ADDRESS OF THE DISSENTING MINISTERS

OF LONDON TO THE THRONE.

The Dissenting Ministers of the three denominations, residing in London and Westminster, having, since the glorious revolution, enjoyed the privilege of presenting addresses of congratulation or condolence to the successive Sovereigns of these realms at the throne, on their accession and other important public occasions; the reverend body held two meetings in the close of July, to vote the same to their gracious Majesties King William the IVth and Queen Adelaide, at which Dr. Rippon presided.

A Committee prepared the respective addresses, and the minutes showed that by the usage of the body, which specific votes had confirmed, the Presbyterian Denomination have always possessed the privilege of nominating the individual who should read the address. The Rev. Robert Aspland was therefore proposed to read the addresses by his own brethren, to which the general body consented, it having been distinctly understood that the precedency of the Presbyterian body will not again be claimed, as in fact it has long since lost that commanding influence which introduced the practice.

Sir Robert Peel having appointed, on behalf of their Majesties, Wednesday, the 4th of August, as the day for receiving the body, 94 ministers assembled at the Library, Red Cross Street, and proceeded in about 40 carriages to St. James's Palace, where they arrived at half-past one, and being conducted to the drawingroom, they found, amongst the crowd of nobility and gentry waiting for the levee, a large deputation of members of the Society of Friends waiting to present their addresses also.

Shortly after they were conducted by the Gentlemen Ushers into the presencechamber, which was lined by the band of Gentlemen Pensioners: His Majesty, dressed in an Admiral's uniform, was seated on the Throne, surrounded by the Duke of Sussex, and other members of the Royal Family; the Duke of Wellington, the Lord Chancellor, Sir Robert Peel, and other officers of state.

Mr. Aspland then read with much propriety the following address:

“To the KING'S Most Excellent Majesty.

"Most Gracious Sovereign, "We, your Majesty's loyal and dutiful subjects, the Protestant Dissenting Mi

nisters in and about the Cities of London and Westminster, humbly approach your royal presence, to express our sincere condolence on the demise of your Royal Brother, our late revered Sovereign, and to offer our heartfelt congratulations on the accession of your Majesty to the throne of these realms.

"We call to mind with devout thankfulness to the Supreme Ruler in the kingdoms of the earth, that the reign of his late Majesty was distinguished by the unspeakable blessing of peace; we rejoice in the remembrance that under his auspicious sway all the useful arts were encouraged and promoted, science and literature were extended in a degree beyond example in the history of nations, reforms were made in the civil and criminal jurisprudence of the country, by which our legal institutions were brought still nearer to the evangelical standard of justice and mercy; the claims of humanity and Christian beuevolence were enforced by the power of this great kingdom, in all the quarters of the globe, and the rights of conscience were invariably respected, and the boundaries of religious liberty greatly enlarged. We are also impelled by gratitude to acknowledge especially, that, under the liberal government of our late beloved Sovereign, the Protestant Dislieved from various disqualifying stasenters of the United Kingdom were relaws in their rights and privileges. tutes, and were confirmed by express

Protestant Dissenting Ministers, have "Your Majesty's faithful subjects, the ever been devoted in their attachment to your Majesty's illustrious house, under whose gracious rule they have enjoyed their forefathers, and they entreat you, blessings far beyond the experience of Sire, to accept their sincere and ardent congratulations on your accession to the throne of your ancestors.

