The Express.
London, England, 1846-11-06 00:00:00

by e :pressing his thanks to the Lord Mayor for presidine on
r the occasion, and to the meeting for the patience with which
be had been heard.
Mr. LEER J. HANSARD advocated at considerable length
the objects of the institution, to the principles of which
the meeting was called upon to give its sanction, by
the adoption of the resolution which he moved, to the effect
that the meeting conaiders the plan for aiding and encou-
raging the working classes to make themselves independent
to he eminentiv useful and highly praiseworthy.
Mr. 1). W. WIRE, in an able end eloquent speech, se-
conded the motion, but reserved to himself the pnvilege of
qualifying the details of the plan when organised.
Mr. KOREIITS here wished to call attention to a point, not
knossing whether it was provided for in the resolutions to ho
submitted to the meeting. The union proposed was declared
to be for the benefit of every class of persons without dis-
tinction ; but he now found that there was a test, and a reli-
gious test, in the society. This was shown in the resolution
lately passed at St. Albans, which rendered those only eli-
gible to be received as members " who can produce certifi-
cates from the clergyman, churchwarden, or uny other officer
of the Established Church, or minister or other officer of any
other religious body, not in connexion with the Established
Church, at whose place of worship they attend, that the
applicant has been known, fur three months at the least, to
be of religious, moral, and temperate habits."
The CHAIRMAN said that such a principle as Mr. Roberts
referred to was wit contained in the resolutions of that day,
and would form no part of the principle of the society.
(Applause.)
Mr. CANDEN made some observations relative to a similar
institution proposed three years ago, which were deemed
inelevemt to the question heti:re the meeting.
The resolution was then put, and carried unanimously.
The Rev. Hearty KEMBLC then moved—

That the plan proposal by B. B. Cabbell, Fail., M.P., appears to
promi•e to the members of the working climes, who may join it
when they are sick, out of work, aged, or infirm, tv give them the
best security for their deposi.s; to improve their dwellings anil t
health ; to benefit their families; and to raise them morally, socially,
and politica ly.

Ile did not come forward either as the opponent or advocate
of the existing pone-law ; he was young and inexperienced,
and knew nothing of the working of that institution; hut he
believed no system could be made so stringent as not to turn
to evil if worked by bad men, and, if good men worked it,
whose evil could not heameliorated. He could, however, speak
of his own palish of Lambeth, where he had always found the
utmost attention and kindness shown towards the poor by the
poor•law authorities. He spoke of the large and appalling
amount of distress existing on the Surety side of the Thames,
the greater part of which he ascribed to the number of provident
societies founded on bad principles, and giving too huge an
interest, and through the mismanagement of which the poor
man lost his money. The only way to check this crying
evil was to establish large institutions, on sound and broad
principles, whose meetings should be held in schools, chapels,
or vestry-rooms,—anywhere but in public houses,—a system
which was a prominent cause of the ill effects which the in-
stitutions generated. With regard to the question of a religious
test, ho was certain that as far asthe population of his district
was concerned, the system would not answer ; tor out of 1,523
poor in one division of the parish to which he belonged, there
were only 78 who attended a place of worship. After urging
the stringent necessity for some improvement in the condi-
tion of the poor, ascribing the chief evils to the want of reli-
gious instruction, he concluded by heartily recommending
the formation of the society, as calculated greatly to benefit
the ends in view.
The Rev. W. II twins seconded the resolution. Coincid-
ing as he did in the opinions of the last speaker, he had
the advantage of him in more extended experience as to the
state of the poor in the metropolis. The district of Mile-end
New. town, over which he presided, contained 9,030 persons,
of whom 8,000 were in a state of pauperism. He was con-
sequently brought daily into scenes of destitution which no
person could imagine rind few would believe. He detailed
some particulars of the wretchedness to which he referred,
and which lie maintained was aggravated by the present
state of the l'oor-law ; mentioning one Case in particular of
a poor woman in a consumption, who lett the parish work-
house, after staying for a week, because °Milk dto drink a
kind of soup which was injurious to her. lie was convinced
that an institution like the one proposed was the best means
to check such abuses.
Mr. Ksioneros, who spoke from the body of the room,
deprecated the ooserrat.ons made by Mr. Ilarris on the sub-
ject of provident societies, which he though,. were a means of
effecting great good to the community. The workin; men
of the present day were not the working men of fifty years
back; there were among them many persons of shrewd
sense and intellect, who be-towed the greatest attention to
the task of ameliorating the condition of their fellow-men.
He admitted that it would be better not to meet in public-
houses, but begged them to remember the high price of any
hall or large rosin elsewhere.
Mr. CAMPBELL here wished to make a suggestion. He
considered that the amount of distress being so great it was
necessary to take broad and decisive measures fir its remedy.
What was wanted was to give the poor profitable and pro-
ductive employment, and he hoped that this feature would
not he lost sight of in the plan pursued. (Applause.)
The CHAIRMAN said he was so far pleased with the sugges.
tion that he would do his best to promote its accomplishment
by all means in his power. (Hear.) Ilia Lordship then put
the second resolution, which was unanimously passed.
Mr. COCHRANE moved the third resolution :
That subscriptions be entered into to promote the establishment
and carrying on of the ' National Provident and Benevolent Union,'
nerd that the bankers of London, :aid various bankers in the provinces,
be requested to allow subacriptioa-lints to lay open ou their counters."
He was glad to see himself associated with the worthy chair-
man on this occasion, whose conduct during his mayoralty in
the promotion of charitable objects he eulogised in strong
terms. He observed briefly upon the subjects before the
meeting. The laws for the poor were harsh enough, but he
had no hesitation in saying that the administration of the
law—the guardians—converted the word into a mockery, and
made the law still worse by their mode of working it.
Mr. DIMES seconded the resolution in terms briefly ex-
pressive of cordial coincidence in the plan proposed.
Mr. TIIditNIiORHUCHI moved and Mr. Cux seconded the
next resolution, which was :
Theta committee be formed to carry out the details of the 'Na-
tion:ll Vrovidcht and Benevolent Union,' with power to mid to their

