The Sun.
London, England, 1868-04-17 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 17, 1868.

TILE IRISH ESTABLISHED CHURCH.

made a secret of them. (Cheers.) Then, I say I
am in favour of the old-fashioned practice that you
should have men of integrity and ability to lead you;
and I should indeed be sorry if the time should ever
come when the people of England should say that
on account of a man's integrity and sincerity they
would not confide in him. (Cheers.) Such a time
I am sure will never come, and I am persuaded you
may confide in Mr. Gladstone ; that you may con-
fide in his integrity and in his sincerity ; and that,
supported by the people of England, he will lead us
on to victory, and make that peace of which I have
already spoken permanent between England and
Ireland. (Cheers.) -When that is done we shall be
rendered stronger in every respect—stronger in our
domestic internal relations, and stronger in keeping
up the general peace of the world, as we shall move
forward against any foreign enemy, if any enemy
should dare to attack us. (Cheers.) Having this
conviction, you will allow me to call on the several
speakers who are to address you, and I hope that not
only will you give them a patient hearing, but that
you will heartily give your support to Mr. Gladstone
in his resolutions.
Mr. \VEsr, the Recorder of Manchester, proposed
the first resolution—" That this meeting cordially
approve of Mr. Gladstone's resolutions on the Irish
Church, and calls on all reformers to give him their
earnest support." It was with great cordiality that
he undertook the duty which was imposed on him,
and he hoped the meeting would with equal cor-
diality accept the proposition before them, as they
would thereby teach those who wished to oppose the
present great advance in the political history of the
country a lesson which they would not easily forget.
He was reioiced to see this, the first great meeting
held on the question, assembled under such happy
auspices, and presided over by one who had led the
people of England to every great and liberal
triumph for the last half-century. (Hear, hear.)
As good wine needed no bush, he would not ven-
ture to make any observations upon the resolution,
but formally submit icto the approval of the meet-
ing.
The lion. A. HERBERT seconded the resolution,
and said that the days which had passed since Mr.
Gladstone framed his resolutions had been days of
anxiety and careful watching as to the way in which
the English people would accept the great appeal
which was now made to them. In all the great
centres of population and industry there was but
one feeling and one voice, and that was a determi-
nation to do justice to Ireland. There were many
calamities which might befal a nation, but there
wasno calamity so great as when it ceased to recog-
nise the claims of justice and to see the plain duty
before it. In this ease, however, such was not the
case, for the voice of England was speaking very
clearly in favour of full justice to Ireland. It was
a waste of time to use any argument on the point,
for it was but necessary for them to ask themselves
this. One qUestions= it right that the church of
the minority, aupported against the wish. of the
majority and -brthe power and resources of another
country, should c'oiiti4ne to exist:?`(" NO, no," and
Yes, yes.) .After: that' "*, no," what. remained
to be said, or'-what'argninent could they,place by
the side of that question ? To do so would be-as
idle as the labour "of the great philosopher, who,
when he cut a hole in his door for the passage of
his cat, cut a second and smaller one for the use of
the kitten. (Laughter.) Indeed, the weakness of
their case was this, that it seemed unnatural to
argue upon a question which was so clear and plain.
Indeed, the defenders of the Established Church in
Ireland reminded him of some children whom he
saw the other day
in the park playing at hide and
seek, although they had only one tree to hide be-
hind. (Laughter.) Nay, they were worse, for
they
behind.h a d
(Cheers.)not even
ytodidtabkerinrgeffuogre_
ward told in the opposite direction, so that not
' oAnneyatligiautmethnet
having argument to appeal to they appealed to
passion and prejudice. (Cheers.) The author of
" Tancred" once said that society could not be car-
ried on without a good deal of prejudice, and he
supposed the present Premier thought the Govern-
ment of the country could not be carried on with-
