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.