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the same means that were adopted | by that worthy man; that he would have visited some of the cottages of the poor, and conversed with them familiarly, and proved that he could sympathise with them in their distresses, and practically point the path to heaven. Then, indeed, they might suppose, Episcopacy would resume her best and ancient honours. Those every true friend of religious liberty would wish to see her wear. But, no! power, not argument, was to decide the fray. Scarcely was it credible; but it was true, -The poor man has been served with a notice to leave his cottage. But, gentlemen, shall he quit? (No, no, no, from various parts of the room.) No, gentlemen, not, said Mr. Wilks, if I spend the last fragment of my fortune, he shall not! (Very loud and long continued marks of approbation.) No! gentlemen, he may quit that cottage, but there shall be reared in that village another modest cottage for that poor man! And he shall not be perforce a wanderer! It shall be a cottage such as becomes me to build, and him to dwell in. It shall not be a chapel but a cottage; and I hope that often, thence the pious prayer shall ascend, grateful as incense; and that amidst the stillness of the summer's eve, or tempest of a winter's night, the melodies of praise shall echo through the vale. On the front of that cottage shall be placed this inscription, "AN ASYLUM FROM PERSECUTION." And when the Bishop alternates his abode from his palace at Llandaff, to his canonry at Oxford, and from Oxford to this village, this inscription will meet his eye; and then, "to supper, with what appetite he may!" But, gentlemen, continued Mr. Wilks, I do not think that this prelate will

long there remain. An archiepis. copal crown may await his brow. But still there will be moments of reflection; and Amos, the hind at Ewelme, may be as a spectre, amidst the honours of the convocation, and at the banquet hour. (Loud applause.)

Amongst many circumstances which induced him to urge union and vigilance was a measure about to be introduced into Parliament during the present session. Dis senters must not be captivated by alluring names. An Act to which he had referred, and which would have taken poor children from their pious parents, was a pill gilded and saccharized by a specious title; that was called "An Act to prevent the Misapplication of the Poor Rates ;" and the other Bill would be nominally, "a Bill to promote the Universal Education of the Poor." What could be more captivating than such a measure to the friends to educa tion and to truth? But yet few Bills would require more deliberate attention. During the last summer, the Archbishop of Canterbury made a visitation through part of his diocese, accompanied by the Bishop of Exeter. During the excursion he delivered a charge. Therein he is said to have complained "of the united attacks of Dissenters and infidels;" to have lamented, that the meanest and most ignorant of the people, employ themselves in inquiries, for which they are not qualified. (Loud laughs.) He is said to have stated, that the education of the poor must be confided to the direction of the parish priests, or there will be hazard to the Church and State; to have censured also the mistaken liberality, which would leave religion to assert its own rights, and to have directed the clergy to look

dispute, or a college for the propagation of opinions that would consolidate the power of the church, by means inconsistent, with religious freedom and their undoubted rights. With profound respect for the individual who, from philanthropic motives, would propose that Bill, he must thus raise not an hostile, but a cautionary voice, lest this project should add to those circumstances which increase the pecuniary demands, the oppressions, and the unpropitious appearances that had roused their displeasure, excited their sympathy, and might justify alarm, (Much applause.)

were

for the interference of Parliament in behalf of Church of England education, and in the mean time to protect the poor from the misguiding of the enemies of Church and State, who would introduce a mode of education hostile, to both. (Hear, hear.) This charge he regarded as the annunciation of the principles, the designs, or at least of the wishes of personages whose opinions had the greatest authority, from the offices they held, and who have not only the power to will, but much power to execute whatever they may will. Those plans he connected with the expected Bill. Thereby it might be proposed, that a school would be After a great variety of other erected in every parish; the erec-subjects, amongst which tion and the annual charge payable the Test Act-the Marriage Act by a rate; and that though the the rejection of the Bill to prechildren of poor Dissenters might vent the misapplication of the learn their own catechisms, and Poor Rates, in consequence of the attend their own places of wor- intelligence of the Earl of Liver, ship, yet the appointment of the pool-the attacks made upon schoolmaster should be in the this Society by the reverend auclergyman of the parish, (marks thor of " Religio Clerici," by Mr. of disapprobation,) or if he did Morgan in his Sermons at the not have a direct appointment, he Bampton Lectures, and by Mr, might have such authority, that no Belsham in his three Sermons, person could be appointed with- entitled, Christianity pleading out his concurrence, and when for the patronage of the civil appointed, no person to be re- power"a Eulogium upon his moved but by his concurrence, present Majesty, which was reand the consent of the Ordinary.ceived with great applause-and Hence these persons, who were the Fall of the Inquisition in now not only Clergymen but Jus-Spain-Mr. Wilks thus concluded tices, who now misdirected the his speech:-The hideous dwarfinfluence conferred by the power ish manikin of persecution, exof directing parochial relief, hibited in Test and Corporation. would introduce men favourable Acts, had there (meaning in to their own religious principles, Spain) swollen to a colossal statue. to the important situation of pa- The colossus indeed bestrid both rish schoolmasters; and thus hemispheres. The hair were would be realized what the Arch-snakes; gall was the milk, and bishop had predicted, that Par-iron was the heart. But the liament would "interfere on be- thunderbolts of an injured people half of the Church of England and offended Deity no longer education." Thus every parish slept. Even this colossus; this would become either an arena for colossus though so vast, had

VOL. XII.

