discussing every variety of topics. Such was not the law. Such could not be the law. If above twenty persons were collected in any uncertified place, they were liable to a certain penalty. If any person chose to certify a field, which was not a highway or thoroughfare, the question of the legality of the certification was not settled. The committee would endeavour to ascertain how the law applied to that kind of certification. If in any instance persons had offended against the law by out-door preach

in the parochial ground. It was a foul blot on the law, and he trusted it would soon be removed, and Baptists and Dissenters put in possession of the right of being buried in the general place of sepulture. At Beaminster, the clergyman had refused to admit the corpses of his parishioners into the church-yard. At Merthyr Tydvyl, in Wales, the children of Baptists were refused marriage, unless they submitted again to go through the ceremony of baptism. While Dissenters were bound to be married at church, which he trusted would not being, it should be remembered that long, how improper was it that additional obstacles should thus be raised! From Neath, in Glamorganshire, the Rev. John Thomas, a Baptist minister, had written to the Committee, to express his apprehensions as to the refusal of marriage there to Baptists, unless they submitted to baptism at the hands of the established clergy. One man who had been twice baptized, was refused to be married unless he would submit to a third baptism. This man had been sprinkled in his infancy. When an adult, he was baptized afresh by immersion. It was in vain that he told the Welsh clergyman of his double baptism. The clergyman was inexorable. He replied, “I cannot look upon you as a christian, unless I baptize you again." And so, for the third time, rather than delay the blessings of matrimony, he again submitted, and was sprinkled afresh.

they had offended indiscreetly, enthusiastically, somewhat intemperately perhaps, but, beyond doubt, holily. At Peterborough, a prebendary of the cathedral, who was a magistrate also, directed Mr. Charles Thorpe, of that town, to be taken into custody for exhorting a few persons at the threshold of a friend. At the village of Benefield, near Oundle, Mr. Horner, an itinerant preacher, was taken into custody by order of the vicar and magistrate there; when Horner was brought before this reverend gentleman, he asked, "Is this the fellow? Come, I want none of your talk. about souls." Horner was then committed under the new Vagrant Act. He was sent to gaol without a warrant, though bail was offered to the amount of £500. Afterwards he was released, and suffered to depart without molestation. This was a He now approached a subject at- subject of considerable delicacy. tended with some difficulty-that of While he (Mr. W.) was prepared to out-door preaching. At Burnham, in censure any indiscreet indulgence in Norfolk, the magistrates had been the practice, he was not prepared to troubled by a great number of itinerant give up the right altogether; and espreachers. These persons contended pecially when he found it strenuously they had a right to preach wherever maintained by some of the best and they pleased. Archdeacon Bathurst, wisest champions of popular rights. the worthy son of a worthy father, had He referred particularly to the wellbeen in particular annoyed by some of known case of Wm. Penn, the distinthese itinerant preachers. They preach-guished member of the benevolent Soed opposite to his parsonage-house, ciety of Friends, who, in all works of and at the door of his church while philanthropy, were ever active and service was going on, as if they could foremost. Penn was tried in 1670, for exercise their duties no where else. preaching in Gracechurch-street, and As a magistrate, the Archdeacon comhe published his trial under the title of mitted them to prison, but at the "The People's Ancient and Just Liquarter sessions he interfered on their berties Asserted." On this trial the behalf, and obtained their discharge. Recorder, and the Chaplain of the He (Mr. W.) would not say it was Archbishop of Canterbury, expressed proper always to abstain from out-door sentiments which singularly accorded preaching; but preaching in a street with some now entertained by persons or highway was certainly improper. whom he would not name. The ReIf a right could exist which could becorder said, "the Spanish Inquisition exerted without any regard to propriety, it must follow that there was a right to gather round every door in Cheapside, a multitude engaged in

was excellent, as a good way to prevent schism." And the Chaplain said, "that it would be less injurious to the government to dispense with profans

by Mr. Bishop. It was next his (Mr. W.'s) duty to state what, in the opinion of the Committee, was needful for the protection of religious freedom. In the first place there was wanted some more explicit declaration of the Toleration Act. That was of pre-eminent and universal importance. In the next place, it was necessary that their Bap

and loose persons, than to allow a toleration to Protestant Dissenters." On looking abroad at the condition of Dissenters, he saw the same scenes acting elsewhere. At Montreal, in Canada, the Dissenters suffered from precisely the same measures of which that society complained. The majority of the inhabitants were Catholics; but though Catholics, Episcopalians, and Presby-tist friends should be protected. There terians, legally exercised the rights of baptizing, marrying, and burying, yet Dissenters of all denominations were denied them. Lord Dalhousie, the governor, though friendly inclined toward the Dissenters, had no power against the Court of Appeal, of which the Bishop of Quebec was the head. Of the Protestant inhabitants only two-ving people. In Ireland, Dissenting fifteenths were Episcopalians, so that thirteen-fifteenths were degraded and oppressed.

