The Sun.
London, England, 1841-06-02 00:00:00

bears with which to frighten the babes in grace by whom
hey were surrounded. First, there was Unitarianism--
hat was a very dreadful thing.—(Hear, hear.) From that
.hey,passed over to Deism and to Atheism, and now it
vas said that thousands of the people were running after
Socialism. It was whispered one to another, like the
cholera, of which the people were afraid to speak. Every
Aron was taken to prevent its increase. Socialism, how-
ver, must go on. It would speak through the fears of
their wives and children ; it would be heard ultimately
in their own minds; and the Rational religion would be-
..,.ome the universal religion—the Catholic religion—the
religion which would unite all hearts, make al of one
family, dwelling together in peace and happiness.—
(Cheers.) He was glad that on this occasion the services
of the ladies had been associated with those of the gentle:.

men. The force of truth was mighty, and in spite of
every opposition, must prevail ; but when truth came
clothed in the voice of gentleness, nothing could with-
stand it. Women had the best opportunities for dis-
_bvering the evils of the present state of society. Let
•hem, then, maintain their position. Let them with con-
fidence, but with moderation, diffuse the benefits of
Socialism in their own country, and when they had done
this, and not until then, let them confer the same benefits
upon the heathen abroad.—(Cheers.)
Mr. T. ROBINSON • proposed the following toasts—
" Prosperity to communities of united interest, without
distinction of class, sect, party, country, or colour." It
was easy to wish success to the cause, but they must
_•ndeavour by every means, in every action, at every
moment to diffuse their principles. A better organization
of the branches, and an increase of subscriptions were
necessary, before their principles could be fully carried
aut.--4Hear, hear.) He trusted that they would all
redouble their exertions in the coming year.
Mr. RIGBY in supporting the toast, said the ground
upon which these communities were founded, was one
which must be obvious to all present. It was because
England, said to be the most flourishing country in the
world, was in the most deplorable condition. It was
because those who produced food were starving, those
who produced clothing were in rags, arid those who pro-
duced shelter for others were themselves destitute.
They had been told by Lord John Russell and by Mr.
Fielden, that the people of England were in a worse con-
dition than the emancipated blacks. How was this
to be remedied ? Was it by individual competition ?
They had had it in abundance. Was it by nation com-
peting against nation ? They had competed with the
world. Was it by preaching sectarian doctrines? Eng-
land was more divided upon such subjects than
any other nation in the world. It was only by
uniting together for each other's good instead of each
other's injury that this could be accomplished. They
had purchased an estate in Hampshire for the purpose
of testing their principles. In the first instance more
went down to that estate than it was capable of support-
ing ; but that error had been corrected, and the commu-
nity was now in the most flourishing condition. That
estate consisted of 600 acres of .land, producing barley,
wheat, potatoes, and turnips, .and there weroupwards of
129 cocks, hens, and chickens.—(Laughter.) Great in-
terest was felt in their movements by the persons resid-
ing in their neighbourhood ; and when they saw that
they were gradually improving their land, and that their
object was mutual benefit, many of the prejudices which
they had first conceived were removed. Not only
farmers and landholders, but noblemen, who took part
in Government affairs, had visited and examined their
community at Titherley. On leaving, they gene-
rally said, " Well, I am much pleased with all that
I have seen, and I hope you will go on and prosper, but
I must tell you that I don't agree with you." Of course
it would not do to agree with them ; but he could tell
that meeting when they would agree with them—namely,
when they had shown the world that it was of no conse-
quence who agreed with them.—(Loud cheers.) On one
occasion, when a meeting took place in that neighbour-
hood, the Magistrateslreceived orders from the Duke of
.Wellington, the Lord-Lieutenant of the county, to keep a
sharp look out and report progress. It was twelve
months since that order was given, and he thought it
was quite time that his Grace should tell the country
what was the report which the Magistrates had sent to
him ; at all events they intended to petition the Duke to
tell the world what it was that he had heard about them.
If the Magistrates had reported correctly, they would
have told him that the Deputy-Governor had sat in the
parish church, and had conducted the parish business in
the most fair and impartial manner. He was not one
who would wish to disorganise any.state of things ; in-
deed no good Socialist would ever attempt to disorganise
the state of society until he could substitute in its place a
better one. After the greater part of the business had
concluded, one of the Churchwardens came up to him
and stated that he had something which he wished to
bring before the meeting. The Clerk of the Church, he
said, had applied to him for an increase of his salary.
He (Mr. Rigby) asked the Churchwarden how much the
clerk's salary was ? and he was told that it was 50s.
a-year—(Laughter)—and that he wanted it increased
to 3/. Now lie (Mr. Rigby) as Chairman, had no
power .to grant the request, and upon the sub-
ject being stated to the meeting, one individual
said he would oppose any increase in the salary of the
clerk, and, upon being asked the reason of his opposition,
he said that when his grandfather and father were alive,
the salary was only 505., and he could not therefore con-
sent to its being made more now. Now, that man he (Mr.
It.) called a true Conservative. He (Mr. R.) then asked
what the clerk had to do, and he was told that he had
to attend the service twice every Sunday, that he had
also to clean the church, and to brush the yard.—
(Laughter.) He (Mr. R.) then asked the individual who
opposed the increase of the salary, whether he should
like to do the same duties for a similar sum.—(Cheers.)
