Mr. S.—But what I say, is, this Regum Dose’em? Is it a sort of physic?
Mr. C.—It is one of the cordials of Dissent, in the shape of an annual grant from the State. It is a Parliamentary grant to the three denominations of Dissenters of about two thousand pounds a year out of the public taxes. Not a twentieth part of the sum is collected from Dissenters, and yet the whole finds its way into the pockets of those, who, if they acted according to their professed Voluntary principle, and conscientious scruples, would honestly refuse it. So that the Voluntary principle seems to be one thing, and Dissenting consistency another.
Mr. S.—Do you know when this grant begun?
Mr. C.—It was first given in the reign of George I., as an act of his royal bounty. But ever since the year 1803, it has been received from the State—and it is a fact acknowledged by Dissenters themselves, that while they are protesting against all STATE grants for religious purposes, TEN THOUSAND AND SEVENTY OF THEIR OWN MINISTERS in England and Wales have participated in these grants in three years.
Mr. S.—I really wonder how our great and good men can conscientiously pocket money from the State; and I am surprised that none of them have had the honesty to refuse it, and resolve to stand or fall on the Voluntary principle.
Mr. C.—To tell you the truth, it has been objected to; and in the year 1834, at a meeting of the three denominations, a vote was passed disapproving of the grant from the State, as inconsistent with Dissent, and contrary to the Voluntary principle.
Mr. S.—Well done!
Mr. C.—It was well said, but there was nothing well done. There was a great deal of fine talking, which all ended in nothing, except the disgrace of continuing to pocket money, after having recorded, “that it is inconsistent with the principles of Dissent, and contrary to the Voluntary principle.”
Mr. S.—Well, after all, it is but a trifle!
Mr. C.—I did not know that we were talking about trifles. But it seems you can sell your Dissenting principles for a trifle, and give your conscientious scruples into the bargain.