out a great deal of prejudice. (Hear.) He con-
fessed that when be read the Dartmouth letter a
thrill of indignation went through him, and he
asked himself if that was the way in which to rule
a great country, by appealing to the passions and
prejudices of the people. Since then Mr. Disraeli had
somewhat changed his opinion, as appeared from the
letter which he had written to the Rev. Mr. Baker,but
still it was to be regretted that there should, exist
in the country such a state of feeling as made it
possible for any one to make such an appeal to the
people. They had now much to learn and much to
unlearn ; they had to learn the great lesson of how
to live together in brotherly love, mutually respect-
ing and tolerating each other's religious convictions
—and they had to unlearn the spirit of religious
aggressiveness, and that spirit of intolerance that
did not hesitate to use the first weapon which was
at hand—a spirit that was akin to that of the cru-
sading King of France who thought the. only ar-
gument for the conversion of a heretic was three
inches of cold steel. (Cheers.) They had already
the first fruits of a better spirit in which England
was proving to Ireland that we are more tolerant of
each other, and there came a voice across the water
which told them that Ireland was prepared to ac-
cept what England was doing on her behalf. (hear,
hear.) It was a great and noble time in the his-
tory of the country, for it was the first time she was
acting in a truly righteous and generous spirit
towards Ireland ; and now for the first time the
great heart of the people of England was yearning
with an irresistible impulse towards the people of
Ireland, longing to lead them on to a happier and
better future ; and ,now, too, for the first time, the
heart of the Irish people was stretching itself to the
sunshine of English kindness. (Cheers.)
The resolution was then put and agreed to
unanimously.
Mr. MASON JONES next presented himself to
move the second resolution. It was hardly three
months ago, he said, since he had the honour of
standing on that platform, under the presidency of
Mr. Edward Miall, when he ventured to assert that
if the wishes of the people of England were con-
sulted they would have been found to consist in a
feeling to remove every grievance that pressed on
the people of Ireland. (Cheers.) He bad been
since that time in the large town of Manchester
and other places. He had addressed hundreds and
thousands of people, and the response he received
on every occasion was, that perfect equality
be established in Ireland. The Irish question years
ago was not what it was Row. It was not alone in
the newspaper or in the magazine, but now it was
the great battle cry, and already the opponents of
the present system had gained a great victory. When
he travelled through the country during the past
three months he could perceive that his statements
on the Irish Church were met with incredulity and
astonishment, and when he spoke of hundreds and
thousands of pounds being given to clergymen in
parishes where all the inhabitants were Roman Ca-
tholics and no Protestants could be found at all, they
could not believe it. Mr. Disraeli said in Edinburgh
that he educated his party; but he (Mr. Mason
Jones) believed that in a few years the people would
be so educated as to drive him and his party from
the position they now so unworthily and shamefully
occupied. (Loud cheers.) There was a certain
angular member of the house who held his opinions
in one direction and voted in another. Ile believed
in nothing in the heavens, on the earth, or under
the earth except himself—the hon. member for
Shetlield—(a laugh)--but when he (Mr. Jones)was
in Sheffield he gave the constituency an advice
which, if the lion. member bad persevered in the
vote his speech
would indicate, would have cost
him his seat. (Hear, hear.)
He believed the de-
sire of the country was that her Majesty should dis-
miss political jugglers like the present Government
from office, and restore 0090 who had principles
and honour, and who left office sooner than aban-
don either one or the other. (Hear.) lie believed
the speech of Mr. Coleridge was a brilliant produc-
tion ; but the moment he read Lord Stanley's his
own opinion was that the Irish Church was doomed.
(Hear, hear.) He ridiculed the speech made by
Mr. Disraeli at the end of the late debate, and the
principle that a Government Was bound to support
Church establishments, as one not only devoid of

