Star.
London, England, 1824-09-30 00:00:00

• TIM REF. MR-FLETCHER.

Yesterday a Meeting of the Congregation of Albion r
Chapel, Moorfields, took plate-at.the Chalzel, for the
purpose of entering into Resolutions on the subject of
the suspension of the Rev, Mr. FIArICHER frrink his (lilies.
tions by the Synod at Edinburgh. The crowd sans im-
mense, and the cariosity intense. -No attempt Was made
since that of Sunday to dispossess him of his pulpit in the
name of the Synod, but, we understand that the teachers
have determined to apply to the Lotto CHANCELLOR for
an injunction, to restrain him from preaching at Albion
Chapel, upon the ground that that Chapel has been
built as. a place of worship for Presbyterians, and as
Mr. FLE•rcuen disregards the authority of Presby-
tery, he is no longer entitled to perform service there.
Upon the motion of Mr. Jones, the stock-broker, the Rev. Mr.
Ftractota was himself called to the Chair, after a long prayer and
a hymn.
Mr. JONES, after some comments on the virtues of
the Minister of Albion Chapel, proposed to the meeting
a resolution that the congregation were determined to
retain Mr. Fletcher as their Minister, notwithstanding
the sentence pronounced against him by the Synod. '
This resolution was agreed to. 'Bete *as but one hand raised '
against it. •
111 r. Ftrunca believed that the Gentleman who raised his hand
against the resolution had mistaken the question.
The Gentleman stood up, and said he perfectly well understood
it. and had but shown his opinion.--(isotsd hieing, and cries e" Turn
him out.")
Mr. FLETCHER said, the Gentleman who had nega-
tived the Resolution was a most worthy person, and was
the first man who gave him a bed and a dinner, and
prayed with him in London. He freely forgave him,
for he believed that he was deceived.
After some othei Resolutions of censure on the Presbytery, atc.
Mr. FLExcnatt proceeded to make his declaration as
to the circumstances of the-Charges against him. He
was, at the time that he received a communication in-
' forming him that he must -marry Miss Dick before
September, labouting under the most severe domestic
calaniities, the death of his mother and his sister, and
other misfortunes. It was impoisible for him, under •
such afflictions, to consent to the demand, which was
then insisted upon with the greatest violence. The
most unfair and inhuman threats were used, and he
determined rather to die than to yield. He had done
all in his power to procure a settlement by arbitration,
but this was denied to him,-and he became the object
of unrelenting persecutions. Not satisfied with the com-
promise which had been made in the Court of King's
Bench, his opponents collected the documents, which
they were bound in honour to conceal, and presented
them to the Associa:e Synod at Edinburgh, who had
come to the harsh determination to suspend him, a
measure preparatory 'to that of excommunicating or
handing bins over to the Devi). He denied that any
promise had been made or violated by him.
The Rev. Gentleman then proceeded to read a protest
against the decisiooof the Synod, to the following effect:
" In the presence of the &Austen of Hsu" I take my protest
against the proceedings, the deed of. the Session of the Associate
United Synod, at their late meeting on tsth September. The pro.
ceedings of that Court were irt,:gular and unjust, inasmuch as they
entered upon charges made against me in nay absence, where it was
morally impthisible that I could be present with a prepared defence.
I presented a petittoh to the Synod, beseeching them to send spe-
cific charges, with all the documents allowed me by the-roles of the
Church; and that I would send my defence at the next meeting of
Synod. This reasonable request was refused ; and though I have
been faithful in their employ during my whole life, they have neg.
lected ter receive what was requested for securing the ends of justice.'
Had a secluded Curate, in similar circumstances, been refined whit
I solicited, the voice of England would have. been lifted up to
assert his injured rights; but the Secession Church, which, by pro-
fession. has raised a standard (or purity of discipline, has entered
upon proceedings against me, refusing me in opportunity of giving •
that evidence without which the ends of justice never could be
obtained. .
" I protest against the way in which these proceedings were con-
ducted, as evidencing dispositions at complete variance with the
meekness of Christianity. I protest against the decision of the
Court. They decide that lam guihy of a breach of promise of
marriage, upon my own confession in the Court of King's Bench.
My Counsel was not authorised to make such a confession; he,
