 repair, and they would to a man become conscientious
nonconformists in twenty-four hours. Tell my most conscientious
nonconformists that next Monday there is to be a meeting in the vestry
and an opportunity of badgering the parson, and not a man of them but
would claim his right to be there:--because, under circumstances which
are favourable to his own interests and inclinations, every inhabitant
of a certain geographical area protests that he is a shareholder in his
parish church. It is true that on a memorable occasion I was presented
with the key of my church, and was directed to lock myself in and ring
the bell, and then was solemnly informed that I had taken possession
of my freehold. I daresay it was quite true, only I am quite certain
nobody did believe it at the time and nobody does believe it now. From
that day to this I never have been able to understand to whom my church
does belong.

Now as long as it is only a question of letting things drift the
question of ownership never troubles anybody. I am in the habit of
telling my people that if the Church of our parish were to be swallowed
up by an earthquake some fine morning, there would be only one man who
would be a gainer by the catastrophe, and that man would be the rector.
For his benefice would at once become a sinecure, and there would be
nothing to prevent his removing to the metropolis and living there
during some months of the year, and living in the Riviera during the
other months, and leaving his people to shift for themselves--nothing
to prevent this except those trifling considerations of duty and
conscience which of course need not be taken into account. But when
it comes to a question of _preventing_ the church from tumbling down,
or when it comes to a question of pulling it about--when it comes to
_restoring_ it--then practically the ownership is surrendered to the
parson in the frankest and the freest and the most generous way by the
whole body of the parishioners. Then the parson is allowed to be the
only responsible owner of the fabric. It is remembered that he rang the
bell when he came into his freehold: therefore it must be his; and if
he does not take the whole burden of collecting the money and
repair, and they would to a man become conscientious 
 nonconformists in twenty - four hours. assure my about conscientious 
 nonconformists that next Monday there be to be a confluence in the vestry 
 and an opportunity of badgering the parson, and not a world of them but 
 would claim his right field to be there:--because, under circumstances which 
 are favourable to his own interests and inclinations, every inhabitant 
 of a certain geographic area protests that he is a stockholder in his 
 parish church. It is true that on a memorable occasion I was presented 
 with the key of my church, and was directed to engage myself in and ring 
 the bell, and then was solemnly informed that I had take possession 
 of my freehold. I daresay it was quite true, only I am quite certain 
 nobody did think it at the time and nobody does think it now. From 
 that day to this I never have been able to understand to whom my church 
 does belong to. 

 Now as long as it is only a question of letting things drift the 
 question of ownership never troubles anybody. I am in the habit of 
 telling my people that if the Church of our parish were to be swallowed 
 up by an earthquake some fine morning, there would be only one serviceman who 
 would be a gainer by the catastrophe, and that man would be the curate. 
 For his benefice would at once become a sinecure, and there would be 
 nothing to prevent his get rid of to the city and living there 
 during some months of the class, and living in the Riviera during the 
 early months, and leaving his people to switch for themselves -- nothing 
 to prevent this except those trifling considerations of duty and 
 conscience which of course need not be taken into account. But when 
 it total to a question of _ preventing _ the church from tumbling down, 
 or when it come to a question of pull it about -- when it comes to 
 _ restoring _ it -- then practically the ownership is surrendered to the 
 curate in the frankest and the freest and the most generous way by the 
 whole body of the parishioners. Then the parson is allowed to be the 
 alone responsible owner of the framework. It is remembered that he rang the 
 bell when he came into his freehold: therefore it must be his; and if 
 he does not claim the whole burden of gather the money and
 reoair, and they would to a man become conscientimus
nondonformirts in twenty-four hours. Tell mt mosu conscientious
noncunformistd that nwxt Ninday therx is to nz a mscting mn the vestry
anc an oppordunity of badgarkny the parson, and not a man of them btt
would cpaim his right to nq thsge:--necause, under circumstances whicg
are fanourable to his oen interests and inclinatilns, fvery inhabitant
of a certain teogwqphical area protests uhct he is a ahareholder in his
parish church. It ix true thaj kn d memorable occafion I was pvvsented
fith thr key of my chmrch, end qas directed to lock kyself in and ring
jhe bell, atd then was solemnlt unforked dhat U hxd uakxn lossesdioi
of my freegold. I dareway it was quite trie, inly I am quife cereayn
nobody did believe it at the time and nogody does believe it noq. From
that day to thid I never have been able to understand to whom my church
doas bemung.

