Star.
London, England, 1818-03-18 00:00:00

CHURCHES AND CHAPELS.

On the Report of the Committee on the subject of
the New Churches and Chapels,
Mr. A. BROWNE hoped one part of the Bill
would be revised : it was that which vested the whole
power in the Bishop of removing a Curate. The
Honourable Gentleman related a case as one in point,
of a Curate in his parish who had refused the use of
his pulpit, for a Charity Sermon for the support of
the Sunday School, whose conduct was nine months
undecided on, by the case being taken from the con-
troul of the Rector.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER trust-
ed it would be felt how much more proper it would
be to enter into minute details at a future time. 13ut
with respect to the case alluded to, as the law now
stood, the Rector could not remove his Curate wi:h-
out the consent of the Bishop. The only difference
in the intended Act would be, hat a Rector having

more than one Curate in a Chapel, might remove
one of them to a different one, where lie would be-
come stationary.
Mr.CHLRLES GRANT expressed his satisfaction
at the statement made on a former night by the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, that it was the inten-
tion of Government to extend the measure to Scot,-
land also. The parishes in that part of the kingdom
were so extensive and the population so thinly scat-
tered, that it was impossible all the inhabitants could
have access to the parish church. This was an evil
which ought, and he rejoiced to find was intended,
to be remedied,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in
answer to the Honourable Gentleman, said, he was
hippy to repeat, that there could'be no indisposition
on the pirt of Ministers to recommend to the Home
to extend its liberality to the North as well as the
South parts of the kingdom. He was not, however,
prepared to state any plan that could be offered for
the support of the Church of Scotland ; but the sub-
ject should be taken into that immediate considera-
tion which its exigency appeared so imperiously to
demand. When it was recollected what large sums he
had been granted by the munificence of Parliament
for the improvement of roads, the making of canals,
and ether commercial facilities in the northern parts
of the kingdom, he was sure the House would not
feel less desirous of affording assistance to promote
and extend the still more important objects of mo-
rality and religion, particularly when it was known
what large districts were without places of worship.
been generally misunderstood in one part of what he
had said yesterday. It had been supposed, he had
said, that no assistance was intended to be afforded
to any place in which the inhabitants did not amount
to 10,000. He had said no such thing. It was in-
tended that the Commissioners should have a general
power to afford aid in any way they may think will
produce the most immediate good. But, it should
be kept in mind, that the grant would very rarely af-
ford considerable assistance to large parishes, unless
a great deal were done by parochial contributions and
the liberal aid of individuals.
Mr. WILBERFORCE was confident, that even if
the measure were considered one of dry calculation,
it would be admitted that the public money could in
no way be so well expended as in that proposed.
In answer to a question from General THORNTON,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
it was net intended to propose any division of a pa-
rish for a civil puipose ; but that the King in Coun-
cil, on the representation of the Commissioners, :led
with the consent of the Patron of the parish, should
have the power of dividing the parish into two
parts, for ecclesiastical purposes only ;—that in the
second case, the King should also have the power
of dividing into what are called District Parishes ;
but that the incumbent of the original parish would
retain the whole of his power. A third point was,
that certain parishes should have one or more chapels
of ease, to be raised by the extension of the Parlia-
mentary grants. But these three objects were all dis-
tinctly pointed out in the Bill.
The Resolution for granting the 1,000,0001. of Ex-
chequer Bills waithen agreed to.
The various other Orders of the Day were then
agreed to, and the House adjourned.

An unusual occurrence took place on Sunday last
at Chatham Church during Divine Service : As soon
as the Minister had concluded the publication of the
banns of marriage, a gentleman from the country, is
was understood nearly thirty miles distant, gave no-
tice of his objection, and forbade the banns in respect
of a certain couple asked. Thtl ptrties are both mi-
nors, and had sought out thilt lio4u:ons parish, con-
ceiving that they atould thereby eceive their parents
and relatives ; and they had nearly. accomplished their
object, for it uas the third time of