assembly, however we may differ upon other points, the all-pervading sentiment of religious liberty glows in every breast, and beats in every heart! la Canada great difficulties exist. It was a Catholic province, and there are also Protestauts, Episcopalians, and Independents, and I believe Presbyterians have succeeded. At Montreal, a chapel for Independents has been erected. But still there we are refused the rights to marry and inter the dead; and there many persecutions do exist. But on his Majesty's Government the points must still be urged; and I would put it to hem as statesmen. If we wish to maintain our place-if we desire still to navigate those vast lakes, let nct these afflicting demons agitate and annoy! As to the REGISTRY of BAPTISMS, some doubt still unhappily exists, and it is the opinion of Mr. Justice Bayley, a judge not less eminent for his integrity than for his legal skill, that the registry of a baptism is no registry of birth. The registers of Dissenters certainly never can be received in the same way with parochial churches; the one is a record universally recognized in the courts, but the entry in the registry, in Williams's registry, possesses no such force. Dissenters ought to know the real situation in which they stand; and, apprised of their peril, I trust they will join in an attempt to procure security. There is another point on which it is absolutely requisite that we should be incessant in our solicitations, I mean the repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts; resolutions, however, on this subject, perfectly in unison with my sentiments, will be laid before you; and it is therefore the less necessary that I should now enlarge upon this subject. We are told by the "Quarterly Review" that many of the laws of which we complain are obsolete, and are rendered inoperative by the effect of the annual Indemnity Act; but I maintain that, notwithstanding that act, these laws do oppress us most severely, and an instance shall be given.- Mr. MUNN is a respectable solicitor at Tenterden, in Kent, and is much and deservedly esteemed by the corporation of that town, and who, on the death of his partner, was offered the situation held by him in that corporation; yet here the laws to which I have alluded prejudicially interfered, and deprived him of an honourable and lucrative office, otherwise within his reach. The design of the corporation in his favour was completely frustrated. The annual Indemnity Act furnished no remedy; if previous to any election notice was given that the candidate was a Protestant Dissenter, had ⠀ within the year received the sac according to the ritual of the Established Church, every vote given in his favour was nullified; and hence the honest expectations of every man are frustrated, who loves his conscience and his God better than pelf! Here then is one flagrant instance, at the least, where the wishes of the corporation, and the hopes of an honest man, were entirely set at nought; and au individual was elected who otherwise could not possibly have succeeded. Let us then this day, and in this place, vow that we will never be satisfied until not a remuant of them shall remain! It is only by sound acquaintance with the generally diffused and unceasing exertions for their repeal, that we can ever hope to conquer these oppressive statutes. While they remain, they will be made instruments for our injury, and it is only by soundness in religious principle that we can prevent the continuance of these wrongs.-I turn to AMERICA. What was theory, is there fulfilled in fact. There, there is no state religion, and there is not a happier nation upon earth-there is not a country where education and religion are more eminently diffused! Each denomination is permitted to celebrate its own rites in perfect independence, and all live in perfect harmony and love! There they are not enlisting human power to support the arm of the Almighty-as though Omnipotence could not rule over his own dominion; and as though Hɛ, whose will is destiny, wanted the withered arm of man to carry on his work below. I am glad of an opportunity of adverting to this, for it does honour to human nature: I will not permit myself to fear that freedom will continue to lie under a cloud. No! we who have our Bible Societies throughout the world-we who are sending missionaries to every part of the earth, ought not, must not, doubt that there is a change approaching when all its glory, all its ardent and demonstrating effects shall be fully known. No; we will not fear but that the love of liberty, the love of true and pure religion will yet burst forth with all its glorious and refulgent light. In this good cause then I trust that we shall all advance. When our old friends have departed, our younger ones will rally round the standard, and the inclination to sustain religious freedom shall grow into a principle. And if the spirit of oppression should still arise, I at least when departing will say in the words of that brave General who lay immortal and not dishonoured, but dying in the dust, "Fear not the mass of opposition; but ONWARDS, ONWARDS, ONWARDS, and expire!" Mr. Wilks sat en amidst long, loud, and reiterated 5. The Rev. Dr. BOGUE, in proposing the first resolution, cousidered the Society as most important, in consequence of its connexion with religion. He