The Sun.
London, England, 1827-06-07 00:00:00

UNITARIAN ASSOCIATION.

Yesterday the Second Annual Meeting of the
subscribers of this association was held at the Uni-
tarian Chapel, Finsbury-place South.
3. CHRISTIE, Esq. in the Chair.
The CHAIRMAN stated, that his first duty as
Treaturer of the Society would be to read the state-

ment of their funds, which he was happy to say
would be found in a flourishing state. He then
enumerated the different items of receipt and ex-
penditure, from which it appeared that during the
last year the former had amounted to the sum of
1,138/. 18s., to which was to be added the balance
of 329/. 4s. 9d. in the hands of the treasurer at the
last anniversary, which, with the exception of 3591.
14g. 11d. yet remaining in his hands, had been ex-
pended in effecting the diffusion of Unitarian prin-
ciples in this and other countries.
The Rev. R. ASPLAND read the report of the
proceedings of the Committee during the past year,
which was exceedingly voluminous, and engaged the
attention of the meeting for nearly two hours. It
ctommenced by stating, that the result of their ex-4
ertions for the spread of true and liberal Christi-
anity was on the whole satisfactory, and that they
had not laboured altogether in vain. The report
was divided into three parts—lst, The Home De-
partment; 2d, Civil Rights; and 3d, Foreign
Missions. Upon the first, it stated that the prin-
ciples of Unitarianism were making slow, but pro-
mising progress in various parts of the United King-
dom. A mission had been planted in the potteries
of Staffordshire, among a dense mass of population,
under the ministry of Mr. Clarke; and from his
reports, there was every prospect of the most grati-
fying success. In Kent and Sussex, another gen-
tleman in the service of the association was employ-
ed, but hitherto with but very little apparent suc-
cess. In Suffolk their cause wore a more promising
aspect; their missionary had been most indefatiga-
ble, and great, good was confidently anticipated
from his labours. He, like all his brethren, had
been much persecuted by all sects of ChriStians—
Methodists, Presbyterians' and Churchmen—all
of whom, however, lie had challenged to argu-
ment, but all of whom declined. At one place
the Dissenting Clergyman gave notice of his in-
tention to preach twelve lectures on the orthodox
doctrines of Christianity, and he immediately announ-
ced that he would preach from the same texts in rota-
tion, and, subsequently, six sermons on the non-
eternity of future punishments. The report then
enumerated some other places in Gloucestershire and
Yorkshire, and concluded the first part with copious
extracts of correspondence with the Unitarian Mi-
nister at Belfast, some part of which, however, it
stated that it was deemed expedient not to make
public. _ _ _

Mr. YOUNG, the Bank proprietor, said, that as no
individual was, or ought to be, present, but sub-
scribers, he did not see why any part should be
omitted.

The SECRETARY replied, that he believed no one
was present but with the knowledge and consent of
the managers; but the worthy gentleman must allow
them to exercise their own discretion.

The report then proceeded to detail the exertions
of the committee for the attainment and preservation
of their civil rights. It stated, that owing to the
lamentable illness of their firm and steady friend Lord
Liverpool, it became a matter of serious inquiry whe-
ther the present session was a fit and proper period for
them to again press their peculiar claims upon the at-
tention of the legislature ; but after the calmest deli-
beration they could give to the subject, they were decid-
edly of opinion that it was; and they had consequently
got their Bill (the Unitarian Marriage-bill) introduced
into Parliament. They believed that they had little
opposition to apprehend to the principle of the Bill,
although much to the mode in which the relief they
sought should be granted. • Anxious, therefore,
to meet the views, opinions, and prejudices of
all parties, they had solicited an interview with
Lord Liverpool, for the purpose of taking his advice
upon that important measure, which interview he
readily granted, but which his lamentable illness
prevented taking place. They had therefore intro-
duced the present Bill in a different form to what it
had heretofore been presented. It contained a short•
form of words to be used on the marriage of Unita-
rians in the established church or vestry, before the
clergyman, and at his option ; and upon the pay-
ment of his usual fee, the marriage was to be regis-
tered aed considered legal. This Bill had made
some way in its progress through the Commons, and
the committee were in hopes that it would this
session get far enough advanced in the upper House
for them to learn, if not the positive, of which they de-
spaired, at least the negative objections of the Noble
Lords ; so that if it was then lost, they might be
prepared to remove or meet those objections on a
future occasion. The plan of this Bill, or something
like it, had received the unqualified approval of
Lord Liverpool; but the Committee did not dis-
guise the fact of much repugnance being entertained
against it in certain quarters. They trusted, how-
ever, though their progress was exceedingly slow,
they should finally succeed in the removal of what
all parties acknowledged to be a grievance. The
report next proceeded to detail the strenuous efforts
that had been recently made by the various deno-
minations of Protestant Dissenters for the repeal of
the Test and Corporation Acts, in all which endea-
vours the Committee had cordially joined. These
details have been so recently before the public, that
it is unnecessary for us now to repeat them. It di-
lated at much length on the impolicy and disgrace-
fulness of the apathy manifested by the Dissenters
in suffering their just claims so long to remain dor-
mant ; and expressed their unqualified disapproval—
a disapproval in which they were joined tby the
most influential of the Dissenters themselves, as well
as Lord John Russell and Mr. W. Smith, M.P. for
Norwich, the intended mover and seconder of the
measure—of the postponement of that important
question—a resolution of the report pronounced as
alike injurious and disgraceful. It then alluded to
the expressions of opposition from Mr. Canning,
which, however, they trusted were only for reasons
of temporary expedience ; and they confidently an-
ticipated the speedy removal of these unjust and
mischievous statutes. It then glanced at the oppo-

