Nantwich, Sandbach & Crewe Star — 1890-10-31 ()

NORTHWICH DEBATING SOCIETY.  The members of this society net en Tuesday evening—Mr Sutherst in the chair. Mr Boddington read his paper entitled " Tithes ; their origin and uses," although he disclaimed any intention of dealing with the last part of the title. He said the tithe could be traced from patriarchal times. After giving a number of instances to show that, be proceeded to deal with the subjed from an l historical standpoint. Paul laid the law down in Corinthians. Passing to the origin of tithes in our own country it was found the custom originated in a murder. One of the old Saxon Kings' in expiation of a murder he had committed decreed that a tenth produce of the estates of his subjects should yearly be paid to the church. They were first enacted by law, according to Dr Burns, in 750 A D., and were due to the Roman Catholic Church. Under William the Conqueror the failure to pay tithes was punished by excommunication, which in , those days was a very terrible visitation. A Ination burdened with tithes must always be j heavily handicapped in competition with another free from tithes. An instance of the way in which tithes were applied' Was to be seen in the parish of Great Budworth, which yielded upwards of £2OOO yearly. The own, r of the tithe put in a vicar with a salary of Only £4.00 or £5OO a year, thus p.:ett mg an enormous profit. Until 1836 the tithe was payable in kind. Thousands Of acres were lying idle in the South, merely because of the tithe. Tt was an intolerable nuisance and ought to 1 • extinguished altogether. It amounted to five millions yearly, and went,he did not 1:now how. It was absurd to suppose that people would, Pay to the support of a church they did. not attend. In Wales the Chapels were always full while the churches seldom contained anyone but the vicar's family and servants. The Welsh farmers were willing in many cases to. Pay the tithe if a reduction of 10 per cent. Were allowed in Consideration of the depression in agriculture, but this offer was not accepted, . and it greatly embittered the fanners, some of whom regarded it as a matter of conscience. In conclusion, the essayist claimed that he had shown that tithes originated amongst the old jews and there was no mention ot tithes in the New Testament ; that they were legalised. in an ignorant and superstitious age by a king Who was threatened by the priests with purgatorial punishment; that they were imposts on land; and that they ought to be abolished. Mr Gardner thought that the statement that five millions went to the church, mentioned by the essayist, was rather misleading. Ile believed that £2,800,000. went for educational purposes. The abolition of the tax would be an injustice to the nation. It would more hetiefit the landowner than the agriculturalists The essayist had only looked at one side of the question. _ _ _  Mr Mond remarked that Professor Stubbs said tithes were first introduced into England by Alfred in 727, there being but one church, and, it was perfectly natural that the tithe should belong to that church. The payment of tithes was at first a voluntary act. It was in 1427 that tithes were first made •legal. It was raised for the support of the church. If the church fell away then the tithe would do so too. He wound up his remarks by saying that when the Liberal party in the next session were in power the tithe question would be dealt with by Mr GladstoPe. •  Mr Goodman, Mr Fisher, Dr Hewftt, and Rev. Mr Sturg,ess, and Mr John Moore. also criticised the paper, after which Mr Boddington replied and the meeting closed. Next week a lecture will be given by Mr E. K. Gonner, of of Liverpool, on "Economic problems of the future."  'WANT OF CHEERFULNESS, Full of care, the mind wandering, a happy future seemingly gone. hope and health lost—such are the feelings of many men. The MIRROR will show how a change maybe brought about, and any man wishful for happiness in marrie,d life should see it. 100,000 testimonials may be seen. sufferers write or call without- delay. Free to any part of the world.—Address Messrs Wilkinson 2, Fitzallan-square, ;Sheffield. Name this apex. .  LONTrN TO