The Sun.
London, England, 1859-06-09 00:00:00

►1 SUN, LONDON,

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the value of the assis tame which he was ever ready
to furnish the mernb ers, on all subjects connected
with religious lib( IrtY• The public must have
strength of the Religious
noticed the growir, 'g
Equality party in tj e House of Commons. It
consists almost entirol, yof firm Churchmen, the
Dissenters in the Houi A , being but few ; and very
much indeed of this I mnproved position of that
great question is due to the unremitting but con-
ciliatory and gentlemanly exertions of Dr. FOSTER.
So at least we were told la 't night by homourable
members themselves.

The Society intends to va new its Parliamentary
effOrts this year with vigo, whether the session
be long or short. Mr. DILLAN -YN, who was present,
mentioned, what our readers N\ rill have seen, that he
had re-introducedhis Endowed' Schools Bill without
opposition into the House—that, it stood, in fact, as
the first bill introduced this o,itssion. The bill is
one which certainly shows tha t Dissenters have
cause, indeed, to complain of thiT gate of the law,
nor do we see how their very retOunable request
can be refused at the present day by legislators of
any party. By a very recent decision of the Lords
Justices, if the word " religion' is used in the
ancient endowment deeds of a school, or even any
secular charity, it must be interpreted the Church
of England, as the State legally knows of no
other religion ! To unprofessional persons this m..y
seem odd enough, but we suppose it is good law.
Still we can hardly imagine that any unprejudiced
Englishman can wish it to remain law. On the
same principle, trustees have been recently ex-
pelled from trusts of schools and charities, because
they must be men of " godly learning," and honest
and discreet men. It may not be very " discreet"
to be a Dissenter, when he has w build his own
chapel and keep it in repair, besides pang his own
minister and the rest of it, but we must Oink the
balance of " honesty" is in favour of those w:Ito do
it. So, however, Lord Justices do not think, and
the result is, that Dissenters, as ungodly and dis-
honest men, are driven from all charity trusts,
which require men of the opposite moral character.
The bill-merely proposes that, in cases where the
founder has expressed himself in favour of no par-
ticular creed or form of religion, that none shall be
required of the trustees or officers of the schools or
charities. Such a bill must surely pass both
Houses without difficulty—even the bench of
Bishops will surely be ashamed to oppose it.
Sir JOHN TuELAWNY should re-introduce his
Church-rate Bill to-day. On that topic, of course,
the meeting foulid ample matter for congratula-
tion. It was reported that so increasingly successful
was the Vestry opposition, that if Parliament did
not make haste not much would be left them to
abolish. It gives some insight into the quality of
a good deal of the liberalism of the late Parliament,
that Dr. FOSTER reported that the recent Liberal
losses had been a very insignificant loss to the
Church-rate abolition cause, since many who
had lost their seats had either constantly
voted against Sir J. TRELAWNY'S Bill, or
had regularly been absent from the division; while
an increased number of the Conservatives had de-

dared themselves in favour of abolishing the im-
post. We call attention to this. Church-rates may
not be a very great question. but it is what we
should call very much of a testing question. There
is nothing to be said for them but what may be
said for every vested abuse ; but against them it is
to be said that they must be, from their very
nature, excessively offensive to a vast body of re-
spectable and earnest men, who pay for their own
religious worship, and that it is a scandal
wpa Ith v as they are, if they
cannot keep their own churches in repair
as every other religious body in the kingdom does.
We cannot believe in the professed " Liberalism" of
any member who can stand out for such an unfair
impost.

From all we saw and heard of the society's pro-
ceedings, we could not but think that it is carrying
on its work in a catholic and comprehensive
spirit. It ignores political parties, and confines
itself to the question—Which will do most prac-
tically for religious liberty? It ignores equally all
sectarian distinctions, confining itself simply to the
object of placing all loyal subjects of her MAJESTY
on a perfectly equal footing as citizens, be their
creed what it may. Her MAJESTY herself, we
hope, desires this ; and we think, with Lord
STANLEY, that to this all the arguments and legis-
lation of the age both is and ought to be tending.
Our readers will see that the meeting gave us a
favourable impression of the Society's proceedings ;
and we must say that, so far as we understand
them from it, we wish them all success.

PARLIAMENTARY REFORM COM-

MITTEE.

At a meeting of the above committee, Mr. James
White in the chair, the, committee having taken
into consideration the present critical position of
the reform question, in connexion with the amend-
ment now before the House of Commons, expressing
want of confidence in her Majesty's Ministers, it
was moved by Mr. S. Morley, seconded by Mr.
Duncan M'Laren, and resolved, " That, in the
opinion of this committee, it is the duty of all real
reformers to support the amendment; and the com•
mittee trust that the Liberal party will succeed in
their effort to obtain a change of Administration, in
order to secure the early introduction of a measure
of real Parliamentary Reform.
By order of the committee,
EDWARD S. PRYCE, Secretary.
15, King•street, Cheapside, June 8.

31. BENEDICT'S ANNUAL CONORIZT.

We see that M. Benedict's annual concert will be given
next Wednesday morning at St. James's Hall, and, if pos-
sible, he offers greater attractions than usual to his nume
rous patrons and admirers. When we mention the fol-
lowing artistes as forming a portion of his " assistants," we
think a tolerable estimate may be arrived at as to the high
class character of the entertainment :—Mademoiselles
Guarducci, Sarolta, and Victoire Balfe ; Madame Catherine
Hayes ; Signori Mongini, Corsi, and L...,Graziani ; Herr
Reichardt, and Mr. Santley. Pianoforte, Miss Arabella
Goddard and M. Benedict ; violin, Herr Joachim ; and
violoncello, M. Paque, will variously illustrate the soundest
and most classical music, and a great treat may be antici-
pated, both instrumentally and vocally. M. Benedict is
universally held in eulogistic consideration, not only as a
gifted composer, but as a most efficient and skilfiel leader,
and we may safely predict that he will be greeted on this
especial occasion by a brilliant, crowded, and appreciatiVe
audience.

Although it is not definitely settled on which
day the Court will arrive at Windsor for the Ascot race
week, orders have been received at the Castle to prepare for
the reception of the Court on Tuesday next, the first day of
the races.

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more Lodge, at which vplaceciepnr
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highnesscountry
en Thursday residence, F(rtohgi -e
day).CIILD MURDER IN WESTMINSTER.--Yesterday
evening an inquest was held oivthe mutilated remains of
Nwhio . which
Bwee:boe froouungdh
,stfreeet, N auxhall Bridge. road.
days ago concealed in
A young woman named Sarah Smith, cook, at No. 8, has
been examined at the Westminster Police
court, upon sus-
' • of being the mother of the infant,•
[scion and remanded to
athneinfhoanuste
await the result of this inquest. The jury returned a
verdict of "Wilful murder against some person
unknown."
CLIPPER. SLIIP MYSTERY, CAPTAIN MATHEWS'
WITH EMIGRANTS TO CANTERBURY, NEC ZEALAND:
This ship owned by Mr. J. K. Welsh, and despatched by
Messrs. Willis and Co , has made the rapid passage of
8.5 days, and landed 300 passengers safely. During the
voyage fifteen deaths occurred, entirely amongst the chil-
dren, and five births. -Unfounded rumours of numerous
deaths having been circulated on this ship leaving the
Channel, and thereby causing alarm to friends, the earliest
authentic contradiction ig now given. In the New Zealand
papers every expression of gratitude is recorded by all
the
emigrants for the great care and kindness of Captain
Mathews during the voyage.