The Express.
London, England, 1867-05-09 00:00:00

NATIONAL SOCIETY.

The fifty-sixth annual meeting was held yester-
day at Willis's. Rooms, the Archbishop of Carricitsunr,
as president of the society, presiding; and there were pre-
sent on the platform, Earl Beauchiunp, the Earl of Her-
rowby, Earl of Romney, Lord Redesdale ; the Bishops of
Oxford, Lichfield, St. Asaph, Llandaff, Soder and Mann,
and Manchester ; Archdeacon Denison, Canon Mills, Rev.
Mr. Trevor, Sir T. Phillips, Sir W. James, Sir J. Seymour,
Messrs. Hubbard, M.P., Acl and, M.P. &c.
The Panainerr, in opening the burdens', enplaned, in
reference to the long dismission, which had taken place in
previous years, that the only thing done at the meeting
which could be binding was the voting by ballot for the
members of the committee. He had no wish to prevent
discussion, but to inform them that no practical result
could flow from it. In conclusion he moved the re-elec-
tion of the auditors, which was agreed to.
The report of the committee was then read, which
refers at length to the report of the committee of the
House of Commons appointed in 1865, and the alterations
raised in that report as to substituting .rating for volun-
tary aid and a mixed religious education for the existing
denominational system, and, concurring generally with
the parliamentary committee, records the society's objec-
tions to any such change. It then gives the financial re-
sults of the year, viz.:—During the past year the society's
income from subscriptions, donations, church collections,
and legacies, amounted to 14,162/. ss. 11d., being an in-
crease over last year of 1,577/. tie. 4d. During the same
period 182 applications for aid towards building and fitting
up schoolrooms and teachers' houses have been made to the
society, in additionto 11 applications for an iecrense of former
grants. In the caw of the applicationa for building schools,
no lees than 40, from venous causes, do not obtain aid
from the committee of council. The total amount of
accommodation thus provided was for 24,M12 children, and
the sum voted was 7,830/. Grants during the same period
to the amount of 5,3681. 10s. have been paid by the trea-
surer for school buildinp now duly completed : this sum
has assisted in the erection of 153 schookeonas, supplying
accommodation for 19.219 children, and in building 47
teachers' residences. The committee regard the karmae
is this branch of the society's operations, and the conti-
nued augmentation of its income, as unmistakeable
evidence of a growing confidence in the principles on which
the society was originally established, and by which its
operations have all along been directed.
Lord ROMNEY moved a resolution expressing satisfaction
at the past efforts of the society to uphold and extend
education in the principles of the established church.
This was seconded by Lord Ref/gm:Lux, atil carried,
The Rev. Mr. TIIEYOZ, referring to a notice of • motion
given by Mr. Harry Chester, adverse to the terms of
union, a bile regretting that Mr. Chester was prevented by
illness from being present, was glad that no other person
was prepared to take it up, and that his (Mr. Trevor's)
amendment would be unnecessary. The terms of union
were thatthe children shoulttbe taught the church catechism
and the liturgy, that they should receive religious instruc-
tion under the superintendence of the clergyman, and
should attend church unless specially excused.
Those terms being in accordance with the prin-
ciples of the established church were those
pre-eminently of the society, and it was now
more than ever necessary to adhere to them.
He moved, with the view of evoking the feeling of the
meeting, rather than as a resolution binding on the com-
mittee, that it is now more than ever necessary that the
society should adhere with unswerving fidelity to the
terms of union.