A large and most important meeting on the sub-
ject of Mr. Gladstone's late resolutions was held
last night in St. James's Hall, over which Earl
Russell, K.G., presided. The ball was densely
crowded, from the platform to the upper gallery,
by a dense mass of human beings, a great number
of ladies being present in the galleries. The noble
earl having presented himself on the platform, was
received in a manner that reminded one of his great

popularity at the time of the Reform Bill. The
whole assembly rose and greeted him by an ovation

,hat must have been :•ery gratifying to his feelings

The principal persons that supported his lordship
on either side of the chair were Lord Amberley,
ALP., the Hon. A. Herbert, the Hon. C. Stanley,
Sir Patrick O'Brien, ALP., Air. J. O'Brien, M.P.,

Mr. Robertson, M.P., Sir 11. Hoare, Mr. W. liar-

court, Q.C., Mr. 11. Elt, Mr. 'loin's, Mr. G. Potter,
Mr. West, Recorder of Manchester, Mr. Merri-
man, Mr. Baxter Langle, Mr. Mason Jones, &c.

,
After a few minutes,
The Noble CHAIRMAN rose and said—Gentle-
men, I have the honour of appearing before this

great public meeting, believing it to be an occasion
when a national crisis of the greatest importance
was about to take place, and with the hope that the

people of England would put an end, not to a 30,
but to a 300 years' war, that had prevailed in Ire-
land on the subject of the Irish Church Establish-
ment. I trust we shall agree that we ought to
make a treaty of perpetual peace and friendship
with the people of Ireland, and that Mr. Gladstone
will be entrusted with full powers— (IDud cheers)—

to consolidate and sign it. (Cheers.) Gentlemen,
in speaking on the subject of the Irish Church,
there is, I admit, a great difficulty, and that is, to

find any argument in defence of it. (Hear.) There
are many persons who think that a Church Estab-
lishment supported by the State does not promote

