RECTOR'S STATEMENT. "The composition for tithe for the last seven years, with the £ S. d. several occupiers Amount of poor, surveyor, and county rates, on tithe paid by the occupiers annually, on an average of seven years antecedent to Christmas, 1835 "The government and ecclesiastical annual charges on the tithes are annum. £66 4 5 4 17 8 1 10 0 £72 12 1 1329 11 10 138 3 7 £1467 1554 "The government and ecclesiastical charges I have paid as tithe-owner; the amount I claim, subject to all these charges and outgoings, is 1600l. per THOMAS SCHREIBER." The commissioner remarked, that it appeared the reductions had been 501. per cent. in 1829; in 1830, none; in 1831, 257.; in 1832, none; in 1833, 157.; in 1834, 20l.; in 1835, 15l.;-making an average of 18. per cent., or 2401.; leaving a clear composition of 10901.-[In the statement from which this is abridged, a great heap of remarks are, in this place, attributed to the commissioner, about the probable abolition of church rates, the contemplated charge of county rates on the consolidated fund, &c., as being likely to reduce the rates for the future; but it is not stated that the commissioner told the parties, as the Editor has been informed he really did, that they had no right whatever to look to such contingent reductions in making their agreement with the rector.-ED. B. M.] Mr. Schreiber, the rector, on this, offered to give up, for the future, 91. per cent. out of the 18/. which he had given heretofore; remarking, however, that this was given to landlords, not, as the produce had been, to tenants. The rector now withdrew, and the commissioner informed the parties that it was necessary, according to the act, to take notice of the reductions made by the rector; but that, as his deductions (e. g., 50l. per cent. in one year,) had been extraordinarily liberal, he thought that recourse ought to be had to the clause empowering the commissioner to allow 201. per cent. to meet cases of hardship. The meeting then offered 1300l. per annum, out of which all rates, taxes, and assessments, parliamentary or parochial, were to be paid. The rector accepted this proposal, and arrangements were made to carry it into effect. SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE. THE annual report of this Society has just been published, and distributed amongst the subscribers. The first object to which the attention of the members is directed is the great increase in the circulation of the Society's publications. The total number of works of every class circulated since the last report has amounted to two millions four hundred and seventy-five thousand one hundred and seventy-two, being an increase during the year of 197,124. "It is very gratifying to observe, that this amount includes a large proportion of the holy scriptures and of the liturgy of the church of England; the numbers circulated being 186,974 bibles and testaments, and 192,082 prayerbooks. VOL. XI.-Jan. 1837. Ꮮ "In addition to this, the Committee of General Literature and Education have issued publications, including the Saturday Magazine," to the amount of 4,070,100. "The income of the Society has also had a proportional increase. The general receipts during the year have amounted to 80,3927. 8s., being an increase upon the receipts of the preceding year of more than seven thousand pounds." The money grants during the year in aid of the Society's objects abroad amount to 54201., distributed amongst fifteen places in various sums. Also gratuitous grants of books for schools, lending libraries, emigrants, ships' crews, prisons, &c., have been made to the number of 93. FOREIGN TRANSLATION COMMITTEE OF THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE. A CIRCULAR having been sent, during the last fortnight or three weeks, to the clergy and chief laity of the Archdeaconry of Chichester, a public meeting was held in the Council Chamber, on Tuesday, December 13th; the Lord Bishop in the chair. The following resolutions were then moved and seconded in order : 1. That a Society be formed, to be called "The Chichester Diocesan Association, in aid of the Foreign Translation Committee, established by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge." 2. That the Lord Bishop of the Diocese be requested to express his approbation of the Association, by consenting to become the president. 3. That the following noblemen, clergymen, and gentlemen, be requested to accept respectively the offices undernamed :— Vice-presidents-The Duke of Richmond, the Earl of Egremont, the very Rev. the Dean of Chichester, the venerable the Archdeacon of Chichester. Committee-All clergy subscribing, W. Stephen Poyntz, Esq. M. P., John Abel Smith, Esq. M. P., Richard Pryme, Esq., C. Scrace Dickens, Esq., Charles Shirley, Esq., Charles Baker, Esq. Treasurer-The Rev. R. Tredcroft. Secretaries-The Rev. J. T. Upton, the Rev. H. E. Manning. 4. That this meeting, deeply feeling the insufficiency of man, in his own unaided strength, to do anything effectually in the service of God, desire, in the outset of their endeavours, to commit the furtherance and success of this and every Christian work to his gracious help and favour, praying that this Association may be continually prospered, to the enlargement of Christ's church, and to the glory of his great name. The thanks of the meeting were then given to the Mayor of Chichester, for his kindness in permitting the use of the Council Chamber; and also most respectfully offered to the Bishop, for his lordship's kind and able conduct in the chair. A very large number of the clergy of the archdeaconry of Chichester were present, and from 150 to 200 of the chief persons of the city and neighbourhood. Notice was given of an account opened at Messrs. Ridge and Co., bankers, for