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After long, loud, and reiterated applause, continuing for several minutes, ten Resolutions were passed,

1. Expressing sincere pleasure on account of the imitation by his present Majesty of the example of his beloved Father; and their attachment to the Royal House of Brunswick. 2. Vindicating the rights of Conscience. 3. Rejoicing in the fall of the Inquisition in Spain. 4. Applauding the labours of the Society. 5. Declaring their disapprobation of the Test and Corporation Acts.

6. Choosing the Committee. Rev. J. Brooksbank-Wm. B. Collyer, D.D.-George Collison-F. A. Cox, M.A. Thomas Cloutt--Alexander Fletcher Rowland Hill, M.A.-Thomas JacksonWm. Newman, D.D.-Wm. F. Platt S.W.Tracy-John Townsend--Matthew Wilks - Mark Wilks ;- David Allan, Esq.-W. Bateman, Esq.-J. B. Brown, Esq.-James Emerson, Esq.-James Esdaile, Esq.-Colonel Handfield-Thos. Hayter, Esq.-J. O. Oldham, Esq.-J. Pritt, Esq.-Wm. Townsend, Esq.Matthew Wood, Esq. M. P.-Thomas Wontner, Esq.-Thomas Walker, Esq. and James Young, Esq. 7. Recommending various measures; viz. embracing every favourable opportunity to obtain the repeal of the Test andCorporation Acts; to procure exemption of places of religious worship from parochial assessment, and of Dissenters attending them from Sunday tolls; to guard against the extension of the poor laws, or the introduction of any system of general education, needlessly increasing the burdens of the Dissenters, and encroaching on the rights of conscience. 8, 9, and 10 Voting thanks to Robert Steven, Esq. the Treasurer, Thomas Pellatt and John

Wilks, Esqrs. the gratuitous and Honorary
Secretaries, and the Right Honourable

Lord HOLLAND the Chairman.

After the resolution of thanks to the Noble Chairman had been passed, amidst every possible demonstration not only of concurrence, but delight, Lord HOLLAND rose, and addressed the meeting with great animation to the following effect.

"Ladies and Gentlemen— After all the proceedings of this morning, after the able addresses which have been delivered, espe cially after the very spirited, powerful, and eloquent exposure, by my friend Mr. Wilks, of the principles upon which this Society is formed, and his lively and interesting, but most expressive detail of the manner in which the affairs of this Society have been conducted, I should be worse than a coxcomb if I were to endeavour to enforce those topics by any thing I can say: but, on the other hand, after the handsome and flattering manner in tioned, and after a review of all which my name has been menthe circumstances of this meeting, I should be a stock or a stone if I did not at least endeavour to express my gratitude. (Loud cheers.)

I cannot but consider it as a great honour to be placed here by the call of my enlightened fellow-countrymen among Protestant Dissenters. (Loud applause.) I recollect, Gentlemen, that this Society, at least the meeting on this day, is composed chiefly, although not entirely, of Protestestant Dissenters; as the The Resolutions were proposed object of the Institution is not by the Rev. Rowland Hill, Jo- exclusively confined to Protestseph Berry, J. A. James, Roby, ant Dissenters, but is partly the Smith (Rotheram), Dr. Bogue, promotion of religious freedom all and Dr. Styles, and James Bald-over the world; and when I conwin Brown, Esq. of the Inner sider that the greater number of Temple, in various excellent ad- the audience I am now addressdresses, which we lament our ing belong to the various bodies want of room to insert. of Dissenters, that enhances to

event (the introduction of Lord Sidmouth's Bill) which must be recollected by all whom I address, because I believe a resist

me, though a member of the you. I confess I had no notion Church of England, the value of that such a variety of petty vexathe honour I have this day re-tions were actually practised at ceived. Thus I think, because I the present moment; and to coradopt the sentiment, if not the rect those abuses, as well as to words of Neale, in the commence-promote liberal principles, I oriment of his excellent history of ginally felt a great satisfaction at the Puritans-As long as there is hearing of the formation of this a Protestant Dissenter in Eng- Society; and I now feel a double land, there will be there a friend satisfaction at having the honour of liberty, of the constitution, and to preside on its assembly. I of man. (Loud cheering.) agree with him, and was before "With respect to the proceed-aware that the cause of religious ings that have passed, I cannot liberty, whatever we already have help expressing my full and obtained, or whatever prospects hearty concurrence. In the first we may have, requires constant resolution you have expressed union and vigilance. (Applause.) that loyalty which has always. The gentleman who spoke last distinguished the Protestant Dis-(Dr. Styles) has alluded to an senters towards the House of Brunswick; and I am sure it is a heart-felt gratification to me to learn, though the rumour had reached me before, that his Ma-ance to it originated this Society. jesty, with that urbanity which adorns him, and which accompanies him on all occasions, expressed himself in the liberal and conciliating manner which he did, and that he displayed the feelings which he doubtless cherishes, as to the obligations which his family owe to the Protestant Dissenters of this country. The next resolution you have passed, states more fully, correctly, and, in my opinion, not in the least degree too broadly, the principles upon which we act. The third demonstrates, that you are not bound by any narrow prejudices to our own soil, but feel for the cause of religious liberty all over the world. (Applause.)

