The Sun.
London, England, 1844-05-03 00:00:00

OXFORD.

Oxford was yesterday the scene of unusual excitement.
The morning trains from town, and the coaches from all parts
of the country, brought up vast numbers of the clergy, all ap-
parently on one errand, and,of one mind, as was proved by the
result. At two o'clock thl-Convocation-house was filled to
over-flowing, and the ViCe-Chancellor proposed the new
statute, which has already been fully discussed in our columns.
It will be sufficient to mention here, that its object was to
settle the existing perplexities as to the conditions and exer-
cises requisite for theological degrees, by creating and grant-
ing to the Regius Professor of Divinity (Dr. Hampden at
present) an absolute doctrinal authority in the matter with
a reference, on questions of form, to the Vice-Chancellor.
The statute was proposed in four clauses. The subject of
the first was wholly irrelevant, relating to degrees in law, and
seemingly introduced to embarrass the voters, committing
them, however, to a certain mode of examination, in a matter
in which they would probably feel indifference By sntici-
pation it showed the fate of the rest of the statute, and was
rejected by a large majority. The second clause contained
the proposed form of exercises, and was the substratum of
the two remaining. It was rejected by a majority of 341 to
21 I On the result being declared the two last clanses were
discreetly withdrawn by the Vice-Chancellor, and the Con-
vocation dissolved. It is said that Dr. Hampden himself and
his friends voted against the proposed statute, on the ground
that the reference on questions of form to the Vice-Chancellor
was an invasion of his supposed absolute and irresponsible
power in granting degrees. Among the non-resident mem-
bers were Dr. Hook, the Dean of Chichester, Archdeacon
Manning, Mr. Edward Churton, and a host of other charac-
ters well-known by name both here and. elsewhere.—Times.

THE ANTI-STATE-CHURCH
CONFERENCE.
THIRD DAY.-CLOSE OF THE PROCEEDINGS.
Yesterday the sittings of the Conference were resumed at
the Crown and Anchor, Strand. John Dunlop, Esq., of
Brocklock, took the chair.
A long discussion as to forms of proceeding took place ; a
paper (a laudation on Dissent) was read by the Rev. J. P.
Murswell, of Leicester ; and the Rev. Dr. Jenkyn, principal
of Coward College, London, delivered a speech, and pro-
posed a declaratory resolution as to the objects and efforts of
the convention.
Finally, it was determined that a society should now be
formed, entitled ".The British Anti-State Church Associa-
tion," based upon the following principle--" That in matters
of religion man is responsible to God alone ; that all legisla-
tion by secular governments, in affairs of religion, is an en-
croachment upon the rights of man, and an invasion of the
prerogative of God; and that the application by law of the
resources of the State to the maintenance of any form or
forms of religious worship and instruction is contrary to
reason, hostile to human liberty, and directly opposed to the
genius of Christianity." The object of this Society would be
the liberation of religion from all governmental or legislative
interference, and would be sought by lawful, peaceful, and
Christian means, and by such means only. Any person sub-
scribing to the principle upon which the Society is based,
and contributing not less than ls. per annum to its general
fund, to be admissible as a member. It was also determined
that a Conference should be convened once in three years.
Dr. Cox, Mr. E. Miall, Mr. J.lll. Hare, were elected secre-
taries to the new Soctety ; fifty gentlemen were appointed an
Executive Committee, and a Council was formed consisting of
500 persons from various parts of Great Britain and Ireland.
After a very long discussion, it was resolved that the fol-
lowing should be among the modes of action to be adopted
by the Society :
"1. The collection and digest from Acts of Parliament,
Parliamentary returns, and other authentic public documents,
of all such information as may throw light upon the nature
and tendency of State churches.
"2. The securing, by means of small prizes or otherwise,
original essays on the question of State churches, adapted to
the popular taste, and fitted to supply to the public, and es-
pecially to Dissenters, needful and useful information on the
subject.
"3. The employment of lecturers, voluntary or otherwise,
under the sanction and direction of the Executive Committee,
to explain and enforce the fundamental principle of the So-
ciety, to expose the evils which have resulted and are inse-
parable from any form of alliance between Church and State,
and to rouse the public, and especially p.ofessed Noncon-
formists, to a due consideration of their duty, in this matter.
"4. The division of the United Kingdom into convenient
districts, with a view to the holding of district conferences.
5. The formation, wherever possible, of local associations,
for the purpose of diffusing correct information, and of bring-
ing public opinion to bear, as prudence may dictate, upon the
composition of the House of Commons, and upon the decisions
of the Imperial Parliament.

" 6. The promotion of the return to Parliament, wherever
practicable, of men of known ability and integrity, conver-
sant with the principles of the Society, and disposed to avail
themselves of all suitable occasions for exciting discussion
upon them ; and the furnishing of such Members, when re-
turned, with all the special information the Society can
command.

7. The support of such Members whenever, upon intima-
tion from them, the council shall deem it advisable to agitate
the question of State churches in the Legislature, by means
of petitions to the Houses of Parliaments, and memorials to
the Throne, and in other appropriate and constitutional ways.
" 8. The removal of the question of national religious
Establishments as much as possible from under the influence
of party feeling; the placing it upon the ground of what is
due to Christianity itself, and to the best interests, temporal
and spiritual, of the people, and the enlistment of the sin-
cerely religious of all sections of the Church of Christ, by
energetic appeals to conscience.
" 9. The employment of whatsoever means, consistent with
the spirit of Christianity, may be adopted to promote the one
great object of the British Anti-State Church Association.' "
Some minor matters having been transacted, votes of
thanks were passed to the gentlemen who had acted as Chair-
men, and to the Secretaries, and the Conference broke up.