subscriptions; and about thirty-five names were immediately taken down in the room, of whom twenty-six were clergy. The collection amounted to nearly 261. One of the secretaries announced that he had received a letter, signed "A Layman," enclosing a 101. Bank of England note. The most sanguine hopes are entertained that this good beginning may be followed up by a very great increase of subscribers throughout the archdeaconry; and that, in the archdeaconry of Lewes, an association of the same kind will be speedily formed, under the common patronage of the bishop. INCORPORATED SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING THE ENLARGEMENT, BUILDING, AND REPAIRING OF CHURCHES AND CHAPELS. A MEETING of this Society was held at their chambers in St. Martin's-place, on Monday, the 19th of December; the Lord Bishop of London in the chair. There were present the Bishops of St. Asaph, Rochester, and Hereford; Lord Bexley, the Hon. Mr. Justice Park, and Mr. Justice Gaselee; Revds. Archdeacon Cambridge, H. H. Norris, and T. Bowdler; Joshua Watson, Samuel Bosanquet, Newell Connop, jun., J. S. Salt, James Cocks, E. H. Locker, H. J. Barchard, Benjamin Harrison, William Cotton, Esqrs., &c. Among other business transacted, grants were voted towards repairing the abbey church at Malvern; enlarging, by rebuilding, the church at Stoke-lane, in the county of Somerset ; enlarging the church at Langton Herring, in the county of Dorset; building a church at Portsea, in the county of Southampton; enlarging, by rebuilding, the church at Snenton, in the county of Nottingham; repewing the church at Llandew, in the county of Brecon ; enlarging, by rebuilding, the church at Glasbury, in the counties of Radnor and Brecon; repairing the chapel at Ivy Bridge, in the county of Devon; repewing the church at Tugby, in the county of Leicester; building a chapel at Wildsworth, in the parish of Laughton and county of Lincoln. SALISBURY DIOCESAN CHURCH BUILDING ASSOCIATION. On Tuesday, November 29, a public meeting was held at the Council Chamber, Salisbury, for the formation of an Association in aid of the Building, &c., of Churches in the Diocese of Sarum, which now comprehends the greater part of the county of Wilts, and that of Dorset, which has been lately restored to it. The Earl of Shaftesbury was in the chair; and notwithstanding the very unfavourable state of the weather, (it being the morning of the late heavy storm,) the assemblage both of laity and clergy, from the two counties, was very numerous, and most highly respectable. A series of resolutions was introduced to the meeting by H. C. Sturt, Esq., M.P.; George Eyre, Esq.; Major Olivier; Ambrose Hussey, Esq.; John Ravenhill, Esq.; the Dean of Salisbury; the Hon. and Rev. Canon Bouverie; the Revs. Archdeacon Macdonald, Archdeacon Buckle, W. Dalby, H. F. Yeatman, F. Fulford, G. C. Glynn, T. A. Methuen, J. Watts, N. Smart, and S. R. Capel; and some most admirable speeches were delivered, warmly advocating the cause. The Rev. G. P. Lowther was appointed Diocesan Secretary, and J. H. Jacob, Esq., Diocesan Treasurer. The diocese is divided into three parts, commensurate with the three archdeaconries, and committees are to be appointed for the management of the affairs of each, in connexion with the diocesan committee at Salisbury; and an annual general meeting is to be held in succession at Salisbury, Dorchester, and Devizes. At least one-fourth of the subscriptions are to be annually transmitted to the Parent Incorporated Society in London. Lords Lansdowne and Digby, the Lords Lieutenant for Wilts and Dorset, are the patrons; the Lord Bishop of Salisbury, president; and all donors of 100%., or of 50l. with an annual subscription of 5l., vice-presidents. Beside those mentioned above, there were present at the meeting, Wadham Wyndham, Esq., M.P.; Joseph Neeld, Esq., M.P.; E. Baker, Esq.; G. Matcham, Esq.; &c. Contributions were made to the amount of 2,400l., and considerable additions have been since made to it. Lord Shaftesbury has given 50l., and 51. per annum; the Marquis of Bath, the Bishop of Salisbury, and Joseph Neeld, Esq., M.P., each 2001.; Hon. S. Herbert, M.P., T. H. S. B. Estcourt, Esq., M.P., John Neeld, Esq., M.P., W. H. Ludlow, Esq., the Dean of Salisbury, Rev. H. Harvey, Rev. E. Edgell, Rev. E. Whinfield, Mrs. Bailward, and three Misses Bailward, each 100l.; H. C. Sturt, Esq., M.P., Sir Edmund Antrobus, Bart., Dr. Woodcock, Rev. James Michel, Rev. F. Dyson, Rev. F. Fulford, each 501.; Rev. Chancellor Marsh, 251.; the Archdeacons of Sarum, Wilts, and Dorset, each 201.; &c. CONVOCATION.-PETITION OF THE CLERGY RESIDING NEAR BURY ST. EDMONDS. TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY. WE, the undersigned Clergy in the neighbourhood of Bury St. Edmund's, beg leave to approach your Majesty with every feeling of attachment to your Majesty's person, and of reverence for your Majesty's high office, as King, Defender of the Faith, and Temporal Head of the Church in England and Ireland, and humbly to present unto your Majesty That the Church of Christ, in all ages and countries, has possessed and exercised the right of consulting upon ecclesiastical affairs, by means of diocesan, provincial, and national synods or councils; that this right was given to his church by the Lord himself, has never been denied by godly princes, and cannot justly be taken away.