Mr. Brown, of Wareham, D. Wire, Esq., H. Thompson, Esq., B. Hanbury,
Esq., G. Hadfield, of Manchester, and A. Pellatt, Esq., severally
defended the principles of the Society, and showed the necessity for its
existence.
* * * * *
BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.
The thirty-first Anniversary Meeting of this Society was held on
Wednesday, the 6th of May, at the great room of Exeter Hall, and was
more numerously attended than any meeting since the formation of the
Society. Long before the chair was taken, notwithstanding the
unfavourable state of the weather in the morning, every part of the
hall, save a few seats reserved on the platform, was so closely
occupied, as in many instances to be inconvenient to the parties; but
even with that inconvenient pressure, there was not sufficient room for
all who claimed admittance. Under these circumstances it was determined
that the lower room should be opened for those who could not gain
admission into the greater, and that after the Report had been read to
the large meeting, it should be taken down and read in the lower room,
where the Treasurer of the Society, John Thornton, Esq., had consented
to take the chair. Several distinguished supporters of the Society
kindly acceded to the suggestions made to them, that they should deliver
their addresses to the meeting in the lower room. Amongst these were the
Hon. and Rev. Baptist Noel, Rev. C. Daley, Rev. G. Clayton, and the
Rev. Dr. Morison.
At eleven o'clock Lord Bexley, the President of the Society, came on the
platform. His Lordship was accompanied on the platform by the Marquis
Cholmondeley, the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, Lord Lorton, Lord
Mountsandford, Lord Teignmouth, Rt. Rev. the Bp. of Ohio, the Rev.
Archdeacon Corrie, the Rev. J. W. Cunningham, Mr. Plumptre, M.P., Mr.
Hardy, M.P., Mr. Lushington, M.P., and many other distinguished
supporters of the Society.
The Secretary, the Rev. A. Brandram, read the Report, which gave
statements and extracts from the communications of correspondents in
various parts of the world, describing the progress of Bible
distribution in those places during the year. The distribution by the
Paris Bible Society had, in the year just closed, amounted to 62,194
Bibles and Testaments; the distribution of the previous year had not
exceeded 55,666. The accounts from Paris contained also most gratifying
intelligence of the progress of the Society in Switzerland, in some
parts of which a distribution to the amount of 27,000 copies had been
effected by two of the Society's colporteurs. It appeared from extracts
from Dr. Pinkerton's report of the distribution of Bibles and Testaments
in the North of Europe, that 27,935 copies had been distributed last
year in the Hebrew, Greek, Latin, German, Polish, and other languages,
and that a considerable number of these had found their way into the
hands of Roman Catholics. After adverting to the satisfactory progress
of Bible distribution in other parts of Germany, in Sweden, and Russia,
the principal Bible Society of which latter place had already
distributed 717,977 copies of the Sacred Scriptures, the Report adverted
to the state of Portugal and Spain. In the former country there was now
no persecution for religious opinion, but every man was allowed to
choose which religion he pleased, and to worship God according to the
dictates of his own conscience. In the Islands of the Mediterranean and
in Greece, the distribution of the Holy Scriptures had gone on
favourably, and the prospect was equally favourable in Moldavia,
Wallachia, Bucharest, and part of Persia. In Calcutta, and other parts
of the East Indies, there had been a much greater than ordinary
distribution of Bibles and Testaments, and larger collections had been
made to forward the objects of the Society. The accounts from New South
Wales, and the Islands of the Pacific, were also most satisfactory. Two
translations of the New Testament into the language of the different
Islands of the Pacific had been brought to this country by the Rev. Mr.
