The Express.
London, England, 1853-05-05 00:00:00

BRITISH ANTI-STATE CHURCH ASSOCIA-

TION.

The annual public meeting of this Association was
held yesterday evening at Finsbury Chapel, Finsbury-
circus —W I Lt. IAIII EDWARDS, Esq., in the chair.
The SXCRETAIIT read a report, of which the follow
log is en abstract. It referred to the change of sentiment
which was evidently gradually being effected in the
public mind in relation to the question at issue, politicians
and journalists recognising the separation of church and
state as a change certainly " looming in the distance."
The events constantly occurring in the church of England
had greatly contributed t this state of things. The recent
general election had given proofs of progress, and since the
meeting of parliament, tha votes recorded on certain ques-
tions had been numerous enough to make it evident that
the anti-state church members of the House of Commons
might, in the present state of parties, frequently exercise an
Important influence. Under such circumstances the com-
mittee had given increased attention to parliamentary busi-
ness. They had sought to gain support for Mr. Schole-
field's amendment to Mr. Spooner's motion against the
Maynooth College Act, which sought, not the repeal of that
enactment only, but of others endowing religious bodies, a
proposition which was not only well supported in debate,
but received 70 votes. The introduction of a hill to gambit
the Canadian Legislature to deal with the clergy reserves
was an event of greater practical vslue, and the occasion of
great gratification to the committee. But, unhappily, the
government of this country was church-ridden. So, in this
case, the ministry became the mutilators of their own
measure, by proposing the omission of a clause repealing
an existing provision, by which the Consolidated I. and of
this country is liable to supply deficiencies in the revenues
secured to the English and Scotch churches in Canada. The
committee had done their best to resist the alteration, and 110
members voted against the government. Had not the go-
vernment subsequently expressed an opinion, that the
guarantee in question would be inoperative, in the event
of the secularisation of the reserves, it might have be. n
needful to have rejected the bill. Fortunately, that danger
_ .
-- which the ha' -

bad been escaped, es also the perils to „ the bill was
exposed in the House of Lords; and the people of Canada
would now have it in their power, and, it was believed,
were anxious to strike a blew at ecclesiastical denomination
in the colonies, which would be presently felt in the
mother country. The history of this measure was referred
to, es shadowing forth the necessity likely to be imposed
on future parliaments, of gradually, though reluctantly,
abandoning state interference with religion. The commit-
tee had examined the miscellaneous estimates with a view

to protesting against the numerous sums for ecclesiastical
purposes to be found in them, and had also endeavoured to
gain aid for Sir Wm. Clay's motion against church-rates
about to be made. Dr. l'billimore, it was understood,
would propose to amend the law by a system of registra-
tion, accompanied by a curtailment of parochial rights;
but, in the judgment of the committee, the only satisfac-
tory amendment of the system would be its entire abolition.
The committee had been much occupied in carrying out
their literary scheme ; and reported, that the circulation
of the " Library for the Times," continued steadily to in-
crease. The report clued by an expression of the feeling
of the committee, that the responsibility resting upon the
supporters of the movement was greater now than at any
former period.
Letters of apology for their absence were read from Mr.
Bright, M.P., and Mr. Redfield, M.P., in which both
gentlemen expressed their cordial sympathy with the move-
ment, and at some length argued on its advantages.
The Rev. J. Burnett, J. P. Murrough, Esq., M.P.; the
Rev. J. Brown, of Reading; Apaley Pellatt, Req., M.P.;
and Mr. E. Miall, M.P., addressed the meeting in sup-
port of the principles of the society, after which the meet-
ing separated.