The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-11-29 00:00:00

" THE VOLUNTARY PRINCIPLE."

We copy the following report of a disputebetween the
trustees of an Independent Chapel at Osset, in York-
shire, and their appointed minister, as an apt illustration
of the " workings" of this highly applauded system. It
is a rich morceau in its way. The Leeds Intelligencer,
in speaking of it, says :—" The Dissenters lift up their
eyes in apparent horror at church discipline; but we
think that a little discipline would do such pastors as Mr.
,Tiler no harm. The rev. gentleman terms his masters,
the trustees, `Donkeys and Scarecrows;' in the same
breath boasts of his ' usefulness;' and retains Mr. Rich-
ardson, of Leeds, to propose a long string of resolutions
expressive of praise of himself! This is the ' voluntary'
principle with a vengeance!"
For several months past a serious misunderstanding had
existed between the Rev. Wm. Tiler and the trustees of the
Green Chapel, at Ossett, with a view to put an end to which the
trustees called a public meeting, to be held in the chapel on
the 2d of November, at which meeting Mr. Archer, solicitor, at-
tended, and read over the trust deed, but as the minister and a
small portion of the trustees were not present at that meeting,
they thought proper to call another, which was held in the cha-
pel on Wednesday week. At one o'clock Mr. Tiler ascended
the pulpit, and to commence with singing the 133 d Psalm, after
which he offered an eloquent and impressive prayer, imploring
the divine blessing on the proceedings of the meeting, to the end
that peace and good will might be established between all par-
ties. After he had concluded his prayer, he said he begged
leave to introduce to the notice of the 'fleeting Mr. Richardson,
Solicitor, of Leeds, who appeared there on his behalf.
Mr. Richardson rose and said--My respected christian friends,
after the hymn and prayer which you have heard, and in which
you have all taken a part, I need hardly state that my appear-
ance here is nut in the character of a lawyer, but for the purpose
of promoting peace and good will amongst you, and I beg to re-
quest that you will forget, if possible, that lam an attorney. I
can assure you that I shall say nothing that will create rancour
or raise bad feeling amongst you; my only object for appearing
here this day is if possible to effect a reconciliation between you
and your respected minister, the Rev. Wm. Tiler, who, I under-
stand, has been exceedingly useful, and whose labours amongst
you have been abundantly blessed. lam not come here to dis-
cuss points of law. This is not a proper place fur that; but if
any doubt should arise hereafter it must be referred either to
me or my respected friend Mr. Archer, who sits near me. 1 can
say this, that I have read as many deeds as most men, and I tell
you that the affairs, the government, the management, and the
control of the minister and the chapel, rest entirely with the
church; indeed, that is the very essence and principle of dissent;
the very term independent dissenters implies as much • the
church have undoubtedly the sole control over the affairs of the
chapel. Mr. Richardson concluded by saying that he trusted
the day's proceeding would end in peace and harmony; he
would not propose a resolution that would offend any man, but
he held in his hand a number which he begged to read to the
meeting. Mr. Richardson then read a string of resolutions
highly laudatory of the minister.
Mr. Archer, solicitor, then rose. Before he made any remarks
he wished to know what was the object of the meeting? and
would thank Mr. Richardson, or any other person, to read the
notice calling it.
Mr. Richardson said they had no written notice, but that no-
tice was given out of the pulpit on Sunday last.
Mr. Ascher again inquired what was the object of the meet-
ing ; whether it was an original meeting for a particular purpose,
or an adjournment of the last meeting? After a pause, he said,
as no answer had been given to his question, he, on behalf of his
clients, the Trustees, should have taken no part in the day's pro-
ceedings, had it not been that some misrepresentations had gone
abroad, and as (said he) you are accustomed to bear discourses
divided into heads, I will divide mine into three; first, as to Mr.
Tiler; secondly, as to an observation just made by Mr. Richard-
son ; and thirdly, as to the advice I have given io the Trustees
in this unpleasant business. And Ist. as to Mr. Tiler. I have
it from good authority, that, on Thursday before last, at a prayer
meeting, the Rev. Gentleman told his congregation " that he
understood Mr. Archer had been reading over the chapel deeds
and advising the Trustees how to act, but he did not care for
that, as Mr. Archer's law was not of the value of a rotten po-
tatoe." These were the words used, if lam correctly informed;
(the Rev. Gentleman is present—he can therefore set me right
if lam wrong.) Now Ido say this, that it was unkind and
ungenerous in Mr. Tiler to utter such an assertion before he
bad made himself acquainted with the fact whether I had stated
any law or not, and, if I had, whether that law was good or bad.
I now state that I did not at the last meeting broach any law at
all. I advised peace and reconciliation between both parties,
as the greatest part of you who now hear me can bear witness;
I advised that two or three ministers of your own persuasion
should be called in to arbitrate between you ; I offered to pre-
pare an agreement of reference and an award, when required,
without charging a single shilling for it, except fur the stamp,
and I now repeat that offer. 'Phis, Sir, was the only advice I
i: gave, and I now leave it to any one to say whether Mr. Tiler
lis justitied in his unhandsome remarks. As to the second head,
my worthy friend has stated that he has read many deeds, and
' that the whole that he has seen gives the power to the church,
and that the church alone has the controlling authority over.the
ministers of the chapel. No.:v I said before, I have never yet
stated the la w,,but this. I will stale, that that which my friend
has just asserted is not law. I will not say it is not of the value
of a rotten potatoe, but I declare it to
now to rest upon our rights, I will tell be
youbewdhla
atwtL auelad if w
wis.e are
Tlie
Trustees may immediately demand possession of the chapel
house, chapel, and premises, and if Mr. Tiler
an
refuses
action of
eject-
ment foreout.e
single day to give them up, they may bring
ment against him, and I undertake chat they will succeed; they. '
may allow him a reasonable time to remove his goods,
,provided
he does not molest them, and if he enters after such time, they
suc-
ceed binritnhgatanalVionNeofwtrtehsispaissstahgealianwstthe
ed
subject, they will
a n d
promounce it as sound as an acorn, and I will tell you why—be-
cause it happens to be the law laid down by the Court of King's
uponhim,
Bench, and I will remind my friend Mr. Richardson whore he
may find it. I perfectly well recollect the cause being tried at
York; it was afterwards moved in the Court of King's Bench,
and is reported in the 10th. vol. of Barriewell and Cresswell's
reports, pages 718 and 721, and the judgment was given by no
mean authority, namely, Lord C. J. Tenterden. As I said be-
fore, it is as sound as an acorn, and is such law as both Mr. Ri-
chardson and myself are bound to obey. As to the third point,
I again repeat that I advised peace and reconciliation, and
when it was said that Mr. Tiler had refused all 'offers of a refer-
ence, I said, try him again, try him seven times, nay, seventy
times seven, rather than get into law and Make things worse,
and I veil" repeat the advice I then gave—l 'say, peace and re-
conciliation.

