The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-04-01 00:00:00

t Easter ye

Mr. Churchwarden BIaKETT u„.
Mr. Wright, that previously to the last
had been made to him by Mr_

nig, upon inqt:iry, that Mr. Spencer
parochial curate, and that the churl
parochial chapel, he did recommend ti
a sum of money towards the exp
understanding with Mr. Huts

on, who bad seconded the
.
lotion, was, that the money should be paid into the hands of
hector Campbell; w?lo had had more to do with the church
than any one else, and that it should be at his option to pay
or withhold it as he might think proper. Since asking for
the vote, he (Mr. Birkett) had ascertained that the circum-
stances were very different from what he had been led to

suppose when he proposed it
Spencer ought not to have mad
to him unless he had told him
short, he found that Mr. Spent
thought; and he quite a

nent he had don

is of the case. In
:ter off than he had
Campbell that the

with N.

money ought not to t

Mr: WiuGHr observed, tl
neral vestry, and the church'

ed at a ge-

td no authority, when
lust to act or not act

resolutions were pas

upon them as they.plea

The Cu ATI
tended to bring forward an

AN requ

Mr. Wright in-

Mr. WRIGHT replied in'the affirmat
that the £3O voted at the last Easter VI

He wet

Id move

penses of St. Matthias's Church, be irat
had had an interview with Mr. Spence;
on the faith of the grant he had paid ti

.owards the ex-
tely paid. He

ho dedlared that

money out of his

own pocket
Mr. KILSHAW seconded the motion.
Mr. HARBORD remarked, that the public bad a right to
expect, that when once resolutions were passed at those
meetings, the individuals in office would faithfully carry them
out. There was no discretionary power in the parish officers
to deviate from the spirit of those resolutions. However
judiciously Mr. Birkett might have acted in this instance,
and whatever reasons there might have been for not paying
the money, be did not think it rested with him to withhold
it.

Mr. BIRKETT said, Mr. Hutchinson would not have con-
sented to second his motion, if it had not been understood
that the money was to be appropriated under the conditions
he had named.

The motion, being put from the ch
show of hands, and the accounts were allowed to pass.
The next business was the proposing of the officers for the

was carried by a

ensuing year

thUrchwarden Hui ciuNsoN, seconded by Mr.
HENSHAW, proposed Mr. Birkett and Mr. Raymond
Houghton as churchwardens.

KILSRAW, seconded by Mr. M‘GUFF IE, proposed
Mr. Cowgill in the room of Mr. Birkett.

A. show pf hands wa

elected

Mr. Kusunw demanded a poll. The Chairman remon-
strated, but Mr. Kilshaw persisted in his demand, and a
Mr. Walker, from the gallery, declared that if Mr. Kilshaw
did not insist upon a poll, he would.
Mr. HiirctuNsoix observed that it was not Mr. Birkett's
wish to he brought forward again, but the wish of the over-
seers and others, who had worked with him so long, and who
knew the value of his assistance.

Mr. HARBORD said it was certainly desirable to avoid the
expense and excitement of a poll. Although he was disposed
to look with a jealous eye upon a person retaining office for
several years. and was under the same impression with other
individuals, that an occasional change would be beneficial,
yet he must be permitted to say, in justice to his own feel-
ings, and he said it without flattery, that if they were to pay
Mr. Birkett £5OO or £l,OOO a year, they would not pay him
to the extent of the value of his services. He was a gentle-
man retired. from business. He had been some few years
ago actively engaged in business ; he '

knew the local

was familiar with the management and the affairs of .
every public institution in the town ; and when they had any
business in London they found him always ready to attend
to the interests of the parish. He did hope and trust, espe-
cially as they had undergone so many changes of late, that
he would be permitted to retain office at all events for the
ensuing year. They could not afford at the present time to
be deprived of his services. However competent Mr. Cow-
gill might be. he would fall far short of the qualifications of
Mr. Birkett.
The CHAIRMAN add to wl
said, that trong real
ought to be, in possession of 'nd that was

would add to what Mr. Harbord had
ere was one gr..— -

Mr. DOVER and others, in reference to Mr. Hall, remark-
ed that that gentleman had, on a previous occasion, (two
years ago,) proposed a rate of 2d. for church repairs ; but
that he had afterwards turned his back on his own proposi-
tion, and had absented himself from the meeting which was
Mr. Birkett was declared I to carry_ jt out

