Imatges de pàgina
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FUNDAMENTAL RESOLUTIONS.

I. That the influence of true religion over a people forms the best security for their individual rights, and the surest basis of national prosperity.

II. That the British Constitution acknowledges in its principle and laws the Sovereignty of Almighty God, and the Supreme Authority of his Holy Word, and has provided for the Scriptural Instruction of the people by its religious establishments.

III. That in opposition to this principle of the Constitution, doctrines have of late been propagated, that religion is unconnected with the duties of Legislation, that in the eye of the State all religions are alike—and that support should be equally given or denied to all.

IV. That under cover of these doctrines, the members of the Church of Rome are zealously exerting themselves to destroy the Protestant character of the Constitution, and that the first object to which they direct their efforts, is the overthrow of the Established Churches, as forming the main obstacle to their ulterior designs.

V. That to counteract these efforts, all who venerate the Word of God, and value the British institutions, should be called on to co-operate in pointing out to the people the peculiar dangers of the present time, and in taking measures to inspire them with a just sense of the blessings and benefits of the Protestant Constitution.

RULES.

I. That the Association be under the direction of a President, Vice-Presidents, a Treasurer, and a Committee, not exceeding twenty-five, who shall have the power of appointing Secretaries.

II. That Annual Subscribers of ten shillings and upwards, and Donors of five guineas and upwards, assenting to the Fundamental Resolutions, be Members of the Association.

III. That a General Meeting of the Association shall be held at least once in every year.

IV. That the Committee be chosen annually, out of the Members of the Association.

V. That the Office-bearers be, ex officio, Members of the Committee.

VI. That the Accounts of the Association be audited annually, by three Auditors, to be appointed at the Annual Meeting.

VII. That the Committee, of whom five shall be a quorum, shall have power to regulate all matters relating to their own Meetings, or those of the Association, to fill up vacancies in their body, and generally to conduct and manage the affairs and funds of the Association.

REPORT.

THE close of another eventful year imposes on your Committee the last of their labours, the task of reporting their proceedings since the last Annual Meeting of the Protestant Association. They now, therefore, perform this obligation with mingled feelings of gratitude and apprehension. They are deeply thankful to be enabled to state, that they have witnessed increased sympathy with this Association, and increased zeal in the Protestant cause, while they grieve that the aspect of public affairs renders Protestant union and exertions still more necessary for the future. They rejoice to think that during the past year much valuable information, concerning the progress and principles of Popery, has been circulated; and that it has awakened, to a considerable extent, alarm and a sense of duty in the minds of many reflecting individuals. They congratulate the Protestant Association in having been partially the instrument whereby these results have been produced; but they trust that former successes will only tend to increase your efforts in the present critical and anxious position of Protestantism in the British dominions. For if a Protestant spirit

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has been excited, in a much greater proportion Popish ambition, Popish intrigues, and Popish assurance have been augmented. Popery indeed now makes no secret of her hopes, and no longer affects to conceal her strengthened political power.

At home, in high places and among the people, in the Colonies, on the continent of Europe, even in our Missionary stations, her emissaries are assiduously, unceasingly, and unscrupulously at work. These, therefore, are not circumstances under which your Committee feel bound to apologize for the existence of the Protestant Association, or to justify its necessity. On the contrary, they believe that they may proceed to a plain enumeration of their proceedings, with a certainty of obtaining the sanction and the future aid of all who value the civil and religious institutions of this country, and the blessings of the glorious Reformation.

Without further preface, therefore, your Committee will state, on the important subject of

PUBLIC MEETINGS,

That three Meetings of the Protestant Association have been held in Exeter Hall since last May. At the first, held on the 28th December, 1838, John Hardy, Esq., one of your Vice-Presidents, in the chair, and the Rev. Edward Nangle, God's faithful servant in the Missionary Settlement of Achill, gave an elaborate and striking statement of the difficulties and true position of Protestants in Ireland; the important speech delivered by that respected and

Rev. Gentleman has been published and widely circulated.

At the second Meeting, held on the 8th of April, W. S. Blackstone, Esq., M.P., presided, and on the motion of the Rev. Dr. Croly, seconded by the Rev. R. Monro, a petition to the Legislature was adopted against the fourteenth clause in the Bill for the better ordering of Prisons, which authorizes under certain circumstances, the appointment of Popish chaplains to English prisons. Your Committee trust that their exertions in thus calling public attention to this clause have not been wholly unavailing, and have fully proved the practical utility of Protestant Associations.

At the third Meeting, the Right Hon. Lord Kenyon took the chair. It was held in this Hall on the 25th of April, and the Rev. Robert J. M'Ghee, and the Rev. Dr. O'Sullivan, with their accustomed masterly power, and with unabated zeal, exposed in speeches, which your Committee believe have already been circulated and read in every portion of the kingdom, the abominations of the Popish College of Maynooth, to which, unhappily, the Parliament of Great Britain, in defiance alike of sound policy, Protestant consistency, and Christian principle, votes the large sum of 10,000l. a-year. At this Meeting a petition against that grant was adopted. It still lies in the office for signature.

Your Committee are happy also to report that other important (and in some cases most crowded and enthusiastic) Protestant Meetings have been

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