The Express.
London, England, 1865-11-23 00:00:00

THE LIBERATION SOCIETY AT MANCHESTER

The Society for the Liberation of Religion from
State Patronage held its annual meetings at Manchester
yesterday. The oonfereece assembled at 11 o'clock in the
morning at the Town-hall, where a considerable number of
ministers and lading dissenter, from all tarts of the king-
dom assembled. The Rev. Dr. ll'lteasow wee elected
chairman, and there were present Mr. Edwd. Miall, Mr.
Hadfield, M.P., Mr. T. B. Potter, M.P., Mr. J. Carvell
Williams, M.l'., Rev. Dr. Parker, Mr. Alfred Mingworth,
Mr. Alderman Grundy, Mr. Barnes, M.P., &e.
Mr. A. ILIANGWoIittt made a statement relative to the so-
ciety's special fund of 25.0001. which it had been
posed
to raise, and said 2,0001. had already been promiesdinn
Brad-
ford, and 1,0001. in Manchester, so that there appeared to
be no insuperable difficulty in the way of acoocapharting their
object.
Mr. R. JOHNSON moved, and Mr. MONCTON (of Leeds),
seconded the following resolution : "That, inasmuch as
the trmfereece considers the proposal to raise a fund of
25,0001., to meet the increased expenditure of the society
during the next five year', to be called for by the circum-
stances of the times, and eminently calculated to increase
the efficiency of the society's operations, it learns with
pleasure the extent to which practical effect has already
been given to the proposal, and urges the necessity for
such a prompt response to the society's appeal, oc the
part of the greet body of its supporters, as will speedily
effect the desired object."
The resolution was adopted unanimously.
l The members subsequently dined together at the Corn
, Exchange, where a soiree was to be held last evening.

A SACRED VVVISIENT.—On Sunday last an un•
usual ceremony was witnessed at St. Lawrence Church,
Norwich. A cope had been prirchased by a Cambridge
under-graduate. and at his wish it was presented end duly
dedicated to God's service in a particularly impressive
manner. The usual procession of choir and priest entered
the church for Evensong, headed by the crucifer. At t
rear, immediately before the 'Muller*, the cope
was carried
by the deputed person who acted for the donor. The priest
went to the altar accompanied by the Measlier,. At the
bottom step of the sacrarium the oope was presented to him
with these words :—" Reverend father, in the came and on
behalf of the donor I present this cope for use by the priest
in this church of St. Lawrence on all fitting occasions."
The prise received it with these word. :—" We receive this
cope to the glory of God and for us in this Church of St.
Lawrence, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Ghost. Amee." The priest then duly pre-
sented it on the altar, and incensed it ; after which suitable
versicles, responses, and a prayer were used. Then the
priest was invested in the cope, and remained so until after
the " Magnificat." The cope is of rich gold and white bro-
oatelle, with crimson orphreys and hood. An unusually
large congregation was present on this occasion.—The
Church Review.
A nen Pourr.—Wbile a couple were being mar-
ried in Prestos Church the other morning, the mother of
the young lady, who was under age, rushed into the church
and forbade the wedding. The officiating minister at once
stopped the service, and. though the bridegroom had just
pronounced the words " with this ring I thee wed,*
declared that no legal marriage bad taken place. Sines
then, however, the matter has been discussed at a meeting
of the clerey, and the unanimous decision they arrived at
was that the couple had been properly sod lawfully married
according to the rites of the church. The point is a very
ticklish one, and will probably have to be settled in the law
courts.
THE PROPOSED OPENING OF THE KENSINGTON
MUSEUM ON SUNDATS.—On Saturday last, it hes already
been stated, a deputation waited on Eeil Grenville, the
Lord President of the Council, for the purpose of present-
ing a memorial from the Trades' Delegates of the National
Sunday League. The deputation called has lordship's at-
tention to the fact that the Rafter:lle cartoons, which had
formerly bean open to the public. on Sundays at Hampton-
court, were now shut ap on that day in the South Kee-
siagton Museum, and that the working men and their fami-
lies had no opportuoity of seen% them, except in the even-
ings by gas light. They therefore prayed his lordship and
the council to grant them admissicn on the Sunday. They
also called attention to the fact that the Sheepshanks'
collection was bequeathed to the public for the purpose of
being exhibited on the Sunday—on that day, however, it
was virtually ioacciasible to them. Earl Grenville told
the deputation that lie went with them as regarded open-
•
- Sand+ • but he ild