religion and morality, while there are others, myse
among the number, who hold a different opinion
Those who held the opinion that a Church Estab
lishment supported by the State did not advance
religion or morality are ready to moderate their
opinions ; and those for disestablishing it, believing
it was a burlesque to uphold a Church Establish-
ment for one-eighth of the people at the expense
of the other seven-eighths, thought a state of
things of that kind was such an injury to their case
that they were quite ready to surrender it. In point
of fact, gentlemen, the difficulty is to find, as I have
already said, arguments in support of this great—in-
justice. But instead of arguments we are treated
with dreadful prognostics for the future, and threat-
ened that if a connection with the State be put an
end to, not only will civil and religious liberty dis-
appear, not only will the bishops and clergy be de-
spoiled, but such an event is described as worse than
a foreign conquest of the island. (A laugh.) Well,
in the view of such a state of things, what is the
course taken by Lord Stanley-?--' He proposed, ne,t
that the question of disendowment and disesta-
blishment should be set aside altogether,' but
that it should be postponed for the Parliament
of next year. Well, that looks very much
as if it were the opinion, of the Govern-
ment the question should in this way be decided
next year; but what would you say if a foreign
nation, possessing greater military power than
we do, should address the Government of this coun-
try, and say, " Unless you submit to the terms we
propose, which are no doubt degrading and dis-
honourable, we shall invade you ;" and of the
answer, "We can't consider it this year ; but if
you will consult us next year, we shall take the
question into our serious consideration." (Cheers
and laughter.) I cannot see how these two propo-
sitions of the Government hang well together. The
first resolution proposed by Mr. Gladstone lays
down the proposition that the Irish Church should
be disestablished, and all agree that the sooner that
takes place the better. (Loud cheers.) And now
as to the question of disendowment. I must here
say that my object is to see that equity is dealt out
to all classes ; and with this view I must say that
the people of Ireland are entitled to be placed on a
footing of equality with their fellow-subjects.
(Cheers.) It was rather a secondary question to
consider
hi'tslmhi
cecaotthataletlzahlru.n:tb,alh)ji
coed:
otlpresent difficulty could be got
rid of by an endowment of all religions in Ireland,
or a disendowment of them all. (Cries of " Dis-
les
t ahn
ned
do
Roman
outed
of
notdblotri et
lnwaaonsi tsdht
hNte.ioldisguiseipdeneooptsli
people of
co
cafenpE prefer-
encesdtt
)aga,
endowment of any kind, I at once give up any
opinions I may have previously formed. (Cheers.)
But the two first resolutions point clearly
endowment, and when that question has to be con-
sidered, those who say that no Church Establishment
promotes religion or morality will obtain some ad-
belief i et fh
ei s
Irishha t the Ch urchirsg uencumberedt.
Establish-
ment, that it is just like telling a swimmer going to
a certain goal to tie a large lump of lead b a out his
neck—(a laugh)—and that the Church E • Establish-
ment in Ireland is, in a similar way,
a lump of lead
around the usefulness of the Church of England, and
prevents her swimming. (Cheers.) The third re-
solution proposed to the House of Commons
is also
very important. It proposes to ask the Crown to-
place at the disposal of Parliament her Majesty's
interest in all the revenues, dignitaries, and bene-
fices of the Church Establishment in lreland. That
was done in conformity with the d• a vice which
I had given many years ago to William the
and which his Majesty was graciously
accept ; but having been opposed by the late Sir
Robert Peel, by Sir James Graham, and the present
Earl of Derby, I did not succeed •
in carrying my
views into effect. I trust, however, we shall be more
fortunate this time, and obtain not only a disestab-
lishment of the Irish Church, but a complete dis-
endowment. (Cheers.) I remember some years
ago having been present in this hall
when the late
Prince Consort delivered an I e oquent speech, in
which he stated that William HI. was the greatest
king that ever reigned in this country. But what
was his policy ? When he attained •
the English
Crown a question arose as to whether
people should be compelled to maint • ain the Epis-
copal Church in Scotland, and his opini • •
on was en-
tirely opposed to it. (Hear, hear.) Gentlemen,
was observing that King William 111., by
y taking
that course in respect to Scotland, was
able to esta-
blish peace and open up the road to that prosperity
which has ever since prevailed in that country.
(Cheers.) It was not given to him, it was beyond
his power, having to carry on a civil war in Ireland,
to do to that country what he had done in Scotland ;
but I trust her present Most Gracious Majesty
will do that which William HI. was unable to ac-
complish ; that she will establish peace in Ireland
by yielding to the settled wish of the people of Ire-
land. (Cheers.) And now, gentlemen, I have
only just to say to you that there seems to have
started into existence of late a theory which, as I
am an old-fashioned man and much attached to old-
fashioned constitutional principles, I much regret—
that, instead of having men in whom you can con-
fide to lead you, you should have men of no settled
convictions—(cheers)--inen of no settled opinions,
but who are the more likely to follow anything that
may be started. (Cheers.) If I admire and wish
to support Mr. Gladstone, it is on quite opposite
grounds. (Hear, hear.) Although you have seen
an alteration in his opinions--and what statesman
is there that must not confess to having often
changed his opinions ?—(hear, hear)—although,
then, I say, Mr. Gladstone has changed his opin-
ioes, and more especially in this matter of the Irish
Church, he thought, first, that the opinion of the
State ought to govern the Established Church. the
thought, secondly, upon the occasion of the May-
nooth grant, when—having resigned his office, so
that no one could doubt the disinterested character
of his opinions—he stated that if the Roman Cs.tho-
lie Church in Ireland desired to be endo wed the de-
mand could not be resisted. (Hear, hear) Ile has now
brought forward the resolutions to which I have
already referred, and he says that neither the Pro-
testants nor Roman Catholics should be endowed,
but that there should be an equal disestablishment
and disendowment for all. But this is to be said of
Mr. Gladstone, that whatever his opinions were
1 le
has taken great care to form them ; and when he
formed them expressed them openly, and never

