Protestant Society Whilst such efforts were made as to all these objects by the Committee, it was impossible to conceal that the general state of circumstances in In 1806 the commune of St. Jean, composed almost wholly of Protestants, thonght they night profit by the intentions of the existing Government, and build the church which they had so much and so long desired. A zealous proprietor gratuitously gave a spot of gronad it for the parpose, and permission having been granted, the church was created, at the expence and by the labor of the inhabitants of that commune only, with some assistance they derived from some charitable foreigners. During this period the condition of the minis ters was also meliorated. The Executive Commission of Piedmont, being informed that the Royal English Subsidy, which constituted part of their allowance, was in arrears for some years, and that the communes, which were already overburdened, were obliged to supply the deficiencies, suppressed several Catholic curacies which were notoriously useless,-pensioned those priests, and appropriated to the Protestant ministers, unsolicited and unasked for, the reuts of a great number of small estates, which, having belonged to the Vaudois before the persecution, and taken from them, had helped to form the funds for the pay of the Catholic CQrates and vicars. To this they added some other funds, which, with a boon granted from the treasury of the state, fixed the pay of the pas tors at a thousand francs (or about 421.) each. By these alterations several Catholics were gainers, and the poor and communes were relieved from the support of their spiritual instructors. England, and throughout France, Italy, and Spain, did not permit the abandonment of this Society, or the relaxation of their vigilance and their us fear a relapse into our former state. Yet one idea encouraged us: it was the ceriaiuty that our King, owing every thing to the protection of the generons British nation, wenid have some regard. for a population professing the same iaith with the British people, and which for many ages had only subsisted by the very protection which that noble people had anorded. But his Majesty, our king, made his entry into his capital on the 20th of May, and instantly on the 21st he issued an edict, which pat things upon the same footing they were daring the year 1798. In consequence of these proour communal administrations clamations, retook their old stations, and the former systema was revived in almost every particular. For want of Catholic resident inhabitants, our communes had for syndics and counsellors, beggars and cobblers. No more Protestant justices. No the vallies of moré Protestant clerks; and Lazerne, having already two notaries of our communion, and a third requiring to be admitted, was rejected, because the number prescribed by law was already complete. The sale of salt and tobacco was confided in several communes to foreign Catholics, and the Vaudois were deprived of every honorable and profitable employ. The pastors' were also obliged to deliver ap the property they enjoyed. The new church of St. Jean was shut in November, 1814, by order of the court; and from this state of things others may be of course expected. Some lower officers are delighted at making us feel their power; and some priests, even in their homilies or discourses, have forbidden, under pain of excommunication, any kindness being shewn to Protestants. lieve, that the generons resolutions and protestations of your Society, have already produced a happy effect; and on your continued kindness we therefore rely. But we have reason to be But the scene has changed, and truth impels the avowal,--Whatever subject of complaint we might have against the Government of Napoleon - complaints which we participated in common with the other subjects of Buonaparte we had gained too much, on the score of civil and religions liberty, not to be aware of our advantages. The downfal of this too celebrated man made To one of these Letters many authentic and interesting documents were subjoined, and the following Statement of the Protestant Population in the 13 Vaudois Churches in Piedmont. The total population of the charches of the Vaudois in Piedmont, which for the great cer. tainty in the circulation is perhaps under-rated, is from 16 to 18,000, that of the Catholics is nothing in some communes, varying in others, but always in a very inferior proportion. for the Protection of Religious Liberty. toils. Even in England, hostility appeared to accompany success in the diffusion of knowledge and of gospel truth. The progress of religion excited local, clerical, magisterial, judicial antipathies, which could not but be perceived and deplored; and tendencies to persecution, under certain forms, were even manifested by those from whose doctrines and professions might have been expected far different deeds. But whatever forms Persecution might assume, or whereever it may exist, the Committee would never fail to unmask its deformity, and to resist its attempts-as long as they were supplied with the means from general co-operation, and as long as their energies were invigoated by general support. R.STEVEN, Esq. the Treasurer, then confirmed the necesssity for the extension of that general support, as, on his Annual Statement of the Accounts of the Society, he was compelled to announce That the EXPENDI TURE of the Society, during the past year. had more than DOUBLED the amount of the RECEIPTS. These statements were succeeded by the following RESOLUTIONS, which were adopted with unanimity and enthusiasm:- "1. THAT this Meeting, firmly attached to the great and invaluable principles of Religious Liberty, on which this Society was founded, and which they have often avowed, have learnt, with unfeigned regret, that those principles have not been justly respected throughout Italy and France; and recommend to their Committee all that unabated vigilance in exposing and resisting their violation, which circumstances may require, and prudence may approve. 