The Principality

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY. The fiftieth annual meetings of this society were held on Tuesday week at Exeter-hail, the Earl of Chichester officiating as chairman in the morning, and the Marquis of Cholmondeley in the evening. The report commened with a narrative of the jubilee. The ordinary income had not fallen below that of last year, notwithstanding the jubilee fund. The general fund amounted to £89,767, the special funis to EI,826, the local funds raised and expended on the missions to E9,410, making ? total of £ 101.03:1. The expenditu re leaves a surplus of income over t.vuOumtureoi &4,oiv. xnc JUWIWIM v»i Winchester, and Cashel proposed, seconded, and supported the' adoption of the report while Earl Waldegrave, the lie v. Dr. I Smith, Bishop designate »f Victoria, Hang Kong, and the Rev. II. Stowell, the Rev. W. Smith, of Benares, Mr. G. Hoare, and the Rev. Mr. Townsend addressed the meetings. The precise amount of the jubilee fund was not yet known, as it was still open, and additions to it continued to be made. When the accounts were last made up, it amounted to £ 53,127 10s. The committee had deliberated with much seriousness as to the manner in which the jubilee fund should be disposed of. It was intended that £ 20,000 should be added to the fund for the relief of disabled missionaries, and for the education of their children. Hitherto the amount required for that purpose had been £ 5,000 a-year, which was taken from the general fund. For the future this expense would be defrayed out of the £ 20,000, and the annual subscriptions and donations towards the fund. In the second place, a sum would be devoted to providing a home for the missionary children, where they might be educated. Thirdly, £ 10,000* would be devoted to the endowment of native Christian churches in Tin- nevelly, Kishnagar, New Zealand, Sierra Leone, and other places* The surplus would be cleuted to minor objects. Vlc regret that we are obliged from want of room to post- pone till next week the report of the meetings of the British and Foreign Bible Society, the Sunday School Union, and the Religious Tract Society.]

THE VOLUNTAHY PHINCIPLE has replaced almost everywhere the permanent and perpetual revenue. You confide in the good-will of them, as your forefathers confided in the stability of things. And now every generation—and I ought almost to say every man—becomes anew every year the founder of all the public institutions of sympathy and charity in England. And that sympathy never fails. The life of this institution has never been shortened and never endangered by so precarious a condition. That is the wonderful result of a charity as enlightened as it is fervent; that. is one of the most striking and miraculous evidences of the moral and public character of your country. Especially in our day, amidst those terrible storms by which the whole civilised world is now shaken, and which tend everywhere to irritate and muse the poor against the rich, the suffering part against the prosperous part of man- kind, it'is more than ever important to adhere firmly to so excellent a practice. I trust that the Voluntary Frinciple- that is. liberty and charity-will continue to display its immense power for doing good under the security given to it by the support of a solid Government, in the glorious .sympathy for all the niiseries-for all the moral and material wants of mankind, and in firmness against all the bad passions and all the follies of mankind. These are the two conditions by which you will insure the permanent triumph of civilisation over destruction—the triumph of social life over social death. May Uoel, without whose hand we cannot eomplete anything great and good, be our constant protector in that awful strifl! Guizot's Speech at the Brampton Hospital Dinner. THE BHITAMNIA BKIDGE.— We hear from the Menai that a few weeks back jlï. Stephenson settled the plans for cros-ing and placing the first of the gigantic tubes for the Britannia bridge, and that several tidal experiments were made in his presence, bv Captain Claxton and Mr. Edward Clarke, since which two of the wooden pontoons which were at the Conway have been brought round, and the other four are shortly expected to be delivered at their destination. In addition to them, two iron pontoons of increased dimensions have been built on the spot, and are ready for launching. The rock under the tube No. 2 (the first which it is intended to move) has been blasted, and the way made nearly clear for the pontoons. The mason work of the Britannia pier is fast progressing, and it is said that the first tube will be crossed and placed at the latter end of the month, or early in June. Visitors by shoals are daily inspecting the site all,, the tubes, and it is expected that every hotel and lodging-house within twenty miles of the bridge will be full to overflowing long before the day. Ilouses at Beaumaris are being taken already, early as it is in the season. Captain Claxton has been there some days. Mr. Stephenson is expected in the course of a week. The tubes appear to be nearly all finished, and all the mason work, except that of the Britannia pier, is quite done. illy Journal. ANOTHER Cf.ERCYMA.N PKOSKCUTED.—Legal measures have been taken by the Bishop of Oxford against the Rev. Mr. Allies; and we are informed that he will be prosecuted with all the vigour of which circumstances will admit. — Record.