reason, but against common sense. He had read avour of the question they were met to discuss.
carefully the American Constitution, and there was (Hear.) It was the great topic of the day, and
not a word in it, from beginning to end, about reli- would no doubt lead to great results. The hon.
gion. Besides, it must be remembered that the gentleman having read the resolution, appealed to
largest number of persons under the gracious rule of the Liberal voters about to be created by the new
their Sovereign were natives of India, and if the Reform Bill, whether they would tolerate a system
principle that the head of the State should be at all of political jugglery when placed in juxtaposition
times head of the Church be sound, their Sovereign with the conscientious convictions of Mr. Glad-
must become aßuddhist. (Hear, hear, and a laugh.) stone. Their noble chairman had, upwards of 30
ith such examples before his eyes he ought to years ago, raised this very question, and for his own
have been cautious before committing himself to any part he liked an honest Liberal Ministry who acted
statement. Last year he called those who met in up to their professions, and, if beaten, behaved like
that hall " obsolete incendiaries and spouters of stale men of honour. If their army and navy were in a
sedition," and yet he afterwards, by accepting Mr. state of inefficiency, if they wanted a change in
Hodgkinson's amendment, conferred upon them a their poor-law, then support men who bring mea-
Reform Bill with household suffrage. But who was sures not only to benefit this country, but to bring
the real incendiary ? Certainly it was he who endea- peace and conciliation to Ireland. (Cheers.)
voured to excite ilhwill and bad blood between the Mr. O'BEIRNE seconded the resolution. He was
different classes of her Majesty's subjects, for the a very humble member of that body of representa-
base and selfish purpose of keeping himself in power tines sent from Ireland, and knowing that country
and thereby degrading the high office which he well had never indulged a hope of seeing so splendid
held. (Cheers.) Who was it raised the "No a meeting in this metropolis to remove a great
Popery" cry, by proposing to level up the Roman I grievance and actuated by one common sentiment.
Catholic to the Protestant establishment by endow- (Loud cheers, and cries of " No, uo," followed
ing it, and afterwards, when the feeler which he Iby a smart tussle at the lower end of the hall.) As
threw oast was found not to take, receded from his an Irish member he felt deeply grateful, not only
proposal? It was the Premier. It was he, too, to the veteran champion of civil and religious
who by proposing to give a charter to the Roman liberty who presided, but to that great meeting. It
Catholic University was willing to hand over the was most opportune, especially at a time when the
education of the Roman Catholic youth of the Heir-apparent to the Throne and his Royal Con-
country to the Ultramontane clergy,. This was the sort were receiving in Ireland a loyal and hearty
Minister who raised the "No Popery" cry, but it welcome from the Irish people. (Hear, hear.) He
would not serve his purpose, for the people of Eng- denounced the conduct of Mr. Disraeli, who, after
land would treat it with the derision and contempt such a majority against his Government, had, he
which it deserved. He did not care a straw for any would say, the indecent audacity to retain office.
religion whatever, and yet he now availed himself (Cheers.) They always expected a certain dignity
of this lateat-fehgious feeling in order to keep him- and honour from the persons who filled the high
self in ,Apower. (Hear, hear.) It was his belief office of Prime Minister, but the present, contrary
that the speeches of the Home Secretary and of to the constitution, was determined to remain in
Mr. Disraeli himself had done more to advance the until he was ignominiously expelled. (Cheers.)
object which the meeting had in view than anything The resolution was as usual put and unanimously
he (Mr. Jones) had said or done during the past carried.
three months. He had no ill feeling against the A vote of thanks was then moved to the noble
Church Establishment in England, but he warned chairman by Mr. VERNON HARCOURT.
English Churchmen that if they rowed in the same The Hon. Mr. STANLEY having seconded the
boat with the Irish Church both would go to the motion, it was carried by acclamation.
bottom. (Cheers.) Mr. Jones concluded by moving Earl RUSSELL, in returning thanks, remarked
the second resolution, to`the effect that no settle- upon the exceeding moieratiem displayed by Mr
ment of the Irish Church question would be satis- Miall and Sir P. O'Brien in the hour of their po-
factory which does not result in the impartial dis- litical triumph. He hoped the visit of the Prince
tribution of all disendowed religious bodies in Ire- and Princess of Wales to Ireland would lead to the
'and. • most happy results—that his Royal Highness would

each year visit that country, not, only for a week
but for two or three months, as he would find
there plenty of good sport and agreeable society.
(Cheers.) The young aristocracy of England
would by degrees follow his example, and thus the
legislating classes would from actual personal ex-
perience of - the country come to a just view of its
exigencies and its wants.
The meeting then separated.

