Mr. David Jones, late Churchwarden of Llanon, a parish which
forms part of the living of Mr. Ebenezer Morris, who is notorious for his prosecution of John James in the Ecclesiastical Court of St. David's, has been brought before the same Court, also at the suit of Mr. Morris, on a charge of neglecting to supply sacramental wine, and absenting himself from church. Being unable to pay the costs of the suit against him, amounting to 401., he was arrested on Saturday, and conveyed to Carmarthen gaol.
A correspondent of the Chronicle gives particulars of another " fee and tombstone case." The widow of a blacksmith, by name Hinge, residing in the village of Greenford, wished that her husband should be buried in a brick grave. The fees demanded by Mr. J. Tomkyns, Rector of Greenford, were 6/. 2s. for the grave, 1/. 2s. for surplice. fees, 1/. 3s. 6d. for leave to place a head and foot stone, and 1/. 1-1s. 6d. for permission to cover in, or arch over, the grave. The widow agreed to pay all but the last ; and had actually paid the first two, when she received the following letter from the benevolent and accomplished Tornkyns, through Sayer, his clerk.
" Greenford, 12th September 1831. " I understand you object to my customary fees, as settled in the schedule of fees, for turning an arch over the grave (If. 14e. flit) and for the bead and foot at me fid.), making together 21. Ns. If I remit these fees, a precedent is urged by those well able to pay them, that they are not ala ays demanded; and all fees are by one become questionable.
"Those is ho are not able to pay them should (well knowing that they are fees) in. quire first, and inform themselves whether they are above what they can well pay ; but after the fee has been incurred, there is no justice in objecting to pay because they are higher than any one thinks they might to be. I understand your argument is. that becalm you paid a fee for a brick wave, you concluded you might turn au arch over it without fee. The saute argument would apply to putting a slab over the grave, which also is liable to a fee, although the fee has been paid for a brick grave.
" You were not obliged to have these things; thereture there can be no appeal to me on the ground of charity to remit them. Any one might as ',ell claim a silk gown at the price of a cotton one, because she may not be in affluent circumstances. My order to Mr. Sayer uas—what is the practice at all churches—to demand the foe of the before they began. By his not obey ing mv orders, I am put to the trod& of apply big to you, and arguing for my due ; mini he is to hare his time employed in getting the money, which at the time should have immediately have been paid. "I am your obedient servant, " J. Tom reens. " To Mrs. Hinge."
After several applications, Widow Hinge paid the fee for the head and foot stone to Sayer, on the understanding that the Rector would not insist upon his demand for arching in the grave, which the widow thought was included in the 61. 2s. paid for the grave itself; but three days afterwards, namely, on Friday last, she received a letter from Crickett and Sons, Proctors of Doctors' Commons, threatening her with proceedings in the:Ecclesiastical Court if the IL 14s. 6d. were not paid within a week. The Chronicle's correspondent also mentions a circumstance which shows that Mr. Tomkyns had no claim on the widow on account of especial attention to the spiritual wants of her deceased husband— While poor Hinge lay on his death-bed, he was anxious to have the sacra- ment administered to him; and sent on the Tuesday to the rectory, humbly to reque,t the reverend gentleman would attend for the purpose; but not seeing or hearing any thing of him up to Saturday, and the poor man still sinking, another message was sent; when an answer was returned that the Rector had been from home, and that he just then was going out to dinner ; but if the man was "alive the next day, he would go and administer it; which he accordingly
The agents and steward of Lord Walsingham have ejected a man from his cottage, because he refused to give up his attendance upon a
congregation of religionists, called Ranters. Other tenants of the noble and reverend lord received notice to quit ; but as they complied with the agents' stipulations, they were allowed to remain. —Bury Post. Tli.! parish of Cilcew, mar ?Hold, has set an example which, if fol- lowed by other parishes, will soon settle the subject of Church-rates. Last week a Vestry was called for the purpose of voting a rate; which, however, the rate •pays-re postponed " to a future day." This, of coarse, left it open to the Minister or Churchwardens to summon an- other Vestry whenever they might think proper. The Minister felt much annoyed, and got another Vestry called last Monday; calculating, that with the assistance of the landlords and their agents, he should prevail on the tenants to alter their opinions, or their acts at any rate, and bow to the dictation of their superiors. Soon after five, about twenty of the parishioners met ; and the Minister took the chair, sup- ported by an agent or deputy agent, of two or three landlords of the parish, who intimated that if the tenants of these parties did not support or pay the rate, it was probable other tenants would be selected in their stead, who would do so. This threat did not appear to have much effect ; for though the reverend gentleman who had occupied the chair appeared determined, if possible, to hear no one but himself and friends, it was with some difficulty moved and seconded, that the Vestry be adjourned to that day twelve months; and this motion was carried by the rate- payers without a single dissentient.—Carnarvon Herald.
Distress-warrants were granted by the County Magistrates against seventy Radicals of Chatham who have refused to pay their Church- rates. It will thus be seen whether the law of tbe land or the philo- sophic Radicals in question are the strongest.—Kerdish Gazette.
On Wednesday week, a woman did penance in public at Walton Church, by order of the Ecclesiastical Court, for defaming the cha- racter of her neighbour. It is many years since such an occurrence took place. The white sheet, however, was not enforced. This should be a warning to the fair sex who are troubled with an evil tongue. This singular scene excited considerable interest in those who wit- nessed ft.—Live/purl Mercury.
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