637
18957
6257 15306
8
Untit
3. Because of the presence in the Colony of large establishments, military, naval, and police. For the members of these free sittings are provided in the Cathedral, and it is also used for separate services for the troops, a small yearly grant of $500 being allowed as remuneration for such use, there being no military Chapel or permanent military Chaplain. It should be mentioned that the naval authorities, on application, have hitherto made an annual contribution of £20 for the use of sittings.
4. Because there are certain offices to be performed, often of immediate necessity, such as religious attendance upon the destitute sick, burials (always pressing) the management of charities, and distribution of charitable funds; superintendence of Sunday Schools attended by the children of soldiers, of the police, and of the servants of the civil, military, and naval establishments; all of which offices and services demand for their proper conduct the continual presence in the Colony of a clergyman responsible to some extent to the government.
5. Because it is desirable that the ministrations of a Chaplain under the control of the Government should be continued at the Government Civil Hospital and at the Gaol. The cemetery also is Government property and is under exclusive Government control.
6. Because those residents in the Colony who belong to other religious denominations, or who are non-Christian must be supposed to have taken their abode here with the knowledge that the Government of the Island is organised on the usual model of a British Crown Colony, in connection with the Church of England; and they therefore are not in a position to complain of any moderate expenditure undertaken for the maintenance of the established form of religion, as recognised by the Crown and Government of the United Kingdom. The Chinese, for example, do not complain of it, as appears from Governor Hennessy's despatch on the subject dated 2nd May, 1881.
7. Because the congregation of the Cathedral at Victoria is composed to a great extent of Officials (and their families) who, when they accepted their appointments, were aware that the services of a Chaplain of the Church of England would be provided for them; and who did not contemplate the possibility of being called upon to assist in providing a stipend for such Chaplain, besides having to share, as they do at present, in the maintenance of the Cathedral services and its fabric.
8. Because it is understood that the decision of Her Majesty's Government to withdraw similar grants in the Straits Settlements has been reconsidered, and that for weighty reasons the sentence of disendowment has been revoked; and because it is conceived, and we humbly submit, that no argument can be found for the continuance of the grant to the Church in the Straits Settlements which is not of equal force when applied to the Church in this Colony.
9. And because your Petitioners believe that it would throw discredit upon the Christian Religion generally in the eyes of the large heathen population by which they are surrounded were the State to appear to retreat from the position it undertook from the settlement of this Colony as a supporter of Christianity, by a withdrawal of the grant.
And your Petitioners will ever pray, &c.
637
18957
6257 15306
8
Untit
3. Because of the presence in the Colony of large establishments, military, naval, and police. For the members of these free sittings are pro- vided in the Cathedral, and it is also used for separate services for the troops, a small yearly grant of $500 being allowed as remunera- tion for such use, there being no military Chapel or permanent military Chaplain. It should be mentioned that the naval autho- rities, on application, have hitherto made an annual contribution of £20 for the use of sittings.
4. Because there are certain offices to be performed, often of immediate necessity, such as religious attendance upon the destitute sick, burials (always pressing) the management of charities, and distribu- tion of charitable funds; superintendence of Sunday Schools attended by the children of soldiers, of the police, and of the servants of the civil, military, and naval establishments; all of which offices and services demand for their proper conduct the continual presence in the Colony of a clergyman responsible to some extent to the government.
5. Because it is desirable that the ministrations of a Chaplain under the control of the Government should be continued at the Government Civil Hospital and at the Gaol. The cemetery also is Government property and is under cxclusive Government control.
6. Because those residents in the Colony who belong to other religious denominations, or who are non-Christian must be supposed to have taken !!! their abode here with the knowledge that the Government of the Island is organised on the usual model of a British Crown Colony, in connection with the Church of England; and they there- fore are not in a position to complain of any moderate expenditure undertaken for the maintenance of the established form of religion, as recognised by the Crown and Government of the United Kingdom. The Chinese, for example, do not complain of it, as appears from Governor HENNESSY's despatch on the subject dated 2nd May, 1881.
7. Because the congregation of the Cathedral at Victoria is composed to a great extent of Officials (and their families) who, when they accepted their appointments, were aware that the services of a Chap- Jain of the Church of England would be provided for them; and who did not contemplate the possibility of being called upon to assist in providing a stipend for such Chaplain, besides having to share, us they do at present, in the maintenance of the Cathedral services and its fabric.
8. Because it is understood that the decision of Her Majesty's Govern- ment to withdraw similar grants in the Straits Settlements has been reconsidered, and that for weighty reasons the sentence of disen- dowment has been revoked; and because it is conceived, and we humbly submit, that no argument can be found for the continuance of the grant to the Church in the Straits Settlements which is not of equal force when applied to the Church in this Colony.
9. And because your Petitioners believe that it would throw discredit upon the Christian Religion generally in the eyes of the large hin christian tentes population by which they are surrounded were the State to appear to retreat from the position it undertook from the settlement of this Colony as a supporter of Christianity, by a with- drawal of the grant.
And
your
Petitioners will ever pray, &c.
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