"The known disposition of your royal mind assures them of your protection and favour, and they pledge themselves in your august presence, to promote amongst the people committed to their charge, loyalty to your Majesty's person, family, and government, obedience to the laws, and all those virtues by which, under the Divine Providence, nations are rendered great and prosperous.

nually to the King of kings, that it may "Our fervent prayers ascend contiplease him to pour down his merciful blessing upon your Majesty's government, and to make your Majesty's reign long,

peaceful, and happy; that he may give to your Majesty to rule in the affections of your subjects, throughout the wide extent of your Majesty's dominions, and to receive the satisfaction and delight, dear to the heart of a patriotic Prince, of seeing your people united in the bands of Christian charity, and contented and piously thankful in the enjoyment of the bounties of the Supreme Providence, that so your Majesty's happiness may be increased and multiplied in the happiness of your people; that he may grant that your Majesty and your illustrious Consort, our most gracious Queen, may enjoy together all earthly felicity; and that he may hear and answer the united supplications of your people, and vouchsafe, that, after a reign of virtuous glory, your Majesty may exchange an earthly for a heavenly crown."

His Majesty listened to the address with courteous attention and evident pleasure, and in reply, read with much energy and marked emphasis the following answer :

"This public demonstration of your attachment to my person and government, is entitled to my warmest thanks.

"The justice which you have rendered to the memory of my lamented Brother, and the gratitude which you express for the full measure of relief granted during his reign, to the Protestant Dissenters of the United Kingdom, are highly consolatory and satisfactory to my feelings.

"I place entire confidence in the fulfilment of your engagements, to promote among those of my people who are committed to your spiritual charge, loyalty to the Throne, and obedience to the laws; and I assure you in return, that it will be one of the first objects of my solicitude, to maintain inviolate the civil rights and privileges of all my faithful subjects."

Each member of the body had then the honour of being introduced by name, and of kissing his Majesty's hand. After this ceremony, the King entered into some conversational remarks, expressive of the enlightened views he entertains on the subject of religious opinions. His Majesty, and his personal attendants, then retired, and her Majesty Queen Adelaide ascended the Throne, attended by the Duchess of Leeds, the Ladies in Waiting, &c.

Mr. Aspland read the following address:

"To the QUEEN's Most Excellent
Majesty.

"May it please your Majesty.
"We, the Protestant Dissenting Mi-

nisters, in and about the Cities of London and Westminster, beg leave to approach your most gracious presence, to offer our cordial congratulations to your Majesty on the accession of your Royal Consort, our beloved King, to the throne of his

ancestors.

"We have ever been devoted in loyalty to his Majesty's illustrious house, under whose mild and paternal government we have enjoyed an unexampled degree of happiness, and we rejoice in his Majesty's known character pledge of his protection and favour.

as a

"It adds to our joy, upon this occasion, that it has pleased the Divine Providence to associate with his Majesty upon the throne of these realms, a Queen Consort, whose virtues are an earnest that her example will be a signal blessing to the court and the nation.

"Our sincere and fervent prayers shall never cease to ascend to the Almighty and most merciful God, by whom thrones are established, and upon whose favour all happiness depends, that in his good pleasure the life of your most gracious Majesty may be long spared to countenance and encourage all moral and Christian excellence, that your Majesty, and your Majesty's illustrious Consort, may enjoy all holy felicity, and that having lived together as heirs of the grace of life,' you may finally receive the crown that fadeth not away.”

To which her Majesty read, in an interesting manner, the following reply :— "I return my hearty thanks for this very dutiful and affectionate address.

"Your expressions of devoted loyalty to his Majesty's person, and confidence in his well-known character for liberality, cannot but give me the most sensible satisfaction; and I am happy in this op portunity of expressing my unfeigned gratitude for the kind wishes you offer up for my temporal and eternal happiness."

Seven senior ministers of each denomination, were admitted to the honour of kissing the Queen's hand; and the body then retired from the palace highly gratified by their gracious reception.

ADDRESSES OF THE SOCIETY OF
FRIENDS TO THEIR MAJESTIES.

After the Dissenting Ministers retired, the Deputation from the Society of Friends, having been first uncovered by the Yeoman of the Guard, proceeded to present their address to the King, which was read in a solemn manner by Mr. William Allen.

MEETINGS IN OPPOSITION ΤΟ THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE BODY OF DISSENTING MINISTERS.