Mr. HALL said that he had then concurred in the addi-
tional rate—the rate for the general expenditure being only
Ad.—under the impression that it would be final, and put an
end to the existing disputes on the subject that disturbed the
parish ; and he would have attended the meeting, but was
prevented by an attack of gout.
Mr. lIENnEusoN proposed that the accounts read be
passed, which was seconded by Mr. GANDY. The former
gentleman highly complimented Mr. Birkett for his zeal and
exertions on behalf of the parishioners, and who, though he
might meet with the opposition of some, had earned the gra-
titude of many more. Seats for the poor had also been re-
served. The support given to the bazaar by the poor as well
as the rich showed that there was a general feeling for the
proper repair and completion of the building; and even the
mass of the dissenters could not but be pleased to see the
mother church beautified and rendered comfortable.

Mr. BIRKETT said that the cost of the new tower, and the
rebuilding of the church had, in consequence of the liberal
contributions, not cost the ratepayers more than £4,000;
and if they were now valued they would be estimated as
worth £B,OOO. In building the chancel, the best specimens
of Gothic architecture had been procured, and the roof would
be no-loss to the parish. There was also a-considerable sum
of arrears to LB .011eCted. - The expenditure last year had
.been £B5O, and £350 of new work, including the new organ
gallery, new seats, and a new stove.
Mr. AsnCROFT said that he found the church in about as
unfinished a state as at the last Easter meeting, and com-
plained that the vicar and churchwarden should go on pulling
down and building up, and making call after call upon the
parishioners. The accounts, too, had been read in so rapid
a manner that the items could not be scrutinised.
Mr. HALL concurred in the last remark.

Mr. BIRICETT said that vouchers for every item were on
the table for examination ; and suggested a committee, in-
cluding Mr. Ashcroft and Mr. Hall, to look into them.
This was, however, declined, these gentlemen expressing
their confidence in Mr. Birkett's accuracy, as he was him-
self an accountant. _

After some further desultory conversation, there being no
amendment proposed, the motion that the accounts do pass
was put and carried without opposition.
Mr. BIRKETT then read an application he had received
from the churchwardens of Knotty Ash, and a similar cne
from the churchwardens of St. Mary's, Kirkdale, calling
upon them to supply these places of worship with sacramental
wine.

In reply to Mr. Hall, it was stated that no rate was laid on
the pew owners of these places of worship for this purpose,
Mr. DOVER stated, in reference to St. Mary's, that they
had had the opinion of several legal authorities, who consi-
dered that they had a right to claim the wine from the parish
church.

Mr. HENDERSON said the parish bad a right to provide
the wine ; but whether out of the parish funds or otherwise,
he was not aware. The matter should, he thought, be left
to the discretion of the churchwardens.

Mr. DOVER said that the law gave them a claim, and as
they paid rates, it should be put into execution.
The matter was left to the churchwarden.
Mr. Roskell was stated, by the CHAIRMAN, to be the
churchwarden for the ensuing year, in the place of Mr. Bir-
kett. The appointment rested with the rector.
The meeting then proceeded to the election of a sidesman.

Mr. Thomas Harrison was proposed, as an old parishioner,
and a fit representative of the farmers, who were the princi-
pal ratepayers, and the motion was seconded.
Mr. Chubb, who resides close to the church, was then pria-
posed, seconded, and recommended as one from whom much
improvement was to be anticipated in the choir.
Mr. HALL wished to know the duties required from the
sidesmen. It appeared to him that he had nothing to do.
Mr. GANDY also thought sidesmen of no manner of use.
The sidesmen were always put aside by the churchwarden,
and could say nothing and do nothing.

