The Sun.
London, England, 1847-10-22 00:00:00

BRITISH ANTI-STATE CHURCH

ASSOCIATION.

A public meeting of the members and friends ol
the British Anti-State Church Association for the
liberation of religion from all state interference was
held yesterday evening, at the London Tavern. The
large room devoted to the purposes of the meeting was
filled to repletion, there being nearly 800 per-
sons present, of whom a considerable portion
seemed to be highly respectable females; and the
crowded state of the apartment, and the heat con-
sequent upon such an assemblage, had no effect in
diminishing the enthusiasm and patience of those who
listened to all the proceedings to the close with un-
abated interest.

I Dr. T. PRICE took the chair at half-past six o'clock,
and in opening the proceedings, observed that the
meeting should have been held in Exeter Hall but
that the proprietors had refused to allow them the use
of the large room, on the sole ground that it was not
befitting or expedient that this society should be per-
mitted to hold their meeting there.--(Cries of "Oh,
oh," and " Shame.") Had they been permitted to
occupy the hall, he had no doubt it would
have been as completely filled as was the apart-
ment in which they were then so unsuit-
ably placed.—(Cheers.) In a speech which was
attentively listened to, and considerably
applauded,
the chairman proceeded to address the meetingin
elucidation of the circumstances which had led to the
formation of the society, and of the objects which it
had in view, as well as the means by which they
were to be effected. The opposition to the Minutes
of Council was founded on the belief that those mi-
nutes were designed to set up through the country a
junior ecclesiastical establishment.—(Cheers.) It was
true that the opposition was as yet unsuccessful, but
all true-hearted men were gathering to supportat, and
it would not be long before they would see it triumph-
ant. But the elections had told their tale. Men were
compelled to think on those principles whioh consti•
tuted the real and only basis of civil and religious
liberty, and the elections had given them an opportu•
nity of recording their opinions. The first debate of
St. Stephen's would show how far those elections had
gone to establish civil and religious liberty. The
association was established for the purpose of indoc-
trinating the popular mind, and was determined in
every constitutional mode to press its views, of which
no one could doubt the ultimate success.—(Hear.)
The Rev. J. BURNET proposed the first resolution :
—" That in the judgment of this meeting every com-
pulsory method of sustaining or extending religious
institutions involves a departure from the practice of
the primitive Christian churches, and an obvious
violation of the genius of the Gospel, and that in
seeking by peaceful and moral means the removal of
every such institution within these realms from a
compulsory to a voluntary basis, the British Anti-
State Church Association aims at an object worthy the
sympathy and support of all who are interested in the
welfare of their country, and the advancement of re-
ligion."--(Cheers.) The Rev. Gentleman, who was
received with great enthusiasm, addressed himself to
prove that the assertions of the resolution were borne
out by reason and truth, that the primitive Christians
did not employ or approve of the sustainment or ex-
tension of Christianity by compulsory means, and
that the terms of the Gospel are equally opposed to
their use ; but the details of his argument were so
strictly theological as scarcely to be suitable to our
columns, and so close in their connexion as to render
abridgment impossible. Commencing with the
institution of tithes, as traceable for the tenths
and enlarging
poanidthetodiffMeerlcseec by
enheieodfthem
Abraham,old
dthe
new dispensa-
tion, and thence fixing on the text" My kingdom is not
of this world," he proceeded in an address which
partook of the character of a politico-polemico ora-
tion, and of an argumentative sermon, to show that
compulsory payments to the Church could not be sup-
ported by the Old, nor approved of by the New
Testament. In conclusion he disclaimed any wish
to injure the Established Church, but declared that
all his efforts would be directed to produce a separa-
tion between it and the State, under the conviction
that such a measure would be most conducive to the
interests of both.—(Cheers.)
Mr. Scouts seconded the resolution, which was
carried with one dissentient.

