The Express.
London, England, 1861-02-13 00:00:00

GREAT CONFERENCE OP CHURG'II RATE
ABOLITIONISTS.

Yesterday a very numerous conference, convened
at the instance of the representatives of almost all the Dis-
senting Denominations, was held at the Freemasons' Hall,
for the purpose of Viking steps to ensure the parsing of the
Church Rate Abolition Bill by decisive majorities. Several
hundreds were present, and all the principal towns sod
many of the rural parishes were represented. Among those
who were present were Mr. Baines, M.P., Lord Henley,
M.P., Mr. Scholefield, M.P., Sir C. Douglas, M.P., Sir J.
Shelley, M.P., 2dr..T. Harkey, M.P., Mr. Whalley, M.P.,
Mr. Pilkington, M.P., Mr. Dunlop, M.P., Mr. Clifford,
M.P., Colonel Tyote, M.P., Mr. Bristow, M.P., Mr. Stens-
feld, M.P., Mr. Hardcastle, M.P., Mr. Einglake, M.P.,
Rev. T. Binney, Rev. Dr. Steane, Rev. W. Brock, JAS.
Heywood, Fiq. , Rev. R. B. Aspland, Mr. Morley, Mr. JOS.
Pease, and Mr. Chas. Curling.
On the motion of N. Buckley, L'sq., of Ashton, and H.
O. Wills. Esq., of Bristol, Mr. SCHOLEFIELD, M.P., took
the chair amid loud cheers, and called on the secretary to
read letters from Mr. Dillwyn, M.l'., Mr. Pease, MP., the
Rev. Newman Hall, and others, unable to be present.
The Rev. BASIL COOPER, B.A. then read a carefully_ pre.
pared paper on '• The Parliamentary History of the Church
Rate Question."
Sir . SHELLEY, Bart., M.P., rose to move the following
resolution:—"That, in reviewing the parliamentary struggle
for the abolition of church rates, this conference finds that,
during a period of nearly thirty years, there has been con-
tinuous and growing hostility to the exaction, as violating
the priociples of justice, as being repugnant to conscientious
convictions, and as occasioning the bitterest social feeling.
That successive governments have admitted the ()relent law
to be indefensible, and that successive jerliaments have
affirmed the principle of entire abolition, as the only prat.
ticable mode of settling the question. That the up-
holders of the impost have never been, and are not at
this hour, agreed upon any measure by which the law may
be amended, with any prospect of overcoming the strong
antipathy with which it is regarded. Meanwhile, opposi-
tion to church rates is constantly extending over a wider
area, and is diminishing the revenue which is the object of
contention, while the steadily increasing liberality of Epi-
scopalians is supplying the funds required for the mainte-
mince of their religious edifices and worship. That, in view
of these facts, the members of this conference, in the inte.
rests of peace of justice, andof religion, pledge themselves
resolutely to ;Where to the demand for the total extinction
of church rates, and appeal to abolitionists of every class to
press that demand-with a determination which
will convince the legislature of the absolute neces-
sity for passing Sir John Trelawny's bill."
Sir CHARLES DOUGLAS, M.P. (Banbury), seconded the
resolution, which was supported by Mr. SIDEIIOITO/1, of
Manchester, and unanimously adopted.
Mr. E. Gatimaos (Mayor of Ipswich) moved the next
resolution :—" That, it being the declared purpose of the
leader of the conservative party in the House of Commons,
to defeat the bill for abolition, in order to carry a measure
by which church rates will not only be perpetuated, but be
levied for the support of numerous additional churches, and
be also removed from popular coutrol, this conference spa.
cially urges upon electors the paramount importance of
frustrating this retrograde policy, by making such repre-
sentations to their members as will secure their votes for.the
bill on every division."
Mr. JAMES HEYWOOD seconded the resolution.

Mr. HANDCLL CosILSM (of Bristol) and the Rev. H.
Hevrow, having spoken,
The Rev. T. Binnnr (who was loudly called for) said on
this question he had been willing to accept of something
which they might call a compromise ; not upon the prin.
ciple laid down by Mr. Disraeli, nor upon the principle laid
down by the Bishop of Exeter—(" hear," and laughter),—
that to get a church rate, however small, is to preserve and
embody the principle of the connexion of church and state,
but to assert the principle that the churches were the pro-
perty of the whole nation, including dissenters. He hod
strong feelings as a nonconformist in respect of that church,
but wished to prevent its saying the buildings are ours.
It would be a great fallacy—(hear);—for if the rate were
abolished the nation would be letting them the buildings
without rent. By abolishing tho rate they would not
destroy the ownership of the property, but only change the
terms of occupation. lie believed the time would come
when the nation, and not a meet mere►y, would have the
use of them.

