The Sun.
London, England, 1823-05-30 00:00:00

NATIONAL SOCIETY.

Yesterday a most numerous and highly re,
spectable meeting of the Members of this Society took place at
Central School, in Bahlwin'ssiturdens, Gray's Inn-lane. The
Archbishop of CasiTERULTRY in 'the Chair.
His Grace entered the room at one o'clock, accompanied by
the Bishops of London, Bristol, Chester, Lantlaff, Worcester,
Lord Kenyon, Lord Calthorpe, and several Members of the
House of Commons. •
- .
The Rev. Dr. WALM:iLEY, the Secretary, read the Report,
which stated that the riuMber of National Schools had; within
the last year, increased considerably; and.that 'IMMO British
children were now flourishing under the admirable syetem of
education introduced by the Society. It added, that the bene.
fits diffhted through the various districts by the eserttons of
the Superintendents of each establishment were incalculable;
but the Fluids were not in a condition on which the Member*
could be congratulated.
The Treasurer (Mr. WaTsose) then read an account of the
state of the Funds, from which it appeared that the Society:had
little or no disposable balance in their hands.
1 The Archbishop of Caste eitil USt Y said, that netwithcand,
ing the avowed exhaustion of the funds, the Society were not to
cease to act for the public. They were getting into debt, it
was true; but there was one grand source to which it was his
pride to call their attention, and by which they would be en.
abled to proceed with vigour and success in the plan of univer-
sal education. Government had promised to grant 2,000/. a
year towards their object.—( Loud applause. )---With such assiet ..
mice, they would be likely to encounter every difficulty. Dis
Grace then moved, that the Report should be printeci,—Unani-
,
mortsly agreed to.
Lord KESCrOX moved the thanks of the Meeting to the'
Archbishop of Canterbury; in doing which, he said it would
be impertinent in him to attempt to descripe the bentiits which
the Institution and the Church received at the hands of that
distinguished Prelate.
Mr. WILnEItFoRCi, in seconding the motion, said, that
the efforts ofehe society were to be great in proportion to the
apparent failure of its resources. There was no way whatever
of establishing the welfare of Society so permanently as by
promoting this National Institution, which he considered to
contain the whole stamina of the political and moral establish-
ments ache country. At a period like the pnesent, the poor
should be guarded by an antidote against the moral poison
' which was daily circulating through the mass of the commit
pity, anti early principles should be inculcated titian the power.
ful basis Of the tThurch of England, the most effectual means
of promoting the true religion. It was the practice of those
who discountenanced religion to decry old establishnients, by
saying that their time of departure was arrived, and that they
.must give place to new institutions ; but the sacred institution_
of the Church of .England wouldnever be seen to decline, but
to spring with increased vigour from every attack.
Lord Cannion PE represented the National Schools PS alt
admirable security to the rising generation, and an antidote to
that species of corruption which was inftiacd into the lower-
orders by the abominable activity of those who were now en-
gaged in undermining all ranks of the -courmunity. , lie stated
that the parents of the children educated at the National 8c400ls;
were frequently improved by hearing from the lips or th2ir chil.
drop le.ssons whick they could not receive through any other,
means. Education was now less gradual than it was supposed
to be, and reflected blessing,s which were never foreseen. In
another view the labours of the Society were of great importance.
They would secure
seeure the regard of the members of the Church of
of England to the Church itself,' upon which he, for one, looked
with increased veneration. lie concluded by.moving the Thanks
to the General Committee.
Archdeacon 13t.00 M_V !ELL) (Vicar of Bishopsoto seconded
the motion in a Very zppropriate speeCh.
The Bishop of Lo S; DO sz. reioiced that the Institution, slat—
withstanding die. diacouraget tents arising from untoward cir-
cumstances. was rapidly ditinaing ite benefits through the coup.:
try. alter schools were adopting the aanw plan, and all the
National Schools which came under his observation had not
only not received, bet had many of thtni attained a degree of
perfeeeiep not to be exzevded. The London Auxiliary *Eon's
were an instance of this &et. He begged to call their attention
to the state of the county of Essex, which had suffered so muck .
from agricultural distress. Ile.hadapprefiended that theSchoola
Would have been affected by that-distress, but he wee agreeably.
disappointed ; out of 440 parishes and hamlet* in .EB3eX, 2,42
had regular Schouls.—(Applatise.)—lie moved the thanks to
the Rev. Dr. Bell.
The Bishop of CU ESTER moved the thanks to Mr. Watson,
the treasurer, whose name he said was inseparably united with
that of the Society.
Another Dignitary of the .Church stated, that a girl, about
nine years old, who was eduCated at one of the schools', Inade 4
solemn appeal on her sleath-bed to her parents, who iterein the
habit of swearing and neglecting church. The impeehsion upon
the parents was such, that from dim moment they whidly alter-
ed their conduct.
. Mr. (Niles, ACP. suggexted that it would be imprudent to
depend upon GOVOTTITIWIIt in a case of this nature. .An appeal
should, be thought, be made to the public, who, if Govern.
nient were resorted to, might not be disposed to 'ranee eon&
deuce in the Society, such strange doctrines were new in fashion.
After some further observations, amongst which was a recome
tnendation to establish parochial banks as a means cif serving
the 'poor particularly, by creating a constant intercourse between
the Minister and the people.
The Resolutions being agreed to, the Meeting separated,
After the election of some Members of the Committee.