The Express.
London, England, 1867-05-08 00:00:00

CONOREOATIONAL UNION.—The annual assem-
bly of this union was held yesterday morning, at the
M eigh-house Chapel. There was an unusual number of
ministers and delegates present, and the galleries were
crowded with visitors. The chairman of the year, the
Rev. J. R. Campbell, D.D., of Bradford, delivered an ad.
dress, which was a general vindication of Christianity as
suited to the age. He reminded members present that
they were practically the true representatives of the con-
gregational churches of the country, not by virtue of any
organic appointment, but by a fraternal unity, and a com-
petent knowledge of their interests. He alluded to the
changes of the present day in regard to religious thought
and feeling, the result of the law of progress and renewal
in the moral as well as in the physical world. Every con-
flict, he said, was in truth a real effort after the true and
the good ; seeming to destroy, it really preserved and
promoted a higher life. One great manifestation of the
recent conflict was the growth of free thought, a
habit of searching after truth, free from enfeebling
fear and restraining prejudice. The complaint was
sometimes brought against Christianity, that it did no-
thing to promote secular and political progress. The great
Master of Christianity and His disciples did not seek to
! bring about secular and political organizations, but their
teaching trained men for the faithful discharge of every
duty in society; the Christian ministry had no office but
in relation to the church. The state must not meddle with
the church, and it was only fair that the church and its
ministers should not meddle with the state. Upon the
conclusion of the chairman's address a vote of thanks was
unanimously accorded him. Delegates were then intro-
duced and warmly welcomed, from Ireland, from Scotland,
and the United States. From the report read by the
Secretary, the Rev. Dr. George Smith, it appeared that
the periodicals of the union were obtaining a lme cireu-
ktion. The discussion of the morning was introduced by
the Rev. J. G. Rogers, RA., upon the admission of Bap-
tista to the Union, upon their own application. After a
long debate, in which the Rev. Dr. Vaughan, Dr. Halley,
Rev. J. Kelly, Rev. J. Kennedy, M.A., Rev. R. W. Dale,
' Rev. G. W. Cooder, and many others took part, Mr.
Rogers' resolution was carried by a large majority. The
remainder of the business was of a formal character.
THE HEALTH or LONDOS.—It appears from the
Registrar-General's return that in the week that ended on
Saturday, May 4th, the births registered in London and
12 other large towns of the United Kingdom were 4,929 ;
the deaths registered, 2,737. The annual rate of mortality
was 23 per 1,000 persons living. In London the births of
1,101 boys and 1,188 girls, in all 2,381 children, were re-
gistered in the week. In the corresponding weeks of ten
years 1857.66 the average number, corrected for increase
of population, is 2,106. The deaths registered in Loudon
during the week were 1,27. It was the 18th week of the
year ; and the average number of deaths for the week is,
with a correction for increase of population, 1,373. The
deaths in the present return are km by 136 than the esti-
mated number. The deaths from zymotic diseases last
week were 207, the corrected average number being 312.
26 deaths occurred from small-pox, 10 from measles. 19
from scarlatina, 13 from diphtheria, 36 from whooPiog.
cough, 36 from typhus, and 15 from diarrhea. One hun-
dred and sixty-eight deaths were caused by phtliisis, 107
by bronchitis, 58 by pneumonia, and L by diseases of
the heart.