. _
number."
The resolution was agreed to, together with the following
names of gentlemen composing the committee :—The Right
Hon. the Lord Mayor (chairman on the present occasion);
B. Cabbell, Es , M.P. ; R. Etwall, Esq., M.P.; S.
Cochrane, Esq., Luke Hansard, Esq. (from whom a con-
tribution of 501. was acknowledged), the Itev. Mr. Harris.
the Rev. Mr. Kemble, Mr. Wire, and Mr. Alexander
Campbell.
Mr. NORTHHOESE here made a proposition, that all those
ministers, nearly 1000 in number, who had offered their sup-
port to the union, should be elected members, to forward its
objects in their various parishes.—The proposal was, how-
ever, by many persons deemed premature, and was eventu-
ally withdrawn.
Mr. Joserit BENTLEY proposed the fifth resolution,which
offered the thanks of the meeting to the clergymen of vari-
ous denominations who had offered their assistance in pro-
moting the union.
Mr. KNIGHTON objected because the Catholim were not
included ; but it was explained that theireo.operation would
d-,ubtless be obtained, but had not yet been applied for.—
Mr. NORTHHOUSE seconded the resolution, which was also
carried.
A vote of thanks to the Chairman, and another to Mr.
Cabbell, terminated the proceedings.

GRAND BALL AT THE MANSION-HOUSE.—Last
uight the Lord Mayor and the Lady Mayoress gave a splen-
did ball. About 9 o'clock the company began to arrive, and
were received in the Egyptian Hall. The arrangements
were upon the most magnificent scale. Quadrilles com-
menced at half-past nine in the Egyptian Hall and the
Saloon, and were kept up in a melt spirited manner. The
drawing room and the Venetian parlour were laid out as
card-rooms. To the exertions of the committee, Deputy
Brown, Mr. John Wood, Mr. Anderton, Colonel Campbell,
the Rev. Charles Farebrother (the Lord Mayor's chaplain),
Mr. White, and Mr. Henry Sewell, every credit is due. The
dancing was kept up until morning. There were between
900 and 1,000 guests to the hospitable entertainers.
THE LORD MAYOR'S .PROCESSION.—The time-
honoured practise of " taking water" at Blacktriarabridge,
is, it seems, to be abandoned this year. The route of the
procession has been altered as follows From Guildhall
through Gresham-street, Princes-street, King William-
street, and London-bridge, whence the new Lord Mayor
will embark for Westminster.
TAE SMALL DEBTS' ACT.—In the list of districts
published yesterday, an omission, indicated by asterisks,
occurred from Number 39 to 46. These include the metro-
politan districts.
BRITISH ANTI-STATE CHURCH ASSOCIATION.—A
public meeting of the members of this association was held
last evening, at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street. The
large room was densely crowded, and amongst the audience
was a considerable number of ladies. The chair was occupied
by Dr. Thomas Price, the treasurer of the association, who
said that the council proposed to send out deputations to
various parts of the country, whereby they hoped greatly to
increase the support afforded to the society. This society
was not in antagonism to the church of any wan ; it was no
more opposed to the church of the Episcopalian than
to that of the Congregationalist, or the Methodist.
Their opposition was simply directed against the con-
nexion of church and state ; their fundamental prin.
ciple being that all governmental interference with a
church, whether directing or supporting, was wrong, and at
variance with the word of God. The society was unsecta-
rian and national, in the widest sense of the word, having
no theological basis.—The Rev. D. R. Stephen, of Manches-
ter, moved the first resolution, affirming that the union of
church and state was opposed to the progress of civil liberty
and the besk interests of the Christian religion. He denied
that it was the duty of the government to establish and pro-
pagate religious truth. After the course lately pursued by
parliament, and the indications thrown out by leading poli-
ticians, it was evident that they meant soon to establish
popery in Ireland ; and why not establish it there as well as
in Malta or in Canada ? Where then would be the prin.
ciple, that it was the duty of the State to support and propa-
gate religious truth ? (Hear.) At such a juncture the
society was especially called on to assert and diffuse its prin-
ciples.—The Rev. J. Burnet, of Camberwell, seconded the
resolution in a humorous speech. It was said that the Dis-
senters enjoyed civil and religious liberty, but what would a
gentleman think if Lord John Russell sent him a
gardener, with the intimation that he might either employ
him or not, but that be was bound to pay him ? (Hear.)
The Rev. Dr. Cox briefly supported the resolution. He
earnestly exhorted the audience not to flag in their efforts,
notwithstanding the signs of the times were discouraging.
The resolution was then put and unanimously adopted, as
was each of the succeeding ones.—bir. R. Norris moved a
resolution, calling on the executive committee to pursue the
object the association had in view, not only without inter-
mission, but with, increased ardour and determination. lie