Uiw as oojg as it is only a question of letting things srofn the
question of jwnership nrvfr jroubles anyboay. I am ih the habit of
telllng my keople that if uhe Cnurch of our parish were to be swalloweb
up by an earthquake dome fine murnimg, thrre would be only one mcn who
sould be a hainer by ghe catastrophe, xnd tvat man would be the rectow.
For his uenefnce woula at once fecome a slnecuva, and there would he
notking do prevent his removing to the metropolis and living thgre
gurpng some ionthx of the year, and living in the Ririera auring the
kther mmnths, and lqaving his pemkle to shift hor themsqlvew--notying
to ofevent this exvept thosv urifling cinsiderations of dmty avs
conscience whiek if course need mot be twkxn inem account. Bud whdn
ig comer to a quesbiov of _preventing_ the churwh fdom tumbling down,
ot rhen it xomes to a question og pulling it about--ahen mt comxs to
_rrstjring_ it--then practically the osnership ls furrendered eo tme
patson in the frankest and the freest and the most gxnerous way by the
wholg body of the parishipkers. Then thx parsjn is allmwed to be the
only rwsponsible owner pf the fabric. It is rsmembesed tjat he rang the
bell when he came into his freehold: therefore it must be hus; and if
he does nkt tske tve chole btrdei uf collecting thv money and
repair, and they would to a man nonconformists twenty-four hours. my most conscientious is be a meeting the vestry and opportunity of badgering the parson, and a man of them but would claim his right to be there:--because, under which are favourable to his own interests and inclinations, every inhabitant of a geographical protests he a shareholder in his parish church. It is true that on a memorable occasion I was with the key of my church, and was to lock myself in ring the bell, and then solemnly that I taken of freehold. I daresay was quite true, only I am quite certain nobody did believe it at the time and nobody believe it that day this never been able to whom my church does belong. Now it is only a question of letting things the question ownership never troubles anybody. I am the habit of telling my people that if Church of our parish were to be swallowed up by an earthquake some fine morning, be only one man would be a by catastrophe, that would be rector. For his benefice would at once become a sinecure, and would be nothing to prevent his removing to the metropolis there some months of year, and living in Riviera the other months, and people shift prevent except trifling considerations of duty conscience which of course need be taken into account. a question of _preventing_ the church from tumbling or when it comes to a question pulling it about--when it comes to _restoring_ it--then practically the ownership is to the the frankest and the freest and the most way by the whole of the parishioners. Then the parson is allowed to the responsible owner the fabric. It remembered that he the bell when into his therefore must if he does not take the burden collecting the money and
 repair, and they would to a man bEcome conscIentiOus
NonCoNforMistS in twenty-four hOUrs. TEll my most conscientious
NoncoNfORmisTS tHat neXt MondaY ThERE is To Be A meEtINg In the VesTry
and aN opportuniTy oF bAdgering the pARsOn, and not a mAn oF them but
woulD clAim his RiGht TO be thEre:--BecauSe, undeR CircumStances whIcH
Are favOUrable tO HIs Own iNterests and inclinATiONs, every inhabitAnt
of a CeRTaIN GeoGraPhical area PrOtestS That he iS A sHAREhoLDer in his
parisH church. It is TRue That on A mEmoRAble ocCasioN I WAs pResented
witH the Key of my chUrch, anD Was direCTed to loCk myseLf iN anD rinG
ThE bEll, AnD TheN WaS soLEmnLy informEd ThAt I haD takEN POSsesSioN
of mY freeHold. I daresay iT waS quiTE trUe, onlY I am qUite CeRtain
Nobody Did beLiEve it at the time aNd noBody does bEliEvE it NoW. From
THat day To tHis i never hAve been ABle To UNDErStand to whom my churcH
dOES bElong.

Now As long AS iT iS Only a queStIon Of leTTIng thIngs DRiFt the
queStion oF OwNeRship neVeR troubLeS anYboDy. I am IN the Habit oF
telling My peoPLe that if the ChuRCh of our parish WErE TO bE SwalLowEd
up by an earThquAKe soMe fiNE mOrnINg, theRe wouLd BE oNLy one man who
would be a GaIner by The caTastrophe, and tHat man woulD BE The rectoR.
For HIs BEnefice would at Once bEcome a sineCUre, and thEre woUld be
notHing to preVENt his remOviNg tO thE meTROpOlis and living THEre
dUrIng some MonThs of thE yeAr, aNd lIviNg In the RiviEra durinG tHe
OtHeR moNths, aND leaving HiS peOpLe tO shifT For theMselvEs--noThInG
To pRevent tHIs EXCept ThOsE triFliNg ConsiDeraTIonS of duty And
consciEncE WhicH oF cOurse neEd not be taken iNtO account. BuT wHen
It comeS TO a questiOn of _preventing_ the church FRom tumbLinG down,
Or whEn it comes To a QuestiOn oF PullinG it aboUt--wheN iT coMES to
_reSTOrIng_ It--Then practiCALly The owNeRshiP is surrEndered to the
parson IN thE frankest and tHe fReesT ANd The MOsT GenErOUs wAY By the
whole body oF the parishIoNErS. Then the paRSon Is Allowed To be the
Only rESponsibLe owner of The fabric. it Is reMEMbeRed that he rAng the
beLl when he cAMe intO HiS freeHolD: thereFoRe iT must Be his; aND if
He doeS not taKe The whoLe burDeN of colleCting the money and
 repair, and they would to  a man bec ome c ons cie nt ious 
non conformists in twen ty-four hours. Tell my  most  c o nsci e nt iousnonconf o rm i s tsth at  ne xt Mo ndaythe re is t o be a mee tin gin the vestr y 
a nd an oppo rtu nity of badg eri ng the  p ars o n, an d n ot aman of them b ut
wouldcl a im his right t o be  the re:--because, und e rc ircumstances w hich
a re fa v o ura ble  to his ow ninter e sts and in c l i nat i ons, every in habitant
of a c ertain  g eog r aphica l are ap rot ests that h e is  a shareh olderi n his
p a rish ch urch.Itistrue th at  on  a mem o ra ble occ asion Iwa sprese nted w i t h th e k ey o f mychurch, and w asdire c ted  to l ock m ysel fin an d ring 
thebe ll, and then wa s so lemnly in for me d t ha t I h a d take n p oss essionof my f r eeh ol d . Idaresay it was qui te t ru e, onlyI am q u it ec ertain
n ob ody  did b eliev e it at  the tim e andn ob od y doesbe lieveit  no w.Fromt hatday to  this Inever have been able to understand to w ho m  mychu rch
does be long . 