It is a melancholy and notorious fact, that the greater part of the Presbyterian Ministers, associated with the general body of the Dissenting Ministers, meeting at the Library, Red Cross Street, London, have departed from the faith of their forefathers, and are known as the advocates of the Unitarian creed. The association of orthodox Ministers, with these gentlemen, has been publicly censured by many, and several ministers, of both the Independent and Baptist denominations, have formally seceded from the general body on that account.

A religious newspaper, the Record, conducted by an Episcopalian, and subservient to the interests of that party, has professed to be much grieved with this political alliance amongst dissenters, and has dealt out very zealous and unsparing censures upon them, while its editor strangely overlooks the anomalous religious union of his own church, in which he holds monstrous fellowship with, and recognizes ministerial authority in men who entertain every variety of theological opinion, from the lowest grade of neologism, up to the dreary lights of antinomian blasphemy. Surely our Lord's advice, "first cast out the beam out of thine eye," &c. Matt. vii. 1-5., might be profitably regarded by Christians so circumstanced.

Individuals, however, will be always found, who are easily taken by such professions of zeal for the truth, and who are unable to distinguish between political association and Christian fellowship. The appointment of Mr. Aspland, a Unitarian minister, to read the addresses to the throne, has greatly increased the displeasure of some of this party, and that arrangement appeared, to a certain individual, who meddles with every thing, to present a fine opportunity for the display of his zeal for the truth, though at the expense of the good name of the regular pastors of the dissenting churches, who, in one way or other, he had repeatedly aspersed.

The following advertisement was therefore published, convening a meeting.

"Socinian Representation of Dissenters ut the Throne.-Some Friends who advocate the Divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ, invite the attendance of persons of similar sentiments, at a Public Meeting, on Tuesday, August 10, at the City of London Tavern, to decide the following question:

"The Gazette of this kingdom having announced that a deputation of three denominations of Dissenters had lately

an audience with King William the Fourth, and Queen Adelaide, to present an Address of condolence and congratulation, at which the Rev. Mr. Aspland, a Socinian minister, on behalf of the Dissenters of the United Kingdom, read the Address, it remains to be decided, whether Dissenters in general consider that a Socinian minister be such a representation as will meet the approbation of those who hold the doctrine of the essential Divinity of the Saviour? or whether such representation should be protested against, as contrary to the desires and opinions of Dissenting Laymen in general, who cannot agree in the sentiments of Socinians?

"It is not intended to discuss, or to admit a discussion on the subject of the Divinity of the Saviour, but simply and solely, whether Dissenters in general consider a Socinian minister a fair repre

sentative of Trinitarians at the Throne.

"No disrespect is intended by this meeting to Socinian ministers or laymen, who have an undoubted right to form a deputation to the Throne for themselves, but to inquire whether the members of the Red Cross Street Library, as the meeting-place of Dissenters, should not be respectfully invited to select a minister, in future, to approach the Throne, whose sentiments are agreeable to the views of those who hold the doctrine of the Messiah's Divinity; or, should this not be agreeable, whether the Dissenters should not appoint a more consistent representative to the Throne in future.

"Mr. G. C. Smith, minister of the Mariner's Church, and of Galilee Chapel, will introduce the question. The Chair to be taken at Six o'Clock precisely."

A meeting was accordingly held, and it is not for us, who were not present, to describe its riotous proceedings; but if they were reported with any degree of fairness in the public journals, they must be regarded as in every way disgraceful to the parties engaged, and most injurious to the sacred doctrines they supposed themselves called to defend.

The design of these remarks is to dis abuse the public mind of those impres sions which the erroneous statements of the above advertisement may produce. The addresses presented to their Majesties were not "on behalf of the Dissenters of the United Kingdom," or on behalf of the Dissenters in any particular part of the kingdom, but in behalf of that body, who, having first signed them, attended in their own persons to present them to the throne. There was, therefore no 66 representation" in the case, for no individuals were involved in, or responsible for, the addresses, but those

dissenting ministers who first voted, then subscribed to, and at length presented these documents to their Sovereigns. It was, therefore, on the part of the individual who convened the meeting, an ignorant meddling with business which he does not understand, and with which he can have no connexion.

