The Sun.
London, England, 1838-05-07 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY, MAY 7, 1838.

BRITISH REFORMATION SOCIETY

The anniversary meeting of this Society took placo on Fli
day, in the Large Itootn, Exeter Hall.- The attendance, thoug
respectable, was far from numerous.

At eleven o'clock GEORGE FINCH, Esq., took the Chair.
The Rev. J. CUMMING offered up prayers.
The CHAIRMAN said the Society's efforts were especially
directed against the errors of the. Church of Rome, and its
object was to diffuse the principles of the Reformation—that
is the principles of the Bible. It did not seek to su-
persede the exertions of Christian Ministers in the land
but only to supply the necessary deficiencies of regu-
lar pastern • instruction, cccasioned by the vast field of
labour. The intentions of the Society were to support
the Established Churcs. as the hest means of dissemi-
nating religious truth in Ireland. The Society carefully
steered clear of politics, because, amidst the loud and angry
discussions of political subjects, the "small still voice" of truth
was too frequently drowned, and such discussions would not tend
to induce the Catholics to receive Christian truth.—( Cheers.)
The Society did not shut its door against Dissenters;' or
though there were many circumstances, in the present situa-
tion of Dissenters, which interposed difficulties in the way of
cordial co-operation, yet they were not so insuperable as not
to be capable of removal by Christian moderation and love.
—( Cheers.) Besides, he considered the present position of
the Dissenters to be a false one—and one, therefore, in which
they could not long remain. They were in the same position
in the reign of James 11., when the Papal Church having first.
found her blandishments fail to ensnare the Protestant Esta-
blished Church, directed her snares to the Dissenters ; who
for a time were deceived by her allurements; but they soon
discovered the real malignant sentiments with which the
Papists regarded the Protestants, whether of the Established
r Dissenting classes ; and at the present moment, the Rornifi
Church was in truth jus as intolerant as in the darkest ages of
Papal persecution.---( Cheers.) After reading a long account
of some Roman Catholic procession at Rome, the Chairman
I said he hoped all Christians would abstain—if not ashamed
of subscribing to Roman Catholic chapels—( Loud cheers)—
at least from throwing contempt or disregard upon those who
exerted themselves against the errors of Popery.—(Loud
cheers.) Let all Christians unite in endeavouring to rescue
from ignominious and degrading superstition their Catholic
fellow-citizens.—( Hear, hear.) Roman Catholicism appeared
to be on the increase in this country. Some thought that
it was alarming ; but there was a far greater cause for alarm
—the indifference and supineness of Protestants.—( Hear.)
Informer times, Protestantism was not so innocuous.—( Hear.)
A handful of ancient Reformers filled the Church of Rome
with dismay. —( Hear, hear.) But at the present day,
there were a million of Roman Catholics living and
dying amongst us in this country alone. If there were
any increase it was on the side of the Roman Catholics.
Ought these things to be ? The Romish Church was not in-
vulnerable in the days of Luther and Wycliffe, and Huss, and
Jerome.—( Hear, hear.) Should not Protestants be stimu-
lated to energetic exertions by the recollection of what they
owed to Protestantism, and to the memory of their older Re-
formers.—( Cheers.)
The Rev. H. SRI NIGUR read the report, which strongly de-
precated the assumption, by the Catholic prelates, of the
titles of ecclessiostical dignity which only of right belonged to
the superiors of the Protestant Established Church. It further
stated the revival of Roman Catholic processions in this coun-
try. which was expressly prohibited by Acts of Parliament.
The meeting was addressed, among other gentlemen by the
Revds. B. A. Noel, G. Curving, and H. Seymour.