Mr. EDWARD Mum. seconded the resolution, and
said—l think the straw begins to move, and to-
night I can hardly recognise my own position in re-
gard to this question. Three months ago I was an
extreme man. Just now I am in the ranks of the
moderate party. (Hear, hear.) There are some
who go before me who were behind me, and there
are many others before whom I went who have now
come abreast of me. This is what for many years
past I have Watched in the progress of the question,,
and what I have earnestly yearned for, and now the
aPPrnaelying, realisation of my hopes fills me with.
'the deepest sense . of • responsibility. (Hear, hear.)
There was time when I felt it was aecessary to use
such a stimulus =as my. heart could -furnish to excite
the minds of -my countrymen to do justice to Ire-
land in this. particulir. That time has gone by.
There is no necessity now to argue the question,
for the Irish Church controversy has been settled in
the House of Commons by a majority of 60, and the
public opinion of the country has wonderfully backed
the decision of that majority. There is, then, no
necessity for that argument. We need not now
dwell on the absurdities or the injustice perpetrated
by such an institution. (Hear.) We may con-
sider now we have not to speak, but to act, and we
have by our vote to-night to elect whether we shall
agree to sustain the resolutions which Mr. Glad-
stone has put before the House of Commons. But
there is another thing that fills me with deeper
anxiety than this. I am most anxiously concerned
that this battle shouid be fought, not as a battle of
faction, but as an attempt to do justice to Ireland.
I hope, therefore, we shall not triumph, either in
our language or in our tones, over our fellow-coun-
trymen who are of the Anglican communion in
Ireland. (Cheers.) We wish to do them no harm
whatever. We are certainly. amazed at the alarm
into which they have got, for we assure, them that
when the question comes to a practical settlement
they will find themselves , in a far better position
as regards their faith than at the present moment.
. hear.) They naturally shrink from that to
.which they have not been accustomed, and they
certainly have not" been accustomed to put their
hands in their pockets • and so support • the
teaching of their own faith. (Hear,. hear, hear.)
I, however, can assure them on experience that, so
far from that. being an act inflicting injury on any
person, it is one which raises the whole character of
the people, by giving them an interest in that
about which they were indifferent, and changes the
mere political motive into the high spiritual one.
They need not, then, be afraid. We shall take
nothing from them 41 this work—nothing which
they need to cherish with great anxiety. We shall
leave them their Bible. (Laughter.) We shall leave
them their Book of Common Prayer. (Laughter.)
We shall leave them their ecclesiastical organisation.
We shall not put forth a hand on their bishops, and
they will have full liberty to do the work which Mr.
Hardy claims for them in upholding the doctrines
of the Protestant Reformation ; and perhaps they
will do it better when they do it fully and at their
own expense; and perhaps just in proportion as they
feel a personal responsibility in the truths which
they proclaim, they will publish and proclaim those
truths with a tenderness of feeling for the religious
convictions of others. There is no result of the Irish
Church more melancholy than this, that it has made
the spirit of religion in Ireland political rather than
religious. There is, I regret to say, a bitterness of
feeling on both sides which does not arise from the
doctrines or the precepts of Christianity ; and it is
simply because one party has been placed by law in
a position of ascendancy over the other party, and
because the other party has been put in an insulting
subjection to the former party. (Hear, hear.) It
is on this account that religious controversy has
assumed such bitter acerbity in Ireland ; but I
trust we shall put an end to the causes of that,
and let it be remembered that we take from the
Anglican community in Ireland this and no
more. We call upon them to step down from a
political and factious supremacy, and put themselves
on a level and equality with their fellow-country-
men of the other faith. (Hear, hear.) No doubt
it will be galling to their pride to do so, but let us
not at such a moment forget how we are all subject
to the frailties of human nature, and do not let us
irritate farther than the process of cure actually
requires. Deal gently, then, with those whom you
displace from their position, and give them what
you can consistently with your object—that object
being religious equality by means of impartial dis-
endowment. I should not haggle over terms, but
endeavour in every way to soothe the feelings of all
parties, and especially those most deeply interested.
I should deal with them in the spirit of tenderness
and affection, believing that a very short time must
elapse before the whole country will admire the
change which must come over the land. (Hear,
hear.) It remains for us to throw oil on the
troubled waters to prevent oil being thrown on com-
bustible materials, and do nothing without being
actuated by a tender, kind, moderate, and careful
spirit to soften down prejudices. (Cheers.) If
that course be pursued in a fraternal spirit—and the
Irish Church is told they are now in a false posi-
tion, and that we shall place them in a true one—
I think its supporters will be grateful. (Cheers.)
The resolution was then put and carried unani-
mously.
Sir HENRY HOARE next moved the third resolu-
tion, which was as follows :—" That inasmuch as
the present Government does not possess the confi-
dence of either the House of Commons or the cowl •
try, their continuance iu office is a violation of con-
stitutional usage, and this meeting is of opinion
that the carrying out of the foregoing resolutions
should-be entrusted to Mr. Gladstone and a Liberal
Ministry," (Loud cheers.) He was, he said, happy
to have an opportunity to have to speak to the
question. He did not propose to address himself to
any arguments with respect to the. Irish Church,
because, in the first place, England, within the last
few weeks, unanimously declared its opinion in

