLOR—Then the individual is in a very
unfit place, because if it does, the persons in whose care he is
must neglect their duty; besides, if he is of sound mind, that is
not to be apprehended.

The Gentleman—His mind is of that sensitive character,
that, to say the least, it will suffer considerably. He has now
been in confinement for ten days.

The LORD CHANCELLOR—At the instance of his friends ?
The Gentleman—At the instance of his uncle.
The LORD CHANCELLOR—Yes, and at the instance of his
mother too.

The Gentleman—She may have consented to it since, bu
she was no party to his confinement in the first instance.

The Loan CHANCELLOR—They had better remain as they
are for the present.

The Gentleman said he must bow to the decision of the
Court, which he did, and retired.