The Sun.
London, England, 1819-12-22 00:00:00

ORANGE rnocEssioNs.

Mr. CANNING rose to offer an explanation in
which the character of an individual was touch
interested. He by no means wished to prevEnt
the expression of the Hon. Baronet's sentiments,
and hoped he would tesome his statement. He
rose for the purpose of reminding an lion. Gen-
tleman opposite of a statement which he had
made with respect to a Clergyman, whom he had
spoken of as having on one occasion preached a
sermon before the pervni who had formed an
Orange Procession at Liverpool. He (Mr. Can-
ning) was not at that time apptised of the circum-
stances of the case. He did not know the name
of the Clergyman to whom the Hon. Gentleman
allotted, and no,e that he knew his name, lie did
not know the individual. He.had received a let-
ter front Liverpool denying many of the facts
aimed by the Honourable- Gentleman, on infor-
mation which he bad obtained, and to which he
tray sore that he gave credit. In the letter ad-
drefy,ed to him (Mr Canning) he was assured by the
writer that he had only preached a Sermon before
the pat Cle9 alluded to as a matter of ordinary civi-
lity, as he would have done for any ordinary be-
nt fo society that might !rave asked such a favour.
The text from which he had preached ran thus :
" By these things all men shall know ye, that ye
(110 good, and love one anothir ;" and the Cler-
gyman went on to assure him that every word of
his Sermon was in perfect coutormity with that
text. He hail inquired into the character of the
Writer, which he found to he most respectable:—
He was a young Minister, but he twilit' that lie
was very much esteemed by all who knew him ;
and having stated this he was sure the Hon. Gen-
tleman would thank him for supplying this expla-
nation.

Mr• BEN NET stated many things to have been
put into his mouth which lie had never uttered.--
e had been' made to say that the procession, in
which were persons representing the Pope and a
Cardinal, with the insignia of the Church of Rome,
had stripped off their robes and committed them
to flames before going to hear a sermon preached.
He had not said this, but lie had described the
procession. He did not say that the garments
they had worn were committed to the names, but
lie had understood them to have been thrown.
over the backs of the pews where they went to
attend divine service. It gave him great pain to
say ‘chat lie did, but what be-thought it his duty
to say of a sermon preached under such circum-
'stances, that to him it appeared '' a sedition to
roan and a blasphemy to Qod." The Clergyman
he bad not known either before or since. lie
had los ified this opinion, by showing that the
sermon was not preached before a friendly so-
ciety, as certain societies were termed, but a so-
ciet y the object of which was to perpetuate reli-
gions differences. lie imputed to him no impro-
per language in the -sei.mon ; but a sermon preached
at all under such circumstances, he thought im-
proper. It was only in this year that such a
procession had been set on foot. On a trial which
took place in consequence of their heing pelted,
to certain questions put to them to obtain an ex-
planation of part of their proceedings, they would
only answer—'' Belong to our lodge and then you
will know." They had stated themielves to he
hound by an oath of seciery, and contended that
Freemasons might as well be called upon to di-
vulge the secrets of their fraternity; as they to art- t
saver touching the matters on which they wet tin-
terrogated. These things to him appeared very
extraordinary and improper. The person who
preached before them might think that he was
doing tight, but he thought be was doing wrong,
Though he felt it to be his duty to animadvert on
what had passed as he did, yet wishing the blow
to tall as lightly as possible, ire abstained troll)
mentioning the individual by name.
Mr. CANNING, after what had been stated by
the 'lon. Gentleman, thought irbot justice to the
individual whose character had been injUred, to
read a part of his letter. The letter stated, that
the tale of one person being dressed as the Pope,
and another as a Cardinal of the Church of !tonic,
and of the mock insignia carried with them, had
since been disproved in a Court of Justice, and he
could disprove the assertion, that persons so dis-
guised had stripped off their garments, and com-
mitted them to the flames. Bad they acted thus,
lie wondered any body could suppose that a Clergy-
man of the Cianrch of England would be fount: to
preach before them. Ile (\lr. Canning) knew
the speech of the Hon. Member had been in
some instances incorrectly repoAed, and the ex-
planation given on this head, and what he had
stated, wool:1, lie hoped, do away any improper
impression that had been created to the prejudice
of an