However we may deplore the fact that Mr. Aspland, who read the Addresses, is a Unitarian, yet we must do him the jus tice to record that he discharged the duty with great propriety, and has always manifested a zeal for religious liberty, and a spirit which some of his assailants on this

occasion will do well to imitate.

We perceive from the following advertisement, that sympathetic movements have appeared in another quarter.

"At a Select Meeting of Protestant Dissenting Ministers, held at Trinity Chapel, Leather Lane, on Monday, August 9, 1830, the Rev. Joseph Ivimey in the Chair, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted :

"1. That as there are many Protestant Dissenting ministers, of various denominations, in and about London, who have no representation on public occasions, it is thought that a Society should be formed, to consist exclusively of ministers of Trinitarian principles.

"2. That the objects of such Society shall be to give Trinitarian Dissenting Ministers an opportunity to make known their united opinions on all suitable occasions, especially, should the civil or religious liberties of Protestant Dissenters be in any way endangered.

"3. That a copy of these Resolutions be sent to every Trinitarian Dissenting Minister residing in and about London, or within the limits of the Twopennypost, requesting them to attend a meeting for the formation of the projected Society, on Monday, the 30th inst., at Trinity Chapel, Leather Lane, Holborn, and that the Rev. Thomas Smith, 13, Kirby Street, be Secretary, pro tem."

Time will reveal who these parties are; we suspect, however, that the respectable ministers who have lent their names to this scheme, if it proceed, will soon find themselves identified with the teachers of error, more baneful to the souls of men, because more popular than Socinianism can be. It will be well if the scene of the cave of Adullam be not revived, when 66 every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered

themselves." Who in that case will be the captain over them?

REVOLUTION IN FRANCE.

It is impossible for us not to advert to the glorious triumph which the cause of civil and religious liberty has gained in France since our last number was passing through the hands of the printer. On the 27th, 28th, and 29th of July, another revolution was effected in the capital of that country, which, though attended with considerable bloodshed, displayed a moderation, a steadiness, and a good sense, on the part of the people, which entitle them to the highest admiration. Charles X., now an exile in this country, goaded on by a Jesuitical priesthood, and the partizans of the Holy Alliance, in a moment of the most_complete infatuation, grossly violated the chartered and established rights of his people, set at defiance the laws of the empire, abolished the liberty of the press, and declared the law of election to be null and void-thereby expecting to arrest the free expression and circulation of public opinion, and the convention of a chamber that would oppose and check his arbitrary projects. The Duke of Orleans, now Philip I., has been called to the throne, and the French government is proceeding to give such modifications to the constitution, as the rights and exigencies of the nation require.

readers on the decisive blow which has Most sincerely do we congratulate our been given to Popery in France, by the change that has thus been effected. The article of the French Charter which declared the Roman Catholic and Apostolic Religion to be the Religion of the State," has been abolished, and the following adopted in its stead: "The Ministers of the Catholic, Apostolic, and Roman Religion, professed by the majority of Frenchmen, together with those of other Christian doctrines, shall be supported at the public expense."

66

KENT ASSOCIATION.

"

The annual meeting of the Kent Independent Association, was held at the Rev. R. Kemp's, Tonbridge, on Tuesday Rev. S. Gurteen, of Canterbury, preachand Wednesday, the 6th and 7th July. ed on Tuesday evening, from Matt. vi.10, the Association was transacted during the Thy kingdom come." The business of afternoon of Wednesday; the morning and evening of that day being devoted to the concerns of the Kent Auxiliary to the London Missionary Society. It appeared from the statements made, that great need existed for more extended efforts to introduce the gospel in some parts of the county which are still destitute of the means of evangelical in