leave to the interest of the general body; observing only, that if the learned judge had looked into the Toleration Act, and the statutes which it repealed, he would have found in it probably much more than "an exemption from punishment for non-attendance at the Established Church, and nonconformity with its rites." But the Committee must be allowed with great deference to remove the whole theory which is set up with regard to the law particularly directed against Unitarians, and the statute repealing it. They must take leave to answer the assertions-that the Trinity law was intended only to give security to the Government, in the nature of a Test law-that the only penalty imposed is exclusion from office-and that the penalty is directed against any manifestations of the dangerous opinion, without proof of intention to propagate it-by simply stating the real provisions of the Act, leaving it to their constituents to judge what weight they ought to attach to opinions so hastily and crudely formed. The Act provides, that if any person shall " by writing, printing, teaching, or advised speaking" deny, &c., he shall for the first offence be disabled in law from holding office, ecclesiastical, civil, or military, and for the second offence be disabled from suing or prosecuting any suit in law, or being guardian, executor, or administrator of any one, or capable of receiving any legacy or deed of gift, and suffer imprisonment for three years, without bail or mainprize. Under the circumstances attending the case which they have thus detailed, your Committee do not think that the position in which former Committees have determined to remain, in any way calls for more serious attention than has hitherto been extended to it. The principles on which the arguments of the learned judge rest, appear, if they include any, to involve all persons differing from the Established Church equally with the Unitarians, so far as concerns the propagation of their peculiar opinions, and the impugument of those of the Establishment, whose creeds and formularies form the only criterion of that Christianity which is "part and parcel of the law of England." If the religious freedom of this country is confined to the entertainment of opinion, leaving the expression of it always more or less culpable, and punishable or not, merely according to the more or less liberal construction of a judge or jury; and if, as the learned judge seems to tell us, not even the Legislature is potent enough to make it otherwise; we have one consolation, at least, in hailing it as a new proof of the dangerous laxity, the absurd uncertainty of our criminal law on such subjects, and shall, in common with all Dissenters, have one reason more for joining in the protest which justice, policy, and religion, unite in calling on all the real friends of Christianity to make, against prosecution of any sort of expression of opinion in matters of religion at the tribunals of the law. At the General Meeting, the following, among other Resolutions, were passed: That this Meeting has full confidence in the Committee taking every practicable means of procuring the Repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts, which are so great a grievance to Protestant Dissenters, and so inconsistent with the liberal spirit of the British Constitution. That it is desirable to invest at interest such part of the balance from time to time in hand, as shall appear to this Society at its General Meeting, to be beyond its immediate wants; the fund to be at the disposal of the Committee for the time being. And (with relation chiefly to the decrease in the amount of Annual Subscriptions, the arrears, particularly of Congregational Subscriptions, the great excess of the last year's expenditure above the current income, and the present calls upon the Society) the Committee were directed to urge by such means as they should deem expedient, the increase in number, and the regular payment, of Subscriptions, particularly from Congregations, and the great desirableness of enabling the Society to accumulate a Fund, to which it may be able to look in an emergency without the necessity of a public appeal. Treasurer, JAMES YOUNG, Esq, 16, 'Change-Alley. Secretary, Mr. E. TAYLOR, Inner-Temple. Committee, C. RICHMOND, Esq. Temple, Mr. JOHN WATSON, Holborn Hill, Mr. FERNIE, Leadenhall Street. RULES OF THE ASSOCIATION. 1 This Society shall be denominated "The Unitarian Association for the Protection of the Civil Rights of Unitarians." 2. The Association shall consist of individual subscribers, and of the representatives of congregations making an annual contribution. 3. The qualification of inviduals, as members of this Association, shall be an annual subscription of not less than 10s. 6d., or a donation of not less than 57. 58. 4. Every congregation contributing annually not less than one guinea, shall be at liberty to send two representative members. Officiating ministers of congregations shall be eligible as representatives. 5. An Annual General Meeting of the Association shall be holden on the Thursday in the Whitsun-week. 6. A Committee, consisting of ten persons, resident in or near London, shall be chosen at the Annual Meeting, to transact the business of the Association, of whom four, viz. those who shall have given the least attendance at Committee Meetings, shall be ineligible for one year. Where in any case the numbers of attendances shall be equal, the person who is to withdraw shall be determined by lot. 7. A Treasurer and Secretary shall also be chosen at the Annual Meeting, who shall be added to the Committee. The Treasurer shall receive subscriptions, and make all necessary disbursements on account of the Association; and the Secretary record its minutes, conduct its correspondence, and summon Committee and General Meetings. Two Auditors shall also be chosen at the Annual Meeting, for the purpose of auditing the Treasurer's account of the current year. 8. In all meetings of the Committee, the presence of five members shall be necessary for proceeding to business. 9. All subscriptions shall be paid in advance, and be considered as due on the 1st of January in each year. And no person shall be allowed to vote at an Annual Meeting until his subscription for the current year be paid. 10. The above Rules shall not be altered except by two-thirds of the members present at a General Meeting. Any alterations intended to be proposed to the Society, must be first notified to the Committee at one of its meetings. UNITARIAN ASSOCIATION IN ACCOUNT WITH JAMES YOUNG, ESQ. TREASURER. Dr. 1821. Mr. Smallfield printing Reports Marshfield Congregation Charges Trust Deed Postages, Carriage, Expenses of Room for Meetings, |
