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62
Parish of St. George the Martyr, Southward.
to £79 a year are entrusted to the Eector Churchwardens and Overseers: two amounting
to £206 a year to the Eector Churchwardens and inhabitants: from the administration of
the remaining Charities which have an income of £607 a year the Eector is excluded, the
Trustees being either the Churchwardens alone or the Overseers alone or the Churchwardens
and Overseers with eleven Trustees appointed by the Yestry. The Commissioners
learn from Mr. Simons' Eeport, that there are three Churchwardens, of whom two are
elected by the Yestry, and four Overseers all elected by the Yestry. It is therefore obvious
that as regards all but the most insignificant portion of the Charities the Yestry have of
ancient right, the principal voice in the management.
6. Dr. Allen on whose behalf you make a complaint, does not himself complain of this
state of things. In the year 1862 he gave evidence as follows :—"I would give my opinion
" everywhere that Charities ought to be distributed by laymen; for if distributed by the
'' Clergy of any Churches, they would be biased to those constituting their own flock.
" This is my opinion after 25 years experience." On the present occasion Dr. Allen has
not come forward at all.
7. Is there then, the Commissioners would ask, any maladministration ?
In the first place they understand from Mr. Simons' Eeport, that great and unusual
care has been exercised in ascertaining the recipients ; that recommendations are received
from every Eatepayer, and that the Trustees are divided into parties who take each a
separate portion of the Parish, and visit every person so recommended, and that no distinction
of locality has ever been made.
8. Such being the general system, are there any particular instances of partiality or
injustice ? You hint that there are, but say you do not specify them from motives which
certainly meet with the hearty approval and respect of the Commissioners. Your opponents
say that none can be adduced.
9. I am here to observe that in the opinion of the Commissioners instances of individual
wrong should be of a very decided character, and should be such as are apt to recur, in
order to invalidate a system of administration worked apparently with care by those who
apparently are under no temptation to be unjust, and the Commissioners entertain great
doubts whether you can make such a case as would be requisite for your purpose. Their
reasons are these : on the Inspection in 1862, the Incumbents of St. Jude's, St. Paul's, and
St. Mary's, gave evidence. The Incumbent of St. Paul's was the Eev. Thomas Howlett,
who joins in your present application. The Incumbent of St. Mary's was the Eev. Alfred
Snape, who' also joins. The Incumbent of St. Jude's was your predecessor, the Eev.
Prancis Cruse. They all concurred in saying that they had no complaint against the
Trustees, or against their administration of the Charities ; they claim an apportionment as of
right, and in order that the Ministers of the Sub-Parishes might have a voice in the
administration. The Incumbent of St. Stephen's, who also joins in your present application,
did not appear at all. No other evidence was given to support the claim f°r
apportionment while evidence of the character I have before referred to was given against
it. It is clear, therefore, that up to November 1862, there was nothing in the shape of
maladministration. The Commissioners are reluctant to suppose, without proof, that any
can have sprung up since that time.