Then there is needless complication in dividing the income into eighty-eight parts, splitting it up into small proportions, so that it reaches the hands of those who have to distribute it in driblets, giving an amount of trouble and anxiety out of all proportion to the importance of the sums, or the benefit to those receiving them.
I for one venture to think it would be much better to hand over all the property now representing these gifts to the Charity Commissioners and the Campden Trustees, to be dealt with by the latter in the same manner as that portion of their fund allocated to charitable purposes as distinguished from educational ones are applied.
There are also some other gifts more recently bequeathed, which are distributed to special purposes as directed by the donors. These are:—
In 1840 Mr. Searle bequeathed £300 consols the dividends on which are distributed by the Vicar and Churchwardens among poor women, sixty years and upwards of age in single £1’s (pounds sterling) or as near thereto as possible.
In 1851 Mr. Shore bequeathed £120 9s. 8d., new £3 per cents. the dividends on which are distributed by the Churchwardens and Overseers in bread and coals, or both, but not in money.
In 1867 Mr. Haine bequeathed £300 consols, the dividends on which after defraying the costs of cleaning and restoring the donor’s tomb every second year, are distributed by the Vicar and Churchwardens in the same manner as Mr. Shore’s gift.
In 1885 Mr. Thomas Blewitt bequeathed £1,000 to the Vicar and Churchwardens, which was invested in the purchase of £997 10s. 2¾d. consols, the dividends in which are first applied to the maintenance of the testator’s grave in the Kensington Cemetery at Hanwell, and the gravestones of his ancestors in Kensington Churchyard; and the balance applied for the benefit of six of the oldest and most deserving poor widows in the parish. It is gratifying to know that from this bequest the sum of £26 6s. 11d. was so applied during the year ending Easter, 1890.
I have attached to this paper the account showing the application of the income of these charities during the year ending Easter, 1890. But the unsuitableness to modern times of the prescribed method of distribution of these charities clearly appears from these accounts. When I tell you that five separate gentlemen distributed, one the sum of 14s., and the four others 13s. each in that year I think you will agree with me that it will be better to place these charities upon a more sensible footing.
KENSINGTON PAROCHIAL CHARITIES.
Year ended Easter, 1890.