The Express.
London, England, 1861-05-23 00:00:00

BRITISH AND FOREIGN UNITARIAN

ASSOCIA7IOS.

The thirty-sixth anniversary meeting of this MO- 1
elation was held yesterday, at 'lrish's and the Crystal Panes,
and wan more numerously attended than usual. Ig the 1,
morning the annual sermon was preached at the Unitarian
Chapel, Brixton, by the Rev. C. Beard, of Cies-cross, I
Cheshire, the subject of it being the general upset of I,
belief and the progress of intellectual
freedom in religiose i
matters. At a meeting which took place in the chapel ,
after the conclusion of the service, the Rev. R. B. Asp
land, honorary secretary of the associatioo, read the report i
of the committee for the past year, relating to events in i
Trennylvania, Italy, Austria, and India, in ell which
countries the materna body has, it appears, churches fad
missions. The general tone of the report was .hopeful and
congratulatory.
Is the course of the p roceediegs it was announced
that Mr. E. Bicknell, of Herne-hill, had at the morning
service made a donation of I,ooof. to the asiocistion.
Is the afternoon between four and Ave hundred members
arid friends of the association, of both sexes. portook Of an
excellent collation in the large dining-room of the Crystal
Palaos. The chair was taken by Mr. idtenefeldt M.P., and I
among those who were present were i—llevs, JUN* NW
Comm W. If. Charming, S. Bache, F. Higginsu, R. B. Asp-
rerZ;stitat J. 3. TaYtir., If. Bolly,-111.'. itife;lCleydej:
Barmby, J. Uordont,thgr.t•Martin, J. Talbot, R. Sheen, .7.
Robertson, T. Briggs, H. Jerson, W. H. Quinn, It. Shelf
W. Newton, J. H.- Ryland, R. *glean, J. Rebuts, r.
Alderman J. C. Laminae, Mr. Alderman W. taw
Mr. W. A. (has, Mr. Dell. American minder e, al •
exit*, aocompmeied by Ratchet Des Helder, a Mollesentedea i
iroweert ; Mr. D. &meat beinktlausederg, he.
The CHAIRMAN said they were met there to megrehriets 4
each other on the program of the vita/ pried* of that
aasociation, and to eecourage each other to make redoubled
exertions in the ensuing year. That emaciation claimed to
exereiae no authority whatever in matters of religions belief
it was a voluntary nonconformist amaciatioe of chambers
and of individuals, recognising in the term '• Unitarily" a
sufficient link of faith, and a sufficieet basis of seullse
action. Among various reasons for renewed Mem' and he
creased pecuniary contributions, there was noes which *a-
mended itself so much to his own mind as the necessity al
affording proof of the vitality that resided in a religioub Wow
meal°, which, in the words of the reportned that day,
" seeks tosolvebbe problematic( uniting positive =eviction will
ransecterian liberality," and which propmed to show the
world that the mind of men was sot destined for aver hop,.
tangly to minute between bigotry an the we hand end in-
difference on the other. (Cheers.) There was one form of
authorite, which they recognised squally with any other par-
ticle at the Christian oreeinunity--ausely, that of their
Delayed ilovereige, sad he would, therefore, conclude by
proposing the following sentiment : " Her Majority Queen
Victoria ; rosy her benignant rule lug continue to win the
pantede of her subjects, and to teach the nations to respect
and to imitste constitutional government." (Cheers.)
The Rev. 8. Beene proposed the next &voltam.* kris.,
"Civil and religious liberty all the world over." He said.
se
proved that there was, an indiseoliable mica
rerw.t- these two kinds of liberty. ' They were mutest],
dependent, and this would never be forgotten by say one.
'Moiety hail Dot yet sanitised complete religious liberty He was
astonished the other day et readingin one of the public priate
that the evidence of a respectable man could be rejected in
the law court* unless he would consent to nuke • dstermi-
sate confession of faith as certain points of religious belief.
(Hear, hear.) Until be read that be wan Teeny not aware
that such a state of things was possible in this coustry.
Nothing could be clearer than that it was the duty ot all
of them to do everything in their power to get such an
anomaly removed. He was informed that • bill for that
purpose was now before parliament, and he hoped that beak
iodivithially and coogregationally, they would with-
out delay do all in their power to obtain far that bill the
neonate amount of support.
The CHAIRMAN then proposed "Unitariirdon ; may all
who swept its truth show how • scripture' amid Cbristien faith
May be held in • spirit fearlessly free." In enforcing this
sentiment he contended that it was absolutely necessarythat
religious truth should, like other kinds of truth, be puma-
steely developed is the mind at man.
The Rev. C. SURD, with whose name the sentiment
was coupled, responded. He observed that this sentiment
queues& todtarianism under two aspecta—ae a free User
lop and se • scriptural theology. He believed that if the
human mind were allowed to work in freedom from preju-
dice and preposesesion, devout inquiry would ef egoeseaty
hue in the adoption of somet • like the system of truth
which chateeterised them as 0 y. (Hear, bmr.) Hs
;cid
farther contended that the ingot scripters, both isi
the Old and the New Testame eras eniphatie in favour
of the unitarian dootrioe : and be wacluded *proposing
"The British end Foreign nularlan Association."
The Rev. R. B. AHPLAND, in reapooding on behalf of the
committee, claimed for them a favourable verdict, both for
their peat doings and for their intentions in regard to the
future ; adding that be believed the prospects of liberal sod
scriptural Christianity were never more satisfactory, more
bright, or more hopeful than they were at that moment. '
The CHAIRMAN then proposed, "The Kingdom of Italy,
the latest born amongst the free nations ; may It grow to
in perfect stature in spiritual as in political freedom."
Alluding to the origin of the present political condition of
the Italian peninsula, he pronounced a fervid eulogium on
Mazzini. It was, he said, to Joseph Maxsini more then to
any other man that Italy was iodebted for bar anascipe-
tioo. If be were told that he spoke with the partiality of
a long and devoted attachment, he would reply that
he also spoke with a knowledge of the man
and of his purposes, which hardly any other living
Englishman could boast of. Muzini end those who acted
with him had rightly waived their republican end in order
to join with the rest of thermal= in acoomplishisig Remits'.
U they had now say doubt as to the propriety of that act
of abdication, it arose from a fear lest diplomacy, which
was of necessity in glimmer with a power that loved not
liberty and loved not light, should teed to demoralise the
Dation. They faired that the temporising policy of a mato-
rialist expediency which now with nines heart than con-
science ruled the counsels of the Italian monarchy might not
only emasculate but even corrupt • movement which, if it
were in right heeds, would eventuate in a new religious as
well as • new political life. (Cheers.) It m ht be that in
order to the accomplishment of the nationality of Italy,
pulley as opposed to expediency bad its part to play ; but
he was sure all present would agree with him that the day of
policy aa opposed to principle bad peeped away. (Cheers.)
With its nationality so nearly accomplished, the duty of an
Italian statesman wan to prepare to organise, and to mul-
tiply the forces of the nation ; not to chill the wakened
esthosiasin of the people but to temper and direct it ; to
take care that the goal which was so nearly reached should
be nobly and rightly reached—reached in such a manner as
to give the greatest strength and the greatest elevation to
that new religious and political future which Italy had to
present to the world. (Cheers).
The Rev. Jaunt MARTINEAU proposed the next 'anti-
meat, via : "The churches of the free all the world over."
He said that by "free churches" he understood those who
accepted from their heart the provideutial conditions of
leunan growth and development, wham inner nature did
sot rebel against those conditions, and whose prevalent feel-
ing might he expensed in the words, " Out of the put
into the future. Their attachment as unitarians to reli-
gious freedom he understood to be of this nature, that,
whilst they believed there were certain irrefragable and
eternal truths which had been won for them in the put,
they held their minds to he free to accept new forms end
developments of truth which might be presented to them
as time rolled on.