2. THAT their particular interest and commiseration are excited by the situation of the Vaudois, or Waldenses, in the vallies of Piedmont; and that although they receive, with some satisfaction, the assurances of Lord Liverpool to the Committee, that their case shall experience the attention of the British Government, they express their hope, that the Committee will watch over their future security and welfare, and will endeavour to procure for them pecuniary relief, from public liberality, it the necessary assistance should not be otherwise obtained. 3. THAT the disturbances of public worship, and the disregard of the acts and true spirit, even of toleration, which continue to occur, demonstrate to this Meeting the continued importance of this Institution, and induce them to renew their pledges to confer their recommendation and support. 4 THAT this Meeting regret the want of success, which attended on the efforts of Government, to obtain An Act for the Exemption of Places of Religious Worship from Parochial Assessment, and especially on account of the causes and consequences of the failure of that attempt; but been made in the case of Surry chapel, they approve the exertions which have to resist all illegal violations of public right; and offer their thanks to the Rev. Rowland Hill for the firmness and perseverance which he has displayed, and for the able publication, in which he has exposed the evils of such assessments; and especially as he has liberally devoted the profits of that publication to the funds of this Institution. 5. THAT from the Proceedings of the last Anniversary, this Meeting did anticipate, that the Annual Receipts of the Society would have been sufficiently augmented to discharge the Annual Expenee; but that as from the Report of the Treasurer, those hopes are disappointed, as continued experience additionally demonstrates the importance of the Society, as it includes within its benefits persons of every denomination,Contribution of Two Pounds cannot be burdensome, even to poor congregations, they express their anxious wish that every congregation, of every sect, should immediately subscribe, and should continue permanent members of this Society. as the Annual 6. THAT the following five Ministers and five ay men be appointed Members of the Committee, instead of the Gentlemen who now retire, pursuant to the Plan of the Society: Rev. Messrs, HYATT JONES 'STODHART STRUTT and in addition to the ten other Ministers and ten Laymen who remain. 7. THAT ROBERT STEVEN, Esq. the Treasurer of the Society, be requested to continue to occupy that appointment, which he has hitherto filled with honorable and useful fidelity and zeal. 8. THAT this Meeting renew their acknowledgements to THOS. PELLATT, Esq. and JOHN WILKS, Esq. the Secretaries, whose disinterested and important labours they gratefully acknowledge and most urgently entreat them to renew. belonging to the Baptist denomination, had been liberally allorded. Mr. MAT. WILKS demonstrated the. necessity and practicability of more extensive pecuniary support. Mr. PELLATT disclaimed, as an unmerited aspersion, any representation of the Society as an institute exclusively political;-and Mr. DURANT advocated the cause of the Vaudois, as lie depicted the horrors attendant on the sanguinary march of Persecution, even amidst the retirements of their thinly populated vallies, and amidst the contiguous sublimities of the stupendous Alps. -- All these gentlemen, however, concurred to express their zealous attachment to a Society which had so often frustrated evil designs, which 9. THAT thi Meeting cannot sepa- had repressed the tyrannous and perrate without again expressing their secuting, which had contributed to opinion of their excellent Chairman, protect liberty of conscience in EngSAMUEL MILLS, Esq. whose integrity, land, in India, in Europe-and which attention, prudence, and firmness, had.usefully laboured to acquite privithey unite with cordiality to applaud." leges and security for Dissenters and These Resolutions were introduced for Methodists, which had never been or supported by various Gentlemen; previously attained. and the Meeting was informed and stimulated by the successive and able addresses of the Rev. George Collison, of Hackney:- Durant, of Poole;- Eccles, of Leeds;- Rowland Hill; - Hunt, of Chichester; —Jackson, of Stockwell;-Jackson, of Green Hammerton, in Yorkshire;Perrot, of Guernsey ;-Slatterie, of Chatham ;----Dr. Styles, of Brighton; -Thomas, of London ;- Thornton, of Billericay;-Upton, of London; and Matthew Wilks-and of William Bateman, Thomas Wilson, and James Young, Esqs. the Treasurer, the Chairman, and Mr. Pellatt. Those able and interesting Addresses there is not an opportunity to insert; but it is especially to be regretted that it is not possible to report the impressive and Christian eloquence with which the Rev. Mr. SLATTERIE illustrated the exertions and utility of the Society. - Mr. PERROT communicated the gratitude and the oppressions of the French. Mr. JACKSON applauded the firm resistance of Mi. Hill to Parochial Assessments-Mr. HILL explained the evil tendencies of such assessments, and the causes of his resistence. - Mr. HUNT detailed the riots which, at Midhurst, had occurred. Mr. UPTON acknowledged the protection, which, to his place of worship, Williams, Printer, Clerkenwell. The result of a recommendation so general and well merited, was an immediate present of £50 by a respectable and pious Welchman, on behalf of the Calvinistic Methodists in WALES; -- and will be, it is hoped, a subscription of a small annual contribution from every Christian society, of every denomination, which England may contain. That no apology may be made for a neglect of such assistance, we again additionally state, that Two PoUNDS are the amount of the Annual Contributions expected from each Congregation in England, and ONE POUND from every Congregation in Wales; that such Subscriptions became due at Lady-day; and that they and the arrears may be transmitted by friends, or by the post, to the Treasurer ROB. STEVEN, Esq. Upper Thames Street, London; or to either of the Secretaries, THOMAS PELLAtt, Esq. Ironmongers' Hall; or JOHN WILKS, Esq. Finsbury Place, London; to the latter of whom applications may be addressed; and that any Country Ministers or their friends will always be received with pleasure at the Meetings of the Committee, which occur at Half-past Six, precisely, in the Evening, on the last Tuesday in every month, at the New London Tavern, Cheapside. |