wisely, indeed, used such a discretion, under the conviction that
the friends of the plaintiff would never agitate the business in the
Ecclesiastical Courts. I challenge all the Barristers in England to
find a breach of promise of marriage-in my letters, in the usual ac-
ceptation in which that term is 'understood. It is evident that the
data on which they proceed are false, and therefore the conclusion
cannot be just; and had they allowed me to give a fair and full
defence, I might have convinced them, unless they were blinded
by most unreasonable prejudices, that they had viewed the subject
erroneously; but this they have voluntarily rejected, and tyran.
nically refused my just petition. The Court has charged me with
duplicity; but they have given no evidence in support of such an
accusation; of this duplicity I am altogether unconscious. If
caution in dealing with a crafty antagonist be considered as du-
plicity, lam indeed guilty, but not otherwise. If the Court had
given me the advantage of the most abandoned criminal, that of
defending myself, I should have been able to have given explana-
tions of a variety of circumstances, which in no. other way could
have been elucidated. But this they have denied me, and therefore
I must have recourse to other measures in defence of my reputation.
" The Court has pronounced my conduct censurable in dispensing
the Sacrament in opposition to the wish of four of the Elders of my
Session. But I considered the opposition to its observance unrea-
sonable, and at variance with Christian principles, and therefore
dispensed the ordinance of the Lono's Supper agreeable to the wishes
of my congregation. These men violently retained the communion
plate, the sacred property of the congregation, and endeavoured to
agitate their minds by the refusal of its use. I considered this con-
duct illegal, sacrilegious, and Cruel. A stranger to the fear of men,
I gave to a beloved people the elements of a Semen's love.
" I take my protest against the sentence of the Court, for their
decision is built on a false foundation. They have for six months
suspended the functions of my office, and have forbidden the
Church Oft GOD to have any fellowship with me in Christian pri-
vileges. They have overlooked the most egregious violation of the
sacred canon of inspiration, in my being dragged into a Court of
Law, which could have been easily avoided by the arbitration
which I proposed. They have refused to animadvert upon unpa-
ralleled injuries which I have received from my servants; but to
' everything which was uttered to my prejudice they have listened,
and they have refused any defence which I could bring forward
against the shafts of malevolence and envy. That Ecclesiastical
Court have published to the world a sentence derogatory to that
sacred lustre with which they have been so long irradiated. Let
them retrace their steps, and thus display that mercy has triumphed
over judgment.
"'!'here are many things in my proceedings which are fat from
meeting nay own approbation. Were I again 'So traverse the same
troubled seas' I might make considerable variations in my course,
but as it has been my lot to have conflicted for two years with the
most repulsive passions of the human heart, I have reason to lift
op nay eyes to the Disrosra of all Emirs, that the vigour of my
constitution has not diminished, nor the dispositioe to prosecute the
duties of my -sacred office abated.. I-take this protest in the pre-
sence of my congregation, and having received from them an affec-
tionate entreaty to exercise my pastoral duties, I shall, in accord-
ance with their loving invitation, and in humble dependence on the
strength of Him who 'has commanded me to," call on man master,"
continue to labour among them during the future, as I have done
in the past, to alleviate their sorrows in this vale of teara, sod to
assist them in their journey to that world, where the perfection of
wisdom, purity, and enjoyment shall for eter ferns the inheritance
of the blessed."—The meeting then broke up.
' HAZARD and Co. are the Contractors for the present
popular Lottery. The Scheme, to be drawn Next Tuesday, con-
tains Four Prizes .ot Twenty Thousand, and. 34 other Capitals, all
to be drawn on that day, when the immense sum of Ammo will
be distributed to the Mobile in a few hours: there are no Blanks,
every number being ehtilled to Five Pounds. ii and Co. sold
Three Twenty Thousands last Lottery, and all Three in Shares, at
their old established Offices, Royal Exehange-Gate ; 04, Cornhill t,
and 324, Oxfordatreet, end of Regent-street. HASA SO ameifirripswe
• Agents in all the gincipal Country Towgs. ;4'.