THE DISSENTING COLLEGES-ALLEGED "DECLINE OF DISSENT." (From the Patriot.) To persons unacquainted with the changes which have for some time been in progress for uniting the Theological Academies at Homerton, at Highbury, and in Torrington- square, in one Metropolitan College, it would certainly be a startling announcement, that Highbury College has been purchased for the sum of £ 12,500, for the purpose of being converted into a Church of England Metropolitan Training Institution." The fact has transpired without the requisite explanation, by means of a circular, setting forth the objects of the projected training institution, which will be uncon- nected with any existing society. It will be managed ex- clusively by clerical and lay members of the Church of England, elected annually by the subscribers and its object will be, to train pious persons upon scriptural, evangelical, and Protestant principles, as masters and mistresses for juvenile schools connected with the Established Church." Lord Ashley is chairman of the provisional committee, and the llev. Daniel Wilson, Islington, and Mr. John Martin, Chancery-lane, are honorary secretaries. If, in addition to its anti-Puseyite character and its popular constitution, this training-school were founded on the principle of repudiating all aid and interference on the part of the State, we could not but applaud and wish success to the undertaking. Pos- sibly, Homerton College may hereafter serve for a Congre- gational training institution of a somewhat similar cha- racter. There are parties who affect to regard the impending ex- tinction of these several academies as the indication of the decline of Dissent, or of the decay of Dissenting institu- tions, and who must wilfully shut their eyes to the fact that the intended incorporation of them into one is a proof that the Evangelical Dissenters feel it incumbent upon them to enlarge and improve their colleges, so as to meet the wants and keep pace with the advance of the 1 age. The contrary inference can have originated only with a pitiful credulity, apt to impose upon itself its own wishes for facts: or, with the ingenuity for which penny-a-line contributors to Con- servative journals arc notorious, in improving upon facts ill the spirit of fiction. Various circumstances have concurred to dictate the pro- posed incorporation of these institutions. In the first place, the formation of University College, and the subsequent establishment of the London University, have afforded to young men, desirous of qualifying themselves to enter the Dissenting ministry, facilities for attaining to a proficiency in secular learning, which were not previously within their reach; and have, to a certain extent, superseded the neces- sity for employing the first years of the time spent in the theological institutions in such preparatory studies. There are now connected with the University of London the follow ing Dissenting institutions :— Homerton Old College, Highbury College, Spring-hill College, Birmingham, Stepney College, Cheshunt College, Baptist College at Bristol, Airedale College, Bradford, Ilotherham College, Lancashire Independent College,* besides three Wesleyan institutions. Coward College is not included in this list, its students receiving their secular training in University College. There are, besides, uncon- nected with the London University, the Hackney Theo- logical Seminary, the Newport Pagncl Academy, Hortou College, Bradford, Brecon College, the Glasgow Theological -on-c!, Academy, the Institutions at Pickering and Cotton-end, de- signed for home missionary students, and those supported by the Baptist denomination at Leicester, Aeerington, Pontv- pool, and Haverfordwest. It may be proper to state, as bearing upon the alleged decline of Dissent, that Spring Hill College was founded as recently as 1838, and the Lancashire Independent College was placed upon its present footing still more recently. These two institutions have about forty students. Homerton, on/! f!,<yvs?nrf\ totrnth pr Hav.n at. nvospnt nniv fortv three. ( Congregational 1 car JJOOK.) Now it must be obvious that, under these altered circum- stances, it has become desirable, on every account, to render the instruction and