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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

PLC.O. 882

5PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO

British capital ani commerce the true majority

No cause but a fso- tious one for disturb- ing our settlement.

Reasonable modifica tion not declined.

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would inflict a material and irreparable injury upon the Colony. The Church of England claims to have occupied and to fill a useful place among them.

Again, British capital and commerce form the staple of the Island's prosperity and revenue, and the relative majority of the French and Roman Catholic section is an absolute minority not only in numbers but in material resources, when the British Indian merchants, traders, and inhabitants are taken into account. The section referred to above, even as a coalition, has no preponderating claim to direct the application of the revenue, least of all, to a religious end.

Moreover, if we except a lamentable and expiring recrudescence of long forgotten anti-British feeling, in league with an exaggerated sectarian animosity and jealousy, in other words a strong determination on the part of the intolerants in the ultramontane party, using as a stimulus the antiquated memories of 1810, to employ every effort towards putting down Pro- testantism, and stamping it out, were that possible; there has been and is positively no cause whatever why the old settlement should be rudely disturbed. In a generation, it will be scarcely the old French, but the new Asiatic, population that will have to be dealt with, and the interests of the future (sadly neglected) are far more important than the souvenirs of the past.

As to some moderate and reasonable modification, although we are far poorer than our opponents in every way, and the scantiness of our present resources is such as to restrain our legitimate operations, we have already respectfully intimated that we are prepared to leave it to the Government of Her most Gracious Majesty, the Protectress of the Churches of England and Scotland alike, to order, if it so finally decide, such a tolerable adjustment as may be not invidious, and may remove the present peril of disgracing the Colony, and disparaging the State Church of the mother country, such as may recognise and protect great principles and the true freedom of the masses, threatened by an undue clericalism, such as shall go upon a just and not a Settlement should be numerical computation of claims, and, finally, such as may be preserved from constant and harrassing unsettlements for a term of years, so that the churches may at last have some peace and leisure for their true spiritual avocations and for the exercise of mutual charity,

secured for term of years.

A proportion of

10:4:1 recommended

by lion. H. Stein.

Nee codicil to the

which, however, in

scarcely suficiently favourable to the establishment of the

WHEREFORE the Mauritius Diocesan CHURCH COUNCIL Most URGENTLY

AND RESPECTFULLY PRAY-

That your Lordship will be pleased to take order that-

10. A proportion be laid down not less favourable to the Church of England than that of 10:4:1 including the Bishops, as was recommended by the protest of the 2nd Dec. Honourable Hamilton Stein, one of the dissentients in Legislative Council, which is equal to that of 9:3:1 (about) for the inferior clergy and helpers; or, that the establishments be maintained as they are, and the annual dis- cretionary grants somewhat more largely assigned in favour of the Roman Catholic Church and of the Church of Scotland as may be judged fit; or according to the earnings, or else that the Bishop of Mauritius, who is in England, be allowed an opportunity of consulting with your Lordship with a view to some other scheme such as may commend itself to Her Majesty's Government and be not less favourable to the Church of England, or

Church of Hootland, and to the work of the

great societies of the Church of England.

The annual grants are

already disposable. (Hon. J. Fraser,) Bishop to consult.

See Appendix. Additional vote recommended.

20. That such an addition as may be thought necessary be made to the establishment of the Roman Catholic Church independently, and upon a new vote, e.g., such as may provide for that body, say 50 priests, at Rs. 1,500 each, and also a Bishop (such being the wish and preference it is believed of the Catholics prefer this majority of enlightened Roman Catholics), that the Church of Scotland do receive some increase, the Church of England establishment remaining untouched. In this case the annual grants, distributed as herein-before

Many Roman

(see above), 2.g., the Hen C. Antelme,

C.M.G.

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explained, in due proportion and on the merits, might perhaps be reduced in amount, notably by the suppression of the building grant; so as to meet about Reduce the Rs. 28,000 balf the extra charges incurred, say Rs. 18,000 per annum instead of Rs. 28,000 (annual) to 18,000. as heretofore. Otherwise-

asked for, else.

30. That an examination be held of the wants and justifiable requirements An examination of the respective churches, in order to attain to a true estimate of what might be a suitable and equitable redistribution under the whole circumstances, and in accordance with your Lordship's Despatch, No. 314, of the 20th September 1889, a portion of which was duly communicated to this Council in answer Former reply to their petition of the 5th August last.

acknowledged.

In full assurance that we shall obtain from your Lordship, under Divine Conclusion. Providence, that protection, consideration, and assistance which, under the circumstances of this violent attack, we feel entitled most respectfully to claim at the hands of the Imperial Government, particularly inasmuch as no merely local interests are at stake,

We have, &c.

T. ERSKINE HALL, Colonel, Vice-President.

POVAH A. AMBROSE, Vice-President.

JOHN FRASER, Vice-President.

A. D. MATHEWs, M.A., Archdeacon, Vice-President.

HAMILTON STEIN, Treasurer.

H. D. BUSWELL, C. M. S., Secretary.

EDWARD C. FRASER.

R. J. FRENCH, S. P. G.

T. P. HARPER,

A. MESSERVY, M.A., Rector, Royal College.

W. PENDAVIS, M.A.

A. TEMPLE ROBERTS, M.A.

ALDOR ROHAN,

CHARLES F. SHAND.

A. WEMYSS.

L. WORRNITZ.

C. D'AVRAY.

E. C. BEWSHER.

C, DINNEMATin.

J. P. ELLIS.

J. EANEST, C. M. S., Native pastor.

T. P. PADDLE, M.D.

A. VAUDIN, Chaplain.

Also G. A. BAPTISTE, H. KRUMPHOLTZ,

A. B. COMMING,

T. E. DEMPSTER,

S. GRAVES,

W. HERVEY,

W. HILL,

C. HALL,

For the Mauritius Diocesan Church

Council.

C. L. MOUBRAY,

H. REGNIER, G. ROBINSON,

E. MARTINDALE,

L. ROGERS,

ED. VIRIEUX,

A. LANAUZE,

N. ROHAN, ALBERT RAE,

R. TELFAIR, and others.

F. NASH,

H. RICKWOOD,

Council Room, St. James' Cathedral. Port Louis, December 30, 1889.

F 2

Appendix

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