was great propriety in requiring that Dissenting ministers should have authority to celebrate marriage. This power was possessed by the Quakers, than whom a more domestic, pious, or happy people did not exist. It was also enjoyed by the Jews, that long persecuted, but he hoped, now revi

ministers generally had the right, and in Scotland also; why then should it be denied to them in England, where indeed it was once possessed? During the commonwealth, marriages were rendered legally only a civil contract. Upon the Catholics of England the evil pressed with peculiar hardship. With them marriage was a sacrament, and could be celebrated only by their priests. The consequence was, that all their marriages were unlawful, and their children illegitimate. By law they were as separate and disunited as the most perfect strangers. No tie of kindred, no bond of blood could unite them. If this object-the celebration of marriage by Dissenting ministerswere sought with temper and firmness, he did not believe it would be refused. The third object was to validate the registration of baptisms. The Court of Chancery had decided lately, that a registration of baptism, on Dr. Wil

He now came to review the general state of religious freedom in the British dominions. That morning his honoured father had asked him, whether, on the whole, things were better than they had been? He would answer the Society in the same words he had addressed to his father. The alteration or improvement, if there was any, was scarcely to be perceived, and brought with it little consolation. The clergy were active, as the Society saw by the proceedings at Durham and in Ireland. Never had been so many pamphlets issued by that body, all breathing defiance and distrust of the Protestant Dissenters. The bishops were consolidating the power of the church. Articles were multiplied, and codes accumulated. The power of the clergy was increasing, and crossed their path in every direction. It was decidedliams's plan, was not a matter of rethat no bells could be tolled, no monuments erected, no vestries held, without the consent of the clergyman. They were entitled to preside, if they thought proper to assume the chair. With these facts before them, it be hoved the Dissenters to be careful, while they paid all due respect to the clergy, that they slumbered not. On the magisterial bench, the number of clergymen was considerable; and he would say, that when they predominated at the quarter-sessions, the evil was great to Protestant Dissenters, Adverting to the state of the world, and the good not great to any body in France the Protestants had awaken. else. Some of the Judges had noted from their lethargy. They had treated them with the kindness they had a right to expect. He alluded to the celebrated charge of Mr. Baron Garrow at Gloucester-an attack on the rights and interests of the Dissenters which had been so well repelled

cord. Fourthly, their places of meeting ought to be exempted from assessment, whether in parochial rates or king's taxes; and lastly, the repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts was an object of all others to be desired. They were not to be satisfied with an annual Indemnity Act, by which they were pardoned for offences they had never committed. No: they claimed to stand with all their fellow-subjects on the broad and equal basis of the law.

established a Bible Society, and another society on the basis of practical christianity, which embraced the improvement of gaols and the abolition of the slave trade. There was also a Missionary Society in Paris. They

There were many other able speak. ers, but our limits oblige us to con clude.

(Annual Meetings to be continued.}

HENLEY UPON THAMES. WE are sorry that we were imposed upon by our Correspondent, who informed us that there was no dissent

were not actually under oppression; those existing laws more explicit-to but they feared the rod of the oppres- ensure to the Baptist denomination sor. Papal power threatened the ex- their equal parochial rights-to legal. tinction of their liberties, though they ize marriages celebrated by Catholic were not yet formally attacked. In and Dissenting ministers, and to valiGermany and Italy the society had not date their registers of baptisms and equal consolation. Knowledge and burials-are matters whose attainment liberty were twin-sisters; and the pre-is much to be desired, and should be sent rulers of those countries were promptly and steadily pursued." equally averse to both. They had, therefore, ordered the suppression of the schools for elementary instruction. He next turned to a country, respecting which hope and fear alternately vibrated in his breast. He alluded to Greece, now struggling for liberty with the terrible and lawless power of the Turk. Devoutly did he pray for its triumph; and that also of Spain. Spain was contending for religious liberty.ing place of worship in this town preOn the banners of the invading army were the inscriptions, "The Inquisition for ever, and the absolute King." He had actually seen at Paris the cockades for the army of the faith with those incriptions upon them. The triumph of Spain could not, therefore, be indifferent to the lovers of religious liberty. In America, religious liberty permanently, usefully, benignly flourished. Looking at the whole state of the world, then, he would not despond, but hope. When he surveyed the course of public opinion, he saw the surface only affected; the deep current beneath flowed on, and would flow on for ever. The shocks of tyranny assailed the great cause of freedom, only as the storm shook the mountain tree, to make it strike root deeper than ever, and fix it more firmly against future hurricanes. The friends of liberty looked forward with confidence to the issue of their war with ignorance and oppression, because they had knowledge with them, and error could not withstand it. Truth, freedom, and piety, shall finally prevail.