BRITON MEDICAL AND GENERAL LIFE
ASSOCIATION.

The fourteenth annual general meeting of share.
holders and policyholders was held at the society's
house,-429, Strand, this afternoon. Francis Webb,
Esq., chairman of the board of directors, presided.
The SECRETARY read the annual report, which
was as follows :

The directors of the Briton Medical and General Life
Association have the pleasure to report to the sharaholders
and policyholders the business transactions of the Associa-
tion for the 3 ear 1867. The proposals for New Assurances
have been 3,780 for £1,010,180 155., a larger number than
has been received in any previous year. In their discre-

tion the directors have declined 200, and from various
causes 523 have not been completed by the proposers. The
remainder having been carried into effect, 3,057 policies
have been issued, assuring the sum of £792,725 2s. 6d, and
producing in annual premiums the eum of £25,466 ss. Five
annuities have been granted, for which the sum of
£1,137 12s. 6d. has been received. The following is a
table of the new business of the association for' the past
twelve years, divided into triennial periods •

Triennial 1,1.?* of Amount 14,1?,f Amount Ahnual
period.sals Proposed insu-;c7 Assured Premiums.
Inclusive. £ £ s. d.
.856 to 1858 4,230 868,986 2,907 585,465 18,6721211
L 859 to 1861 7,287 1,380,003 5,359 1,010,390 29,860 4 4
1862 to 1864 9,237 2,218,551 6,805 1,648,878 53,708 9 9
1865 to 1867 10,914 3,069,547 8,773 2,427,630 76,919 15 3