COMMON HALL:

..

, Ls the STAR of yesterday, we announced the election
of .Alderman GARRATT to the office of Lord Mayor for;
the year ensuing. After the return. had been made to
the Court of Aldermen, and they lad chosen the wor-
thy Alderman, the RECORDER announced it to the Li-
very amidst loud applause.
Alderman GARRATT, being thenifalled, came for-
ward, .was invested with the chainit'and proceeded to
address the Hall. He was not only grateful for the
high honour they had done him, but for the kind man-
ner in which they had carried his election. He trusted
that, in whatever situation he should be called upon to
preside, whether in Common Hall, in the Court of Al-
dermen, or in the Common Council, he would be found
acting impartially, without reference to party feelings.
He trusted that, as they were never likely to call upon
him to convene them for any but lawful and honour.
able purposes, he should have unfeigned pleasure, in
meeting the Livery at all times. As to the splendour
and dignity of the office, though he would not pretend
to °time his predecessors, in whose conduct he found
not the least reason for dissatisfaction, he trusted that
he should not be backward in evincing the proper de-
gree of spirit, endeavouring to keep a judicious balance
between the sense of his personal humility and the con-
sciousness of that high dignity, which, in regard to the
office of Chief Magistrate, he was now called upon to
assume. His conduct in the office of Sheriff might
perhaps be taken as a pledge of his behaviour. He
trusted to the succouring judgment of the Court of Al-
dermen to preserve him-from any very grave error; and
far slight failures of judgment, his reliance was on the
kindness now evinced for him by the Hall—(( beers).
Mr. FAVELL applauded the address of the Lord
Mayor elect, from whom they had much to hope. The
Livery, however, ought not to be inattentive to what
was due to the Lord Mayor who was then sitting; and
he was sure they would gladly seize that opportunity of
testifying their gratitude and regard to him for the
manner an whichhe had discharged the duties of that
high and responsible station. He concluded by pro-
posing a vote of thanks to the Lord Mayor, which was
received with loud acclamations.
Mr. Deputy Ravi's seconded the motion.
Mr. HENRY HUNT, amidst a clamour of shouts, partly in applause,
but more ha disapprobation, moved, " that a Resolution of the Com-
mon Hall, held at Midsummer, for publishing the accounts of the
auditors for the benefit of the Livery, should be now read."

The Loan Mevoa did not see how that could be connected with
the resolution of thanks now preposed.The motion was negaQved.
The LORD MAYOR then came forward, and returned
thanks. He said, that often as he had been gratified
by receiving the thanks of hi{ fellow-citizens, whether
it was when they met in that Hall or elsewhere, he had
never been so much pleased as on the present occasion.
He declared his adherence to the principles which he
advocated when he first came before them, and when
they were threatened, he would ever say, in the words
of the immortal Chatham, " Rather let us perish in a
contest for the principles of our glorious Constitution,
than. abate one iota of them"—(Applause). He then
spoke of the calumnies with which he had been as-
sailed. It had been reported of him, that he intended
to get himself returned a second time to serve the
office of Lord Mayor, in order to make use of the
influence of that office, which was said to command
600 or 700 votes, and by such means get himself re-
turned as one of their Representatives to Parliament.
Now he was not aware that kit', Lord Mayor, from his
situation, had such an influence: if he had, what had
those Lord Mayors to answer for, who by such means
got themselves returned to Parliament? But he declared
that he disdained such a course, and if ever his fellow-
citizens should think proper to re-elect him, they would
do it spontaneously, unbiassed, and uninfluenced in any
way. The vote which he had that day received was a
sufficient answer to all the calumnies that had been ut-
tered against him. He then took a review of the state
of affairs during his Mayoralty, and expressed his hopes
that he had fully redeemed the pledge with which he
had set out, that he would give all his time, attention,
and abilities to the performance of his duties.
Mr. FAVILL proposed a vote of thanks to the late Sheriffs, which
being seconded by Mr. S. Dime, passed unanimously.
Mr. Wnirrazaa returned thanks in a neat speech, as did Sir
Prins LA URI&
It was then resolved, that the above Resolutions slitnild
vertised in the usual Papers, and the Hall was dissolved.
A Court of Aldermen was then held, at which thanks were votel
to the Lord Mayor's Chaplain, for hip sermon preached prior to the
election of LORD Maros, and some other routine business dispatched.