He. hesitated for a few minutes, and he then said, " Well,
if no other person has any objection to the increase, I
have none." The salary of the clerk was raised, and that
too at a meeting over which he, a Socialist, presided.
The Duke of Wellington, therefore, need not fear
that those who were called infidels, would not
increase the salary of the clerics of churches ;
indeed, they would even increase the salaries
of the parsons if they would only speak the
truth.—(Great cheering.) Some of them, he was happy
to say, were beginning to speak the truth, and it really
was astonishing how wise they were getting of late.—
(Laughter.) The people had begun to feel that the lan-
guage of the Socialists was the language of truth, and
that it went home to humanity.—(Cheers.) They had
found out, also, that the Social system was true Chris-
tianity ; but then, it was said, the infidels got hold of it
first..—(Laughter.) There were plenty of Social So-
cieties springing up—indeed, if he was correctly in-
formed, the Bishops in this country were beginning to
take up the cause, for they had found out if they did
not, there would soon be an end of BiShops altogether.
He had no hesitation in saying that the period was not
far distant when Socialism would succeed, let it be called
by whatever name it might.—(Cheers.) The parties
who opposed it• might send their agents to Highbury-
barn to distribute tracts against it ; but they would find
it of no use • the cause would go on, and nothing could
stop it, if there was only unanimity among themselves.
(Cheers.) If they only acted with one heart and one
mind, no power under Heaven could put them down.
Mr. FINCH also responded to the toast. The millen-
nium were now come—all things were now ready—and
there were only two requisites necessary for the full ac-
complishment of the principle they had in view ; those
requisites were unity of principle and unity in the pro-
ceedings of all the different branches of the Society, and
the bringing forward of the cash—(Cheers.) Commu-
nities of united interest had existed in all ages, and
they had always been found to produce happiness among
mankind.—(Cheers.)
Mr. G. A. FLEMING said the Commitee of Manage-
ment had entrusted .to him the performance dB difficult
and somewhat delicate task ; for such it was Trade by
the prejudices of society, and by the obloquy which was
attached to the name of Socialist. He had to propose
" Prosperity and emancipation to the female portion bf
the human race." The toast was " Prosperity and eman-
cipation." Emancipation from what ? From social in-
equalities ; from erroneous mental training ; from poli-
tical disabilities ; from those thousand influences which
from infancy surrounded the female sex, which made
their position so different from what under happier and
fitter circumstances it would undoubtedly become. When
Socialism was referred to in conversation persons would
often say, " Oh, you mean a system for letting you have
as many wives as you please and making them all in
common." The idea was that they were in favour not of
a community of goods but a community of wives. A
more erroneous idea of Socialism could not possibly be
entertained. If there was one party in the State that
desired more than all others to elevate and purify the
female character that party was the ,Socialists.—(Hear.)
Much as they desired to emancipate men from political
and religious disabilities, they desired still more ardently
to elevate women to the same enjoyment and privileges
as themselves. The Chartists desired to enfranchise all
men at twenty years of age ; one party proposed one
thing, and another party another ; but neither recog-
nised directly or indirectly the existence of one-half of
the human race.—(Hear. hear.) Yet upon that half
depended the moral training of mankind. If they desired
to have a free. moral, elevated people, they must not
neglect to purify the fountain. One of the great bene-
fits conferred upon the Society by the aged and benevo-
lent philanthropist whom they had met to honour, was
that he had claimed for woman full, free, and equal en-
joyment of all those privileges which belonged to her as
a human being. When they saw their wives and daugh-
ters sitting down with them at their festive board, instead
of being altogether excluded or pushed into the gallery to
see the Lords of the creation enjoy themselves—
(Joud laughter) there was, a convincing proof
afforded that the time was not far distant
when institutions which would secure for woman
the full and equal exercise of all her faculties would be
established all over the world. They had heard of the
millennium. The millennium was come, when mer.
assembled together in the broad light of day to proclaim
their entire absolvency from all superstitious notions.—
(Cheers.)
Mrs. MARTIN then rose to address the assembly. She
said she was aware that she was at that moment occupy-
ing a position which it was very unusual for women to
occupy, and it might be expected by some that she should
say something in defence of that position. She would,
however, take it fer granted, that the hearts of all pre-
sent were as much alive as her own to the emancipation
of the whole human race, and taking that for granted,
she was sure they would not wish that one disability
should be laid upon her sex. If no other, why this one ?
.Why Should. they not enter into those plans which were
adapted to improve the understanding, or to amuse the
passing hours of life ? If the human race should ever
be improved, it would be by intermixing in all human
actions those qualities which could not be. found in one
sex only, but must be sought for in both. She had grown
up from infancy with high thoughts and strong hopes
or aidlorovernent in the condition of her sex. For a
long4ybereshe found none to sympathise with her.
But atv years ago a new sun broke upon her, and
that .I.FaOtonart 0 wen."--{Qheers.) On looking at the
pnsitiO (*Woman, he had seen that all remunerating
emiloyment 436 taken from her,—that all institutions