The Express.
London, England, 1849-05-31 00:00:00

BRITISH AND FOREIGN UNITARIAN

ASSOCIATION.

Yesterday the twenty-third annual meeting of this
association was held at the Chapel, Baer-strut, Strand,
immediately after a very eloquent sermon on behalf of the
society hod been preached by the Rev. John Suitt Porter,
of Beth* The meeting was very numerously attended.
The disk waranaideseu led by James Heywood, Mae., M.P.
'IM la his opening address, explained
that the peindpol object, atlas society were to afford pecuni-
ary relief and -assistance to ongregations is cliffs:eat parts of
the country, to extend its views by the publication and di..
liPintion of books and tracts, and to promote in every le-
litimere way the great principles of civil and religious
rty. Me stated that he had visit-d America last autumn,
and that be had been greatly interested there in witnessing the
renal prosperityof the on' Wien churches sadmegregatioas.
From Montresl he had proceeded to Boston, where be found
Mr. Everett, the former ambassador from the United State'
to this *matey, enjoying the respect and esteem of all classes
of bit eountrynten. In Boston, too, he met the Rev. Theo-
.., rocker, letre tub a decided interest in anti-slavery
swam nu, awl the of these liberal opiniora which
Weyer olueashesir the Unitarian body. Them opinions
bed emeed iv that body*. hearty co-operation of *s Ro
SMallabbsii• members of parliament, because when catholic
emansipalism was sought for the unitarians aided the passing
of that mu by every means in their power ; and the
Roman Midis members proved themselves not un-
mindful of the services then rendered when the Dis-
senters' Chapels Bill was before the country. The
unitarians had also earned much esteem for the
pert they took with referents to the government education
minutes. (Rear, hear.) He had also visited New York,
whore he was struck with the freedom with which the uni
tense ministers described the America' a from the pulpit, as
a haughty, selfish people ; and then he had gone to Philadel-
phia, in the vicinity of which there was a college for the edu-
cation of young unitarian ministers. In conclusion, the
chairman was of opinion that the Manchester Ucitariso
College ought to be removed to London, and he expressed
his gratification at lousing that the friends of civil and reli-
gious liberty in this country were very large, and that their
ambers were increasing even among the ministers of the
established/hart*.
It appeared from the treasurer's report that the income of
the society for the past year had been 1.0391, and the ex-
, Feardlitare 1,0401. The receipts were elan average amount
open the whole, but there had Bien a falling off to the en-
tont of 1201. in the annual subscriptions.
Upon the motionof Mr. ESTLIN, seconded by Mr. CHRISTY,
the treasurer's accounts were paused.
From the report of the committee, it appeared that no re-
markable or strikiag efforts had been made during the past
year for the diffusion of the priocipl. aof the society, either
at home or abroad. Interesting communications had been
remind from British India, and in one of these it was stated
that the reports sent home by trinitarlso raissi.ararios of the
tonversi,.na to their particular churches were untrue. An
Hungarian gentleman had written an amount of the
progress of the eaue in his country, and he had
given it as his opinion that Unitarianism was
the most perfect of all religions, but that it had not yet
attained its highest point of perfection ; and in their com-
ments upon this lever, the committee took occasion is ex-
press a hope that the Hongariane might be triumphant is
their present struggles. Presents of books and tracts bad
been sent out from this country to the East Indies, and also
to the infant repuldic of Liberia, on the coat of Africa ; and
letters received from America stated that the works of
Charming and Wilson were being circulated rapidly in that
country, and that a Unitarian newspaper had been esta-
blished at New York. In the course of the year, the society bad
distributed some thonsande of books and tracts at home, and
besides sending contributions to Montreal sad India, they had
rendered pecuaiary assistance to the irritation chapels at
Bridgend, Strabane, Huddersfi4d. Dorchester, Rochdale,
Carmarthen, and other places. They bad received letters
of eseouraposaest and sympathy from Newcastle, Lincoln,
Chester, and districts in the west of E -stud, and they had
endeavoured to keep the British sad Foreign School Society
true to the value of its liberal principles, Lut that attempt,
now hir way of being settled by arhitratim, ha I in-
volved an expensive *appeal to the Court of Chancery.
The report was adopted.
Upon the motion of the Rev. Mr. TALBOT, thanks were
voted to the American Association ; sad after the oppoint.
meat of the committee and (Accra for the ensuing year, and
the passing of the usual vote of thanks to the chairman, the
meeting separated.
In the evening the friends and subscribers of the associa-
tion held a soin'e at the Freemasons' Torino, Great Queen-
street, at which .1 soles Heywood, Esq., M.P., again presided,
and several excellent speteles were delivered.