training' in our theological institutions more exclusively biblical, ecclesiastical, and pastoral: and, at the same time, to demand, 011 the part of the candidates for admission, a higher degree of proficiency in secular scholarship than was previously necessary. It has bec-n long felt as an evil, that too great facility has given to the a3mis- sion of students into our theological academies; and while wo trust that evident piety and devotedness will always be deemed the primary and indispensable qualification, and that poverty or a hambie origin will not be suffered to present a barrier to an entrance upon the Dissenting ministry, still it can be no longer neefcssary to make elementary or prepara- tory instruction any part of an academic course. The tutors, of our colleges claim to be relieved from this drudgery, and the funds of the institutions from what almost amounts to a misapplication of the public money. The nceessary conse- quence of this new arrangement will be, if not a diminution in the number of applicants for admission (which we believe, however, has been the case), the actual admission, for a time, of a smaller number. And this there will be 110 reason to regret, should it lead to a more healthy state ot feeling in our Churches upon the subject of the ministerial office itself-,Its claims as well as its pro-requisites. Upon this subject, we find some valuable observations in an article on "The Pulpit and the People," in the Eclectic Review for the present month. At a time when the supply of ministers I is not equal to the demand, it may seem an unseasonable l'ecornliwndation that "access to the ministry should be a matter of some difficulty;" that the path should not be made too Sn,c)ot!i tilat obstacles should be permitted to intervene, so that character may be tried, the purity and strength of the strictly religious element be tested." But the reviewer justly remarks :-— "The position of the Dissenting ministry entails innumerable vexations and conLnual sorrow on such of its members as are no equal to its requirements. We know no class more to be pitied than those-and they are, unhappily, numerous who are not equal tu its duties, whose faculties are weak, and who^e endow- meats are behind the age. Their life is a perpetual effort, des- tined ultimately to fail and poverty, loss oi'seif-re.pect, frequent removals, and injury to the moral repute of the ministry, are the common results. Better far, infinitely inore, kind, were it to pre- vent the entrance of such into the ministry, than to facilitate thair introduction with such penalties before then-i." The reviewer states the case perhaps rather too strongly and our enemies will 110 doubt gladly lay hjhl of such re- presentations, made with a view to promote an amendment of our present academic system, for their own sinister and party purposes. That the present result falls "far short of what the religious public are entitled to look for.I-tit it docs not compensate for the outlay incurred,"—cannot", how- ever, fairly be denied. As a matter of economy, it cannot be defended that four tutors should be engaged in superin- tending the studies of thirteen students, and, within a dis- tance of two miles, three tutors be similarly occupied with two-and-twenty students of the same religious denomina- tion, at an annual expenditure for the two institutions of between £ 4,000 and But when it is considered how this small number, composed of students of different stand- ing, is of necessity subdivided into classes, it will be seen in a moment that the classes must all be too small to allow of any salutary competition among the young men, or to com- pensate for any great mental expenditure on the part of the tutor or lecturer. # Our remarks have run out to so much greater length than we intended, that we cannot now pursue the subject any further; but we have something more to say upon the igno- j 9 rant or malicious misrepresentations so industriously propa- gated by-we regret to say—certain Scotch as well s Eng- lish journals, as to the alleged decay of Dissent." In last Monday's Patriot the Western College, Plymouth, is added to the above list. We may also add, that the Caru«arth< n College is connected with the University of Loudon.

