New-York tribune., 1873-05-03
DIssENTERg RIGHTS OF BURIAL.

MR.. MORGANs BILL IN THE HOUSE or COMMONS
OPPOSITION OF THE ESTABLISHED CLERGY-EDIG-
MITES TO THE NONCONFORAnsr DEAD.
lFRoM An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRBUSE.l
LONDON. April 12.-Wednesday, the 2Gth of
March, was a day OF trouble to English churchmeu IL
was another " black Wednesday" added TO the list
already large. Although familiar to readers it
may not be generally known that ecclesiastical conflicts
in the House Of Commons almost always take place ON
Wednesdays. The OF this are, that the House
that day sits from u I'LL 6, holding only morning
sion that Government business is usually taken up
that day. and that ecclesiastical questions for he
part IN the hands Of private members who must De
content to get a morning session and the risk OF
being talked out II debate is not concluded by quar-
ter 10 o'clock the question involved indefinitely post
pOned. The advocates OF religious equality in Parla-
ment not numerous band, and they cannot count
upon the cooperation Of the leaders OF the Liberal party
although numbered among It's most trustworthy adj
Hence II has happened that almost every ad
vance their onward has been preceded ay
Wednesday debates. The victories these "ec-
clesastca Wednesday, have IN several instances led
the adoption OF the measures IN question by the Gov
ernment and their passage into acts of Parliament The
abolition Of church rates. of University tests and kindred
reforms originated in these Wednesday ventures OF
official members; ana their in recent years has
so appalled, the clerical party that the day is OF
I'D sound. associated with al the AumatlOns they have
been compelled 10 endure.
The 26th Of March was the day fixed for t'e second
reading Of Mr.. Osborne MUrgau'- bill respecrI. the
burial Of Noucontormists IN parOchial grayeyalds
measure substantially the same as this LAS been INTRO
duced year after year since 1851 hitherto Is oppo-
nents have prevailed against IT, II 10 has riunpled IN
the House Of Commons Notwithstanding the power and
the strategy Of the zoe the House OF Lords has
tempuously kicked it out Of that august chamber. It
remains doubtful az present whether their lordsps viii
have an opportunity OF rejecting the BILL Mr. Disrae
I.f. INF .e IN ft4
in the Commons; and every and device viii be re-
sorted 10 without stint, either 20 XIII 10 outright, 0r
nange II III committee that Us authors VIII abandonlt
in disgust And Nj Disrae this matter the cham
pion of the Established Church.
What is this dreadful measure Il may give Amcrl-
cans some faint idea Of the difficulties and discourage
meuts of these NOuc0niUrmst brethren in England II
an exposition be attempted. And, happily, this is COM
patible with brevity and paiuness. Ny only difficulty
will be in convincing accustomed 10 such different
state Of things that English Dssenters are so outraged
and oppressed. The bill is based upon the common
right burial in parish churchy ards which are national
property made by law 10 the use OF the Established
Church The law knows distinction between parish
toner's in this matter. No parishiOner, whatever his
creed, can be denied grave in the churchyard. Mr.