sition of some Dissenters to Catholic Emancipation;
but while it regretted that any should be found who
would resist that measure of justice and sound policy,
they believed that it was confined to a very small
number, and those of the most illiterate of the body.
The Report then proceeded to the third part—a
detail of their foreign missions. It stated that n
mission was, or rather was about to be, established
at Calcutta, from which place, by the next anniver-
sary, they hoped to receive gratifying accounts of
the spread of Unitarian principles. At Madras a
Unitarian church had been for some years in exist-
ence, but it appeared to be making but little or no
progress. The Report stated that the Committee
had received the most gratifying accounts from
Transylvania; which might be considered as the mo-
ther country of Unitarianism, and which numbered
at least fifty thousand of the professors of their faith
in its community. In France, and other countries
on the Continent, the Committee flattered them-
selves they saw an opening for the introduction of
their tenets. The Report concluded with lament-
ing the severe indisposition of their revered Secre-
tary, the Rev. Mr. Fox, which prevented him from
continuing hie invaluable services.
On the motion that the Report be received and
printed,
Mr. YOUNG rose to make some inquiries. He
wished to more explicitly than he could gather
from the Report, what progress had been made by
their foreign missionaries. The mission of Calcutta,
for instance, had cost the society a great deal of
money ; and it did not appear that any thing way
done, or even likely to be done.
The CHAIRMAN said, that he was sure his worthy
friend would see that he was out of order. He was
quite convinced that he bad, with them, but one object
at heart—the good of the society ; but he must re-
mind him that it was not usual, an must be exceed-
ingly inconvenient, to allow discussions at such
meetings as the present.
Mr. YOUNG insisted that he was perfectly in
order; he was, he believed, the oldest subscriber
present; and it was not to be presumed that he
should be called upon to vote approval of a Report,
the tenth part of which he could not carry in his head,
and great part of which, as he now understood it,
he entirely disapproved of.
A Minister, whose name we did not learn, begged
to say a few words in explanation. The mission to
Calcutta, to which the worthy Gentleman appeared
to direct his chief opposition, was not supported
by the funds of this Society, but separate funds
raised for that express purpose, and of which the
Committee were only the medium of transmission.
Mr. YOUNG was not aware of that fact, and it
proved the propriety of his inquiries; had he known
it, some of them, at least, would have been spared.
He was yet convinced that he was justified in putting
these questions, and that, indeed, it was a wholesome
practice. On this occasion he should not, however,
press them any further, but content himself with
saying, that lie should have been better pleased had
the society confined their operations, at least for the
present, to home, where there was abundance of
room, and where the " fields were white already to
harvest."
The motion was then put and carried.
Several other resolutions were then passed, and
the meeting was addressed by the Rev. Dr. Rees,
and several other gentlemen ; after which, at about
a qua'rter past four o'clock, it separated.
The meeting-was but very thinly attended; there
could have been scarcely mot.* than 50 persons, in-
cluding ladies, present.