The Sun.
London, England, 1839-07-17 00:00:00

o me.

sth. That this social right which we claim for ourselves we
equally recognise for others—so that the State shall not be per-
mitted to control the religious education of any class of its
subjects.

Mr. F. LUCAS had great pleasure in seconding the
resolution. He concurred in the sentiments which had
been expressed by his friend who had just addressed the
meeting, and agreed in the resolutions which had been,
and which were to be, proposed. He thought the Ca-
tholics now stood upon this high vantage-ground, that
they came forward to support that principle upon edu-
cation which is the only practicable and feasible one, and
to examine whether that advanced by their opponents
was just or unjust, and whether, if just or unjust, it was
practicable. What was that principle ? The Wesleyan
Methodists had declared it to be, that they would not
consent to any portion of the public funds being
applied to the purposes of education for teaching
doctrines they believed to be untrue. How did
they intend to carry that cut ? They said, that all sums
voted for education should be poured into the treasury
of the Established Church. He ventured to say that
it was most absurd to talk about such a principle.
Without entering into theological discussions, he would
just mention what was universally admitted,—that the
Established Church made her articles wide, vague, and
liberal as possible, in order to include as large a number
of dissentient and discordant opinions as she could. He
could select half a dozen principles of theology, on
which, within the Established Church, half a dozen dif-
ferent opinions were acknowledged respecting each ; so
that money paid into the treasury of that Church was
not, in fact, paid for the support of one creed, but of six
times six.—(Hear, hear, and loud cheers.) Every one,
therefore, who paid his money to the Established Church
for education,—paid towards the teaching of one creed '
which he believed to be true, and of thirty-five others
he believed not to be true.—(Loud and continued
cheering.) He believed, however, that the op-
position of the Wesleyan Methodists and others,
to tile Government scheme of education did not
proceed from their attachment to the principle
which he had just adverted to, but from their fear of
the Catholics.— (Hear, hear, and cheers.) Many
members of the Established Church had declared that
if they had to choose between some versions of the
Anglican creed and the Catholic, they would choose
the latter.—(Hear, hear, hear.) It might be thought
by some that there was no danger of an attempt on the
part of the State to interfere with the education of the
Catholics. He, on his part, felt no such security. He
need not go back, in forming that opinion, to a very
distant period in our history—for instance, to the last
part of the reign of Queen Anne, when measures were
brought forward for shutting up the schools of the Dis-
senters—(Hear, hear)—nor to the middle of the last cen-
tury, when every fragment of religious rancour had died
out in all hearts but their own, the Established Church
party, with a bigotry unparalleled, clung in despe-
rate tenacity to the most wretched remnants of
a barbarous penal code, wishing to make every Catholic
schoolmaster a criminal in his own land.—(Cheers.)
He need not go back to these comparatively remote
periods. but could refer to what bad occurred recently
in Prussia—where there was a Protestant Government,
and a venerable Catholic Archbishop felt it his duty—
as it was undoubtedly—to expel heresy from a
Ihueniver
univer-
sity in which it had made great progress.
Go-
vernment interfered, and claimed the right ofdi etermin-
ing what was heresy and what was not.—(He . a ahear.)
And there was a generally expressed opinion in the
organs of the Anglican Church, from the Quarterly
Review down to the meanest of their weekly periodicals,
that the Archbishop should have been proceeded against
for treason,, in not succumbing to the dictation of the
Protestant Government on a matter of religion.,_( Hear,
hear, hear.) It was, therefore, important at the present
moment, when the British Legislature had taken
ug the subject of education, that the Catholics
of this
country should come forward, and ex-
the principles on which alone they would
press
consent to be guided.--',Hear.) Because it would
be very difficult when once a false character had been
given to our legislation on this subject, to eradicate it.
--( Hear, hear.) Now was the time to come forward,
when the matter was yet in embryo—not that the Ca-
tholics would succeed in embuing their opponents with
the spirit of justice—their case was too far gone for
that—( Hear, hear, and laughter)—but now was the
the time to come forward and manfully resist the wroqg
that was attempted to be perpetrated? and to show,