in our streets," and over such barricades tas State control Equity cannot enter." A Judaicalsystem is substituted for a Christian Church, and Judaical exclusiveness and hard- heartedness for Christian love and brotherhood. If, then, there is to be a remedy, you must lay the axe to the root and sever the connexion. We see illustrations of this in nature. Objects are often presented to our eyes in the form of crystallizations, and when they are in that condition, it is in vain to alter their combination, or nature; but if they be re-fused, the bad part of the substance can be precipitated, and what is really service- able be preserved in its purity. So in a stereotyped edition of a book, you not only preserve what is valuable, but all th e faults and evils and imperfections are likewise preserved and handed down; whereas if the type be distributed, what is un- wise, unjust, or inappropriate, can be thrown aside. When it is considered that the Legislature is composed of men of all de- nominations, and men of no religion at all, it must be seen that they are not a fitting body to whom an appeal can be made on matters connected with ecclesiastical discipline and doctrine. Whoever maintains the civil magistrate to be the head of the Church is a decided traitor to the real head of the Church (hear, and applause). If such treason meets with your disap- probation, I conjure you, use the efforts you have so laudably adopted for several years; by proceeding in that course, you will secure liberty, not only to Dissenting communities, but to those who form part of the National Church (applause). I trust I am not speaking to you of a mere abstraction, but of a truth. Truth for ages has been held in swathing bands; I tiust her sepulchral restraint will be soon removed, and that she will come forth in all her power Magna est Veritas, et previdebit; I trust the shackles of the Church will be shaken off, even though they be golden ones; that the headship of Christ will be acknowledged that people will be able to select their own ministers, arrange their own ordinances, and the principles on which they hold communion together (loud applause). Edward MIALL, Esq., who was received with loud and long-continued applause, then moved the third resolution. He said :—I am sure that the meeting will sympathise with me in the deep emotion I feel in addressing myself to its notice after the speeches that have just been uttered. I may say, without any affectation, that the object of this Association has been the object of my most earnest desires, and my most strenuous labours, for many years past (hear, hear). I also, was not only present at its birth, but I felt deep anxiety to see it appear in the world and I profess before this meeting that amongst the motives that influenced my heart, and that produced the strongest desire in my mind, to accomplish a separation of the Church from the State, was not the advantage of the Dissenting body—not merely the civil liberties of our people, which would be greatly enlarged by this issue, but that it especialW was the liberation from a bondage which themselves felt not—but under which their souls became enervated, if not degraded—of that portion of our fellow-countrymen, enlightened in all other respects, but in matters of ecclesiastics and of religion, the willing slaves of a State master (hear, hear). I have listened with the profoundest delight, and with emotions that I dare not permit myself to express, to the speech which has been delivered to you by the preceding speaker. I may say respect- ing him, that lie has purchased to himself a good degree; and whatever may have been the amount of attention that he hadpre- viously given to the question, I will say that he has stated some of the arguments by which we have been accustomed to sustain and to advocate our object, in as few words, and those as full of meaning, as could have been uttered even by Mr. Burnet him- self. I trust that although these, perhaps, are the first clergy- men who have been upon this platform with us for the advo- cacy of our principles, they will by no means be the last (hear, hear). And I confidently look forward to the time, whether we shall live to see it, or whether we shall have gone hence to our reward, when of the hearts that shall beat with gratitude to those who have laboured in this cause, no hearts will beat with more intense feeling than the hearts of those who now regard us as the enemies of their Church, but who, when once set free, will find that we have been their deliverers. We saw them in slavery, and pitied them we extended towards them a helping hand, and although they should be unable, from their position, to appreciate all the benevolence of our intention, or to foresee all the beneficial consequences to themselves, we will still, spite of the obloquy by which we are assailed, spite of the ingrati- tude, sometimes, of those whom we wish to raise and to elevate, we will still persevere in the noble work to which we have committed our hands; and, in the language of the gentleman who has just addressed you, we will not spare, but will lay the axe to the root (applause). I am delighted to have had an op- portunity of hearing our friend, the friend of man, Mr. Spencer (cheers)—one of the most self-sacrificing, bold, faithful, and consistent advocates of all that is benevolent (hear, hear)—of nil that is magnanimous, of all ilicii iihpvty. pivil or religious I am delighted to have had an opportunity of listening to him upon this platform. In some respects I regret that any interruption should have been made to his mode of delivering his own sentiments (cheers); because I think that, upon these occasions, and upon all occasions in which we are arguing or