The Sun.
London, England, 1841-03-01 00:00:00

CHURCH RATES-ST. IVES.

On Thursday last, pursuant to public notice, a meeting was
held in the parish church of St. Ives, for the object of levying a
rate for the repairs, &c. &c., of the church. The Vicar, the Rev.
Mr. Foabrook, took the Chair,
. and in a s
tensed by mildness and propriety, opened the Mr. Osborn, Speech
businesswhi ch was
of t
le, lei a
day.r ..
in a few, Words, proposed the rate--seconded by Mr.
Manning.
Mr. T. D. Paul. then rose and
mini
proposed the adjournment of the
• cortended that the property
qauriessitnigonfrtoomthtahtedcahyusri
h :.
Loin the
parish,
fin fg ccxiemnt antntodh defray the currentif properly employed,
would be amply
did not
Establishment ; and that as Dissenters
cl* participate in any
of the advantages arising from the expenses of the
worship of the State religion, they ought AM the forms and the
ay one farthing of its expenses ; that
inse h trot
red
opi tto be Pcalled upon to
uliy
on of the `n n
Dean," who had • agreed in the •
paa.
that the " Church was rotten at its foundation..th e sacred edifice,
The Rev. Mr. HOLLAND seconded the amendmn ,
speech replete with argument, sound sense, and libeerat,lu.and in a
that he for one wondered that the Church party, who arrogatedm'said
themselves wealth and influence, intellectual superiorityand to
p
tronage, should so lower themselves as to ask the poor Dissenterta;
contribute towards the support of their richly.endowed and bene-
ficed Establishment.
Mr. J. LAWREkCE in a long speeeh supported the Rate, and
among other arguments quoted apassage from Scripture—. Render
unto Cwsar the things that are Cresar's," which excited much
laughter.
G. G. DAY, Esq., followed, and in his usual energetic style corn.
pletely exposed the fallacy of the attempt to enforce a Church.rate
at the present moment. He asked for the production of the last
Rate, wishing to know if it was all collected, and if so how ap-
plied, but it was not produced. He then 'entered at considerable
length into the law of the subject, and showed that the burden of
repairing the churches was at first laid, and long continued upon,
the tithes. He quoted the judgment of the Queen's Bench in the
Braintree case, and said it was unfortunate for Mr. Lawrence to
quote the Attorney. General, as that gentleman had given his de-
cided opinion, that if the majority of the parish refused the rate, no
power on earth could compel them to pay it. He called on the
meeting to carry out their principles, and to show to the world that
the Dissenters of St. Ives knew their rights, and knowing, dare
maintain them. . ,

A show of hands was called for by the Chairman, when raii im-
mense majority appeared for the amendment. A poll of the parish
was then demanded, which at Four o'Clock was closed, and the
decision was as follows :

Against the rate
For the rate

Majority against the rate —sB
Thus victory has crowlied the efforts of the independent Dis-
senters of the town of St. Ives, who have thus publicly expressed to
the world their unqualified disapprobation of this unrighteous impost.

- -
A GENTLEAIAN THIEF.—A young gentleman,
with a property of 300/. a year, named William Massey,
was convicted at the Wicklow ASSiZe3 for stealing two
heifers and a bullock, belonging to W. S. Ireland, Esq.,
and selling them in Smithfield. He is to be transported.