desired to impress the importance of religion in order to secure the enjoyment of civil and political liberty; religion was the surest foundation to liberty, and to her might be attributed all the freedom we enjoyed; and both would ever flourish together. When a man became religious, he began to feel his own dignity, and exclaims, I am an intelligent being: and would he who thus felt himself to be a man and a Christian, be treated as a dog? No; he would demand and obtain justice and freedom. Let justice be done, and let every one have justice rendered to him! Those were the principles of the gospel, and the principles of civil liberty. The Rev. TIMOTHY EAST seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously. term The Rev. JAMES BENNETT, of Rother. ham, in rising to move the second resolution, began by remarking, that if the Religious Liberty" be censurable, it must be that it is a pleonasm; for true religion is always free, and the truest freedom is the most religious, Where true religion is, we feel the force of that maxim, "If the Son make you free, then you shall be free indeed." But while he held religious liberty to be the first blessing which a kind Providence had bestowed on the country, he was called upon to express a sentiment that the Established Church of this country was more tolerant than most others established by law. He thought they owed but little to the Establishment. It was to the true and enlightened patriots in the Legislature that their gratitude was due. To the Church they owed none. Were Religious Liberty to appear in the form of a fair nymph before that assembly, her brow bound round with myrtlewere she to be interrogated as to whom she owed most-she would say, To the Third William, and the four Georges. But while they owed so much to their princes, were they again to question that bright seraphim, to whom in earlier times she owed the continuance of those blessings, she would instantly reply,-To the persecuted Puritans; to their tears and to their blood I owe my establishment in this happy land. But if, on the other hand, Persecution should venture to appear, should we not say, Haggard fiend, with thy snaky locks and pestilent breath, what hast thou done, but created suffering and woe? But no! I should rather say, Though I so much detest thee, yet for some things which thou hast unintentionally done, I could almost rejoice in thee; because by expelling those Puri tans from our own land, thou didst plant to ruin their own cause. But he was no such foe to the Established Church, and he would therefore say,-Deplore your errors-retrace your steps-and seek to raise your church to eminence by a display of those virtues held out by the example of Jesus to all mankind. The Rev. JOHN TOWNSEND assured the meeting, that so entirely was he the friend of peace, that if he thought the Society tended in the least degree by its principles, constitution or proceedings, to the promotion of discord or disunion, he would be the last to approve or support it; but he contemplated it as an Institution formed for protection and defence, and principally of those who were unable to protect themselves. The representation that had that day been made to them sufficiently established the importance of its objects, and the propriety with which those objects were effected. The cases only of the two ministers apprehended at Newport Pagnell, and of the Welsh couple who had been refused marriage because they were Dissenters, were of themselves amply sufficient to prove the utility of the Society. But for its assistance those parties never could have obtained redress. And thus, while protecting the feeble against the mighty, the Society should by all be justly approved. And he particularly would remember, not only the good that it has actually performed, but the evil it has prevented. Doubtless had it not been for its existence, even worse instances of persecution would have occurred; for it was well known that in this Society the humblest would be able to procure redress, and thus the proudest were cautioned to "Beware." He knew many clergymen who were most excellent and kind, and who would be as ready as him self to deprecate the various instances of wrong which others of their body had performed. He concluded by re-expressing his warm attachment to the principles of the Society, and his desire for its suc cess. The Rev. SPEDDING CURWEN moved the two next resolutions, which were seconded by The Rev. Dr. CODMAN, from America, who assured the meeting that he should have hesitated to step forward upon that occasion, had not the kind, affectionate and liberal sentiments which had been expressed in reference to his beloved country, really compelled him to appear. And though an American, it afforded him the highest pleasure to address a Chair filled by a Member of the British Parliament. With uncommon pleasure he had attended at the meeting, and had listened to the proceeding which had occurred, but with especial delight to the luminous and most interesting Report which had been delivered by their truly eloquent and enlightened Secretary, whose name, with that of his venerable father, and his active and pious brother, in the city of Paris, would to him be ever dear. Descended from Puritan ancestors, and coming from a part of the world which was peopled by the Nonconformists of this