discussing this question," we must allow those who appear, whether with us or against us, great latitude of speech; only reserving to ourselves the right of replying to that which we deem to be erroneous, or of pointing out that wtiieh may be beside the question. Mr. Spencer goes towards the same object as ourselves. Nothing that we seek to accomplish by the severance of the Church from the State is alien from, the plan which he proposes as the mode of effecting the great- reform which he intends. I agree with him most thoroughly, that no man or woman in this kingdom can escape the responsi- bility devolved upon him in relation to this question. I agree with him, that we are all members of the Church of England and, although, ecclesiastically, I dissent from her communion, and, in some respects, should resist any subscription to her creeds, yet, at the same time, I hold myself politically a mem- ber of that Church, having a right to insist upon the adminis- t tration to me of all its ordinances from the hands of my paro- chial clergyman, and being obliged to pay, willingly or unwil- lingly, either in money or in goods (laughter and cheers), my quota towards the maintenance of that Church; I agree with Mr. Spencer in the conclusion, that simply to come out from a church, and to be silent when you have come out, is not the way to protest against a great evil. I only trust that many of oar own professed friends may hear, and hear to their advan- tage. Silence and acquiescence has been their policy and now we find those who have tasted of the evils of the system for themselves, and have felt the iron enter into their own soul —they are the men who cannot understand such conduct, but regard it not as an effective means of severing the Church from the State, but as unfaithfulness to a duty which Providence has imposed upon them. But I will not say what might be the duty of individuals like our friend Mr. Spencer in regard to the connexion which they sustain with the present Church. It is not for me to prescribe for them. Let every man stand or fill, according to the judgment of his own Ulster. Who am I that I should judge in this case? It suffices, for me that he who sees the evil, whether lie remains in connexion with the Church, or whether he comes out of it, is ready to denounce the evil, faithful to his own convictions, and would impress those convictions upon his fellow-men but whether ecclesias- tically he be right or wrong, whether he act in conformity with the spirit of the institution of whish he is a member or not, I hold that he is doing essentially that service for which God sent him into this world. He is looking at the truth with an unprejudiced eye for himself, and havÜ1g ascertained it to his own satisfaction, he is, in opposition to all the difficulties by which he is surrounded, and the scorn and contumely whic h may be heaped upon him, communicating that truth to his fellow-men. But I would just submit, in relation to one or two of the particulars that were noticed, this simple fact,— the nation, as a nation, cannot behave itself as a Church. It can neither regulate the affairs of the Church, nor choose the ministers of the Church, nor settle the creed of the Church, nor enact the discipline of the Church. In conformity with what we regard as the first principles of a scriptural Church, a Church must do that for itself. What the nation can do in regard to the Church with which it happens to be associated, is to cast it off, and let it stand upon its own re- sources. Then, whatever changes may be needful in order to render it an effectual instrument for the diffusion of sound knowledge respecting God and eternity—whatever may be necessary to this, must be found within its own bosom. It alone is commissioned to bear the message of mercy to the world; it alone, under Christ, is commissioned to govern the disciples of our Master; and the nation—whether it be by the popular voice, or whether it be by that voice feebly reflected by the Legislature—have no more right to control in matters of religion than kings and lords, whether they be spi- ritual or temporal. Our doctrine is simply this,—whereas the Church of England has imposed itself upon our resources; whereas, it has taken to itself the sword of the magistrate; whereas, it lives embodied in acts of Parliament, and exercises authority over the consciences of men, we say that we will take from it, with due regard to vested interests, that property which is national, and apply it to national purposes (applause). We say that we will divest it of those civil privileges which some of its members enjoy in superiority to others of our country; and we say that the sword of the magistrate should be no longer at its beck that what it does, it should do by argument and bv ocrsu tsion that if it cannot stand upon its own merits, it h.id"better fill and that, if it is unable, by commending the truth to every man's conscience, to secure for itself a stife and sure maintenance and protection (hear, hear); then it is a dead failure that ought to be hooted out of the world (loud applause). The meeting will indulge me in having made these few remarks upon the resolution which immediately preceded. The resolu- tion which I have to submit to the meeting is this :— "That this meeting learns with satisfaction that it is the inten- tion of the Executive Committee to promote the presentation of petitions to the Legislature, and it also expresses the earnest hope that, in the event of a general election, strenuous effoi-ts will be made to secure the return of men pledged to the decided advocacy of Anti-State Church principles in the House of Commons." Most of you will be aware that it has been the policy of the council