The Cannock Chase Examiner. — 1877-04-13 (Cannock, Staffordshire, England)

HENRY HAN-ELoCR moved the following resolution :  ---- I. That this Conference regards the Burials Bill of the Government as an absolute refusal of the just claim of parishioners to exerciee their rights of burial in the parochial churchyards in harmony with their religious convictions and teelings, without being compelled to accept the aervice, of the Episcopal Church and its clergy; and that it strongly resents the way in which that claim has been met by the Government, in offering to allow Nonconformists to bury in churchyards without any religions service whatever 2. The Conference is of opinion that the great majority of country churchyards will, for a lengthened peried,contain ample space for the interment of all the parishioners, without danger to the health of the community ; and that to close them, only to prevent the conduct of burial services therein by others than the established clergy, would indict a great wrong on the parishioners. 3. That the provision of new burial places, where the churchyards are still available, would involve a wasteful expeediture of public money; the opprobrium of which would, however unjustly, attach to Nonconformists. It would also inevitably o fission parochial strife, and multiply, instead of putting an end to, in. vidiess ecclesiastical dietinotions. 4. That the repugnance with which the measure is regarded by the Conference is in no degree abated by the fact that it consolidate. °rioting laws ; inasmuch as some of those laws are objectionable, and ought not to be reenacted. In partieular, the Conference objects to the exclusion from consecrated ground, whether in churchyards or cemeteries, of all service., and all ministers, but those of the Church of England. It further objects to the division of ground into con. eecrated and unconsecrated part., with oon• spicious boundary marks ; as an arrangement involving great practical difficulties, and, in many cases, the maintenance oi the grievance already suffered lathe churchyards. It is no lees opposed to the compulsory erection of two mortuary chapels; that one may be exclusively used by Episcopalians. And it is further strongly averse to the extension, and the perpetuation, In burial grounds provided at the public expense of the exclusive rights, slid of the claims to exact fees, sew exercised, or enforced, by the clary, and the clerk., and the sexton., in tke existing churchyards. 5. For three reasons, the Conference is of opinion that no efforts should be wanting ou the part of the friends of religious liberty, and especially of the member.; el the Liberal arty in both Rouses of Parliament. to lirevent the bill becoming law ; that the question may hereafter be dealt with in a manner more consistent with reason and equity. and more likely to effects satisfactory and lasting settlement. —Sir Henry said Mr. Osborne Morgan's bill was only lost laet session by art insignificant majority, and there was ample proof that the country was coming round to their side. The Government bill was founded on , Estee pretences, and economy was forgotten in putting on the ratepayers a charge amounting to .1:3, 000,1 N On the matter of consecration he was afraid he was particularly unsound. As a soldier, who had carried his life in his bands, not knowing where his body might be laid, bethought that if his bones were picked by the ravens on the hillside he should have no worse chance in the future than if they were laid in ground which had been circumnavigated by a bishop in lawn sleeves, (Laugiver and applause.) "  ra- • seconded the resolution. 0.4,10,(NE MORGAN, who was warmly received, said he bad expressed a wish that the Government should have rope enough, and in bringing in this bill they had got it well round their necks. ( Laughter.) So tar as his bill was our:corned, this would no more turn him aside than the course of a three-master would be elected by the puff of a pair of bellows. (Cheers. i He hail had the word "compromise" dinned into his ears over and over agsin, but if by compromise they meant Co saddle ratepayers with a burden of £3,010,01:10, and to treat Dissenters as suicides when they came to be burled in churchyards, Heaven preserve him from such • corapromise (Cheerio Their course WM perfectly clear. The common law of England had given them • right to later their dead to the churchyards. The ecoloxilastical law of England had coo Pled the right with a condition which made it a mockery. He asked them to support hint in repealing that condition : he asked them in the name of humanity, juetick , and religion, and with God's 119,601113 re they would get it. (Loud cheers.) Mr. Serjeant SIMON also supported she resolution, which was unsuimeuely adopted.  A