The Rev. William Tiler then addressed the meeting, and said
no man could regret the unfortunate differences that existed be-
tocan himself and some of the Trustees more than he did, and
no man was more anxious to put an end to them than he was,
and if he had refused any overtures from the Trustees it was
• because they were not properly made, and because he was de-
mined not to have his peace of mind continually disturbed by
letters and messages that only tended to irritate. He thanked
God that his labours amongst them had been abundantly blessed
by the very great increase of his church ; and while the church,
the congregation, and the Trustees were ou his side, he hoped
he had nothing to fear.
Mr. Richardson thought every allowance ought to be made
for any expressions that might be uttered by any man in the
haste of the moment, and ho hoped that his worthy friend Mr.
Archer would think no more of any that might have been so
uttered, for he, for one, could say, that he knew Mr. Archer's
law to be as sound as that of most lawyers he had ever met with;
but he was not come there to discuss points or law; he would
read a number of resolutions which he should take the liberty
of submitting to the meeting. Mr. Richardson then read a
string of resolutions, highly laudatory of Mr. Tiler's conduct
the reading of which caused considerable contusion, several o.
the Trustees exclaiming, "We are not come here to pass resof
lutions."

Mr. Archer again inquired for what object the meeting had

been called; it must, have some object, and if that object were
only stated he would either adhere to it or leave the meeting.
No answer was given to this question, and the confusion was
greatly on the increase, when Mr. Mitchell, of Chickenley, rose
to ask Mr. Tiler a few questions,—(they related to expressions
which, if the Reverend Gentleman had made use of at all, had
evidently been done under considerable excitement, therefore
we decline to repeat them.)
Mr. Tiler rose and said, now, I will just give the history of
that fellow theme, (pointing to Mr. Mitchell.) The cries of
" Order, order," here became so loud that he could not be heard,
when, at last, Mr. Richardson interfered, and said, he hoped
Mr. Tiler would not use any offensive expressions to any her-
son.

Mr. Tiler.—That fellow.—" Order, order."
Mr. Richardson.—Mr. Tiler, I do most urgently request that
you will abstain from such expressions, they aro not calculated
to do any good.
Mr. Ellis, one of the Trustees.—Mr. Tiler have not you call-
ed the Trustees a set of " donkeys" and " scarecrows ?" Here
the confusion became extreme, several of the Trustees calling
out together, "Mr. Archer, is not this our Chapel, have we not
a right to clear it ?" _ _ .

Archer.—Gentlemen, do nothing rashly; Mr. Richard-
son, I understood you to say you would propose a number of re-
solutions; now, as this meeting was not called for any such pur-
pose, I, on behalf of a vety large majority of the Trustees, do
protest against any resolutious being put to it, and as business
appears to be at an end, I wish you good afternoon. Gentle-
men follow me if you please.
Here Mr. Archer and the Trustees left the Chapel. Mr.
Richardson then read the resolutions, which were severally put
and carried by a majority of the remaining persons, amidst much
confusion and language which ought not by any means to have
disgraced so a sacred place. We have not heard what further
steps have been taken, but we do trust, that whatever is next
done it will be for the peace of the Minister and the comfort
and happiness of all other parties.
The origin of the above-named affair we understand to be
this. A few months ago a dispute arose as to who was to be
clerk, inasmuch as two persons claimed, and each begun the
morning service in the Chapel, by giving out a different hymn.
Upon this a row took place,—all the neighbourhood was alarm-
ed,—and the churchwardens and constable were sent for out of
the church to restore order. This is the foundation of the sub-
sequent proceed in;s.