country, he could not but rejoice in the establishment of a Society for the support of those principles for which these holy men left their native shores, and planted the standard of the cross in the western world. The meeting would be now persuaded to rejoice with him, when he assured them that in America there was no need for the establishment of such a society! There every denomination enjoy the same rights and `privileges. There, he thanked God, no question would arise as to the emancipation of any body-for there every man, whether Catholic or Protestant, Episcopalian, Presbyterian or Baptist, or of any other denomination, is eligible to serve in the highest offices of state. And no evil had been produced; but effects precisely the reverse; -and he would conclude with an expression of his ardent wish that Religious Liberty would prevail, unshackled and complete, in every country throughout the world. The Rev. Joseph Fletcher, M. A., in proposing the next resolution, observed, that the atmosphere was oppressive but it was the atmosphere of liberty! He felt that duller should he be than the dull leaf that grew on Lethe's banks, if he did not willingly take a part in the proceedings of the day. It had been well remarked, that religion and liberty must ever be intimately allied, and that in their true principles they were identified: where religion was received, liberty would be permitted-and where liberty, with its moral and religious influence, was established, religion would be permanent and secure. He could not but regret the existence of such a Society as the present-or rather the necessity for its existence. And yet he must mingle rejoicings with his lamentations, that, in the midst of such dire necessity, an agency so powerful and efficient had been raised up. Thus when God intended the serpent should be strangled, he provided the strength of an Hercules for the achievement ;-and thus, when a brooding darkness was gathering over the kingdom, and the great principles of liberty were exposed to innovation, this Society arose to establish them on a proper basis, and, by its effectual and efficient operation, to form the only compensation that can be received for the wrongs inflicted and endured. He rejoiced that ། the Chair was filled by one who was uniformly the powerful and constant advocate of civil and religious liberty, and he looked with confidence to his support when the great question concerning the Test and Corporation Acts should be brought before the British Senate. He knew the value of conscience-he felt that liberty was indeed the most invalu. able possession-that liberty gave the flower-fleeting life its lustre and perfume; hence that the cause of God can never require the petty bulwarks of man for its support-or human efforts retard the growth of that kingdom which is not of this world. He mentioned that the Bishop of St. David's lately called on Dr. Boothroyd, an author and Dissenting minister in the North of England, conversed with him of literary subjects, and walked with him to his carriage at the inn; observing, when complimented on his condescension, There is no aristocracy in the republic of letters! He wished the sentiment to be applied to the Christian world-he would not undervalue the splendour of rank-he would not pluck a laurel from the brow dignified with the wreath or the coronet-but when he entered the church of God, he then felt that there should be no aristocracy, that they had one Master, even Christ, and that here all men were brethren. After several other gentlemen had addressed the meeting, Dr. BROWN said he must ever maintain, that the mere right to worship God according to the dictates of his conscience, no man daring to make him afraid, was not all that could be desired or deserved-he could not think that liberty which imposed any disabilities for matters of faith. He never looked to the word toleration without a feeling of degradation. He regretted that an unaccountable backwardness pervaded the minds of Dissenters in the assertion of their rights, and in the vindication of their characters. He contended that for talent--for wealth-for independent and patriotic principles, the Dissenters were not a whit bebind their brethren of the Church. He remembered that Howard, with whose character he was intimately acquainted, was exposed to all the penalties of the Corporation Act. He was liable to a penalty of £500 for taking on himself the office of Sheriff, yet he did take it, and it was the acceptance of this office, with all its penalties, that led to all his subsequent and philanthropic and godlike enterprises. He then adverted to the difficulty which existed as to the Register of Births. The only effectual remedy which, as far as his experience went, was, that the father of a family should insert in his will the date of the birth of his children--that could be pro, duced in a court of justice; and he hoped The Rev. Mr. DWIGHT, from America, The resolution of thanks to the Chairman, proposed by Dr. Brown and the Rev. Mr. Dwight, was received with repeated acclamations, and the whole of the vast assembly rose to express' their approbation in a most distinguished ner. mau. The CHAIRMAN assured the meeting that his feelings could not be expressed. On ordinary occasions he might utter fluently his acknowledgments, or receive approval with some