"With respect to many of the topics which have been introduced, I can assure my friend near me, (Mr. Wilks,) that I have derived great instruction from his address; and I have felt an excitement, and deep interest, from the cases he has mentioned to

He was pleased to suppose that the expressions I then used, and the conduct I pursued, contributed to prevent that Bill from passing into a law. I opposed it, because in that Bill was to be found this principle, that a man had not a right to preach the doctrines which he believed, without permission from others: I certainly used all my best endeavours to oppose that Bill. But it was not to my exertions you should attribute success. No! Gentlemen, I am too much used to the assembly in which I sit, to listen to such a conceit, that my poor exertions should have been the means of throwing out that Bill. There were introduced upon that occasion auxiliaries, who were not obliged to take their oaths petitions, coach loads of petitions, were sent in on that occasion. We could hardly shake hands with our fellow Peers from the number of petitions that entered against

IRISH EVANGELICAL

SOCIETY.

that Bill. Union and vigilance on that occasion occasioned your success. By them the sacred principle of religious liberty has been, and was then preserved. You owe even the preservationing, May 9, at the City of London and increase of your liberty to the same: nor let your vigilance

relax."

After his Lordship had concluded, the meeting was dissolved, and he retired amidst long and enthusiastic applause. Our want of room has compelled us to omit many things which we had marked for insertion.

THE Annual Meeting of this So ciety took place on Tuesday even

Tavern, Thomas Walker, Esq. (Treasurer) in the Chair.

The Report contains a summary of the Society's exertions and success: an evangelical college has been established; seven students have finished their education; eight more are pursuing their studies in the academy. Six stated ministers are partly supported from the Society's funds; twelve are assisted in intinerating, and fourteen new chapels are either built or building. And as a farther encouragement to the exertions of the Society, it is remarked that, in Galway, Roscommon, and Clare, where such shocking outrages have lately been com

N. B. £2. is the amount of the Annual Contributions expected from cach Congregation in England, and £1 from every Congregation in Wales. Such subscriptions became due at Lady-day last, and the arrears may be transmitted by friends, or by the post, to the Trea-mitted, there surer, Robert Steven, Esq. Upper Thames-street, London; or to either of the Secretaries, Thomas Pellatt, Esq. Ironmongers'-hall; and John Wilks, Esq. Finsbury-place, London; to the latter of whom applications may be addressed; and Country Ministers, or their friends, will always be received with pleasure at the meetings of the Committee, which occur at Batson's Coffeehouse, Cornhill, at half-past six in the evening precisely, on the last Monday in every month.

HIBERNIAN SOCIETY.

CITY of London Tavern, May 6, Fourteenth Anniversary, W. Wilberforce, Esq. in the Chair.

Motions were made and seconded by the Rev. D. Wilson, G. T. Noel, Leigh Richmond, H. W. Gardner (Barnstable), Fletcher (Blackburn), | T. Smith (Rotheram), Rowland Hill, Jabez Bunting, and Thomas Morell (St. Neot's); and Messrs. Sanford (Capt. R. N.) Ferrier, and Tarn. Receipts 4,6837.34d. Disbursements 8,3871. 16s. 84d. Balance due to the Treasurer, Samuel Mills, Esq. 3,7041. 16s. 5d. who generously gave to the Society 10007. which reduced the sum due to him to 2704/. 16s. 5d.

are no Protestant schools, nor evangelical preachers; on the contrary, in those districts where there are many schools or preachers, the people have been tranquil: " for the Gospel effects much by restaint, even where it does not sanctify and save."

ex

Rev. Dr. Waugh apologized for constitutional infirmity and haustion of mind, which incapacitated him from pleading the cause of the Irish Evangelical Society with that energy which it merited and demanded. Were he to plead the cause only of an injured fellowcreature, he should think it his duty to put forth all his energies; but he was now pleading a cause that involved in it the glory of Deity, the honour of Christ, and the eternal happiness of millions of his fellow-creatures and fellow-subjects; of men in a state of much moral pollution, and sinking under the pressure of guilt and depravity! In this cause, said Dr. W. we have no option; it is the command of Him that made me-of Him that redeemed me that I should send his blessed Gospel to the ends of the earth, and much more, that I should send it to my neighbours and fellow-subjects. From this obligation nothing can release my mind.

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