Yate and the Rev. Mr. Williams, and were now being printed by the
Society. After going into some details from the accounts from Africa,
which were on the whole favourable, the Report observed that they were
the reverse in the States of South America. The attention of the Society
had, during the last year, been greatly directed to the West Indies,
with the view of an extensive distribution of the Scriptures to such of
the newly emancipated negroes as could read. An extra subscription of
£15,000 had been raised for the purpose of promoting that object without
interfering with the general funds of the Society. The Report proceeded
to give extracts from the communications from several islands, showing
the earnest desire of the negroes to avail themselves of every
opportunity to obtain religious instruction. It added that the first
shipment made by the Society to that part of the world consisted of
73,695 copies of the Scriptures, the conveyance of which was given by
the owners of the vessels without any expense to the Society. From
returns from the Isle of France, it appeared that 60,000 negroes had
received civil freedom, not one in ten of whom knew how to read; and the
ignorance was, of course, great in proportion. Adverting to the progress
made by the North American Bible Society, the Report stated that its
receipts in the last year were 88,600 dollars; that its issue of Bibles
and Testaments exceeded 110,000 copies, bringing up the whole
distribution, since the commencement, to 1,113,000. The receipts of the
past year amounted to £107,926. 1s., being the largest amount ever
received in one year since the Society's first commencement. In that
amount there were two items, which could not be included in the
permanent income of the Society. The first was a legacy of £11,695. 12s.
9d. (less by the legacy duty), being a bequest of the late Horatio Cock,
Esq.; and the other a sum of £15,000, voted exclusively for the negro
fund. But when these were taken into account, the general subscriptions
of the Society would be found to be little less than those of the
previous year. In these were included a sum of £29,184. 13s. 7d., being
the amount of free donations from auxiliaries to the Parent Society. The
expenditure within the year was £84,249. 13s. 4d., leaving a balance
exceeding £23,000; but the engagements of the Society amount to above
£69,000. The distribution by the Society in the past year amounted to
653,604 Bibles and Testaments, and portions of the Holy Scriptures,
including those sent to the West Indies, &c.; but even after deducting
the latter, it would be found that there had been a considerable
increase of the issues in the last year as compared with the previous
years. The Report, after again adverting to the exertions made for the
West Indies, and the prospect held out that those exertions would, under
the Divine blessing, be attended with complete success in the religious
instruction of the negro, proceeded to state that the present year,
1835, was the third centenary anniversary of the first printing of an
English Bible. It then contrasted the state of society, and of England
generally of that day with those of the present, and deduced the moral
greatness of England now, compared with what it was then, to its
exertions to promote the free circulation of the Holy Scriptures. At
that time the number of copies in circulation was very small; the extent
of the demand in the present day, as contrasted with that, might be
judged of from this fact, that in one day last month orders had been
given for 365,000 copies of new editions.
Amongst the speakers were the distinguished individuals whose names have
been already mentioned, to which may be added, the Rev. Dr. Spring
(representative of the American Bible Society), J. Leifchild, W. Yate,
of the Church Missionary Society, Mr. Williams, and Hugh Stowell.
* * * * *
BRITISH AND FOREIGN SCHOOL SOCIETY.
The thirtieth Anniversary of this Institution was held at Exeter Hall,
on Monday, the 11th of May. On no former occasion have we witnessed a
more numerous attendance.
At twelve o'clock Lord Brougham appeared on the platform, and was
received with long continued cheers.
Edward Dunn, Esq., the Secretary, read the Report, which commenced by
noticing the death of the late J. B. Wilson, Esq., who had been a warm
supporter of this Institution. By his will he had bequeathed to it the
reversion of £2,000 three per cents. It went on to state, that the
Society's premises had been altered and completed in a most satisfactory
manner, but the expense had exceeded that for which provision was made.
The model school carried on under the direction of Mr. Crosswell
continued to maintain its high character, and was a source of the
greatest satisfaction to the Committee. There had been scattered in the
country 103 young persons, who had received assistance from this
Society, without which they could not have been introduced to spheres of
active usefulness. Persons of various Dissenting denominations, and
members of the Established Church, had taken advantage of the
Institution, and had manifested in their conduct towards each other that
unity which bound all Christians together in the love and service of
their divine Master. A number of new schools had been opened with
considerable prospects of success. Since the last anniversary,
Government had made a second grant of £20,000 towards promoting
education, which had been accompanied by a difference in the mode of
distribution, so that the schools conducted on this system had obtained
only £6,800 of it. The Committee felt that whatever was done should be
on broad and general principles. Grants of slates, lesson books, and
other materials, had been made during the year. Fifty-nine schools,
educating 7,250 children, had been aided during the same period. The
report then reverted to the Society's foreign operations, and
particularly noticed the desire for instruction manifested by the
negroes in the West Indies. It concluded by adverting to the benefits
which the Institution had conferred on the country.