Arehdeabon Derrisorr seconded the moth* and Indulged
in some warm animadversions upon the Educational Com-
mittee of Privy Council, to which he said he had always
been, and would always be the enemy ; and, "so help
him God," would on all occasions oome up to town to
attend their meetings, and protest against the educe.
Honed committee's proceedings.
The Earl of HARROWBY protested against the
language
in which his venerable friend had indulged, anc
depre-
cated the practice of exaggerating the differences between
the church and the State. He, however, was an advocate
for upholding the terrua of union, at the same time it was
to be regretted that the question had been raised.
The Bishop of Sr. As.trH made some remarks complain-
ing of the objection to teaching dissenters' children in the
church schools the Apostles' creed, and those general princi-
ples of religion which had been the common property of all
Christians for the last 1,400 years. He pointed out some
of the difficulties in which theclergy were placed inhis dio-
cese in regard to the church schools, as applicable to the
dissenters, consequent upon the stringency of the rule
requiring the catechism to be learned, and mentioned an
instance in which be bad advised the clergyman to con-
cede the question of the conscience clause rather than
exclude 200 children of dissenters from the school. (Hear.)
Lord Lrrrevrolt, while adhiVrlo the opinion he had
formerly expressed, was not to say that it was
desirable that the society ghoul have any specific terms
of union, expressed in words of its own or other than in
the words of the church or of the authorities of the church,
and if that was the object of the resolution be must oppose
it. He thought further that the society would do hatter
if it would extend its aid to all schools certified by. autho.
rity higher than its own as being constituted on principles
in accordance with those of the established church. (Hear.)

The discuesion wu continued at considerable length by
the Rev. M. W. Mayow, Mr. Aland, M.P., Canon Har-
vey, Rev. Mr. Garthwaite, Canon Miller (who held that
either the society should keep its rule or abandon it, and
not uphold in theory that which, as in the case quoted by
the Bishop of St. Asaph, they relaxed in practise. The
great difficulty of the clergy in reference to their schools
was the primary means of propagating church of Eng-
landiant (Cheers.) If men took that view they never
could join heartily in the work of national education), and
others, some of whom wandered into the question of the
conscience clause and other disputed points connected
with the rules of the Educational Committee of Council ;
and eventually the motion was put and carried.
On the motion of the Bishop of OXFORD thanks were
voted to the president, and the proceedings closed with
the benediction.

THE PEACE MOVEMENT IN FRANCE.—The
Dibats of yesterday says :—" During the last few days we
have reproduced a certain number of addresses and letters
in favour of peace. The signatories of these addresses and
letters belong to the roost opposite classes of citizens, and
to the most dissimilar districts of France. The expres-
sions they employ are generally very worthy of attention ;
they evince a sincere love of country ; the resolution to
defend it energetically if • single inch of its territory
were threatened, but at the same time a just and sensible
hatred of all aggression against neighbouring nations.
These addresses denounce offensive war; they show its
iniquity with a clearness of view and an elevation of ten-
timent and language which are very remarkable. In all
parts of France, and even in that Alsace which we were
told was ready to make war on its own account if the
government refused to declare war, voices are
being raised to proclaim publicly what a hundred years
before would have been merely thought in secret, and two
hundred years ago would have been absolutely unintelli-
gible. We do not believe, however, that addresses
such as those we have just published repre-
sent the general spirit of French society. Such
great evolutions are not accomplished in an instant
without struggles and without contradiction. But
the resistance to the ideas of war is very vigorous. That
is all we wish to point out, and it is what we always
desired and hoped when many people, now very pacific,
declared themselves humiliated because the Germans had
got rid of their petty sovereigns, ' our traditional allies.'
Our hopes and our wishes remain the same now that a
certain number of the former friends of peace have become
red-hot champions of war. We wish all success, there-
fore, to the Peace League."
The Mitribonniqh Times confirms the report that
whilst at Paris, some months since, Mr. George Brudenell
Bruce joined the Roman catholic communion. Mr. Bruce
is eldest son of Lord Ernest Bruce, M.P. for Marlborough,
who is hair-presumptive to the titles of the Marquis of
Ailesbury and Earl of Cardigan.
The Lord Chancellor has made an order in Chan-
cery that Saturday, the 25th inst., be observed as a
holiday for the celebration of her Majesty's birthday.