Morgan's bill proposes 70 establish the corresponding
right Of funeral az the Will Of the con-
cered and according the wishes Of the deceased sub
lecI Of course 20 such restrictions sense OF pro
priety an. the public good demand. The bill br5tes
with safeguards OF this nature. But nevertheless 10
hateful IA the eyes of the Tory party and great ma
!ortv of the clergy. They VIII have none Of 10. II
DssentCrs VIII insist upon their common law right and
intrude their carcas-es into the cAurchyard instead Oi
providing cemeteries for themselves then they shall
have the burial Of a dog, If unbaptzed and other
service than that OF the Established Church in any case
whatever Il must De acknowledged lu simple justice
20 the more liberal section Of the Established cegy,
that In refusing to read the burial service over unhap-
tZed infants other persons inferred III cAucJ ARDS
they obey the law their church plainly set iOrt In
the Prayer Book such cergymen also generally mi-ae
Nelson's example when he put his spyglass to his blind
eve and declared could not the AdmiaPs signal
10 cease fighting the enemy. With commendabe charity
they ask no questions and expect no HfUrma-
ton concerning the ecclesiastical status OF
the deceased. But Disseuter5 IN the rural
parts Of England aud Wales TOO frequently
meet with parsons" Of another sort, who not only
feel that the law of their church DE enforced at
the expense Of charity toward the dead and sympathy
with the living Dut who also endeayOr to override the
INV Of the land in their zeal for the supremacy Of the
church. II is from the antics OF such zcaots that the
agitation OF which Mr.. Osborne MOrgans DM Is the eX-
presiou has arisen Their Outrages OF common decency
i'm the name Of religion have quickened the sense Of in
iustce which Dssenters could not but be conscious Of
and reused them united effort for religious equality
Until lately the Dissenters greatly resemhed tue Dor
traiture of Issachara strong ass cfOuchhg uOWn pc
tween two burdens :" but the likeness is fading away
rapidly thanks 10 the misguided zeal OF such defenders
the church. one of these Deheheeu clerRlIhau III
Cornwall refused % read the service over the BODY OF
boy whose parents belonged 20 tne MeRolst emu cI.
IL useless Tor e parents 20 pIoteat tHa' eiI ul
mad Deen baptized by Methodist minister II was also
useless 10 appeal his knowledge Of The fact that the
law recognized the Vahdlty OI Dsptlsu pY Nuoso u
administered de cared not. The boy was buried M
silence. Anger and astOushment al sucA cases nave
rreaflv assisted the MethOdsts form sound IuIg
ment respecting the state Church system Another
ceryv was detailed bv Mr. Morgan IN his speech
A poor woman in "A country village, who was dehVeied
died Roth were nut into the coffin and taken 10
be buried but while the service was going on the lAes
ordered the coffin be broken open and the unnapu4ed
child removed while ne gave decent burial 20 me one 20
done conformity 10 the law OI the ChuIcA oI
Nonconformist7 in the rural parishes OF England
80 accustomed 10 the refusal OF the service that t
troubles them little. II Is quite common piOceuuIu 20
hold service tine grave as possible Ihe minister
standing outside the wall For II Nunc0niorinlst MN
ster condced funeral service inside the cOnsecrated
inclOsure, he would be prosecuted Tor Dfa"hhE ana
render himself liable 10 nne ana Imprisonment Blt,
although used 20 the situation Nonconormists are awe
10 the oppression Of H. There are no more
strenuous and determined supporters Vi MI. aoIsun
than they. Mr.. Disaels aborcd pleas against me 80
ond reading OF the bill were ingenious nut mel
fectual lie contended that II the measure passed DIS
senting ministers would Dc invested Win pilNL1.es
which cergymen had not that a. church rates are dDo
ished N0nconiOunsts have no claim upon the churches
or churchyaTds aud he besOught MS " SohcOhIothlst
friends 10 warning against the church. and lIto
with her against the common foe, nndeAiy Ihls & y MI
DsraePs special pleading in substance when the ouse
decidedly rejected by a majority OF o. more lhhn ~
members voting. he Is too cearsighed not TO see nat
such pleas stand. But the support Of the cefca
the coming general election Will insure MN
the Premiership and plays MS political game Tor tha
great prize, or nc Is grossly lhhllsneu dlo
churchates cannot Affect the question The chufches u
! cburchvards still national property exclusively
occupied by religious community. such repairs and
alterations as necessary the occupants themselves
cannot pay now instead OF levyng rates upon every
ratepaver 10 s no wonder that enlightened church
men ike MIR Thomas Hughes call the opposition TO his
BuraIs ball "the blndest infatuatiOn" It's object ~
amply 10 give Englishmen what iE enjoyed even
IN the most bgOted regions OF the world. Bur the state
| af
caste feeling with the narrOWnesa OF ecclesastcsn
NOncOnormists not including Roman Catholics are an