William Allen, Esq., presented his accounts, as Treasurer, from which it
appeared that the total receipts during the year were £2,645 10s.; the
expenditure amounted to £3,482 7s. 1d.; showing a deficiency upon the
general statement of the year of £836 17s. 1d. Those reports, he
observed, only showed the receipts and expenditure of the current year;
perhaps, on a future occasion, it would be advisable to give a statement
of the Society's assets, and carry on the balance.
The principal speakers on the occasion were, Mr. Ainsworth, M.P., Mr.
Pease, M.P., H. Pownall, Esq., Mr. Hume, M.P., C. Lushington, M.P.; Rev.
Messrs. G. Clayton, J. Burnet, Dr. Humphreys, J. Williams, and Professor
Vaughan; besides the noble Chairman, whose opening and closing address
imparted no ordinary interest to the meeting, and were listened to with
marks of the warmest approbation.
* * * * *
PROTESTANT SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY.
The twenty-fourth anniversary of this important institution was held at
the City of London Tavern on Saturday, the 16th of May. On no former
occasion have we ever witnessed greater interest excited. At an early
hour every part of the large room was crowded, and hundreds retired,
unable to gain admission. On the platform we observed Mr. Brotherton,
M.P.; Mr. Alderman Wood, M.P.; Mr. Ewart, M.P.; D. W. Harvey, M.P.; Mr.
R. Potter, M.P.; Mr. J. Scholefield, M.P.; Mr. C. Lushington, M.P.; Mr.
J. Parrat, M.P.; Dr. Brown, and several dissenting ministers.
At twelve o'clock the arrival of Lord Brougham, who had been appointed
to preside on the occasion, was announced, and called forth the repeated
acclamations of the assembly. His Lordship immediately took the chair,
supported by John Wilks, Esq. on his right, and Mr. Alderman Wood on his
left.
And here we cannot help expressing regret that our limits will not allow
us to present our readers either with the opening or closing address of
the Noble Chairman on this occasion. Without pledging ourselves to the
correctness of every sentiment that was uttered, we have no hesitation
in affirming,--which is perhaps the highest eulogium in the fewest
words,--that these eloquent appeals were every way worthy of the
liberal, the enlightened, the energetic =Henry Brougham=; a name which,
whatever lustre it may derive from the title appended to it, will ever
be indebted for its highest and most gratifying honours, to the heart,
the intellect, and the character of the man.
For these speeches, together with those of Mr. O'Connell, Dr. Brown, J.
Wilks, C. Lushington, D. W. Harvey, the Rev. Messrs. Stowell, Hoppus,
Sibree, Morell, Dr. Morison, &c., &c., we must refer our readers to the
Patriot of the 20th ult., whose ample columns will afford them a
gratifying report of the meeting.
The following Resolutions were unanimously adopted:--
1. That to the great and benignant principles of Religious Freedom, =this
Society=, including many hundred congregations of Protestant Dissenters
of different denominations, in England and Wales, continue firmly
attached: That they must alway regard every interference with the rights
of conscience as offensive and unjust--as detrimental to general
happiness--and as calculated to produce those hypocrisies or martyrdoms
which wisdom and goodness abhor: And that such interference exists in
every age when perfect social equality, irrespective of religious
opinions and modes of worship, is not enjoyed; and in every country
where any civil advantage is bestowed, or prejudice inflicted, in
consequence only of religious opinions entertained, or modes of worship
preferred.
2. That such principles should be avowed by =this Society=, if they were
but humble and unconnected individuals, or if they constituted a small
minority in the State; but may be more confidently cherished, and more
boldly proclaimed, when Dissenters from the Established Church are great
in numbers, information, independence, activity, influence, and
wealth--when experience has demonstrated the wide and deep injuries
which other principles and practice produce--when the energies and
benefits of the _voluntary_ principle have been felicitously
evinced--and when the situation of other countries proclaims that
Religion and Religious Freedom best prosper together--and that no
secular alliances are needful to promote the happiest influences of
piety, or the progress of truth: and that, to disregard, or to
insufficient attention, to these principles, =this Meeting= mainly
attribute the numerous grievances which yet peculiarly affect Protestant
Dissenters, and the inadequate progress made by the Legislature and
successive Administrations towards their redress.
