The Shropshire Examiner and all round the Wrekin advertiser. — 1877-04-13 (Wenlock, Shropshire, England)

THE GOVERNMENT BURIALS BILL,  IMPORTANT CONFERENCE IN LONDON. A conference of Nonconformists was held at the Westmintster Palace Hotel, on Tuesday, at the instance jointly of the Liberation S xiety and of the Dissenting Deputies, to give "a clear and emphatic expression of the feeling of dissatisfaction with which the Government Burials Bill is regarded." There was a numerous and influential attendance, including Mr. Stansteld, M.P., Mr. Richard, M.P., Mr. o:borne Morgan, M.P., Mr. Watkin Williams, M.P., Sir 11. Havelock, M.P., Mr, Serjeant Simon, M.P., Mr. Carvell Williams (secretary), xe., Ac. In the temporary absence of Mr. Stansfeld, who was detained at a committee of the House of Commons, the meeting began under the presidency of Mr. Richard, and a statement of the objects of the conference was reaa by Mr. Carvell Williams, whose criticisms of the bill were heartily received. In the interests of justice, of liberty, ay, and of religion, the bill ought not to become law. t Cheers.) .  Mr. iticiimin said 'here were strong reasons why the Government should seek to close this dangerous controversy which had been agitating Parliament for 20 years. Referring to the majority in favour of Mr. Osborne Morgan 's bill in the last House of Commons, and the significance of the narrow majority against it in this, the hon. gentleman said the Government would probably have dealt with the matter in a satisfactory manner but for the " 40-parson power which had been brought to bear upon them. As it was, the bill was supported by laborious misrepresentations of the views o the Nonconformists. (Hear, hear.) They said it was necessary to provide such a measure as this because the Dissenters objected to be buried in consecrated ground; but he never heard that objEction made by Dissenters. (Hear, hear.) At tbe same time, of course, lie did not believe in the power of any man to impart holiness to a spot of ground, but regarded the form of consecration as an insignificant matter. Their answer to the Government must be clear and unequivocal—" Take back your Burials Bill; we will have none of it!" (Cheers.) Sir HENRY HAVELOCK moved the following resolution :  1. That this Conference regards the Burials Bill of the 'Government as an absolute refusal of the just claim of parishioners to exercise their rights of burial in the parochial churchyards in harmony with their religious con, ictions and feelings, without being compelled to accept the services 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 religious service whatever 2. The Conference is ot opinion that the great majority of country churchyards will, for a lengthened period, 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 inflict a great wrong on the parishioners. 3. That the provision of new burial places, where the churchyards are still available, would involve a wasteful expenditure of public teouey; toe opprobrium of which would, however •unjustly, attach to Nonconformists. It would also inevitably o elision parochial strife, and multiply, imitead of putting an end to, in. vidlous ecclesiastical distinctions. _ _ .  4. That the repugnance with which the measure is regarded by the Conference is in no degree abated by the fact that It consolidates existing laws; inasmuch as sonic of those laws are objectionable, and ought not to be mounded. In particular, the Coufsrence oh** 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 divisioa of ground into con*aerated and unconsecrated parts, with oon• epicious boundary marks ; as an arrangement involving great practical difficulties, and, in many cases, the maintenance of the grievance already suffered in the churchyards. It is no less 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, and of the claim, to exact fees, now exercised, or enforced, by the dory, and the clerks, and the sextons, in the existing churchyards. 5. For these ressons, the Conference is of opinion that no efforts should be wanting on the part of the friends of religious liberty, and especially of the members of the Liberal I art) in both Houses of Parliament. to pre. vent the hill becoming law ; that the question may hereafter be dealt with in a manner more consistent with reason and equity, and more likely to effect a satisfactory and lasting settlement. —Sir Henry said Mr. Osborne Morzan's bill was only lost last session by an insignificant majority, and there was ample proof that the country was coming rou,cl to their side. The Government bill was founded on false pretences, end economy was forgotten in putting on the ratepayer. a charge amounting to .t.3,000,itt Si. On the matter of consecration he wits afraid be was particularly unsound. As a soldi.r, who bud carried his life hi his hands, not knowing where his body might be laid, be thought 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. (Laughter and applause. I Mr. P tcc, N seconded the resolution. .  Mr.o noscAN, who WM warmly received, said he had 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 cmcerneci, this would no more turn him aside than the course of a three-master would be sheeted by the purr of a per of bellows. (Cheers.) lie hart had the word "c‘impromise " dinned into his ears ON er and over again, but if by compromise they meant to saddle ratepayers with a burden of £3,i ~(.1,00(1, and to treat Dissenters as suicides when they came to be bin led in churchyards, Heaven preserve him from such a compromise. (Cheers Their course was perfectly clear. The eommon !aw of Englsnd had gives them a right to Inter their dead in the churchyards. The ecclesiastical law of Eng!aud had coupled the right with a condition which made It a mockery-. He asked them to support him in repealing that condition : he asked them in the name of humanity, justice, and religion, and with Cod's assistance they would get it. (Loud cheers.) Serjeant SIM,N also supported the resolution, which was unanimously adopted.  A