The Sun.
London, England, 1853-05-04 00:00:00

VOLUNTARY SCHOOL ASSOCIATIOY.

The fifth annual meeting of the Mends and supportel
of this association was held last night at the Freernase
Tavern, Great Queen-street—S. M. Peto, Esq., 0'
in the chair. tio
The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings of fits
evening, dwelt forcibly and eloquently on the beee-ol
to be derived from the voluntary principle in eduotioe_A
matters. The hon. gentleman was loudly cheellii
during the delivery of his speech, the principle:
the following quotation furnishing the chief argureen:; of
"This association was formed in 1848, for the purP°,-01
promoting religious education independently of Staleo,
or control. Under the present Governmental sYsys'en,
though nominally religious, all classes are taxed t°„o3o
dow Judaism, Popery, Tractarianism, and other {0 the
of error, whilst just four-fifths of the fund raised I°l.
purpose are expended upon schools essentially exeltirlia
and sectarian. The new measure proposed by Li° too
Russell on the 4th of April, continues to the carol' the
of council the power it now possesses, of directiog ves
religious education of the country, whilst it rellog
from it even the semblance of responsibility, by poll
°t-
for that purpose a fund beyond the control of Parlieuledeit
It also embodies the scheme of local rating, recoil:1101100
by the Manchester and Salford Committee, with cer,
modifications, which render it still more obnexi°ll-1 if
0
not practically inoperative." The hon. gentlemalirt"
eluded by calling on the secretary to read the reffici; tt
The SECRETARY then read the report, from w'c,." met
appeared that the principles of the Voluntary s'tote
appeared so commanding that it only required t°,:tioe
them clearly. The committee believe that educe Toie
should not only be religious, in the wide and unce but
state put upon that term by the GovernmewA,l.
thoroughly Christian—and that the State, as it nlii-ght
competent to give such an education to the people, "„tierl
not to interfere in the matter, but leave it to Yeltrioli
effort. The confidence of your committee hae,,%,of
the past year, been greatly strengthened by a var'e'otib'
considerations ; and their own sentiments upon tb e pr•
ject have found an eloquent echo in the address of ico,
Harris at the last assembly of the Congregational
Although the financial statement presents an 00.7"
ing aspect, the committee would urge upon their frl4o,
the importance of augmenting the resources of the re
ciation, that their wishes may be realised both P'1403 s 1
gards the enlargement and efficiency of its 11°.0,pli"
establishments, and the increase of the fund, ;AA
cable to the extension of schools in our rural cbs-liga
The amounts of subscriptions and donations red el'
during the past year have both increased, while
,ilj„e
penses of the male normal school have been red „o 0
and those of the female branch have been but
tie;
siderably augmented, notwithstanding the grea'"Zt,
creased attendance. From the treasurer's statelll,,i
appeared that the balance in hand April 1, 18'100
563/. ; annual subscriptions, 6771. 15s. 6d. ; dooki-56,1
5891. 2s. ; collections and sale of pamphlets, 21/' 're -1301`
making a total of 1,8521. 19s. The expenditlia
been 1,1901. 15s. 3d. ; leaving a balance in 11311
6621. 4s. ld. f
Resolutions in conformity with the objects °
11,01.
meeting having been submitted were carried 2to
mously, and the proceedings terminated with a v°
thanks to the chairman.

, WILLIS'S ROOMS, ROOMS, Sr. JAMES'S.—A grand evetu"'
cert, for the benefit of some foreigners in distreseloco,
given at the above rooms on Monday, upon whicil„the r
sion the following eminent artists generously gat
valuable services :—Mesdames Fiorentini, A4,11104'
Newton, Ferrari, Taceani, Tasca, and Enderson
Bassano, Alleyne, Cole, and Stabba.ch ; Signori 'viuoi°'
Ferrari, Onorati, Li Calsi, and Herr Gan' ;„11; 13est,,
Madame Bompiani. The concert opened t 1.1.;
hoven's " Septuor," arranged for four performers 00,
pianofortes-. -perfectly rendered by Madame 131 Will:
and Herr Ganz, assisted by Signori Li Calsi an- 01°-
real. Miss Bassano sang with her usual taste, ay
did Madame Tasca. The duet of Madame and et bir
Ferrari was delightfully sang, as was also the
Miss Alleyne and Herr Brandt. Miss Staltt,ol'
in exquisite voice, and sang a very apPr°,ll7-1, 1111
son sung for the first time, by Glover, entitirreueil
Morning," which was charmingly given, and sloe
well-deserved applause ; her other song', feeliot
Home," was sang with much pathos an also in -t
Signor Oncrati, in a romanzi by Verdi, assass
duet by Donizetti, with Miss Stabbach, ica °.
ng
could be wished. Mrs. Alexander Newton
zart's " Queen of Night " with her usual brilliancy,
The pianoforte duo of Signori Li Calsi and! of t1:0
for two instruments, on therilgrim's ivas, g
Lombardi of Verdi, arranged by Alentn°,r); 103',eu
itself a gem, and artistically performed. rhea
Cole, in Mendelssohn's duet, " Greeting, . a vve,
H. Smart's duet, " The Greenwood," hie 0
recto? h
merited applause for the artistic manner vnth hick
by
gave their duets. The concert closed with
oung
" Terzetto," from The Lucrezia, beautifully 000;
Madame Tasea, Herr Brandt, and Signl, ana
The room was fully and fashionably attendp,ch it vi
hope the concert realised the object for Till'
er
given. Signor Li Calsi was conductor. n
THE AUTHOR OF " SAM SLlcx."----',llra new °,O.
loving readers will be delighted to hear tha; judge °o
f°
is immediately forthcoming from the pen
iy
Burton. It is in two volumes, and
title of " Sam Slick's Wise Saws and —d."
stances ; or, What he said, Did, or Invenw
bears%hge
Modern
title