3. That among those grievances =this Meeting= include the continuance of
=Church Rates=, which they had hoped, ere now, would have ceased;--and to
which they object because these Church Rates press specially on peculiar
portions of the people--because they might be averted by a just
appropriation of property belonging to the Church--because they occasion
extensively irritating feuds, and local litigation--and because they are
peculiarly obnoxious to those parishioners who, conscientiously
dissenting from Church Establishments, erect and maintain their own
places of worship--and support their ministers--relieve the necessitous
of their communion--educate the young--and defray every congregational
expense, without asking or desiring assistance from the State, and at
their own spontaneous and voluntary charge. That in connexion with this
object, =this Meeting= sincerely express their condolence with =Mr. John
Childs=, of Bungay, in the imprisonment he is now enduring in the County
gaol at Ipswich, on account of his conscientious objection to the
payment of Church Rates--and also its abhorrence of the system which has
subjected to such cruel and unmerited sufferings, an individual who has
conferred great benefits on the cause of Religion and Morality by means
of the press.
4. That =this Meeting= also object to the continuance Of =the Marriage
Laws=, which for the solemnization of Marriage, drag Protestant and
Catholic Dissenters, in defiance of their conscientious aversion, or
doctrinal opinions, to the Altars of the Established Church--and regret
that their sound principles have not been regarded in the measures
propounded by the last and preceding Government, for their relief. And
while they acknowledge the courtesy their claims have received, they
express their belief that satisfaction will never ensue till all classes
have the option to consider Marriage as a religious solemnity, or as a
civil contract--and to have the religious solemnity celebrated by the
Ministers of the Congregations or Denomination to which they belong--nor
till Marriages may be registered by a civil officer with safety and
facility, and on economical terms.
5. That the want of a =National Civil Registration of Births, Marriages,
and Deaths=, is also among the wrongs which =this Society= have exposed
and deplore. That whilst they know that much-needed and incalculable
benefits would result to _the whole Empire_ by the improvement
required--that valuable statistical information would be supplied, and
all property become more secure--yet that the imperfections of the
present system are peculiarly oppressive and vexatious to Dissenters
from the Church, and that the evils they suffer must induce them to urge
for an efficient and immediate remedy with universal, anxious, and
unslumbering zeal.
6. That whilst =this Meeting= acknowledge the efforts made by a former
Administration, who have now succeeded to the Government, and by liberal
Members of the Legislature to remove the impediments which prevent
Dissenters from sharing the benefits and honours of our =National English
Universities=--they have yet to complain that the spirit of intolerance,
and of selfish and sectarian exclusion, has been triumphant; and that
even the Charter to the London University, founded on expansive and wise
principles, has been deferred: and especially as on the survey of Europe
and America, and even of Scotland, they discover that Colleges and
Universities, with powers of conferring degrees, have been numerously
and usefully established--and as they believe that the prevalence in
England of similar liberality would improve our national destinies, and
give cause both for Science and Religious Liberty to rejoice.
7. That many other matters prejudicial to Dissenters require
interposition and relief--as, 1. The absurd jurisdictions of the
Ecclesiastical Courts, and their powers to enforce by penance and
indefensible punishment the decrees they pronounce. 2. The liability of
Dissenters to provide substitutes if chosen church-wardens. 3. The heavy
charges arising from the want of some summary means of perpetuating the
Trusts of their Chapels, without the enormous tax from frequent
conveyances at present sustained. 4. The non-extension to them of the
remission of duties chargeable on the materials used in the erection of
their places for worship, which is allowed in favour of the churches and
chapels of the Established Church. 5. The powers of the clergy to
prohibit the tolling of the bell on the death or funeral of Dissenting
parishioners, and to refuse the admission of their corpses into the
church, and to read the Burial Service over those who die unbaptized,
though interred in the parish church-yard. 6. The exclusion of
Dissenting Ministers from officiating (as is permitted in Ireland) in
church-yards at the interment of friends. 7. The difficulty of
punishing, summarily, the interruptions of public worship by the
persecuting or profligate. And 8. The right of Clergymen, however
prejudiced, incompetent, and unpopular, officially to preside at
Vestries of parishioners; as well as other matters, diversified and
vexatious, which chiefly arise from the peculiar favour manifested to
the Established Church, and the withholdment of that perfect equality as
to civil rights between religionists of every class, for which =this
Society= will ever contend.