The Rev. Dr. Newman moved the first Resolution, "That this society continue to regard the right of every man to worship God according to his conscience, as an invaluable, sacred, and unalienable right; and all violations of that right, by monarchs or by multitudes, by penal laws or lawless violence, by premiums for conformity or exclusions for nonconformity, as unjust and oppressive, inexpedient and profane."

Another Resolution, moved by J. H. Brown, Esq. was, "That this meeting perceive that further measures are yet needful for the protection of Protestant Dissenters: and that efforts to render

viously to March 16, except one belonging to the people called Friends. [See our last Number, p. 204.] We now learn that there is an old Congregational church there, of which the Rev. Mr. Goulty is the present minister. What adds to the criminality of our informant is, that the statement which he sent us, though morally false, is literally true, and therefore the deception appears intentional. Though not in the parish of Henley, it is within fifty yards of the boundary, and within ten minutes walk of the most distant part of the town.

ORDINATIONS, &c.

APRIL 2, the Rev. Thomas Winter (late of Beckington,) was publicly recognized as the pastor of the Particular Baptist Church at COUNTERSLIP, BRISTOL; when the Rev. Dr. Ryland preached an affectionate sermon to the pastor and people, from Gal. ii. 9. Messrs. Lowell, Crisp, and Roberts, were engaged in the several parts of the interesting service.

THE eighth Annual Meeting of the BEDFORDSHIRE Association of Baptist Churches was held at Toddington, May 8. Messrs. King preached from Isa. liii. 1; Holloway from John xvii. 18; and Tyso from John iii. 14, 15. The next Association to be held at Little Staughton, when Messrs. Holloway and Cuttriss are expected to preach. The next circular letter (on" Social Prayer") to be written by Mr. Holloway.

ASSOCIATIONS.

JUNE 3, 4, Kent and Sussex, at Eythorne; 3-5, Welsh South-east, at Maesyberllan; 4, 5, Welsh Western, at Landysal.

Impromptu by Mr. Ward.

In the Minister's Vestry of a small chapel in a village near G--t, the minister having written over the fireplace the following verse from Dr. Watts,

""Tis to thy sov'reign grace I owe That I was born on British ground, Where streams of heav'nly mercy flow, And words of sweet salvation sound"our beloved brother Ward (when last in England) subjoined with a pencil the following lines.

List of the Annual Meetings of the
Baptist Denomination, 1823.

TUESDAY, JUNE 17. Morning 11. An open Meeting of the Committee, at No. 6, Fen-court, Fenchurch-street, at which the Company of such Ministers as may be in Town is particularly requested, especially the Members of the Corresponding Committee.

Evening 6, Meeting of the Baptist Home Missionary Society, at the City of London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18. Morning 11. Sermon at Great Queen-street Chapel, by the Rev. W. Steadman, D.D.

"But oh! if in the Judgment-day
Hindoos and Mussulmen should rise,
And to the Judge of all should say,
They heard, but heeded not, our dy-President of the Academy at Bradford,

ing cries!"" Portsea.

C. T. M.

Yorkshire.

Evening 6. Sermon at Surry Chapel, Blackfriars-road, by the Rev. G. Bar

Verses by the late Bishop of clay, of Irvine, in Scotland.

Calcutta.

SHALL we, whose souls are lighted
With wisdom from on high,

Shall we to men benighted

The lamp of light deny? Salvation! Oh Salvation! The joyful sound proclaim Till each remotest nation,

Has learnt Messiah's name. Waft, waft, ye winds, his story,

And you, ye waters, roll,
Till, like a sea of glory,

It spreads from pole to pole;
Till o'er our ransom'd nature
The Lamb for sinners slain,
Redeemer, King, Creator,
In bliss returns to reign.
Portsea.

THURSDAY, JUNE 19. Morning 9. A Prayer Meeting for the Mission, at Eagle-street Meeting.

Morning 11. The General Meeting of the Society will be held at. Great Queen-street Chapel, when the Report will be read, and the Annual Business of the Society transacted.

Evening, -past 6, Sermon on Behalf of the Stepney Academical Institution, at New Salters' Hall, by Rev. John Mack of Clipstone.

FRIDAY, JUNE 20. Morning 6. Meeting of the Baptist Irish Society, at the City of London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street, Joseph Butterworth, Esq. C. T. M. M.P. in the Chair.

Irish Chronicle.

THE Ninth Anniversary of the Baptist Irish Society will be held, no thing preventing, on Friday, the 20th of June, at the City of London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street. Joseph Butterworth, Esq. M.P. has kindly consented to preside on that occasion; and it is hoped the friends of the Institution will numerously assemble at Six o'Clock to Breakfast, as on former years. The Chair will be taken at Seven precisely, when the doors of the Tavern will be opened to the public.