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than what it might justly derive from Us own merits . After some further conversation , in which Mr . D . Giddy ,, Gen . Thornton , Mr . Wiottesley , Mr . Banks and Mr . Serjeant Onslow participated , the amendment was rejected . General Thornton then proposed the omission of certain words in the preamble , which was also rejected .
The House resumed , and the report being * received , it was ordered to he taken into further consideration on Monday . House cf Commons , June 5 th . The Report of the Chapel Exemption Bill was taken into further consideration ; and the Chancellor of the Exchequer proposed an amendment , that instead of * seat in ten being' reserved for the poor , one fifth of the whole number should be so
reserved . General Thornton expressed his disapprobation of the whole measure . He said that a Right Rev . Prelate , ( the Bishop of London , ) had recently preached a
Sermon before the Society for promoting " Christian Knowledge , wherein he maintained that we should guard against all the modern doctrines of liberality and toleration ^ and that indifference to forms of faith was indifference to truth and
falsehood . The Hon . General , therefore , sincerely embracing * these , opinions , moved that the bill should be read a third time that day three months ; but the motion was negatived without a division , and the bill ordered to be read a third time
tomorrow . General Thornton then moved , pursuant to his notice , for a return of the Parochial Rates paid by the various Chapels , Churches , &c . within the Bills of Mortality , and in the parishes of St . Fancras , and St . Marylebone .
The Chancellor of the Exchequer expressed his concurrence in the motion , but doubted whether the return could be made lfrefore the third reading * of the Bill . House of Commons ^ June 16 J& . Mr . Vansittart moved the third read in sr of the Chapel Exemption Bill .
Sir TV . Scott strongly opposed the measure , thinking * that the application was made without any claim of judgment , and that it was highly inexpedient to introduce this innovation . He saw no reason why his Rig-lit Hon . Friend ( Mr , Vansittart ) thus sallied forth on a diplomatic expedition to negociate a peace between discordant sects . Other individuals would be
compelled to bear the burdens from which these chapels were to be relieved . He should not be disposed to quarrel with this measure if any grievance had been stated , but at present it came before the House supported only byafew individuals , whojie interests were opposite to the establish ., ment . Any man who opened a place under pretence of religious instruction , would
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have a right to compel his nei ghbours k , pay his rates . He thought it his duty to take the sense of the House , and for that purpose moved that the Bill be read a third time on this day three months . The Chancellor of the Exchequer vin dicated the measure and explained the mo tives that had led to its introduction NA
such intentions as those stated by his Rip ^ Hon . Friend had entered into the min 4 of those who had been concerned in the preparation of this Bill , which while it relieved chapels from the burden of rates , did not cast any additional weight upon churches The rate from which chapels would be freed was not one hitherto paid to ihe
church , but to the inhabitants of the par ish , and . all men , after this measure had passed , would be equally under the necessity of contributing to the support of the established religion , perhaps the wisest system ever adopted in any age or country . Many of the chapels were of the establishment founded for the purpose of giVing ease to the churches not able to
accommodate the parishioners of the established religion . In the whole city of London the rate collected on chapels was only four pounds , so that in a pecuniary point of view the subject was not worth consideration . Mr . Bankes observed , that if indeed it were true that the whole amount of the
rates upon the chapels was only four ponnds , it was very uirwise to male an alteration of the law , for the sake of relieving persons from so insignificant a burden . Mr . Butterworth was in favour of the
Bill , the effect of which would be " the uniting and knitting- together the hearts ut his Majesty ' s subjects , " pursuant to the prayer every day read in the House . He admired such a measure of toleration ; and from correspondence with the late Mr . Perceval was able to inform the House , that
just before his lamented death , it hud been in his contemplation to introduce a measure similar to the present . Had it been known in the country that the Bill would be thus opposed , innumerable petition * would have been laid upon the table m & favour . The ministers of these chapels were
ftfquently persons of great erudition , actuated by the best motives . Even inw f parish churches , in many parts ° ^* , ! ^ j doin , the pews were let out . This Bill i not strike at the pre-eminence of the ^ of England , as the Dissenters did not rfuse to pay tvthes or church-rates . Sir W . Scott explained , and hoped tn the Hon . Gentleman ( Mr . Butter ^ rinj would not lot his religion get the betw his judgment to 0 ( j Sir J . Nicholl stated how the la _ * * f at present . The decisions of t ^ , ° P L JUig * Bouch had * i * Uiriifld that ch »
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456 Intelligence . — Chapel Exemption Sill .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1815, page 456, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1762/page/56/
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