8. That with such various grievances, urgent and unredressed--and
regarding the dispositions manifested, by high ecclesiastical
authorities and parties proud in rank and power, to agitate the people
and the parliament by alarms for the Established Church, and to resist
even the reasonable concessions so justly required--and believing that a
crisis has arrived or is approaching, on which the early triumph or
temporary retrogression of the rights of conscience may depend--=this
Meeting= would urgently invoke Dissenters and Methodists, and all friends
to liberal principles, throughout the empire, to be up and stirring--to
prepare for new strifes and elections--to nominate and the return to
the House of Commons only such Representatives as will vindicate those
rights firmly and with zeal--and to afford to the present Administration
the countenance and cooperation merited by their sacrifices and efforts
for Freedom and Reform, and which may enable them to do justice to
Ireland and Great Britain, by promptly correcting every ecclesiastical
and corporation abuse.--And that =this Meeting= regard with decided
approbation and gratitude the strenuous efforts now making in and out of
Parliament to remove the taxes upon knowledge, satisfied that there is
no greater obstacle than such taxes to religious liberty, as well as to
religious instruction.
9. That the following ministers and gentlemen of different denominations
constitute the Committee of the Society, with power to add to their
numbers, and appoint all other officers:
Rev. F. A. Cox, LL. D.
---- W. B. Collyer, D.D. F.A.S.
---- George Collison
---- Alexander Fletcher, A.M.
---- Thomas Jackson
---- Thomas Lewis
---- John Morison, D.D.
---- Thomas Russell, A.M.
Mr. Edward Ashby
William Bateman, Esq.
James Esdaile, Esq.
Martin Prior, Esq.
Thomas Wilson, Esq.
Matthew Wood, Esq. M.P.
John Wilks, Esq. M.P.
James Young, Esq.
That cordial thanks be rendered to those by whom the duties of the
office have heretofore been fulfilled--and that James B. Brown, Esq.,
LL. D., be requested to become Treasurer to this Institution.
10. That the Meeting avail themselves gladly of another opportunity to
reiterate their grateful expressions to John Wilks, Esq., M.P., the
Honorary Secretary of the Society from the formation, for the zeal and
prudence he has displayed--and for the devotedness and ability with
which he has often resisted intolerance and persecution, and struggled
for that vital and glorious liberty, to which he has long proved himself
to be entirely attached.
11. That the Society cheerfully offer their acknowledgments to those
members of the Legislature who have presented their petitions and
laboured on their behalf; and hailing with gratification the presence at
this Meeting of =Joseph Brotherton=, Esq., M. P., =William Ewart=, Esq.,
M. P., =Daniel Whittle Harvey=, Esq., M. P., =Charles Lushington=, Esq.,
M. P., =Daniel O'Connell=, Esq., M. P., =Richard Potter=, Esq., M. P.,
=Joseph Scholefield=, Esq., M. P., =T. Thornely=, Esq., M.P., and
=Matthew Wood=, Esq., M.P., they hope during future efforts to receive
their unabated support.
12. That this Meeting are also rejoiced by the presence of the Rev. Dr.
Codman, the Rev. Dr. Humphrey, the Rev. Dr. Spring, and the Rev. Mr.
Baird from America--and congratulate them and the world on the proofs
supplied by their interesting, enlightened, and prosperous country in
favour of the voluntary principle in matters of religion, and which
demonstrate that her grace and glories may be well and widely diffused
without alliance to the State.
BROUGHAM, (Chairman.)