CONTENTS.

PAGE

I

Introduction ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

CHAPTER I.

THE WHARTON FAMILY.
Wharton Hall—The Ancestry of the first Baron—Thomas, first

Lord-Thomas, second Lord-Philip, third Lord-Philip, fourth Lord (the Good Lord Wharton); his father, Sir Thomas of Aske; his brother, Sir Thomas of Edlington; his own household-Thomas, fifth Lord, and Marquis-Philip, sixth Lord, and Duke-The extinct Barony ... ... ... ...

CHAPTER II.
THE LIFE OF THE GOOD LORD WHARTON.
His early life-Beginning of the Civil War-Triumph of the

Parliamentary Army-The Westminster Assembly of Divines
-Friendship with Cromwell—Retirement from Public Affairs--
The Restoration—The Act of Uniformity-Sympathy with
Nonconformist Ministers—Declaration of Indulgence-Com-
mittal to the Tower-Absence from England-The Act of
Toleration-Swaledale-Ravenstonedale-His old age-His
favourite Psalms—His death-His Benefaction to Noncon-
formist Ministers ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

CHAPTER III.
THE BIBLE CHARITY—ITS EARLY ADMINISTRATION.
Origin of the Charity-The Founder's own Management-The

Assembly's Shorter Catechism-Lye's Catechism-Alleine's
Sure Guide-Trust Deed-Original Trustees-A Protestant
Dissenters' Charity-Instructions—After the Founder's death
-Early changes among the Trustees-Unchanged adminis-
tration ...

...
...

...
.

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***

... ... ... ... ... 109

CHAPTER IV.
THE BIBLE CHARITY-ITS DIVERSION.
Change of administration Churchmen alone Trustees—The

Church Catechism and Book of Common Prayer adopted
Clergymen alone Distributors-Sermons only by Clergymen-
Church Books as Rewards -A distinctly Church of England
Charity - First Report of the Charity Commissioners-An
Exception to the Rule-Further changes among the Trustees
-Sale of Bible Lands-Last Trustees ... ... ... ... 151

INTRODUCTIOX.

THIS volume is based upon a pamphlet vid
for private circulation in January, 15, 2014 T
contained the following Prefatory note

At an inquiry held by the Charity Comission z brade
or three years ago [January, 1894), the late vizi
remarked (after some dispute had arised on anotte ate,
cerning Lord Wharton's Bible Charity, from vi te te me
accustomed to receive a number of Bibles asi pisir s on getti
with 175. 6d. for their distribution and 105. íe precarg
on the Holy Scriptures : “I presume no one time to
is a distinctly Church of England Charity, im I pe:
Catechism to be learnt.” His remark was doute

: u faith ; it did not occur that another Catechusa afisar ve of the Church of England was meant by te segura . unfortunately there was no one present capable of afir information concerning the origin and purpose of te &

The account of this Charity, which is given is die fursue o will show beyond dispute that it is not what it was abou the momento en the occasion above mentioned; and will, I know

LLUM towards restoring it to its proper administration N A the Charity, if they are preserved, and were ch a would probably furnish a suggestive history of the ma many other Special and General Charities kaus m

i t
Some particulars of the Wharton family ze ás se
although they have little direct connection

# the Bible Charity founded by Philip, the fourt's Let vina . have not thought it necessary to refer to the are

wou for every statement, and in correcting mistakes nata s may have fallen into some mistakes myself ; I

te best to avoid them, and now commend the wo

d judgment of the reader.

My attention had been for some yon gaseshi, directed to the manner in which the Ca v e administered ; and, although I found the risks by obtain satisfactory information on the baja. Bertan tured to place a Memorial before the en missioners, setting forth the main facts

as

CHAPTER V.
THE BIBLE CHARITY—ITS RECTIFICATION.

Before the Charity Commissioners-Second Report of the Charity

Commissioners—Before the Court of Chancery-Decision of

the Court-Substance of the Scheme-Trustees under the

New Scheme - Present Distribution – Remarks on the

Scheme ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 175

APPENDIX.

I. Reprint of the Scheme ... ... ... ... ... ... 194

II. The Distribution-Notice to Church of England Applicants

-Circular to Nonconformist Applicants, and Form of

Application ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 201

III. Inscription in Bibles

... 202

INDEX OF PERSONS, PLACES AND SUBJECTS ...

... 203.