fered for dissent: several thousand persons expired in prisons: and, during three years, property was extorted from the Dissenters exceeding two millions sterling. principles which they maintained, induced the illustrious William II. to make every possible effort for their relief. The counteracting influence which then prevailed, prevented the complete accom. plishment of his designs. The 23 Eliz. c. 1. 29 Eliz. c. 6. 35 Eliz. c. 1. and 3 James, c. 4. thos who neglected to attend at church on Sunday were liable to the censures of the church, and fineable 1s. for each offence, 201. Laws so exceptionable and puper month for continued personal nishments so unmerited, for wor absence, and 10l. per month for shipping their Creator, according the nonattendance of their ser. to the dictates of their consciences, vants-that these fines were re. necessarily induced the Dissenters coverable by very summary pro- to bail that Revolution with de ceedings-that the lands of the light, which they considerably person offending were seizable by assisted to effect. Gratitude for the crown-and that persons who that assistance, and attachment neglected to conform might be to the same civil and religious committed to prison, or must ab. jure the realm; and on their re. fusal or return incurred the guilt of felony without benefit of clergy, and the punishment of death: and that by the Conventicle Act, 22 Charles II. c. 1. additional, and most severe restrictions were repeal of the former penal laws imposed. 2d, That, as to the he could not obtain; neither ministers of the Protestant Dis. could he obliterate even the Five senters (besides being liable to all Mile and Conventicle Acts from the statutes we have enumerated) the pages of the Statutes. Relithey were by the Act of Uniformity gious liberty could not be asserted, (13 and 14 Charles II. c. 4.) sub. and restricted toleration was all ject to a penalty of 1001. for ad- that he could confer. Under ministering the Lord's Supper: these circumstances passed the by the Five Mile Act (17 Charles Act (1 William and Mary, c. 18.) II. c. 2.) they were prohibited, which, whilst it conditionally exunder a penalty of 40l. from com- empted Protestant Dissenters from ing within five miles of any city, the statutes to which we have town corporate, or borough and alluded, conferred on the appointby the Conventicle Act they for- ed teachers of separate congrega. feited 201. for the first offence, tions various immunities, and and for the second offence 401. if afforded to their worship partial they preached in any place "at security, compelled all dissenting which there should be FIVE or laity to take the oaths of allegimore besides those of the house. ance and supremacy, &c. at the hold." And 3d, That under the Sessions, however remote, and operation of these laws (according to historical relations) from the Restoration to the Revolution, during the short period of 26 years, informers acquired opulence by prosecutions: 60,000 persons suf objectionably required their ministers additionally to declare their approbation of several of the Thirty-nine Articles of the established church. One practical inconvenience resulting from an omission in the Act of Toleration hamlets profited by gratuitous inwas, however, obviated by an struction, and multitudes who Act passed in the 10th year of sat in darkness and the shadow of Queen Anne, c. 2. which ex- death were irradiated and aniempted ministers from punish. mated by heavenly beams. ment for officiating in other The rapid increase of the procounties than those at whose Ses- fessors of evangelical religion, and sions they had taken the stipulated the numerous edifices for their oaths. The just objections made worship, which every where by many pious and enlightened gladdened the heart of the pious men to subscribe the Articles of traveller, excited however jealouthe established church, produced, sy and opposition. Persecution during the present reign, an Act awoke. The penal statutes were (19 Geo. III. c. 44.) for their unexpectedly revived. Prosecufurther relief, which enabled tions under the Conventicle Act them to substitute a Declaration commenced. Punishments were that they were Protestants and inflicted for non-attendance at the Christians, for a subscription to parish church. The laws for Articles which they conscienti- toleration received at several ously disapproved. But the right Sessions unprecedented exposi of such substitution, and the bene- tions: and at length. emboldened fits of this only act passed, during by the unresisting acquiescence, one hundred and twenty years, or encouraged by the private apfor the protection of religious probation of those who were conliberty, were, probably from in- sidered as the guardians of the advertence, inaccurately limited rights of conscience, and on whose to those ministers who might ac-, vigilance multitudes improperly tually be the appointed teachers relied, a measure was last year of a separate congregation. submitted to Parliament, which The known and acknowledged declared all these innovations to be imperfection of those laws was correct, and which would have adhowever rendered unimportant by