* That the Church of England, in common with every other branch of Christ's universal Church, enjoyed and exercised this right for many generations, from the first introduction of Christianity into this kingdom; and that much benefit resulted therefrom.t That your Majesty's predecessor, King Edward the First, having assembled the representatives of the burghers in what is now called the House of Commons for the purposes of the state, especially to enable them to tax themselves, assembled the Clergy by their representatives in what is now called the House of Convocation, for the same purposes. That the House of Convocation, though originally instituted for the purpose of enabling the clergy to tax themselves, in the course of time acted as an ecclesiastical synod; and, in point of fact, has ever since been regarded as the national council of the Church of England, being composed of the bishops and dignitaries, and of the representatives of the different chapters and the inferior clergy.§ That at the time of the Reformation under King Henry the Eighth, when important alterations were made in ecclesiastical affairs, his Majesty consulted Convocation upon them; and, as important measures are now recommended to your Majesty by your present Church Commissioners, especially the suppression of a vast many cathedral appointments, we humbly pray that your Majesty will not sanction this change of ecclesiastical property without consulting the Clergy in Convocation assembled. That from the time of King Henry the Eighth to the beginning of the reign of King George the First, Convocation was consulted upon ecclesiastical affairs, and that no important alterations were made in the church without its consent. I That it is to Convocation we owe, under God, all that is most valuable in our church our Scriptural Liturgy, Articles, and Homilies.¶ That in the reign of King George the First, his Majesty was persuaded to put a stop to the proceedings of Convocation against the unorthodox opinions of Bishop Hoadley, by a prorogation; since which time Convocation, though Proofs-Acts, vi. 2; xv. 6. See also Dr. Burton's History of the Church during the first four centuries, and Burn's Ecclesiastical Law on Convocation. + Burn, as taken from Archbishop Wake's State of the Church. Also, Hody's History of English Councils and Convocations. Hume's History of England, Edward First.-Wake.-Burn. Hooker, 8th book of Eccles. Polity. Also, 139th Canon, quoted by Burn. Any History of England, or of the Church of Englaud. ¶ Bishop Mant's edition of the Book of Common Prayer, Preface to Articles and Canons. regularly summoned and assembled every new Parliament, has not been permitted to do business.* That so long as no alterations in ecclesiastical affairs were contemplated, this silencing of Convocation was only a negative evil-the not permitting them to do good, and make such judicious alterations as are rendered necessary by the lapse of time, and the change in everything human; but that to keep Convocation silent any longer, whilst important alterations in the church are not only contemplated, but are actually in progress, would, in the opinion of your Majesty's petitioners, be a positive evil of great magnitude. That by the constitution of our country, in church and state, Convocation is clearly recognised as one of the four estates of the realm, without whose joint consent no alterations in ecclesiastical affairs can justly or constitutionally be made. That this is no private opinion of your Majesty's dutiful petitioners, but the deliberate judgment of the most celebrated divines.t That Convocation not having been permitted to do business for one hundred years, when no ecclesiastical alterations were contemplated, can be no sufficient reason why it should not be allowed to act now, when alterations in ecclesiastical property, discipline, and rights are proposed, greater than any that have taken place since the Reformation. That by the Act of Submission, passed in the twenty-fifth year of the reign of King Henry the Eighth, Convocation cannot lawfully proceed to business without the permission of the sovereign. We therefore humbly, but earnestly, pray that your Majesty may be pleased to consult the Archbishops and Bishops of the Church about the expediency and propriety of allowing the Convocation now in existence to proceed to business; and that your Majesty may be pleased to consult your legal advisers as to whether alterations in ecclesiastical property and discipline can constitutionally be made without the consent of Convocation; and that your Majesty will not sanction any further alterations in ecclesiastical affairs till the proposed measures have received the assent of the House of Convocation, as well as passed the two Houses of Parliament. And your petitioners will ever pray, &c. INFANT SCHOOLS.-TRAINING TEACHERS. (To the Editor of the British Magazine.) SIR, I have read the resolutions of the Home and Colonial Infant School Society, and collect from them, that it is designed shortly to establish a model school for training teachers under the auspices of that institution. The general tenour of the resolutions, as well as that adopted upon this particular subject, is calculated to convey an impression to the public, that there is not any other provision made or making to supply the exigencies of infant schools in this respect. Such, however, I am happy to say is not the real state of the case; and I trust that I may be allowed a place in the pages of your Magazine, in order to set the public right in this matter, and to do justice to an institution, the interests of which I am bound by my office, as well as a strong sense of duty, to uphold and support. Our parochial Infant School, in Tufton-street, Westminster, professes to offer the advantages of training to teachers of infant schools; not indeed at present to the extent, or in the manner, I could wish; but it does offer them even * Smollett's History of England, George First. + Hooker, 8th book.-The Parliament of England, together with the Convocation annexed thereunto, is that whereupon the very essence of all government within this kingdom doth depend. |