and the executive committee of the Anti-State Church Association, before venturing into actual conflict with the powers that be, upon this great question, to train up for itself a nucleus of integrity, of enlightenment, and of fidelity, that should be always to be depended upon in the hour of peril. We felt that we were going into a contest which would proba- bly be protracted for many years., We knew well what would be the forces arrayed against us. We were perfectly cognizant of the fact, that all the wealth, the respectability, the fashion and the honour of the world would put temptation into the way of those who engaged in this great battle, in order to seduce them from our ranks, and, if possible, to bring to a disgraceful failure the attempt which we have undertaken. We deemed it, consequently, wise to spend some years in the formation of sound opinion, in the creation of an earnest attachment to our principles, and in the production in the minds of a large portion of our professed followers of such an appreciation of the object we had in view, that nothing on earth should be able to seduce them from their allegiance, when once we led them forth to action against the foe. We have now spent five years princi- pally in this way; our work has been educational; we have taught Dissenters we have endeavoured to teach Churchmen; but we may say, and say without the smallest hesitation, that we have gathered together as noble a band of men into con- nexion with this Association as ever banded themselves for the accomplishment of a great national good. I have no fear whatever, come what may, that the phalanx, the bulk of those whom we have trained by this agitation, will forsake the prin- ciples we have endeavoured to instil into their minds. I may say, it has been our earnest desire to cultivate in them every- thing candid, everything inquiring, everything generous, every- thing godlike; and the sentiments that we have endeavoured to elicit and encourage in the minds of our friends, are just the sentiments of pure Christianity. We think we have been em- ployed long enough in this way exclusively. We know, indeed, that the work has yet to be done on a larger scale; but that we may flesh the maiden swords of our soldiers, we think it fit now to lead them forth into action. We mean to go to the Legislature —to go there first of all with petitions. I know the idea will be smiled at bv some and truly, such is the impenetrability of the Legislature—especially one Hsuse of it—upon this ques- tion, that one might almost despair of causing a single ray of light to illuminate their darkness (laughter), But I believe, notwithstanding, that a regular system of petitioning, when the object sought is a distant one, and the time intervening be- tween the present time and the accomplishment of the object, must needs be long. I believe that a regular system of peti- tioning, although it shall not produce any immediate impression upon either House, will gradually beget in the minds oi the members of both Houses, the conviction that there is a strong Anti-State Church feeling diffused throughout the community, that that feeling has gone to collect itself in thunder clouds to flash upon those Houses, and that the time is speedily coming when they must ascertain all the bearings of this question, in order that they may take whatever part they have determined to take in the conflict before them. Bat even if they are un- touchable, the nation are not. It may be that the light which falls upon a mirror does nothing to enlighten that mirror, but reflected back into the room, it will produce light all around. The House of Commons may be insensible to any prayer of the constituencies that sent them to their places. I speak, of course, of the bulk, and not of individual representatives- the House of Commons may be insensible; but our petitions containing a prayer for the separation of the Church from the State will be recorded as having been presented, in some at least of the daily newspapers, and there will be gradually a general opinion generated throughout the community, that the conflict has already commenced, that every man who would be faithful to his trust must take his part, and that all who wish well to the Church of the living God must range themselves on the one side or the other, in or- der that this great controversy may be brought to a close. I may say moreover, that the simple mode of filling the House with the echo of the phrase, Separation of Church and State," will familiarise the ears and the minds of members with that sound, and gradually they will eome to leara, bit by bit, what that sound means, oiu who are there will no longer feel at a loss to allude to the sub- ject they will be encouraged to speak of it without circumlo- cution, and will feel that whenever they utter that phrase, The Separation of Church and State," they are speaking in terms which will be endorsed by a large portion of our active countrymen. We begin the battle thus not thus shall we accomplish it, we know. We must send out our picquets, but the bulk of the army—those who will have to hew and hack their way to the end which they propose—will come after- wards. This question is to be settled uy the electors. Mind that If it be laid aside if, in consequence of party conflicts, there be a dissolution of the House of Commons, and an appeal be made to the people, to sustain one bad party against a worse —it we are once more to be harped away from great and good principles, that we may trail after those who are seeking place and power, and rather for the accomplishment of party ends than the advantage of the whole community if, in short, we permit ourselves to be seduced by the specious cries and