The Statesman.
London, England, 1818-01-01 00:00:00

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agtricultttral improsollant were malidy owing to tie
priaelpise of the Reformation. It was thee the ditty
• that Idestiag sad dill floglishmes, te testify r•-
sped for that great esessore. fa sech testimeey,
however, he was always desire.. to distlegnish be-
tweets persons eat priaciples, lest any degree of 11.
liberality er istolersece aboeld bate the slightest en.
couregement. Bat it was dee Ia gratitede ,to ear'
great angled* Reformers—it was dee in gretitede to
the !loose of Braeswlek, which had been invited to the
country la order to sopped the Protestant estaltilab•
sent—it was die to the character of Protestaatia.
itself, that the principle of the Reformation shoal go
forward. It most, indeed, be the wish of all the
friends of heinanity to support the doctrine which
urged the mast bepevolent precepts, and therefore he
was induced to calculate upon the suanimous ac.
quiescence of the Meeting in the Resolatiou which he
bad Om beeper to submit.
J. Mostar, Er+ wooded the motion, and it was
corded unaoisnoesly.
The Roe. Dr. iieTsitt rose, 'nil...pawl the M.
lowing amolotitto t—" That thp Reformadoe bee.
ing promoted the recognition of the greet prieciples
which this Meeting maintain, has (aided by the art
of printing) emancipated many nations from sack
asperstitioeseed tyrenny--has bestowed roe the Pee.
ple constitetismal freedom, tad restored to Magi.
strata lawfal.autbority—hag beret asunder the fete
lets which onchained 'the human mind—'tes saw.
!Ousted theeiestiay ens of those countries which
have not yet. yielded toils iAltence—and hastoottl.
bated to that leiprovemeat in mist happiness at
whiidt this Meeting can rejoices—although society
may not yet have anodised that state which Piety
most desire, end Philanthropy approve."—The Rev.
Digits', after desrAitting the manly, energetic, mad
tillicient 'zoysia's of Luther, pronosuced a glowing
eulogises epos the illustrious Chairman, who had, he
eillserved, bee. uniformly consistent in the melote-
mime of those principles which the Meeting was cow.
spied to celebrate, and which the Resolution he bed
_read es folly expressed. His Royal Ilighuess bad ia -
deed most decidedly supported those priori*,
upon all occasions, both in and out of Paella-
sent; for Ito had always defended the right
of private judgment and the Freedom of lb.
Preis.—(fond applarse.)—ft was ,appartelly
through she interpositioa of Divine Providente that
the art of printing, the meat of which was so jest.
ly acknowledged in theitesoloolea, had beea se for.
Innately invented about the eery period when it be-
came so necessary to promote the great work of the
Reformation. But the Art of Printing was nothiag,
unless the Right of Printing were admitted ; and it was
uotorinusly endeavoured by Papal authority to,pre.
vent the free ezercise of that art. The Reformation
had, however, defeated those endeavours, and este•
blished the Right of Printing. To the principles, lu•
deed, of the Reformation, the Freedom of the Press,
and the consequent diffasioa if knowledge were
mainly attlibitable ; for it was known, that a copy,
of the Mile which could not be purchased ender live
hsadred crowps before the Art of Printing wes dis•
covered, was sone afterwards to be bad for silty
crown., while of late, through the improvement of
this important art, the poorest sad most humble in-
dividual is theerpontry could afford to purchase lb's
invaleabte•bli6lo- 'The ohllgalious,"theritire, *lda
the principles of the Reformation owed to the AA of,
Printing were obvious mad indisputable. Bet,,of Att.
advantages resetting from the facility of dissemitist-
ing knowledge through this great art, every "min 1a
civilized society must be aware. He recollected as
emphatical observation which.. ha bad heard front
the illustrious Chairman when some time ego,
while the nation was suffering great distress, he
had the honour of wilting upon his Royal High-
ness, is order to make a communication as Sc•
emery to tbo Sussex Bible Society. ,ilis Royal
Highness then said, that it was rculiarly desirable
in circulate the Bible, as the precepts it contained
were so well calcalated to reconcile the .poor to the
patient endurance of the calamities which they were
condemned to suffer.—(4lpplauses.)—Bet it was the
Bible, or the principles of the Reformation which
were founded upon it, that had raised tbjs nation to
the highest pitch of power and character. Therefore
it was impossible for the Reformers of Hagiand to
reflect upon those principles wit hoot the stigmas;
feelings of reverence and gratitude. Bet while re•
again* men admired the principles of the Reforma-
tion, especially for the liberty which they resem•
mended, still it most be felt that liberty was not io
well understood, or consistently regarclect by seam
of the origin.' Reformer., who, although they so
forcibly reprobated tyranny an I persecutior,
graded their character by prectiking both, as soon as
they .bad contrived to vault into power. Althiegli
they, preached toleration, they became intolerant
no *ono es they . beam* powerfel. Bat having
mentioned this .word toleration, ha could not help
condemning its meaning and use. lle hoped,
indeed, that this word waald soarn become exploded
—(Applause)--4in ma earthly method'', had the right-,
or the power toCo trot the harass. mind. No men
could, indeed, pat his pen Mind from thiakidg,
autithanks to -the principles. of the Reformation,
which were the eateratatly, and great Solillslanar of
the privileges of sir Ceistitetion,rvery man in this
country was *stilled to think aimed. -(4lpplarsees)
Bot the principles of the Reformation asserted this
great title in every country, and he hoped to see Usti
,day when that tills would be universally admitted—
'Chen civil and religious freedom would be established
'througOost the world—(Apploosos). The principles
of the Reformed.' might in ibis country be regarded
as the tree of liberty (be did not wen of licentioes-
mass), which oar forefathers bed watered with their
blood, under the shade of which we now happily sat, -
and hello* this. tree would be foiled to emend its
branches throagboat the earth, fur the honk of
liberty as well as religion. . .
The 1t.,. A. Fcertusa seconded the motion. It
was then unanimously agreed to.
The Rev. Mr. lusty stood forward to move use
following—" That without conferring any etressics
praise on farther, Melauctbon, Zuittglius, Calving,,,
and the bead of brethren who originated and le I.
meted this beeenceet event, and without appleading
all their solidest, or all the &minors which they •
taught, this Alerting mast regird -them as great
among the greatest of mankind : mast recollect with
astonish...et and admirazioa their talents—their in-
destry—their zeal :--and must recoisasead to their