The Sun.
London, England, 1838-08-31 00:00:00

GUILDHALL-(THIS DAY.)

LORD MORPETII AND THE " CHRISTIAN ISRAELITE SO-
CIE/Y."—Margaret Williams, William Dickinson, and Wil-
liam Cornish, were brought up by one of the police, who stated
that about six o'clock last night he beard the female (who was
accompanied by the other two persons) preaching in Smith-
field, where an immense mob of persons was collected, throw-
ing stones, and creating a great disturbance. Some complaints
having been made by the inhabitants, he removed them.
Mr. Johnson stated that the prisoner had been there for
the last three nights, causing considerable annoyance to the
neighbourhood.
Mrs. Williams (in answer to questions by Mr. Ald. Ven-
ables) said that she is a native of Musselburgh, and came to Lon-
don on Monday evening as a preacher of the Christian Israelite
Society, whose tenets had been introduced into the House by
Lord Morpetb, from the West Riding of Yorkshire. —( Laugh-
ter.) She had a license as a travelling preacher from Bristol,
which she here handed to his Worship.
Mr. Alderman VENABLES, after examining it, said she was
mistaken. It gave her no authority to preach the Gospel. It
was merely a certificate that she had taken certain oaths, with-
out which no person was authorised to preach in public. He
then inquired what she meant by alluding to Lord Morpeth ?
Mrs. Williams—He has the writings of our Society, he has
introduced them into the House, and patronised them.
Mr. Alderman VENABLES—What do you mean by the wri-
tings of the society ? Mrs. Williams—Every society has its
articles of faith.

•~Mr.- Alderman VENABLES—You don't mean to say that
Lord Morpeth has patronised and encouraged you ?
Mrs. Williams—He has looked over our writings and said
they were agreeable with the Scriptures, and therefore in-
troduced them to the House, that we might be reckoned
among the other Dissenters of England.
Mr. Alderman VENABLES—I think you have very slender
grounds for mentioning his Lordship's name in connection
with your Society. No doubt Lord Morpeth wishes for
general toleration, and that all persons should exercise the
worship of God according to the dictates of their conscience;
but you must see that it is a very great perversion of that
liberty to raise an assembly in such a place as Smithfield.
If I discharge you, will you promise not to do it again ?
Mrs. Williams replied that she would not go into Smith-
field, but said that she had given notice of her intention to
preach on Sunday in St. James's-park, and sho wished to
ask if there would be any harm in going there ?
Mr. Alderman VSNABLES said he would advise her not to
make the attempt.
Dickenson, who had a most magnificent beard, stated, in
answer to questions put by the Alderman, that he is a shoe-
maker residing in Ironmonger-row, and became acquainted
with Mrs. Williams by belonging to the same Society.
Mr. Alderman VENABLES—Is it part of your religion to wear
a beard ? Dickenson—Yes, according to the Scriptures, I
think it proper.—( Laughter. )
Cornish stated that he also was a shoemaker residing in
Chancery-lane. He found that no people on earth preached
the truth like these people, and therefore he belonged to them.
He hoped soon to appear as Dickenson did, according to the
Scriptures.—( Laughter. )
Mr. Alderman VENABLES —You will be some weeks before
you get such a beard.—( Loud laughter.)
The parties were then discharged.