ditionally-injuriously-and perthe spirit which prevailed; and haps fatally and for ever, have which practically extended their extended religious despotism, or beneficial provisions with a liberal have again filled the prisons of hand. For the repeal of the Test England with the most useful and and Corporation Acts, which im- excellent of men. posed civil disabilities on Protes- The prodigious, the unprece tant Dissenters, repeated and dented efforts which were made to unsuccessful efforts were made; resist that attempt, and the success. but the penal laws, continuing to which crowned those exertions we slumber unawakened, were almost need not relate. They demonforgotten-nor did religious wor- strated that the spirit of the veneship experience legal interruptions. rable Reformers and the pious The social and national advantages Puritans yet survived. They inof this practical freedom were dicated the number, the resources, abundantly evinced. Piety was the intellectual and moral imporpromoted. Districts almost bar- tance of the friends to religious barous were civilized. The rudest liberty. They proved that the distinctions which separated Dis- a form of a Notice for certifying senters were but as chaff. They any places of worship, which they displayed a zeal and afforded an request you to communicate to example which our friends, our your congregation, and in the enemies, our children, and future vestry carefully to suspend and to historians can never forget. preserve. For Our Committee who first sti- But as they desire you to undermulated these exertions, perceived stand the principles of their prohowever that many dangers and ceedings, and the nature of the difficulties yet remained. Taught advantages which you have obby experience the benefit of uni- tained; we shall take the liberty versal co-operation, and the ne. to supply some additional informcessity which existed for the for- ation which we hope it will be mation of some institution, which agreeable for you to receive. might embody the talents, the Aware that extraordinary conenergies and the protection of all structions might occur as to the friends to Religious Liberty, they Acts of Toleration, they deter proclaimed their opinion to you. mined to avail themselves of the They invited the formation of the advantages which had been gained Society for whom we act: and by the resistance to the Bill introthe propriety of their opinions duced to Parliament, and to enmust be abundantly and unan. deavour to place their religious swerably evinced by the congra- freedom on a foundation less tulations we have now the plea- doubtful and more secure. sure to present. the attainment of this object, they The general proceedings which considered the political situation they have adopted, you have pro- of the country as peculiarly probably learnt from the statement pitious; and they therefore remade at the Annual Meeting, con- solved to make the attempt withtained in the Evangelical Maga- out delay. They, however, prozine for June last, to which we ceeded to ascertain, by legal refer. And it might, perhaps, proceedings, the construction be sufficient to announce, that which would be given to the Acts they yesterday succeeded to ob- of Toleration in the superior tain the Act for which, at that courts: being convinced that in meeting, they were recommended proportion as such constructions to apply; and by which the Five innovated on ancient practice and Mile and Conventicle Acts are unalienable rights, their exertions repealed; the former practice to obtain more efficacious protec under the most liberal construc- tion, would procure general contions of the Acts for Toleration is currence and eventual success. legalized; and Religious Liberty Results more injurious than those is additionally secured; and that which must have followed the being anxious for your informa- opinions expressed by the Court tion, they have enclosed a copy, of King's Bench could not occur. not only of that Act, but of all The doctrine there delivered ex. the preceding Acts relating to posed to prosecution every person, Religious Toleration, with copies who preached, taught, or exhorted of the Oaths and Declaration, and any persons exceeding five in number, who was not the settled were solicitous to secure their minister of a separate congregation; approbation and esteem. would have rendered ten thousand The measure desired was, how ministers liable to penalties and ever, too repugnant to the interests imprisonment; and would have and prejudices of many persons, enabled any inimical individual or not to excite much private oppo mercenary informer to subject sition; which, having been overDissenters and Methodists to pe- come, we will neither perpetuate nalties amounting to, at least, nor revive. Numerous obstructhirty millions sterling per annum. tions occurred. The legal proFortified in their resolutions to ceedings, and the lamented death apply to Parliament, by this de- of Mr. Perceval, protracted the cision, they also determined not introduction of the measure, to a to agitate the subject as a party or very advanced period of the parpolitical question, or to render liamentary Sessions, and