re- monstrances of gentlemen always anxious to put us right when they wish to get into Parliament, but never anxious to remem- ber the arguments they employed when they have got there- then I say, this question will be indefinitely postponed. It will be of no use for us to discuss and argue in large, crowded, and enthusiastic meetings like this. Give me the enthusiasm, after ail, that will condense itself into deliberate purposes, and whilst it can freely expend its superfluity of force in hears" and cheers," will, when the proper time comes, subside into a calm and determined, and unswerving vote on the day of elec- tion. Every camp has its sutlers and its holiday folks, and they all follow the sound of the band and the trumpet, when danger is not nigh. The soldier alone, who knows what ie expected of him, and who is determined to do it, stands when the foe is in sight. We have each, individually, a duty to per- form. First let us see to it, that if we have a vote, our names be on the register. Secondly, let us see to it that if our names be on the register, we give as early an intimation as possible to our fellow constituents of the kind of principles for which we intend to give our votes. Thirdly, let us seek, above all things, to put up some man who shall fairly exhibit those prin- ciples and reflect them. And fourthly, when, he is put up, stand by his side though the whole world should hiss us down. Cromwell had his Ironsides he had trained them to prayer, and he had trained them to martial courage too they were under perfect discipline and however mistaken we may sup- pose the means they employed were, they went forth in the name of the Lord of hosts, for the accomplishment of their purpose and they were invincible. We must have our iron- sides too, but they must be the men for the hustings, and not simply for the field-—men who will work at a general election, and work without pay, men who will sacrifice themselves in order that they may accomplish the one purpose for which they possess their franchise. It is said that all the institutions of this country are arranged simply to result in one fact—that twelve men shall be gathered together in one jury-box. The demonstration, of justice, in other words, is the object of all our institutions. In the same spirit I would say of our plat- form meetings, of all our discussions, all our tracts, all our pe- gs titions, all our endeavours to raise the question in Parliament, and to enlighten the mmds of statesmen upon this great suo- ject—-all of them should be intended to result at last inputting a majority of votes upon the register at the poll. Are we then prepared to make this stand when the election comes about They tell us that a general election is not far off. I will llDt be any prophet in the matter. I am sure it will be postponed as long as possible. I have not the slightest idea that the House of Commons will be dissolved, and that an appeal wih be made to the people fur fresh representatives, until political parties have come into a dead lock. But I really begin to think that the dead lock is coming about. And I know t.iat the persuasion is entering into the minds of members, and that they are consulting their various constituencies in order to pre- pare for another general election. Let us, then, be 0:1 our guard let us be prepared to act when the time comes let us see to it that we døthat hondiur to our principles, at the hust- ings and the poll-booth, that we do on this platform, and in similar meetings. I will not detain the meeting further than simply to congratulate them upon the aid rapid ad- vance which the question is making in this country. I can but look back upon the time when we first engaged in this great enterprise, and when the feelings of society generally were those of indignation and scorn, at the presumption and folly of those who would undertake so great a work. We have already gone on caring neither for the noises that assailed us discordantly on the one side or on the other; we have had our objects clearly and simply before us. We have caken tow aids that object the nearest roads we could ascertain we have ad- vanced thus far; there are helpers coming from every quarter, some seceding from the Church, some working in the Church. We gtve to all of them the right hand of fellowship, and bid them God speed. But our motto is, Onward, onward, onward We dare not retreat, for we should then be unfaithful to our convictions. We will not give up, because we have already pledged ourselves to the principles that we hold to be dearer to us than life and we cannot but succeed, for He who has all power in his hand, and who rules over all the hearts of the children of men, has promised that his Church shall one day arise and shake herself from the dust, and put on her beautiful garments, and loose herself from the bonds of her neck. We earnestly and fervently pray for the advent of this glorious period and though our own eyes may be sealed in death ere we behold the great and glorious consummation, we have this strong conviction burning in our own bosoms, lighting up to enthusiasm whenever we meditate upon it-that we are indeed engaged in a work to which omnipotence itself is pledged, and that as surely as there is a God in heaven, the Church shall one day be free (loud applause). Lawrence HEYWORTH, Esq., M.P. for Derby, seconded the resolution. The resolution was here put, and passed nem. con. Dr. HUTTON then moved a vote of thanks to the Chairman, for his able and dignified conduct in the chair, which was seconded by William BAIXES, Esq., of Leicester, and carried by acclamation. After a brief acknowledgment from the Chairman, the proceedings terminated at a few minutes before ten o'clock.