The Pitramntrr (after disposing of the preliminary
toasts) gave "The Army, Navy, and Volunteers."
The Duke of CAMBRILKM responded for the army ;
Mr. Coeitt, First Lord of the Admiralty, returned
thanks for the Navy ; and Mr. HAWKSHAW, Lieut.-Colonel
in the Engineer Volunteer Corps, for the volunteers.
The PIESILWIT then proposed the " Houses of Lords
and Commons."

The Earl of CAITIINEs4 responded for the House of
Lords.

Mr: MII4IIAELI (who had been introduced by the chair- •
man as" the greatest statesman and orator of the age")
acknowledged the toast for the House of Generous, saying •
—lt is only a few night', ago I had the honour on the
part of the House of Commons to return thanks for the
compliment paid them in the colleges and snidely* of
an ; now I have to repeat that duty in what,
with the license, bat I hope without the .
licentiousness, of metaphor, I may describe as the
halls of science. Considering that civil engineering is a
new profession there have been relations of much intimacy
between your body and the House of Commons. I myself
' can recollect that in my experience of the House of Com-
mons the civil engineers have contributed several gentle.
men who were honoured and distinguished inemben of it.
It is with satisfaction I remember that I enjoyed the kind
feelings, and I hope possessed tho not unfavourable
opinion, of Mr. Locke and Mr. Stephens n. They sat on
differerit sides of the house, but they were men whom
all respected and regarded. It cannot be denied that the
House of Commons and civil engineers are extremely well
acquainted. (Laughter.) I hardly know any public body
of men who have had so much parliamentary experience,
indeed, I rather suspect that in tee ace of a
decision respecting a standing order for example,
they would know much more abeut it,
_perhaps,
than the leader of the house himself. (iknewed
laughter.) Looking around this room I think I pee many
countenances of gentlemen who, without being members •
of parliament, have had more experience of parliamentary
committees than I have had in the 30 years in which I '
have sat in the house. (Hear.) The President has with
plantive dignity alluded to the circun.stsace that our
relations at present are not so close as heretofore.
ever foundation there may be for that remark I can hardly
venture to decide. Judging from my own obeervations in
walking daily down to the house, I should say the civil
engineers are very busy in the neighbourhood. (Hear.)
What may be the precise result or erect object of their
present operations I may not presume to decide, but all I
hope is that our votes and proceeding,' hereafter are not
to partake of &subterranean character, and that at least
the House of Commons may be spared toperfurin its duties
under the usual circunistances that have hitherto attended
them. (Laughter and cheers.) The right hon. gentleman
then went on to propose "Prosperity to the Institution of
Civil Engineers," and said probably a short century ago a
meeting of scientific men like the present VIAS absolutely
impossible. A century no—after all only in the times of
our grandfathers—there was not a canal in England, and
scarcely a road ; and although we have been taught that
Britannia was the mistress of the ocean, I believe that the
British mariner left our natural purta unimproved, with
no artificial advsatages—almost without a chronometer,
and generally without a sextant. What, then, his pro-
duced these wonderful changes in comparatively so short
a span? How is it that we live in a country covered
with railroads in every direction, surrounded by
waters studded with steam vessels, and in so
brief a space produced a population that tunnel mountains
and communicate in a moment with distant hemispheres
and continents It is by observation of nature, by a
gradual but periodic rim during that interval of men of
ruins who have devoted their study to the secrets of
the MiO ty Mother" and have discovered them, who
have combined theirinvention with experience, who' have
adapted science to practical life, and who have melded a
schen and a profesainit by which to avail themselves of
their inventions and experiments. That school and that
profession are the civil engineers of England. (Cheers.)
In old days the pretensions were learned ; they were
founded on erudition—that is to my, no man who aspired
to be a lawyer, a clergyman, or a physician claimed the
confidence of society On any other ground than that he
had appropriated and acquired the learning and experience
of the past. These, then, were learned professions. And
science, which is founded upon observation and invention,
the results of which are indefinite and incilculable, has
also produced professions which may be distinguished
from learned professions' and the chief among them, no
one will deny, is that around whose hospitable table