prevented themselves dependent upon any many desirable improvements, political party; but to rely on which, until a future period, were the merits of their case and invite therefore unavoidably postponed. universal support, primarily ap- We hope that it cannot be neces pealing to the liberality and jus- sary to detail all the difficulties tice of any administration which which occured; and especially might be appointed to conduct as it must impose on us the painful public affairs. Although equally task of lamenting the inactivity impatient with any honourable and misguided opinions of those minds, at the civil disabilities to whose assistance we expected, and which Dissenters are exposed, by who, interested in the same result, the Test and Corporation Acts, should have stimulated our zeal, they considered the rights of FREE supported our application, and RELIGIOUS WORSHIP as of para- contributed to our common suc mount importance: and being cess. We shall prefer to enume. convinced that they might prevent rate those friends, whose assis the greater benefit by asserting tance we must applaud, and to the minor claim, they also deter. invite for them your generous mined during this Session, and esteem. The polite attention and principally, to contend for the persevering patronage of Lord extension of their Religious Liber- Liverpool, as the head of the ty, and to postpone any other present Administration, who deapplication until a more auspicious voted many days to the consideramoment should arrive. tion of our claims, merit our For the correctness of these peculiar commendation and ac resolutions we may confidently knowledgement. Earl Stanhope appeal to the result. The justice and Lord Holland, we cannot of their application overwhelmed adequately praise. Uninfluenced prejudice and opposition: their by party motives, and impelled frankness and independence con- by attachment to the principles ciliated government and obtained which we maintain, they afforded respect; and all parties, convinced that cordial assistance which we of their integrity and influence, shall always remember, and are most happy to announce. In doors shall be unbarred.-It is also the Commons House of Parlia- provided in section 5, that all perment, Mr. Stephen and Mr. sons who are teachers at such Wilberforce manifested that places shall, if required by a maanxiety for our cause, which gistrate, take the oaths of allegimight be expected from men, ance and supremacy, and sign who personally know the benefits the declaration that they are Prowhich religion alone can afford; testants and Christians, inserted in and Mr. Whitbread entitled him- the Act of 19 Geo. III. But such self to our gratitude, equally, requisition must be in writing-no by the promptitude with which person who has once taken the he prepared to advocate our oaths, and made the declaration rights, and by the liberality with under this Act, or the 19 Geo. III. which he conceded to govern- will be subject to a second requi. ment the popularity of introduc- sition--nor can any fee be then ing a measure, at which so many demanded by the magistrate, who must exult. With unmingled must gratuitously supply a certi satisfaction we must also acknow. ficate to the person who has so comledge the co-operation of "The plied with the requisition which he Committee for guarding the pri- made.-All the other provisions vileges of the Methodist Society, tend to increase our advantages,and late in connection with the Rev. to strengthen the security of religiJohn Wesley," for they have ous worship.-The exemption from been faithful companions in our parochial offices and military du labours, and are justly entitled to ties, is extended to all students partake your commendation and and persons, who preach at one or our joy. more congregations, if they do not As to the Act which has been follow a secular employment, prothus obtained, you will perceive vided they take the oaths and that the principles are simple, and make the declaration prescribed: the provisions few. The repeal of power is therefore conferred on the Five Mile and Conventicle them to require any one magisActs, contained in the first section, trate, on payment of 2s. 6d., to removes the principal punishments administer such oaths to attest to which Dissenters and persons such declaration-and to certify who do not worship according to such proceedings as evidence that the Established Church were hith. the person claiming the exemption erto exposed.--Government have is entitled to the exemption which therefore required, in the 2d and he claims. The advantages ob11th sections, that all places, tained by this Act, over not only wherein more than 20 persons as- the dreadful evils which must have semble for worship, shall be noti- been consequent on the recent defied as heretofore to the Clerk of cision of a superior court but, the Peace of the County, or to the even over the most liberal conRegistrar of the Archdeacon, or struction of the former Acts of Bishop, within whose jurisdiction Toleration, cannot escape your such places shall be situate- regard. The former Acts were and that during worship their confined only to persons being |