and expresses his astonishment, that such a CHAP. VI. system could have been framed, and enforced

General severity

cesses,

The people of Ireland already pay (as a plain calculation will shew) an average sum, not less and injustice of than £200, for every family, that frequents the these vestry public service of the established Church or in other words, each of these families now costs to the people an average sum of £200 yearly, for its religious worship!!-Yet this is submitted to. No objection is made to this large revenue. And surely it is enough that the Protestant clergyman extracts a princely and encreasing income from the hard industry of Catholic tenants: that his glebe house and lands are valuable and extensive: that the revenues of the Protestant prelates, dignitaries, and ecclesiastical foundations in Ireland, exceed those allotted to the Sovereign of the British empire-but it is too much that the impoverished Catholic, perhaps unable to build his Catholic chapel, to maintain his own pastor, or to defray the local charges incident to the exercise of his own religion, is compelled to build, furnish, and embellish eburches, for his wealthier Protestant neigh. bours, even though he and his family may stand trembling on the brink of insolvency and

CHAP. VII. ruin.

Quod

durat.

Yet such is the Law in Ireland. certaminibus ortum, ultra metum

SECTION VII,

Example of
Jamaica.

Moderate

church esta blishment, tho' Protestant.

Edwards' West
Indies, vol. I.

205-7.

Example of Church Government.

I. THE British Laws have exhibited, in another Island (and, as it were, by contrast) an example of Church government, highly commendable. It exists in the valuable and well-regulated colony of Jamaica. That Island happily enjoys a Church establishment, constituted by the British sovereign and his Protestant bishops-which has never been complained of, either by its clergy as inadequate, or by the people as oppressive.

We conclude this chapter, therefore, with a brief and authentic account of the Protestant Church establishment of Jamaica.

"The Island is divided into 20 parishes, " which contain IS Churches and Chapels. "Each parish is governed by a chief magistrate,

stiled Custos Rotulorum, and a body of "Justices, varying in number. They hold a

Moderate and

establishment

"Session of the peace once in every three months. CHAP. VII. "The Vestries are composed of the Custos, two "other Justices, the rector and ten Vestry-men, wise Church "These ten Vestry-men are elected annually of Jamaica. "by the freeholders. The Vestries are em-Vestries annupowered to assess and appropriate taxes-to freeholders. ally elected by "appoint way-wardens-to allot labourers for "the repair of the highways: and they nominate

proper persons, called Collecting Constables, "for the collection of the public and parochial

"taxes.

"Each parish is provided with a rector, and other church officers. The presentation to "the rector's livings rests with the Governor or "commander in chief.

"In lieu of Tithes, annual sums are paid Commutation of "to the Rectors by the Churchwardens: which Tibes in Jamaica.

sums are levied by Vestries rateably upon "the inhabitants. These annual sums are "fixed; the highest is 300: the lowest is "£100.

Besides, each parish builds and repairs a parsonage house, or allows the rector £50

yearly, in lieu of one. Many of the livings, "also, have considerable glebe lands annexed : "as the parish of St. Andrew, which altogether " is valued at £1000 yearly.

CHAP. VII.

Provincial su-
premacy,
in Jamaica.

No incroach

ment upon Church revenues, &c.

The Bishop of London is said to claim this island as part of his diocese: but his jurisdiction is renounced and barred by the "Laws of the country. The Governor, or

66

Commander in Chief, as supreme head of "this provincial church, not only inducts into "the several rectories, but likewise suspends any delinquent ecclesiastic, ab officio,' upon application from his parishioners."

Here is a short and simple outline of a provincial established Church, of Protestant origin: not fancied in theory, but formed to actual existence; planted by a British Protestant Monarch, and flourishing peaceably under the shelter of British Laws and constitution.

2. We are very far from seeking any infringement upon the established rights of the Church of Ireland; any invasion of her property; any diminution of her dazzling splendour. The Laws have amply secured all these rights, possessions and prerogatives.-Yet may we be permitted to exclaim :

How happy for the peace and concord of Ireland, if the British colonists, who introduced the Protestant religion, had thought and acted like the colonists of Jamaica! How many mischiefs might have been averted!

How many blessings might have poured down.CHAP. VII. upon a contented and united people! May we Salutary then, venture humbly to suggest, that, even at example of the this late day, the example of Jamaica remains ment in Jamaica to show to the provident Legislator, what may

4

yet be practicable for the relief and improvement of Ireland: how the Irish people may be relieved, and the Protestant clergy retained in affluence so as that the ease of the one may be rendered compatible with the due splendour of the other and all may again enjoy freedom of Conscience, unfettered and untaxed, without encroaching upon established rights, or violating settled usage or opinion.

"Moniti meliora sequamur."

Church govern