EVF,NING EDI

tl.at whether they succeded or not, th
support the eternal principles of justict
The Resolution was carried unanimo
Their having been signs of a dispot
Mr O'Connell,
The CHAIRMAN said he saw clearly that the meeting
were anxious to hear Mr. O'Connell—(Tremendous and
reiterated cheering which lasted for some time.) But
in order to obtain that special treat—(Cheers and laugh-
ter)—he must exhort them to hear with order and
quiet the speakers who had to address them before
that gentleman.—(Cheers.)
P. HOWARD, Esq. M.P. moved the 6th Resolution,
and in doing so, said he had just arrived from a long
journey, and the audience would not therefore expect
from him a speech.—(Hear, hear.) The circum-
stance, however, of his late arrival, enabled him to read
to the meeting a letter from the Right Rev. Dr.
Briggs, Bishop of the Northern District, which might
justly be deemed a document of importance. Mr.
Howard then read the letter addressed to their worthy
Secretary, Mr. Clint. Mr. Howard- likewise observed,
that he had authority to state that the brother of their
worthy Chairman, Sir Edward Vavasour,andMr.C.
Maxwell, likewise approved of the objects of the
meet-
ing. lie had been present the other day at. the splendid
ceremony of the consecration of the Catholic Church
at Eseringham, at which four Catholic Prelates, and
between sixty and seventy of the Clergy assisted.
Substantial proof was there afforded, that the Catholics
of England formed no small or insignificant body ; but
even were it otherwise, and he considered they had a
right to claim in something approaching to a proportion of
their numbers and wants, assistance from a fund raised by
taxation from all her Majesty's subjects ; and that right
which they asserted for themselves, they would ever be
ready to assist in vindicating for others.
6th. That thus fair play and justice will be done to all. The
State kill not make any undue preference, nor exhibit any im-
proper partiality, but the money of all will be applied to the
literary and religious education of eiery one.
Mr. PAGLIA NO (one of the Trustees of the Associated
Catholic Charities) seconded the Resolution, which
was carried.
Mr. Monoats J. O'CostsEer. said—Proud and glo-
rious as that a.semblage was, still it was impossible for
them to meet in such a cause without feelings of the
deepest regret—not for any part they had taken in the
proceeding, but because in the nineteenth century they
should see the effor:s which bigotry was now making_
so great that it was necessary for their own protection
they should get up the proceedings of that day. He was
one who wished that it had become unnecessary for them
ever to have met again in an exclusive way—he had trusted
that better feelings had sprung up, but he was disappointed
and it was a matter of necessity that they should meet,
for the dominant party had attempted to keep up the
old system of exclusion, under the specious semblance
of equality.—(Cheers.) The resolution he was about
to propose was an exposition of their principles, it was-
7th. That any scheme of distribution of the Education
Grant, which would give a preference to the Established
Church, or any powers to the Chrgy or Members of that
Church, 'o regulate or control the religious instruction of the
children of Catholics, or of Protestant Dissenters, would be
manifestly unjust.
It was a plain and intelligible principle—it was more,
for it was a Catholic a universal principle—( Loud
cheers)--in the widest sense of the words. It was
not confined to their own case—it was applicable to
every case which could he conceived ; they advocated
to the fullest extent the principles of civil and reli-
gious liberty. Bribery was considered as great a
crime in electoral law, as coercion or intimida-
tion—where was the difference, wily that the crime
was of a deeper shade, when one party interfered
with the religion of another party, either with Penal
laws, or exclusion from civil rights, or anything under a
perfect equality.—(Cheers.) Notwithstanding his re-
gret, he still felt great pleasure at seeing such a Meeting.
It was a proof of the advance of their faith, and of the
station which it held in the public estimation in this
country. He felt proud indeed to see so large and re-
spectable a meeting presided over by the descendant of
one of the most ancient Catholic families in the country
—a family who had held steadfastly to the old faith of'
their fathers through the very worst of persecution which
had disgraced the country.—(Loud cheers.) lie was
glad also that they were met with the determination of
not retorting the foul language and disgract ful imputa-
tions which had been applied to and heaped upon them
by their calumniators.—(Cheers.) They would take
noble revenge upon their opponents by carefully ab-
staining from following the bad example which had
been set them. He trusted that when the reaction
which he saw fast approaching—(Cheers)—when their
numbers were still 'nose increased, he trusted that their
sense of duty would lead them to respect the civil and
religious rights of their fellow men as much as their
own. The bigotry which was now becoming so
rampant would do more to serve the cause of
their religion than by any other human means,
because it would cause 'discussion and inquiry, and the
Catholics would stand in their true light before their
countrymen. He had much pleasure in moving the
resolution.

