The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-05-19 00:00:00

SOCIETY FOR BUILDING CHURCHES AND
CHAPELS.

Yesterday a Meeting was held of this Society, which was nu.
tnerously attended. Among those present were—His Grace the
Archbishop of Canterbury (in the Chair); Bishops of Bath and
Wells, Exeter, St. David's, and Lincoln; Lord Kenyon, Arch-
deacon Cambridge, Dean of Peterbotough, Archdeacon Goddard,
Sir T. D. Adana, Dart. M.P., George Gipps, M.P., Rev.
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Dr. (fray, O. J. Cholmondeley, Esq., Rei. Archdeacon Bayley,
Rey. Dr. Gardner, Rev. Dr. Barnes. Rev. Dr. D'Oyly, Rev. Dr.
Yates, Joshua %Vatson, Esq., Rev. E. O. Stonestreet, Pownall,
Esq., and Rev. T. L. Strong.
The Meeting having been duly constituted, the following report
was read :

`` The Society fur promoting the enlargement and building
of churches and chapels, having reached the conclusion of the
eighth year of its existence, without experiencing any sensible di.
mtnution in the number of applications made to it for aid, the
Committee in the present report feel justified in entering upon a
more detailed review of the Society's operations and prospects than
at any former period.
" At the close of the last year, the whole disposable balance
in the Treasurer's hands having been found to be consider-
ably less than 3.0001., it was deemed necessary to make an imme-
diate appeal to the public. That appeal has been attended with
considerable success, and Committees have been formed in the
metropolis, and other places in aid of the Society's designs. The
General Capful-tee feel much pleasure in stating this result, and in
again gratefully acknowledging his Majesty's gracious donation of
'l,oook, and many other liberal donations from the tried supporters
of the Society, who have come forward for the third time, to relieve
its wants. The Committee cannot, however, at the same time ab-
stain from expressing their concern, that such examples of liber-
ality should not have been more generally followed by those mem-
bers of the Established Church, who have the best interests of the
people at heart. They would also express their hope, that as eau-
siderable advantages have already been derived from the exertions
of local Committees, many other associations of the same kind may
be formed, and that individuals in different parts of the kingdom
may thus be induced to contribute to the designs of the Society.
The number of applications for aid during the last year has
been 28; the number in the preceding year was 100; and thus it
appears that the efforts of the Society are still as requisite as ever.
It was indeed to be anticipated, that as a sense of the duty of pew
Titling for the accommodation of the poor in their parish churches
began to be felt, a number of new cases would rise up, and as this
may be expected to continue for some time, it is hoped that the
exertions and contributions of the friends of the Society will Dot
be permitted to be in any way diminished or withdrawn.
" The Committee feel peculiar satisfaction in adverting to the
expenditure of the last . year, and comparing it with the benefits
which that ex ..eriditure ham produced, for in no year has a less sum
of money beet'. voted, and in no year has a greater sum of good been
gained. The amount of grants voted in 56 cases, which the So-
ciety has taken into its consideration, is 8.7651., and for that small
sum there will be obtained no less than 13.9117 additional sittings,
of which 10,649 are free. In former years the Society could safely
promise, that for every guinea which should be subscribed the
subscriber might depend upon securing a free seat for a poor person
for ever. But It appears from the above statement, that during the
last year each free sitting did not coat the Society more than 18s.
The Committee advert to this fact, as a mark of that care and pru-
dence with which the funds have been administered. Indiscrimi-
nate liberality in pious or benevolent Institutions is as expedient
as indiscriminate charity In a private individual; and the Committee
trust they will have the satisfaction of showing, in every future re-
port. that this Society is not liable to the charge of being too
thoughtless, in the disbursement of what has been intrusted to it
by the liberality of the public. The total number of additional
sittings provided by the Society, in various churches and chapels,
since the commencement of its operations amounts to 126,612. The
number of tree sittings is 94.254. The tom' amount of money
expended for this purpose has been 92,900/., and the disposable
balance which will remain (in the hands of the Treasurer) after all
the grants which have bean voted shall have been paid, is
0,3171. 18s. 11d. If the expenditure of the succeeding should
equal that of the past year, this balance, it is plain, will be barely
sufficient to carry on the operations of the Society until the next
anniversary. Under these circumstances, the Committee do not
indeed deem it absolutely necessary to press for another immediate
and earnest appeal to the public; they rather trust that the public,
sensible of the religious and permanent blessings which the So-
ciety Is spreading in every direction through the land, will be roused
to a steady Ind regular support of its designs. But they would
most respectfully and strongly represent, that unless the support
which has already been given be continued, the Society must dis-
continue its operations when another twelvemonth has passed, or
else so far limit their extent as to be altogether insufficient for the
great purposes for which it was established. Although else amount
of grants remaining unpaid is no less than 36,6304, yet the Can.
mince feel authorised in distinctly asserting, that little, if any of
that sum will be ultimately uncalled for. The reason why it
not yet been celled for Is this, theta Minsiderable thane mbar always
elapse before the objects fur which the money is granted can be
completed, and that it is an undeviating rule to pay no money until
satisfactory certificates have been given, that the work for which
that money was voted has been thoroughly executed.
" Before coneludiog their report, the Committee would again
endeavour to remove what they fear has been an injurious min-
coaception. This Society is still by many either confounded with
the Parliamentary Commission, or else supposed to be superseded
by that Commission. The Committee would therefore here repeat
the words of their last annual report :
" • It may perhaps be supposed, that, in consequence of Perlis.
mentary grants, the exertions of this Society can be dispensed with.
This, however, by no means follows. For those grants arc appro-
priated exclusieely to the building of additional new churches, and
in places where the population is not lets than 4,000 persons. But
this Society adapts itself to the exigencies of every parish, be it
more or less populous, and assists in improving the internal arrange.
ment, in enlarging the existing structure, or in rebuilding upon a
better and more spacious pion.
" Under this view of the subject, the Committee cannot but
think, that the excellencies of the Society are sufficient to give it u
claim to the support of every Christian, on account of its useful-
ness in promoting the practice of religious worship, and of every
churchman, on account of Us tendency to check the progress of
dissent. A plow' parent will always be anxious to secure for him.
self and his family the blessing of religious instruction, and the
means of attending upon the public service of Almighty God. If
he cannot obtain what he desires in his parish church, he will na-
turally, however reluctantly, go to wine other house of prayer.
But if the difficulty of obtaining the necessary accommodation in
his parish church should be removed, it is reasonable to suppose
that he would again return to its walls. And this supposition seems
in fact to have been realised. For the readiness and regularity with
which, in all cases, the seats provided by. means of this Society
have been occupied, is a sufficient proof that much of the apparent
defection from the Established Church arises, not from any want
of attachment to, her doctrines, hee services, or her ministers, but
to the want of power to particteate in the blessings which she
communicates. The Committee therefore trusts that the friends
of our pure and reformed religion will not cease to forward to the ut-
most, both by their prayereand their alma, the objects of this Society,
until by its efforts, together with those of the Parliamentary Com-
missioners, every individual in the kingdom shall be enabled to
worship the God of his fathers, according to the rites of the Es-
tablished Church."

The report, and various resolutions baring been agreed to, the
Dleeting adjourned.