The Sun.
London, England, 1861-06-11 00:00:00

THE .P.ROPOSE i) CHURCH-RATE
COMPROMISE.

The following letter from Mr. Sotheron Estcourt to Sir J.
Trelawny, together with his promised scheme of compro-
mise, has been published in the form of a Parliamentary
paper :

"51, Eaton-place, June 7, 1861.
"Dearlnaccordance with my engagement given
to you in the house on Monday, I now enclose, for your
consideration, an abstract of a bill which I should be pre-
pared to lay upon the table, in case your bill should be
withdrawn.
" You will observe that it contains the principle recom-
mended by the Lords' committee, and proposed in the
amendment of Mr. Cross, of personal exemption from the
rate payable by occupiers, through the machinery of a
Church vestry, consisting of members of the congregation.
This rate, therefore, is in its character purely voluntary,
resting on the payment of contributions during the previous
twelvemonth, and subject to a withdrawal at will, without
assigning any reason.

" It also contains a new scheme for providing for
the fabric and necessaries of worship, by a rate chargeable
on owners to the extent of one penny in the pound; but it
exempts from the operation of this clause all parishes
where no rate has been levied for the last five years.
" I am unable to give you any assurance of the amount
of support which this bill would be likely to receive from.
my own political friends or from members on your side.
" I can only say that I should present it with confidence,
as being, in my opinion, a fair and satisfactory compromise
between principles which cannot be adjustod without some
sacrifice on both sides, and which cannot be maintained in;.
their strictness without risk of perpetual contention.
" At the same time I understand that Mr. Cross 'and
those gentlemen who have been engaged lately with him in
preparing a bill, hold themselves bound to bring in their
own scheme, in fulfilment of their expressed intention, if
the ground were cleared ; but I must add that I do not
think their plan so likely to lead to a practical result as
that which I now enclose.
" As I am sure that you and I shall be equally desirous
of making known to others interested in this question the
result of a communication publicly announced in the house,
1 propose to send a copy of this letter and paper to each:
member as soon as you shall have intlmated to me whether
you intend to move the third reading of your bill on Wed-
nesday, the 19th.
66 I shall be obliged, therefore, if you can let ma have
your answer not later than the evening of TuesdaYy, next, I am, &c.,

(Signed) "T, SoTHEROX EsTCOURT.
"To Sir John Trelawny, Bart., M.P."

Abstract of a bill to abotisutue jurisdiction of ecclesiastical
courts in respect of church-rates, and to alter and mend
the law relating to church-rates.
1. Jurisdiction of ecclesiastical courts in regard to the
validity and enforcement of church-rates to be transferred
to the same tribunal as the poor-rate.
2. Each ecclesiastical district to be a separate parish for
the purposes of this act. No rate to be collected in any dis-
trict, except for the church or chapel of such. district.
3. Churchwardens to be empewered ane. required once in
their year of office to publish on the church door for three
successive Sundays, and after publicuion to levy and col-
lect an owner's church-rate, not exrJeeding one penny in the
pound, upon all property in respect of which the occupier
has been assessed to a churrai-rate within the last five
years, such rate to be solely applied to the following pur-
poses, viz. :

Repair of church, church clock, bells, belfry, and
maintenance of the churchyard.
Providing of books required for registers, and for per-
formance of Divine worship, according to law.
Insurance of all the above against fire.
Payment of fees due by law.
This rate to be payable by tenants, and deducted from
rent due to the landlord.
4. Church vestry, as hereinafter defined, to have power
to levy an occupier's church-rate for any purpose connected
with Divine worship. Such rate to be collected only from
occupiers who are members of the church vestry.
5. The church vestry to consist solely of owners who
have been rated as aforesaid, and of all occupiers who shall
, during the preceding twelvemonth have paid any church-
rate, or, being ratepayers, have contributed to any subscrip-
, tion in lieu or in aid thereof, and who shall not decline to
be members of such church vestry, by delivering to the
churchwardens before Easter in each year, a notice in the
form set forth in the schedule.
6. Church vestry to have under its control the audit of
churchwardens' accounts; furniture and fittings of the
church ; salary of officers; appropriation of s‘ats, and all
expenditure incurred for the benefit of the congregation.
7. Small Tenements Acts to be applicable to occupiers'
rates under this act.
S. All rates under this act to be assessed according to the
Poor-rate.
9. After this act comes into operation, no church-rate to
be assessed or levied except in accordance with the, pro-
visions of it.
10. Saving where money is due on security of rates.
11. Saving provisions of local acts.
12. This act to come into operation on Easter-da
3 y, One
..,....arca .i..tjr-t,ro.

SCHEDULE.
Form of Notice.
To the Churchwardens of
Parish.
A. B. give you notice that I decline to be a member of
this parish for the year (Signed)
Date,