The Sun.
London, England, 1837-03-30 00:00:00

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,-.CIIT.M6II.IIATfg.
AT a MEETING of the, COMMITTEE of
4 .
" The PROTESTANT SOCIETY for the PROTEC-
,.,7I°N of RELIGIOUS LIBERTY, held at the King's Head
averm, Poultry. London, March 27, 1937,
JOHN WILKS, Esq., M.P., in the Chair,
It was unanimously Resolved,
1. That this Committee, connected with several hundred Con-
tregations in England and 'Wales, after repeated and strenuous ef-
forts to obtain relief, by the total Abolition of Church-rates, and
after their former expressions of regret that they could not accept
that relief on the conditions successively proposed by Lord Althorp
and Sir Robert Peel (though both those Statesmen, and the Ad-
ministrations with which they were connected, admitted the pro-
priety of such relief, and desired its bestowment) now hail, with
gratitude and delight, the Plan proposed by his Majesty's Govern-
ment, for imparting the much-needed benefit, by means to which
similar, or any reasonable, objections cannot be applied.
2. That this Committee have observed with sorrow, though not,
with surpris,,, that to frustrate the wise, just, and conciliatory mea-
Rue proposed, means have been extensively adopted, which pru-
4ence, liberality, and truth must condemn—by concealing the vast
Portion of enlightened Churchmen, who have implored such reform
--I",v under-rating the number and importance of the Dissenters in
tngland and Wales—by attributing to them sordid motives and an
hostility to the Church, which they entirely disclaim—by misre-
presenting the Plan as destructive to the Episcopal Establishment
--as subversive of all Parish Churches, and as unfriendly to the
Fratuitous acconur.odation and future piety of the Poor ; which the
lan will, on tb.e contrary, obviously and greatly secure, perpetuate,
and Promote---by obtaining hostile. Petitions from small and Agri-
cultural Di,.,tritts, through misrepresentation and power—by falsely
asserting a. similarity between Church-rates and Tithes—and by
!tPPealirg to the ignorance, and jealousy, and prejudices, and self-
14.,ter&5t PT the untaught population, rather than to Christian charity
84Q, weri-instructed zeal.
That notwithstanding such efforts, the Committee rejoice to
Jrueive, that, according to the last return, published by the House
of Commons, the number of Petitions in favour of Abolition
Astiounted to 474, and the signatures to 190,981, whilst these hos-
tile petitions were only 153, and the signatures to them did not
exceed 9,595—and their convictions are strong, that in proportion
as discussion continues, and information iS spread, the vast majority
of Electors and the People will perceive that Church-rates must
cease, and can be no longer enforced—that nothing can be more
fair than that the expense of the Established Worship should be de-
frayed, as proposed, by an improved administration of ECclesiastical
lounds—that the Agricultural Population should be relieved, here
as in Ireland, from a needless local taxation, superfluously and
harshly imposed—and that the improvement meditated, rich in ge-
neral utility, must ere long be attained.
But 4. That, however assured of eventual success, this Committee
are.not insengible to the Party feelings and interested motives, that
may obstrtrct and delay the result ; and therefore pledge them-
", I,vesll3 'unremitting labours in a cause which" their principles and
JluglYtent approve—invite all the friends of social peace and reli-
Rlma freedom through the Empire' to exertions equal to the exi-
e'.3 and the end— and express to his Majesty's Government their
I"l'lnication and respect for the noble course they have pursued ; and
e.ntreat them-, by prompt and energetic proceedings in support of
their plan, to confer on their country a boon, that shall a d to the
esteem and attachment, which, by the Abolition of Slavery, by
Parliamentary and Municipal Reform, and by other great and me-
morable measures—they have rightly obtained ; and so further en
sine to themselves the imperishable homage which Posterity
through future ages, will gladly bestow.
JOHN WILKS, Chairman.