The Sun.
London, England, 1827-05-10 00:00:00

BROWN, MAYOR.
A' COMMON COUNCIL, holden in the CHAMBER of
the GUILDHALL of the. CITY of LONDON, on
'EDNESDAY, the 9th Day of May, 1827.
Rtsovintn,
THAT this Court is deeply impressed with
the injustice and impolicy of the Corporation and
Test Acts, which were passed in times when almost all
Parties were opposed to the Rights of Conscience, and to
e

Principles of Religious Liberty.
That they inflict on Persons who do not qualify under
them, the most severe penalties.—Besides the fine of 5001.
they are'rendered incapable of prosecuting any Action or
‘,.„."11i,t in Law or Equity—from being Guardian of any
'"114,. or acting as Executor or Administrator of any Per-
or from receiving any Legacy or Deed of Gift, or
aring any Office within the Realm of England ; and all
hoese punishments apply to Persons who enter Corporations
.4. Chartered Companies, or take certain Offices or Coin-
:ll4ons appointed by the Crown, without first receiving
"ig Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, according to the Rites
of the Church of England.
Thati'vvhile they limit the prerogative of the Crown in
riding Merit, they convey imputations of disloyalty upon
ktelasseaof his Majesty's subjects among Non-conform-
-41) who have been at all . times amongst the most, zealous
144th-ter@ of the House of Brunswick, and of the princi-
Plea of the British Constitution.
ir4t if these Acts had been enforced during the late
°""t a very large proportion of the Volunteer Officers,
would'have been subjected to the most ruinous penalties.
thThat all persons born and educated in Scotland, under
e Presbyterian Religion, established by law, are required
conforM to these laws when they accept of offices iu
England, or enter into his Majesty's Army or Navy.
EThat in, Ireland, where the Members of the Church of
ngland are in a minority, the Corporation_ Act has never
ted-, and the Test Act has been long since repealed.
That the disabilities under these Acts are so numerous,
that if enforced they would unsettle questions of property
throughout the Kingdom, which has doubtless induced the
flverrilnent to pass an Act of Indemnity every year, allow-
ing further time for qualifying, exhibiting the most extra-
rlinatY anomaly in the history of legislation, by which
'Vs are retained upon the Statute Book, and constantly
nullified as unfit to operate in society.
hThat they are contrary to the interests and privileges of
„in Corporation, by enabling many persons, in other re-
s et!s:dttly qualified; to :decline the highest Offices of the
. ,listracy in this City without being
,liable .to those fines
*kali are levied upon their FelloW Citizens.
That many of the Members of the Church of England,
its Well as Dissenters, consider these Acts as a violation of
the
.latred Ordinance of the Lord's Supper, when applied
Test for eivil purposes, and as totally contrary to
of the Institution, the object of which our Saviour
declared, .by saying, " Do this in remembrance of Me." That,
tsiStiat, anxious as this Court must ever feel to evince
01 i.'.(t!tchnient to the Political and Religious Institutions of
-
e country, it cannot better discharge that duty than by
Alice measures of peace awl liberality,, that all
L.:rim may unite in the service of their country; and
111„1',,g' above all, anxious, for the sake of Religion and
tCY, to promote the Repeal of Enact, ..nts which turn
holiest Ordinance of Religion into a qualification tr..]
passport for power, and impose restraints of the Church
:dr, into the free administration of its religious service
than
invite men to its Communion with far other feelings
4,1,18"1ch as tend to purify the heart or amend the life.
'Pt we agree with the excellent sentiments of the late
„ '4' Mansfield, which were delivered in the House of Lords,
;P°l2the case of the City against Allen Evans, where lie said,
::',hat bloodshed and confusion have been occasioned,
.:314 the Reign of Henry IV., when the first Penal
were enacted, down to the Revolution in this
,7 door,
by Laws made to force conscience ! there is
2.tbing certainly more unreasonable--more inconsistent
471 th the rights of human nature—more contrary to the
"Ira and precepts of the Christian Religion,--more ini-
im!it4ous and unjust--more impolitic—than persecution—
it •
IS against Natural Religion, Revealed Religion, and
grid Policy." WOODTHORPE.