THE ARCHBISHOP OF DUBLIN.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE DUBLIN EVENING MAIL.

Stn,LDoctorliielcin;On,iFomestiC chaplain to his Grace the
Archbishop of Dublin, having stated in ♦our paper of yester-
day, that as Archdeacon Magee has " thought Limper to read
from the communion table of Saint John's church, and subse-
quently to publish a portion of the correspondence between him
and me, on the Archbishop's part, relative to the Rev. Mr.
Nolan, it seemed to me but fair to lay the whole before the pub-
lic," thereby insinuating that I gave only a partial statement;
I have only to reply that 1 read that part of the correspondence
which explained the fact of his Grace's inhibition of the Rev.
Mr. Nolan, in order to inform the congregation of the cause
of his not preaching according to the notice announced on the
preceding Sunday.
1 now subjoin my letter to his Grace,. in answer to Dr.
Dickinson's last letter of Saturday evening, to which I have
not received any reply, and which Dr. Dickinson, most unac-
countably, omitted to publish, while professing " to lay the
whole of the correspondence befor the public." lam thus com-
pelled to publish what was intended to have been strictly private.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
T. P. MAGEn.

12, Merrion-sqnare, North, Thursday,
Nov. 24, 1836.
" TO HIS GRACE Tile ARCHBISHBOE OP DUBLIN.
" Saturday Evening, 19th Nov. 1836.
" Merrion-square, Nort:h.
" 11Y Loan,—l have just received a communication from
your Grace's Chaplain, Dr. Dickinson, relative to Mr. Nolan,
late a Roman Catholic Priest, preaching in my church of St.
John's, in which he states—' 1 think it likely that the publicity
of advertising Mr. Nolan (though by 271 C perfectly unauthorised)
will lead to calumny and mistatement,' to prevent which I in-
tend to-morrow at the communion table to read out the corres-
pondence which has already taken place on that subject. Dr.
Dickinson then adds—' I wish you had thought of asking the
Archbishop,' &c. &c. Now my Lord, 1 wish to guard against
calumny and misstatement,' on my side also ; and that your
Grace shall not be led to conclude, because I have yielded my
own private opinion in deference to that of my Diocesan in this
instance, that such conduct of mine will be adduced against me
as a precedent in future; for I conceive (as I have already ex-
pressed to your chaplain, and which, perhaps, you have not
seen, as I have received no reply on that point) that every
Rector has an unqualified jurisdiction over his own pulpit, and
I am totally ignorant of any canon giving the Bishop a restric-
tive power. I know the point is disputed; but your Grace,
perhaps is fully aware, that in England it has been decided in
favour of the Rector. True, I might ' ask permission from
the Archbishop, for courtesy' sake, for a clergyman not licen-
sed in this diocese to preach; but, my Lord, in these revolu-
tionary times, principle ought not to yield to courtesy; and,
moreover. I feel it would not be couiteous in many instances
for me to apply to the Palace for such permission, differing as
we do so essentially in doctrine, in church polity, and in poli-
tics. This is not mere assertion. Your Grace is opposed to all
Socinian discussions in the Dublin pulpits, as in the case of the
Rev. Mr. Begot and the Dean of St. Patrick's. You are
likewise opposed to Popish controversial discussion ' - this I con-
clude not so much from the prohibition of Mr. Nolan, as from
your being a member of that Board called the Board of Natio-
nal Education, where so many passages bearing upon Popish
doctrinal errors are so carefully omitted in the Scripture ex-
tracts.

"Why should Igo through the mortifying form of asking
the Archbishop for leave to preach' against Socinianism, Po-
pery, and the Education Board. No, my Lord, 1 purpose ex-
ercising my undoubted right of private judgment as to a selec-
tion of preachers, provided they have been duly licensed by
other Bishops, and preach the truth 'as it is in Jesus.' My
Lord, I write these hurried lines in no spirit of defiance, or
from any factious opposition to Episcopal authority; I write
them in the spirit of candour, and disdain acting underhand or
evasively, nor will I act on that principle of expediency or con-
' ciliation as now practised at the Palace, of issuing a mandate
against extemporary prayer and religious meetings, while one
of your own chaplains, Doctor Singer, openly, and to your own
knowledge, practises both. I really cannot see how I can be
called upon to pay canonical obedience to this mandate of your
Grace under such circumstances, and which I received from
your Grace by the post.
" I have the honor to remain, my Lord,
" Your Lordship's obedient servant,
_ T. B. MAGES.

" P.S.—lt is right to add that I have, in accordance ;lith my
own principles, invited the Rev. Mr. Trail, a licensed Rector
in the Diocese of Cork, to preach to my naturally discontented
congregation at St. John's, as a substitnte for Mr. Nolan."

A CATECHISM