Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1864-10-12 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

NTINITRD.]  'UNITARIAN BOOK AND TRACT SOCIETY. The anniversary of the West of England and South Wales Unitarian Book arid Tract Society was held in Swansea on Wednesday last. The morning sem ice was performed at the Unitarian Church, High-street, at twelve o'clock a.m. and the congregation included evero etranoire. The Rev R. Brook Aspland, M. A. of Hackney preached from the text— Mathew xxiii and a portion of the Bth 'eerie: "One is your master, even Christ." At two reeleek in the afternoon a collation WAS given in the New Music Hall. There were about a hundred persons present, the greater part of whom were ladies The collation, which was supplied by Mr Biddle of Wind-street, was of the very best description, and we understand it gave the utmost satisfaction. G. B. Brock, Reg , occupied the chair, and he was supported by the Rev R. B. Aspland, M.A., the Rev Mr Bache of Birmingham, and the Rev W. James of Bristol. The Rev Mr Aspland having returned thanks, and the cloth having been removed, The CHAIRMAN rose te propose "The Queen," which WAS received with applause, as also ;yrs the heist of " The Prince and Princess of Wales and the rest of the royal family." The CHAIRMAN, after a few preliminary remarks said • —The next toast which comes in order, and which is sever omitted on occasions of this kind is "Civil and religious liberty all the world over." (Applause.) I need not say to you we have been the strongest advocates of this sentiment. The fact is, we 'intent it. It is s sort of eeieloom from our old Presbyterian fathers, and I should be awry if we were not worthy of our descent from them. (Hear, hear.) It is very true that in former years there was greater reason for entorcing this sentiment than at the preonit time. Not very Img ago it was not so generally admitted as I think it it is now that this sentiment "Civil an 1 teligi us liberty all the world ouer" is really an axiom lying at the very foundations of our inalienable rights and privileges (Applause.) Still, although it cannot be doubted that "Is sentiment meets with far more accord now than it did in former years, there arc yet some who would utterly deny that every individual his a right to civil and religious liberty. There are many who still would fasten upon us the fetters of an antiquated creel, and tell us that if we do not believe as they prescribe we are utterly unworthy of having any civil right whatever, thus placing a dead wall against the progress of freethought. The body with which this society is connected has done a great deal towards bringing about the happierstate of things which now exists. lam old enough, and I was going to say I am sorry I am old enough, to remember the time when , meetings were held at which measures were devised to , rorist the civil disabilities in various shapes which then existed. I may for example refer to the Test and Corp wation Acts, and the state of the law regarding disenters' marriages, the civil and religious disabilities on Catholics arid Jews. Partly through the aid of this and kindred societies these obnoxious laws have been &tee gether obliterated from the statute book. (Applause.) I must bear in mind however that I sin only your Chairand instead of speakine myself mast bring up some of my brethren awl I hall be extremely glad if some one will take up the strain in responding to the toast of "Civil and Religions Liberty all the world over." The Rev. W. JAMES, of Bristol, said that in rising to respond to the toast—time-honoured tenet as it was, and one which would appeal to the hearts of everyone,—he felt bound to say that whilst his friend was dilating on the great advances which had been made on this great question, his mind turned for a moment to a town in Devonehire, and ha remembered an incident that took place there rot many weeks ago, and he felt that he should not be true et the sentiment which had been prekosed were he to at that occasion to pass without mentionieg it. Thrill or four weeks ago a poor man died; he was beloved by all around him; he had been baptised, and was educated as a member of the church, but in msturer years his opinions changed, and he became a member of the Unitarian body. His life had been worthy of his profession no stain attached to his memory or name. His wife baying preceded him to the grave, his daughter wished him to lie by the side of her mother. She applied to the clergyman of the church to that effect, but he replied that he could not allow the interment because he was a Dissenter—above all a Unitarian Dissenter, and not baptised in the Church of England. This she knew to be wrong, and at once obteineti the register of his baptism and presented it to the clergymen, at the same time informing him that it was her d ttermination that he should be buried in the churchyard. Finding he had no right to refuse his burial in the churchyard he selected that portion of the ground set apart for the interment of suicides, and would not attend humid', nor allow the funeral service to be performed over him. In these rircumstances the daughter applied to the Unitarian minister, who write to the clergyman demanding the interment of the deceteel, and at length the man was burl, d these, the Unitarian minister reading this service outside the walls of the ehmethyard. The clergyman himself was not pr but sent another clergyman and the master of the National School, to see what took place. Now (the speaker went on to say), they most feel utter indignation to think that each a thing t,hoold take place in Christian England in the nineteenth century. (Applause.) He was glad to say, however, that measures were being taken to bring the matter before the proper tribunal. Whether this would be done he did not know, but they ought not to allow themeelves to be trampled on in this manner, and they ought to teach the clergyman, as s clergyman of the Nati mal Church, that they had a right to the burial grounds of their native land. (Appl luau.) He had resolved to himself not to mention this circumstance, but he could not let the toast pees without informing them that they had not completely obtained their civil and religious rights. There was much more to be done yet, and he trusted they would not forget what was dire to their principles, and that they would at all times faithfully and worthily act as the representatives of the opinions they professed. (Applause.) The CHAIRMAN then called upon the Rev. Mr James, in the absence of Mr Watkins, the secretary, to read the report of the society, which was as follows