Mr. P. G. HEATIILEY had much pleasure in being
able to state that he concurred in all the resolutions
which had been passed, and those which were yet to
come. When he saw the efforts that were making—
calmly, yet firmly to disseminate the true doctrine—
when he saw that great Meeting, larger than any which
had been held for years—he could not but augur well
for the future ; because it proved that that apathy
which h-id so long laid heavily on them, had given way
to vigoer and activity. Lord Durham, at a Meeting
in the north, before he went on his mission to Canada,
said he was not inure astonished than he was disgusted
at the apathy shown by the Catholics. He trusted- the
Noble Earl would hear of that splendid meeting, and
he would find that they had at last roused themselves
from their apathy and were stirring. There were at
least two millions of Catholics irr England, and from
computation as accurate as it was possible to make he
found there were upwards of two hundred thousand in
London—one whole eighth of the population. Surely
then they had a right to demand to participate in the
miserable grant made by Parliament ?—(Cheers.)
Theirs was the cause of truth—that was the anchor
upon which rested their hope. During the last year
institute he was happy to say they had formed an from
which much good had already flowed, and they hau a
right to expect much more from it. They had also now
got an organ for extending their views, he alluded
to the " Dublin Review," which he trusted would
meet with still more success than had yet been accorded
to it. He knew they were anxious to hear the man of
all ages—(Cheers)—his name would live in all ages—the
man whose whole life was bound up in the cause of
Civil and Religious Liberty.—(Loud cheers.) He
knew they were anxious to hear him, and therefore he
would sit down by cordially seconding the resolution.
The resolution was then put, and carried unani-
mously.
Mr. O'CONNELL then rose. and was received with
loud cheering and waving of handkerchiefs, which lasted
several moments. When silence was partially restored,
he said instead of making a speech, I will read the Re-
solution ; and I trust you will then agree with me that
after that a speech is unnecessary.—(" No, no,"
laughter and cheers.) The Resolutioa I hold in my
hand is this—

Bth. That we cannot separate without expressing our deep
regret at the continuance of an active and malignant spirit of
calumny against the tenets and practices of our holy and pure
relioion—a religion which, we confidently assert, traces its
foundation to the Apostles, and can show its unbroken con-
tinuance from their days to ours—the religion of all the Saints
in the Protestant Calendar, as well as in our own—the religion
of the greatest men England ever knew—of the Alfreds, the
Edwards, the Fortescues, and the Mores—the religion of more
than one-third of the people of these Realms—the religion of
the great increasing and overwhelming majority of Christians-_
the one Faith—the one Hope—the one Baptism in the one fold
of the one Shepherd.

I told you that when I read the resolution you would
say that a speech was unnecessary.—(No, no.) I
don't mean to say that I have not come prepared to
make a speech.—(Cheers.) In truth, I have so much
material for a speech that the only favour I have to
ask is that you will tell me when you wish me to be
done—(Cheers)—for I am afraid I shall want a monitor
before I shall think it time to sit down. To,hriietehgceluhosaraiironudosai
scene around me—l do rejoice that I have•seen the day
when Catholicity, no longer persecuted, can show its'
open and manly brow—can call its tens of
you, the
together, to witness to the purity of their faith.
(Cheers.) I rejoice to see
.you, Sir, filling ,t.
meeting. I rejoice to see
descendant of one of the most ancient ,
such a
England's old baronial families filling the Chair
day like the present—you, the rcpresent t• "Pon a
a Iv 4 of one of
England's most ancient Catholic families. (Loud
cheers,) I spe..ik not now, Sir, of
that you are admitted into the Leyo.uir patriotism, now
before your face, say one wordof
the many private vir-
tues which it is %veil knownf adorn you and your family—.
(Cheers)—but I speak you with pride as the de.
scendant of cne of those°
who
. conquered at Cressy, et
Agincourt., and at Poictiers—(Cheers meo ) . . who
wanted no Prussians to assist them •
in wir.-aing their
battles--(Loud cheers
and
laughter) _but men who
fought and won their battles by the
might of their
stalwart arms—(Cheers)—aided own
not by Prussians, but
by their own brave English Catholic yeomen.—{Loud
cheers.) I rejoice, I say, to see the descendant of such
ancestors presiding over a meeting of the old ancient
faith,—(Loud cheers.) And is there no other consola-
tion ? You heard my young friend, Mr. Anstey ; and
my friend, and I am proud to call him such, Mr. Lucas.
You behold your Secretary. What were they a few
years ago ? Firm conscientious Protestants.—(Cheer-
ing ) What are they now? Firm conscientious Ca_
tholics.—( Vehement cheering.) What has bribed
them ? What has been their inducement to leave the one
and embrace the other religion ? Was it lucre, money,
bribery ? Oh, no ! It was the grace of the eternal God,
Oh, this is a name to rejoice in—" This is a great day
which the Lord bath made, and. let us rejoice therein."
But our joy is a pure and holy joy
•-•-•I.T trust it is totally
unmixed with any arrogant or boasting • -
spirit. I t is a
j
feeling of joy, but such a oy as a Christian ought t
feel at seeing the one told and the one shepherdrn e!
brecing and euelcslng more of the flock within it. That
joy makes men rejoice, and truth triumph,and

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