Lord HENLET, M.P., had been much gratified with the
unanimity displayed and the good-will exhibited towards the
church of England. The great difficulty was to carry
their bill through the House of Lords, and to get their thip
over that bar they ought to lighten it of some ballast. He
referred to the question of the separation of church and
state. Let them declare that their present object was 'im-
ply to object to an unjust imprint.
Mr. Mrtm. rose to put the noble lord and others right in
respect to a matter of fact. It was not those who sailed
the ship Church Hates who hal put into it the heavy bal-
last of separation of church and state. They had that in
another wharf at the present moment. (Laughter and
cheers.) It was their property, and sonic day they hoped
to use it ; but it was the committee of the House of Lords
who bad taken some of that ballast and put
it into the ship with • view to sink it. It
was not the Liberation Society which had connected
the two questions. They took up church rates bemuse the
question was a practical one which lay in their way, Mt
they had not identified it with a wider question. Their
sentiment' hail been quoted in both houses of parliament
before the sitting of the Lords' committee, unit Dr. Fester
and Mr. Morley would have been dishonest if they had
said the abolition of church rates would satisfy dissenters.
The settlement of this question, prolohly, would not fecal.
tate their action with regard to the larger one ; auil, in rte
spect to their ulterior purpose, it would perli ills he better
to leave it where it was. (Hear.) Let the rumbas pre-
sent mark the moral power displayed in that assembly ; let
them contrast it with the political apathy displayed on all
other questions. Should that queatien to left unsettled,
and Sir .1. Trelawny's bill be rejected by the Commons, the
whole of that power, and agreat died more, would be turned
hi the direction of the larger subject. But it was a question
of truth, of right, of honesty, and of ascendancy. (Loud
cheers.) For the one great motive animating their op-
poneuts was to maintain a position in the eye of the law
superior to that of diasenters. (Hear, bear.) They wished
to remove the argument on their principles from the
vestries to the serener atmosphere of parliament, where
there was less of feeling than would be expected in Iwo-
du el assemblies. If the House of Commons were wise, it
would settle this question out of hand. (Hear, hear.) He
did Dot know what the Liberation Society would do with-
out, but they must take their chance. (Laughter.) But let
the bill be rejected, and depend upon it the ulterior ques-
tion would then be placed in a position of advantage each
cs it had never enjoyed before—(cheend—for they would
then be supported ty the eutlusionu of the whole dissent-
Mg bodies. (Loud cheers.)
The resolution having been curried,
Mr. BAINFA M.P., moved a resolution appointing an in-
fluential committee.

Mr. J. COLMAN, of Norwich, seconded the resolution.
Ito described the proceedings of the Norfolk di►senters, who
were determined not to be trilled with by their members,
sad made 3111»C suggestbms to induce others to assume the
&true determined attitude. . .

—..... --..--.
Mr. BRISTOW, M.P., thought that a new duty now dr
volved on Lord Palmerston and Load J. Russell, who had
made such pro-grew in 1859. They ought to make the bill
a government bill, and so earn, it over the bur of the House
of Lords. (Cheers.) He hail no fear of its success in the
Commons, though the majorities might be smaller than
hitherto. As a churchman lie assured them they hail the
ryinpathies of large numbers in his own body. (Hear.)
Colonel TYNTE, said he looked with delight ou that
day's conference. Whether the ship carried little ballast
or much, let every sail be hoisted, and the ship would he
safely hosted through parliament. (Cheers.)
The resolution having been carried,
Mr. Ht:utt MABON, of Ashton, moved :—" That to meet
the expenditure involved in the special efforts already
made, and which may be requited to pass the Church-rate
Abolition Bill into law, a fund of 3,000/. be raised and
placed at the disposal of the committee now appointed."
Ho thought the request a modest one, and wooden-it ~
much had already been dono with such mall rc.oalees.
His district would ale its duty in the matter.
Mr. RUINET, of Manchester, seconded the motion. They
must show themselves to be in earnest. At Manchester
they had agreed to raise 500/. (Cheers.)
Mr. MORIZY bad promised 50/., and would it if
needful—(eheers) —for they bad plenty of work before diem.
He deprecated all idea of compromise.
The resolution having been jassed,slips of paper were seat
retinal the room, and with surprising alacrity were tilled up.
and the amounts of the promised contributions read. Among
the sums were—Friends at Ashton, lhol. ; anal at Rochdale,
co.r. ; G. Hadfield, Esq., M.P., h 01.; J. etialelottim, Esq..
50/. ; W. Edwards, Esq., nor. ; .1. Leese, Esq.. rum, MM. ;
S. Morle, Esq., 50f. ; Sir J. Watts, 25/. ; J. Spectre!,
Esq., Manchester. 25/. ; W. Hinman, Esq.. 25/. Nt •
Armitage, Esq., 201. ; It. Romney, Lai., 20/. ;J. Side.
bottom, Esq., jun., 20/.; A. Howarth, Esq., tMat Joseph
Pease, Esq., 101. ; 11. J. Cockerell, Esq., 101. IW. the
Hon. Mm. Thompson, IW. ; Henry Lee, }:sq., 10/.1 Mr.
Seholefield, M.P., IW. ; Heywood, Esq., 2:4 The whole
amounting to upwards of 1,100/.
Rev. N. T. Latuattomt then presented an important
claration condemnatory of thumb nate, signed lay ineinhcri
of the Methodist bodies. It bad taut just teen COMM/ 41,04
hart it had already received upwards of 10,000 signature,.
(Great cheering.) This was followed 1w a resolution pin-
pesod by the Rev. G. Grundy, and the 11ev. W. Griliithi
loth Methodists, expressing the pleasure of the conferroie
at the receipt of the declaration, and urging other Meth,
diets to sign.
-•• • -

The Rev. Metwrs. Ashbvand Griffiths (of Angleetn) having
spoken Dr. Ackworth (ol Ilnlford) moved, and Dr. Ste.,oe
seeouded a vote of thanks to the chairman, which sw,
supported by the Rev. C. Short, of Swansea, who said that
several delegates had come from that distant place.

The vote having been carried by acclamation Wag v*
knowledged by the chairman, and the proci.vding, eloml
about three o'clock.

CALZDONIAN RAILWAY.—It la stated that the
direeton of this cowpony intent to declare • dividend fur
the past half-year ou the onlinary stork of thix comp...ly st
tho rate of 51 per cent. per amain, carrying over a balaues
of 10,000/.