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and that in an ESuropean country deemed most benighted , the light of knowledge and religious freedom has hegun gloriously to shine ; nor can they omit to express their hope , that the disregard to religious liberty which established and perpetuated that horrid Institution will happily , speedily , and for ever disappear throughout the world .
4 . That thi 3 Meeting have listened with interest and pleasure to the statements of the proceedings of this Society during the past year , and that they especially applaud their labours to prevent the bills that passed during the last session of the last Parliament , from
becoming particularly injurious to religious liberty ; and also to prevent the enactment of abill by which the children of the poor might have been removed from their parents , and compelled to assent to doctrines , and to conform to rites of worship , which those parents , though poor , might conscientiously disapprove .
5 . That although this Meeting approve the delay of the Committee to direct during the past year any application to Parliament for a repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts ; yet , they cannot omit again to declare their aversion to those Acts , as offensive to God and oppressive to man , as founded on principles
persecuting and unjust , as tending to degrade the most important ordinances of religion , and as excluding a vast number of their active , intelligent , wealthy , loyal and pious fellow-countrymen from offices in which they might be useful to the state , or from honours and emoluments , which all men equally qualified , are equally entitled to partake .
6 . That to the Committee this Meeting express their approval of the discretion , but firmness—of the zeal , but temperance—and of the activity without rashness , with which they have continued to
conduct the affairs of the Society , and that the same gentlemen composed of various religious denominations , and of Ministers and Laymen in equal proportions , with the Treasurer and Secretaries be solicited to act as the Committee for
the ensuing year . Rev . J . Brooksbank , Wm . B . Collyer , D . D ., George Collison , F . A . Cox , M . A ., Thomas Cloutt , Alex . Fletcher , Rowland Hill , M . A ., Thomas Jackson , William Newman , D . D ., Wm . F . Platt , S . W . Tracy , John Townsend , Matthew Wilks , Mark Wilks :
David Allan , Esq ., Wm . Bateman , Esq ., J- B . Brown , Esq ., James Emerson , Esq ., James Esdaile ., Esq ., Colonel Handfielcl , Thomas tfoyter , Esq ., J . O . Oldham , Esq ., J . firitt , Esq ., William Townsend * £ q ., IJ ^ thew Wood , Esq ., * M . P ., r h * iraa J £ ' 1 ^^ , jteq ,, Thorny Walter , E 9 q . ^ | am $ l Y ^ ung , Ejsq-
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7 . That this Meeting especially recommend to such Committee , to embrace with promptitude every favourable opportunity to obtain the repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts , and to procure legislative measures , exempting places of religious worship from parochial assessment .
and Dissenters attending at places of worship from the payment of Sundaytolls : and that they watch with vigilance any attempts to extend the poor laws , or to introduce any system of general education , lest they should increase needlessly the public burdens of Protestant Dissenters , and invest the intolerant with
new means of encroaching on those sacred rights of conscience which this Society was established to protect . 8 . That to Robert Steven , Esq ., the Treasurer , this Meeting renew their thanks , and request his continuance in a situation in which he has rendered important services to this Institution . portant services to th ^ s Institution .
9 . That this Meeting , aware of the incalculable advantages that have resulted from the past efforts of Thomas Pellatt and John Wilks , Esqs ., the gratuitous and Honorary Secretaries of this Society , repeat with increasing pleasure and earnestness their cordial acknowledgments for those efforts , and their in treaties for their continued assistance .
10 . That , ever mindful of the eloquent , persevering , invaluable efforts of the immortal Charles James Fox , on behalf of Protestant 1 Dissenters , and of the rights of conscience , they have long and frequently rejoiced in the wise and beneficent sentiments , propitious to religious freedom expressed on many occasions by the inheritor of his genius and his virtues ,
the present Chairman and his noble relative , the Right Hon . Lord Holland . That their admiration of his talents , and regard for his kindness are increased by his consent to preside , and his conduct upon this occasion , and that he be requested to accept their assurances of sincere attachment , of cordial gratitude and unfeigned respect .
The Resolutions were proposed by the Rev . Rowland Hill , the Rev . Jos . Berry , James Baldwin Brown , Esq ., of the Inner Temple , the Rev . J . A . James , of Birmingham , the Rev . Mr . Roby , of Manchester , the Rev . Mr . Smith , of Rotherham , the Rev . Dr . Bogue , of Gosport , and the Rev . Dr . Styles , of Brighton , in various admirable addresses .
After the resolution of thanks to the noble Chairman had been passed , amidst every possible demonstration not only of concurrence but delight , Lord Holland rose , and addressed the meeting with great animation to the following effect : Ladies and Gentlemen , After all the proceeding of this morn-
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Intelligence . —Protestant Society : Mr . Witfo ' M Speech . 497
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Aug. 2, 1820, page 497, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2491/page/53/
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