we are this evening collected. (Cheers.) Our chair-
man seems to have regretted that the labours of
civil engineers were not perhaps so considerable
at this moment as they have been in former years. Pro-
bably there is not that demand for increased communica-
tion that distinguished society a few years back ; but I
hope the labours of our civil engineers are not limited
merely to the creation of railroads. I hope they
have other great duties to perform and objects to
accomplish of a character not less elevated, not less
material and important. If I were to notice one to
which I think the attention of the civil engineers should
be directed, it is that of the public health, of which they
are peculiarly the conservators. (Cheers.) We have
recently produced some great works with that tendency,
the admirable qualities of which all must admire. But if
I might venture to otter the hint, there is
a subject worthy of consideration to which I
would particularly call the attention of the civil
engineers, I mean the supply of this great and
increasing metropolis with that pure element upon which
more than anything else depends the health of great
cities. If our civil engineers would give their time,
genius, and invention to the better water supply of London,
they would not only find ample means of employing their
time and talents, but they would confer upon society
and their country the greatest of possible benefits. (Cheers.)
It is not half a century ago that the idea of
this institution was by a few distinguished men
promulgated amongst their own class ; and that has been
the origin of many great institutions. An institution like
this does not depend upon those uiedia-val aids which once
were considered necessary to support all great institutions.
Endowmeata are not required, and they would perhaps be
dangerous even to the existence and prosperity of an insti-
tution like the present. (Hear.) But it is of very great im-
portance that they should acquire a corporate character,
that they should organise theneolves into a corporation
that would demand public attention, and that they should
assume some visible form in the conduct of their affairs
that would impress its importance on the nation. Them-
fore I should be very glad to see that, although this is a
society not richly endowed, and which does not seek attri-
butes of that character, the civil engineers could raise some
building worthy of their profession and the prevent age in
which they might prosecute their functions, in which they
might bold necessary assemblies, in which a great library
might be accumulated, and which perhaps might be
adorned by the forms on canvas or in marble of that series of
great men to whom they owe their reputation, and the
imitation of whose example alone can make them great.
(Loud cheers.) it would be a fine thing for
a young member of this body to enter the
hall of the society or corporation of which he
is proud to be a member, and truce the forms of itmeeton,
Bradley, and Watt, and those men who banded the prac-
tical torch of science down to the days of Stephensou and
Brunel. That would be a long list of British worthies. the
view of which would exercise a most salutary influence
upon the mind and temper of the young. (Cheers.) I
limit myself to the departed ; but I know well there are
members of this body who, if such an architectural
edifice were raised, would in due time be registered
ed.
only of • own country but of European countries. I
ol'murolings't thcievigrentgindeeermrtrs coTmhemarenarthr respect,nya not
think I may say, without flattery, that there is one in the
chair of this society whose name and labours have al-
ready greatly distinguished him, and for whom I
hopes reserved an illustrious and eminent ea-
reer, which will entitle him to the lasting respect and
admiration of the society of which he is the distinguished
bead. (Loud cheers.) Oar president has accomplished
great works, to which I need not in detail allude. But I
must say I am especially struck with that great system of
subterranean communication which, without extending
the area of cities, has infinitely multiplied their conveni-
ences, and even greatlyincreased their size. I niinutiloubt
but that hereafter that invention will be recognised
taaheons:eth, at.adhasachiuknloawigreedga,iit influence
ttootshtegresnientelyersproo.f
moted the civilisation of the nineteenth century. And it
will be a just source of pride to all Engliehnwu that the
great engineer to whom we are mainly indebted for this
invention sits in the chair of your society. (loud cheers.)
The right hon. gentleman concluded by proposing " Mr.
Yowlers Health," in connexion with the toast of the
evening.
The Ceeferae, after responding, rrepOfted " Our
Visitors," to which the Chief Baron of the Exchequer
replied.