Colonel THOMPSON, M.P., came forward to propose
the second resolution, among great demonstrations of
favour on the part of the meeting That this
meeting is convinced that, owing to a variety of con-
current causes, amongst the most prominent of which
may be mentioned the ecclesiastical character of
several measures submitted to the Legislature during
the last Parliament, and the position taken by Non-
conformist electors at the late general election—the
people are prepared to welcome instruction on the
question of politico-religious establishments ; and this
meeting !therefore rejoices in the assurance that the
executive committee of the British Anti-State Church
Association are taking vigorous steps for diffusing
through the community sound views on this most
important subject." In proposing this resolution he
had come among them to assist in their endeavours to
put an end to the Established -Church—the great
reproach of modern times and of a free country.—
(Cheers.) He stood before them returned to Par-
liament because of the exertions of the people, and
of their determination to do away with that re-
proach.— (Cheers.) The Reverend Gentleman
(Mr. Burnet) had told them a good deal about
tithes and about Melchisedec, but would he tax his
antiquarian knowledge a little and tell them if after
Abraham paid tithes to Melchisedec the latter had
gone and taxed Abraham with church-rates besides.—
(Great cheers and laughter.) He had never heard a
more monstrous fallacy than had been used in defence
of these rates—that men bought their property with
their eyes open when it was subject to the rates before
the purchase. When such arguments as these were
used it behoved the people to insist on refuting and
annulling the absurdity.—(Hear hear.) They could
not, it was said, stand a revolution every twelve
months, and it, therefore, behoved them to do their
work as well and as quickly as possible.—(Cheers.)
As a member of a university he could not help think-
ing that the advantages they afforded should not be
withheld from Dissenters. Universities were not so
exclusive as was supposed. After a little opposition
they would retire with a good grace; at least if he
might judge from the way in which some of the forms
they so much valued were observed. He recollected
when he was taking his degree that he heard one of
his fellow-students saying' something about the
,
Thirty-nine Articles.
" When are we to take them ?,
asked he. "Oh you have signed them." "I! how
was that ? " "Don't you remember a man came to
you with a book and said 13s. 4d.'? That was the
Thirty-nine Articles.”—
(Roars of laughter.) He
hoped, at all events, to see a Rissenting university
established.—(No State aid.) No ; he did not want
it.—(Cheers.) He hoped the association would per-
severe until every ray of disability, civil or religious,
was removed ; and at all times, by the terms of his
compact, he was bound to be in such a struggle their
ready and willing instrument.—(Cheers.)
The Rev. H. HINTON seconded the resolution, and
proceeded to develop the meaning of it, more parti-
cularly in a pecuniary point of view, as the associa-
tion would be involv-ed in great expense by the ac-
tive measures which they intended to adopt in the
ensuing year. He would have withheld his vote from
Lord John Russell had he been in town ; and it was
quite true that if the Nonconformists had been let
play their own game without being opposed by the
Tories, he would have been ousted by the former.
The reverend gentleman next adverted to the neces-
sity of attending to their political power. He did
not care a straw about arguing with a Member of
Parliament ; all he wanted to do was to convince his
constituents, and he could very well tell how the
persevere, and at last its voice would be heard and its
memberpowerf w e
lt
.o would e
tv vote.—(Cheers,) t
he.:
r(
eCnheewe r s.) Let the association
t heir
exertions, and 'in
no long time the papers it published would' cease to
be passed over by Honodurableive
Puppy eyes when
nibers in silence,
an
and they would open
rub
library their
they saw them on the libetable, and tatty, like
Cowper's dog, to comprehend j ni---(Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN, in submitting the resolution to the
meeting, stated that the association was already in
communication with various gentlemen in different
parts of England, whither they
Monday next.
sending de-
putations, to commence on next. Since he
an
took the chair he had received offer from a gentle-
man to make one of fifty to subscribe 501. each, or
one of one hundred to subscribe 1004 to the associa-

tion.—(Cheers.)
Air. J. H. TILLETT (who was introduced to the
meeting as secretary to the electoral League of Nor-
folk) proposed the third and last resolution, which
was as follows :_....,, That, to the fullest extent which
the constitution of the country will admit of, it is de-
sirable to associate with correct views of this and
other questions, the possession of political power ;
and this meeting, therefore, earnestly recommend the
supporters of religious equality to strengthen their
hands for the next great electoral contest, by a
careful attention to the registration of voters in every
part of the kingdom, and by promoting in every legi-
timate way, the acquisition of the county franchise,
by the purchase of 40s. freeholds." Their object
was to get a certain Act of Parliament, declaring
the independence of the Church passed by the
Legislature. The right way to effect that would
be to influence the Houses of Parliament ; and to
do that, no way was so effectual as to procure
political power. The extension of the franchise was
the real object to be secured in the first instance, and
then the wall between the people and the aristocracy
would be broken down for ever.—(Great cheering.)
Then the difference which existed between the force
of public opinion and of the elective body would
cease also. The speaker then adverted to the origin
of tithes, and established the dilemma that the Esta-
blishment denied their right to them either by pre-
scription or statute—if by prescription, the Church
should then perform the masses and ceremonies for
which tithes were originally given ,(as the speaker