Mr. ROSKELL said whoever was elected a sidesman in be-
half of the parish, him he would consult with on every occa-
sion.

M`GREGOR supported Mr. Chubb, and said that the
establishment of a juvenile choir would be of great advantage
to the parish, and at little or no expense.
Mr. HARDY supported Mr. Harrison—Mr. MYERS, Mr.
Chubb.
A show of hands was taken, and about two-thirds were
held up in favour of Mr. Harrison. /
Mr. ARTHUR HENDERSON demanded a poll, but fixing of
the time was postponed till the next question was disposed of
—the laying of the rate for the finishing of :the church,

Mr. tuticErr produced an estimate of the cost of the in-
tended new work, which amounted to, as we understood him,
£767, which a rate of lid. would cover; but with other
matters, he recommended that it should be 2d.-
Mr. ROSKELL. after referring to the work to be done,
hoped a rate of lid at least would be granted.
Mr. HENDERSON and others were of opinion that a rate
of 2d. would be required to complete the repairs in a proper
manner, and that this, he would say, would be a final rate fur
that purpose.

Mr. IiosKELL said that a rate of 2d. would clear all

Mr. HARDY complained that a rate of 2d. was successively
imposed, but said he would not oppose it if he were assured
it would be final; and the demand for a poll as between Mr.
Harrison and Mr. Chubb was persisted in.
A long debate ensued, and Mr. ROSKELL moved that the
rate be 2d., pledging himself to the utmost economy. This
was seconded by Mr. 11/PGREGOn, and on the understanding
that the chancel should be completed by private contribu-
tions, and that the money should be appropriated to the
raising of the roof of the body of the church, to plaster work,
and the renewing of the rotten parish seats in the centre ;
and, above all, that it should be a final extraordinary rate. It
was put to a show of hands, and unanimously carried.

On the motion of Mr. IVI'GREGOR, a vote of thanks was
passed to Mr. Churchwarden Birkett, for the great zeal, ex-
ertion, and integrity that had marked his conduct throughout.
Some merriment was occasioned by Mr. Gandy proposing
that a monument or inscription, more durable than the
record of such a vote, should be fixed in the chancel or some
other part of the church commemorative of Mr. Birkett's
services.—and which was considered as a proposition to
" bury " Mr. Birkett rather prematurely, he being yet hale
and hearty.

A conversation ensued relative to an alteration in a church
foot-path through the fields, on the south of the building,—
of which Mr. Henderson and Mr. Dover vehemently com-
plained. Others were of opinion that the alteration was a
great improvement; and as the subject was not relevant to
the meetinr, it was dropped without any final determination.
Mr. Alderman MooN proposed a vote of thanks to the
Rev. Chairman for his amiable and accommodating conduct
in the chair, which was seconded by Mr. Gandy, and carried
by acclamation. The meeting then broke up.
A number of the parties afterwards sat down to a
sumptuous dinner, at the Bay Horse, and passed a most
agreeable evening.

Lord Rolle lies in a dangerous state at his country resi-
dence in Devonshire. His death is hourly expected. The
noble earl is in his 93rd year.
COLONIAL, BISROPRICKS FUND.—The collections made
on Palm Sunday, in compliance with the Bishop of London's
pastoral letter, as far as returns had been made up to this
day (March 28), amount to £6,400 ; and returns have still
to be made from more than 200 places. Among the offerings
made at Portman Chapel was a very beautiful diamond
brooch, valued at about £l5O. It was given anonymously.
hilt with the text Exodus xxxv. 21, 22. A few more such.
noble offerings would secure the early
accomplishment of the
great object in view—that of providing for the endowment of
a bishoprick in each of the other colonies of the British
Crown.