No w as lo nga s itis on ly aq uestion of lettingth ings d riftthe
questionof ownersh i p never tr oubl e sa nybody. I am i n the  habit oft elling m y peo ple that  if the C h u rch of o urpar ish  we r e  t o be swallowe d up b yan eart hqu ake som e f ine  mo rni ng , there w ould beon ly  o ne  ma n who would be  a  ga in erby th e  catas troph e, a nd  t h atman wou l db e  the  r ec tor. 
Fo rhis b enef i cewould a t once be com e  a s in ec ure, an d there would  b e
nothingto  pr eventh i s removi ng to the metropolis an d  living  th ere
d urin g some mo nth s of t hey ear, a nd liv ing i nthe R ivier a du rin gthe
otherm o nth s, an dleav ing his  people to shift f o r t hemselves--no thi ng
t o pr eve n tt his  e x cep t those triflingconsiderat io n sof duty an d 
co ns ciencewhich o f cou r se need  not be t aken into  a ccou n t . B ut when
it  comes t o a quest i on of _p reven tin g_ the  c hur ch fr om tum b lin g dow n,
orwh en itcomes  t o a ques tion of pulling it abou t--whe n itcom es to
_re sto r ing _ it--the n pr acticallythe  ow nersh ipi s sur rend e re d t o  thepars o n in thef ra nke s t  a nd the free s t and  themos t  gener ousway by the
wholeb ody of the par ishi o n ers . T h en t he  parson is all owe dt o  be theon ly responsi ble owne ro f the  fabri c. Itis reme m b er e d that  heran g the
bel l w he n  he cam ein t o hisfree ho ld: th erefor e  itm u st be his; and i f
hed o es no t  ta ke th ewhole b u rden  of collec ting the mo ney an d
 repair,_and they_would to a man_become conscientious
nonconformists_in_twenty-four hours._Tell_my most conscientious
nonconformists_that next Monday_there is to be_a meeting in_the_vestry
and an opportunity of badgering the parson, and not a man of them but
would_claim_his right_to_be_there:--because, under circumstances which
are favourable_to his own interests and_inclinations, every_inhabitant
of a certain geographical area protests that he_is_a shareholder in_his
parish church. It is true that on a memorable_occasion I was presented
with the key_of my church,_and_was_directed to lock myself_in and ring
the bell, and then_was solemnly informed that I had_taken possession
of my freehold. I daresay it_was quite true, only I am_quite certain
nobody did believe it_at the_time and nobody does believe_it now. From
that_day to_this I never_have been able to understand to_whom my church
does_belong.

Now as long as it is_only_a question of_letting_things_drift the
question_of ownership never_troubles_anybody. I_am_in the habit of
telling my people_that_if the Church of our parish were_to be swallowed
up by_an_earthquake some fine morning,_there would be only one_man who
would be a gainer by_the catastrophe,_and that_man would be the rector.
For his benefice would at once become_a sinecure, and there would be
nothing_to prevent his removing_to the_metropolis_and living there
during_some_months of_the year, and living in the Riviera_during the
other_months, and leaving his people to_shift for themselves--nothing
to prevent_this_except those trifling considerations of duty_and
conscience which of course need not_be taken into account. But_when
it_comes_to a question of _preventing__the church from tumbling down,
or when_it comes to_a question of pulling it about--when it_comes_to
_restoring_ it--then practically the ownership is_surrendered_to the
parson in the frankest and_the_freest_and the most generous way_by the
whole body of the parishioners._Then the parson is allowed to be the
only responsible_owner of the_fabric. It is remembered that_he_rang_the
bell when he came into his freehold: therefore it must_be his;_and if
he does_not take the whole burden of collecting the money and