The CHAIRMAN, hi proposing " The Unitarian Churches
of America," coupled with the name of the Rev. W. H.
Channing, formerly of the United States, expressed a hops
that the present conflict in America would load to the ulti-
mate abolition of slavery there, though he feared it would
now be purchased but at a cost of bloodshed and misery from
the prospect of which he turned away in horror and dismay.
The Rev. W. H. CHANNING, in responding, said, never
wee he so proud of standing, as it were, under the fold. of
the starapangled banner as be was at that moment ; never
had he felt so ready to give the last drop of his blood to
preserve its honour and its influence. (Loud cheer.) The
people of this conntry could not be neutral if they would ;
for providence Lad made them leaders in the work of ernao•
*Atka. Their sympathies were with their brethren
in the north of the United States, their prayers
were with them, their strong, clear affirmations
were with them. "We ask nothing (continued the rev.
gentleman) but your moral aid. Do von call that neutrality?
How, then, do God and his angels interfere! We do not
ass their avenging swords, but we feel their influence and
their renovating power ; give us such aid, and we shall be
contented." He added, that the unitarian ministers of the
United States bad one and all devoted themselves to the
rousing of the conscience and heart of the nation on the
question of slavery.
The Rev. Mr. DALL, from Calcutta, and BASRA!. DAS
HAULM, subsequently addressed the assembly, which, after
the customary acknowledgment to the chairman, broke up
at an early hour.

THE YELVERTON MARRIAnt CAM—The cue of
" Loogworth or Yelverton r. Yelverton" came on for dis-
cussion in the Outer Rouse of the Court of Session, Edin-
burgh, on Saturday. It was continued on Monday, and
wan again adjourned, in order that senior counsel may be
heard. The points at present under discussion are questions
of evidence algae, being the validity of various appeals and
ercesappsals takes in the course of the pursuer's proof.
T'heas appeals are very numerous, but the most important
of them refer to statements made by the pursuer about the
time of the alleged marriage. Them, the defender contends,
should not be admitted. On the other band, the pursuer
contends that their exclusion would be a peat blow to the
ease, as they prove, sad are indeed the only evideoce which
out prove, the view she at the time entertained of the rela-
tion in which she stood to the defender. She is accused of
Laving consented to be his mistress, whams these ideas-
mem.. if admitted, would show clearly that she then be-
haved herself to be his wife.—Scotnitan.