The Express.
London, England, 1862-05-09 00:00:00

MEETING OP NONCONFORMISTS.

Last night, • crowded meeting of the dissenters
of the metropolis was held in Freemamone-hall, to prima
Mr. Edward Miall with • testimonial in recognition of his
public services in the came of civil and religions free4am.
Mr. Sheriff COOLIZZLL was in the chair, and there were
present on the platform Mr. John Bright, Mr. Barnes,
ILE, Mr. Gilpin, M.P., Mr. P. A. Taylor, M.P., Mr. Had-
field, M.P., Mr. Stansfeld, M.P., Sheriff Cookerell, Mr.
Samuel Morley, Dr. Halley, Dr. Angus, Rev. J. H. Hinters,
Rev. W. Brock, Rev. J. Burnet, Mr. Duncan M`Laren, of
Edinburgh ; Mr. Charles Robertson, of Liverpool; Mr
H. 0. Wills, of Bristol; Mr. Comehara, of Bristol; and
numerous other ministers and laymen from various parts of
the country.
The CEIAIRSIAN, in opening the proceedings, explained
that the meeting was held for the sake of paying homage to
a great principle—a principle embodied in Mr. B. Mull,
who, u editor of the Nonconformist newspaper, had for
the last twenty-one years advocated the freedom of religion
from anything like state interference—a cause which he bad
also served as member for Rochdale.
Mr. HILTON having explained the origin of the testimo-
nial, stated that it bed, by subscriptions from all parte of
the country, reached the amount of 5,0001.
Mr. SaMueL Mom.st, as a member of the executive com-
mittee, then read to Mr. Miall an aiklrese, and at its con
-
elusion handed to him a banker's press-book for 5,00 W. sod
• silver tea and coffee service, on the tray of which there
was an inscription indicative of the nature of the gift. The
address stated that fifties hundred persons, mattered over
every part of the United Kingdom, bad subscribed to the
testimonial, wishing to express their very high estimate of
the value of the services which Mr. Miall had rendered to
the came of civil and religion. liberty.
Mr. Mutt, in • speech too lengthy to be reported is
full, returned thanks for the houour conferred upon
him. He first returned thanks to the Deity for every
act of his own which tended to good as the result
of his merciful Providence. It was to that, and to the
ability of hie colleagues, he attributed the success of the
Noneonformist. He and they looked forward to seeing
the great principle which they bad advocated
brought about by the revival and expansion of
religious life in the established church itself
a religious life which some good men, and some men whose
spiritual character wee not so much respected, desired to
restrict within the narrow limits of human law. Religion
was is fact everywhere freeing itself from its political degra-
dation, as at Rome, at Vienna, at Paris, and in the colonies,
in spite of the efforts of them who by the iteration of words
they could make facts, and hurled vituperation at the
heeds of those who advocated the voluntary movemeat,
but who could not be so shouted down. For himself
he had become accustomed to read the most atrocious
calumnies on himself just as he would read anything else in
a newspaper, and to deal with them in the way of humane*.
Reference we made in the address to his having been one
of the Royal Commissioners appointed to inquire into na-
tional education, awl he thought he ought rather to be con-
gratulated on that appointment than be thanked for his
services on the commission, for his labours there had
been rendered easy by the patience and courtesy with
which those other commissioners who did not agree in his
views received his exposition of them. Having again at-
tributed the success of his labours to a higher power, and
personally thanked those who had been instrumental in
getting up so magnificent • testimonial, Mr. XIII resumed

Mr. J. Bright, If .P., the Rev. 11. Hinton, the Bev. Dr.
Halley, and other gentlemen, aubtoguently addressed the
nieetio in terms laudatory of Mr. aerricee, end the
Proceedings terminated in the usual manner.