consciousness of desert, but that praise from an assembly so numerous, respectable, intellectual, and well principied, afforded him a pleasure he could not describe. The interest excited by the information commu uicated and the vast eloquence displayed, had never been surpassed; and he should ever rank the honour of presiding at that assembly among the proudest circum. stances of his life. But if language could then ill express the emotions he felt, he would endeavour hereafter to evidence their intensity by the better eloquence of deeds. By his honoured friend, their excellent Secretary, they had been in formed that he was a member of the Established Church, yet from his youth he had been the friend of Religious Freedom, and conscientiously disclaimed any approval of what was denominated the High Church. He was no High Churchman, uor could any person in that room more dislike or deplore the doctrines and conduct which that party taught and displayed. The true interests of the Church they could never promote, for high assumption would disgust and repel many whom moderation and Christian charity would retain and attach. The impres sive statement to which he had listened with an eager ear, and an anxious heart, would confirm his dislike, and make him hold perfect toleration, or rather perfect Religious Liberty, additionally dear. He almost partook the astonishment which the gentleman from America de scribed; but felt a shame and sorrow which he trusted no native of America would ever know. Though aware that wrongs are often done from acrid preju dice, and by petty power, he had no conception that such abuses existed, and that there was such cause for complaint. He had heard the too long catalogue of ignorance and bigotry with displeasure and pain. Could he have thought of interruption to public worship, by unlawful demands of tolls-of taxation for the relief of the poor sought to be charged for buildings raised by true benevolence, for the preaching of truths that lessened the number of the poor, and gave to the necessitous their best relief! But that in England, Dissenting teach ers should be seized and sent to the Tread-mill-that interment should be refused to the departed-and that rites of marriage should be withheld, were events of which even in his moodiest moments, he had never dreamt. Of the persons guilty of those deeds he was more disposed to speak in sorrow than in wrath. Pity prevailed: he regretted that any fatuity should lead to such results, and thought that probably the contempt that must follow on such deeds might be punishment enough. The necessity and importance of that Institution who could doubt ? Now public opinion too had a great and just authority, and the existence of this Institution, and their publication of such deeds, would either prevent their recurrence or ensure redress. Yet he must hope liberal principles and a true tolerant spirit did not decline; he thought that he discerned their exercise, and though there were dark clouds, yet the sun of knowledge was daily diffusing new and brighter beams, and finally the clouds would be dispelled. On general education he placed a great reliance. A well-instructed people could not be slaves or bigots; and he should ever strive to promote on liberal principles the universal and religions education of the poor. In the resolution of the meeting as to the Test and Corporation Acts, he concurred with all his heart. No difference of religious ceremonies or opinions should exclude from office, or lead to a monopoly of power. Those acts were founded in injustice, and their retention could only be intended as an insult to the great and useful portion of the people who were thereby oppressed. That insult ought to end. Too long had the Dissenters allowed those acts to remainvarious and good reasons might have delayed their exertions, but those circumstances have now ceased; and a general, respectful, but hearty application for their total abrogation should now be made, nor should they be daunted if they did not meet with immediate success. Again, again, and again, should they renew their applications; and the righteous cause of a body so great and so respectable must finally prevail. And whenever the appli cation should be made, his principles, his inclinations, his gratitude, would all induce him to afford his support. Renewing his acknowledgments for the pleasure received, and the honour conferred, the Chairman retired amid universal acclamatious, and the meeting was dissolved. The newspaper from which we take this report says, with self-evident truth— "Mr. JOHN SMITH, the Chairman, is not Mr. W. Smith, M. P., for Norwich," and adds, "but is M. P. for Medhurst, brother to Lord Carrington, and uncle to the Hon. R. Smith, M. P., for the county of Bucks." Shropshire, Cheshire and Staffordshire Unitarian Association. THE Third Half-yearly Meeting of this Association was held at the Chapel on Delamere Forest, on Tuesday, the 27th of September. [At the last meeting, held at Nantwich, Mr. Bakewell of Chester pro posed that the next meeting be held at his chapel, supposing that it would meet the approbation of his congregation, and probably contribute to the advancement of the cause of truth in that city. On communicating this design, many approved, none objected. But after ministers were engaged to preach, and public notice |