The above table exhibits the satisfactory progress of the
association during the periods embraced therein. The
net premium income has risen to the sum of £212,748 4s. ;
the interest on monies invested and from other sources
yields £18,796 175.1 id.; making a total income of
£231,545 ls. 11d. The claims have been 311 in number
of lives and 319 in policies, and amount (less £6,030 re-
ceived from re-assurance) to £114,000 1.55. 10d. It is
satisfactory to observe that this amount is less by £27,361
than the amount of the claims which arose in the pre-
vious year. The balance of the income over all outgoings
is £76,311 16s. 10d., or nearly 33 per cent., which sum
has been duly carried to the assets account.
The total assets of the association at the close
of the year amounted to £571,817 17s. 9d. The accounts
of the association have been minutely examined
by the four appointed auditors, whose report on the sante
is as follows :—To the Directors of the Briton Medical
and General Life Association. Gentlemen—We have fully
examined the various books, accounts, and vouchers of the
association, and have found the same correct and satis-
factory. We have also carefully examined the whole of
the securities, which we have found in perfect order. We
have continued he excellent system of quarterly audits,
and have thus been enabled to exercise greater supervision
over the extensive transactions of the association. It is
but due to the officials to record thelbxcellent manner in
which the books are kept, and we have much pleasure in
so doing.—We are, gentlemen, your obedient servants,
H. Alcock, J. Brown, W. Brooks, C. It. Rowland, auditors.
The directors recommend that a dividend at the rate of £8
per cent. per annum on the capital of the Association, and
bonus (free of income tax), be declared. The period
having arrived for the quinquennial valuation of the affairs
of the Association, up to the end of the year 1867, with a
view to the declaration of a bonus, the directors have
given instructions to.their consulting actuary, Mr. Arthur
Scratchley, to proceed with the same. Sufficient time has
not yet elapsed to enable him to furnish his report; but
the result of his investigations, whielt--thO directors
have every reason to believe will be of a most
satisfactory character, will be communicated, and the
bonus declared, at the earliest possible moment.
The directors have continued to give their best attention
to this important department, and have endeavoured to
secure and maintain a perfect representative organisation,
feeling convinced that by so doing they are taking the
most certain means of bringing the merits of the associa-
tion before the public, and of securing its permanent pro-
sperity. The directors are happy to report the various
branches and other representative machinery of the asso-
ciation as being in a state of great :efficiency. The mem-
bers of the Scottish board and the officers acting under
their direction continue most energetic in the discharge of
their duties. The amount of the business transacted has
been in the highest degree satisfactory, and the directors
are encouraged tolook for increased results from the further
development of this important branch. Some difficulty hav-
ing been felt in obtaining suitable offices for the transaction of
the ex tensive bu siness of the Manchester brancb,the directors
secured a plot of ground in a central situation in that city,
and have erected a handsome and commodious building
thereon, which affords every accommodation for the pur-
poses of the association, and yields, by the letting off as
offices such portions as are not required, a highly remune-
rative rate of interest on the outlay. Three of the direc-
tors, viz., Mr. Francis Webb, Dr. Tyler Smith, and Mr. T.
B. Jones, retire, in accordance with the provisions of the
deed of settlement, but, being eligible, offer themselves for
re-election. The auditors also retire and offer themselves
for re-election. It is with sincere regret the directors re-
cord the death of Mr. J. Propert, one of the trustees of the
association, and one of its earliest and most valued friends.
The directors cannot conclude their report without
acknowledging the generous support the Association has
continued to receive from,the members of the medical pro-
fession, and from the public in general, nor can they
tre-
frain from again urging upon the policyholders and share-
holders, in fact on all connected with the association, the
duty of aiding the exertions of the management by intro-
ducing the association to their friends. If this appeal were
freely responded to, the results now reported wold bear
but an insignificant comparison to those which would be
obtained.
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the
report, congratulated the meeting on the continued
prosperity that attended the operations of the so-
ciety. The last year had been one of commercial
difficulty, yet the policies they had issued exceeded
by 110 those of last year. Their net income had
increased, but it was by a safe progression, and it
was a matter of the greatest congratulation that in
ten years they had actually quadrupled their busi-
ness. Their income from investments amounted to
19,000, which he thought was one of the best proofs
of the solidity of the institution. They had been able
toadd £76,000 to their reserve fund, which wasabout
33 per cent. of the income for the year. The divi-
dend they felt justified in recommending the meet-
, ing to declare was an honest and safe one, and as it