The Sun.
London, England, 1833-09-20 00:00:00

CHRIST CHURCH, SURREY.

Yesterday, agreeably to notice, a vestry was holden in
the vestry-room.
'

MINISTER'S RATE.

The most important part of the proceedings of the day
was regarding a communication received from the Rev.
Mr. Mapleton, the rector, respecting the minister's rate.
Many of the parishioners bad refused to pay this rate on
the ground that the rector, being non-resident, was not
entitled to it ; there were, however, a number who
did comply with the demand. It will be remembered
that some time ago the vestry, by a large majority, had
resisted entirely the levying of a church-rate, and which
example has since been adopted by a vast number of
parishes throughout England; and, under all the circum-
stances, the churchwardens felt themselves under peculiar
restraints, and involved in difficulties of office greater than
had been experienced by any of their predecessors.
Mr. Churchwarden Honsorr having a balance in hand
of what had been collected for minister's rate, and as it
was desirable at the present time to get money for the
use of the church, had communicated with Mr. Mapleton
on the subject, who, in reply, stated that he had consulted
his legal adviser on the question, who had informed him
that he was lawfully entitled to the money; and he there-
fore requested Mr. Churchwarden Hobson to remit him
the sour of 601., part of the balance paid over by the pre-
ceding churchwarden, which had been collected as the
minister's rate. Mr. Hobson added, that without the au-
thority of the vestry, he believed he was not warranted to
pay it over to any one else.
Mr. DEAKIN said the Rector had called upon him, and
stated that he had never anticipated the parishioners would
have started the objection to his non-residence, seeing that
his dwelling-house was within a few yards of the parish
boundary ; and that the reason why he had not returned
to reside in the parish, as soon as he learned the determi-
pose of his dwelling-house. He had immediately after
fallen into very bad health, and was under the necessity of
going to reside in the country, but had provided lodgings
i❑ the parish, with the intention of coming up to town,
and attending regularly every week to do the service of the
church. This he had been prevented from doing, on ac-
count of his protracted illness ; hut it was his intention,
after this, to have his residence in the parish. He had
already been deprived of two years' emolument, which had
occasioned him the most serious inconvenience, and had
been the source of much mental suffering. Mr. Deakin
concluded with moving a resolution, that the Churchwar-
dens be instructed to pry to Mr. Mapleton the sum of
601., part of the balance of Minister's rate remaining i❑
their hands.
Mr. DavEY seconded the resolution.
Mr. Hoins had an amendment to move. He would
not have made any personal reference to the Rector, bad
Lot the gentleman who moved the resolution addressed
himself to their compassion. This, he thought, was very
improper, when it was recollected that the surplice fees of
this parish, as he had been informed, amounted to 5001. ;
and he was, besides, a pluralist, which was very objection-
able, as opinions ran at the present day. He held another
living at Mitcham, which was worth 7001., and he hid
had property by his wife amounting to 10,0001. Not
being resident be was not entitled to a Minister's rate;
and besides, by law lie was liable to be rated on his tithes,
and for some years the proportion of these rates had been
somewhere about 35 per cent. ; but during the whole
time that Mr. Mapleton had been Rector of the parish, he
had never paid any rate on the tithes, and be had held the
living for a considerable number of years. He moved, as
an amendment, " that the Churchwardens be instructed
to respectfully call upon Mr. Mapleton to pay up the ar-
rears of rates on his tithes."

After a few words from Mr. AlEy3torr, the Vestry
Clerk, Mr. DAVY, and Mr. DEAKIN,
Mr. Hoaas said, as there appeared to be some doubt as
to his construction of the law upon which he had framed
his first amendment, he would withdraw it, and move
another—" That the Rector, not having complied with
the Act of Parliament under which the rate had been
collected, should not receive the GO!. for which he applied."
The amendineut was then put and carried by a show
of hands ; and the original resolution was also put and
lost by a majority.
A poll was then demanded.

The poll was granted, and the CHAIRMAN stated that
he would in both cases, that of the election and resolution,
take single votes. This intimation was given to satisfy
the people that Sturges Bourne's Act was not to be re-
sorted to, as had been the case in former times in this
parish. The Chairman also informed the Vestry that no
one would be allowed to vote who bad not paid the rate.
The public business was concluded by the Church-
wardens being empowered to get transferred 5001., which
had been tx queathed by Mr. John Orr, who died in 1794,
and left that sum at the death of some relatives, the in-
terest of which to be applied to the purchase of bread, to
be distributed every Sunday to the poor.

CABINET MINISTERS IN IRELAND.—The
Marquis of Lansdown arrived in Dublin on Friday, and
purposes, we hear, to visit his extensive Irish estates before
returning to England. Lord Duncannon and Lord John
Russell are at present in this country ; Sir James Graham
is expected at Cove ; the Duke of Richmond and Mr.
Stanley intend, it is said, coming over from Liverpool ;
and should these meet in Dublin, with the Marquis of
Anglesey, Marquis Wellesley, and Mr. Littleton, more
members of the Cabinet will be here at one time than ever
previously occurred. The Marquis of Lansdown left town
yesterday for Limerick. Mr. Matthew Barrington accom-
panied his Lordship.—Dublin Morning Register.
MURDER. CAUTION TO SABBATH
BREAICERS.—Sunday se'nnight four idle fellows, two of
them brothers of the name of Jenkins, who were strolling
about the grounds of Mr. Brown, farmer, of Guodhook,
near Haverfordwest, fell upon a young man in Mr. Brown's
employ of the name of James, who bad very properly
ordered them off the premises, and injured him so
seriously luiyponbeia,tisinbgodhyihim,
,mth‘avtiti;ftesrticskusfi kicking
suffering dreadfully,a nhde jumpingdie 4 the)
following day. A Coroner's Inquest was held upon
the
body, and a verdict of "Wilful Murder" returned againsi
the two Jenkinses, who have been committed to prison to
take their trial at the next Assizes. Another young man,
servant of an adjoining farmer, who was with J. mes at
the time, narrowly escaped sharing the same fate.-11e-
reford Journal.