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    Commonwealth , the variance was , that the lady , in addition to her other engagements , promised obedience , as well as fidelity and love , ( Laughter and applause . ) If marriage was to be again a papal sacrament , or a religious act , then who

    could be so proper to officiate as those holy Christian pastors who interceded for us in our infancy , watched over us in childhood , and who have marked with interest our opening loves ? Who with more effect would unite our destinies , and breathe out for us an affectionate

    and fervent prayer ? ( Loud applause . ) During the late short session , the attention of the Committee was directed to the rive important Acts that so much affected our public liberties , and especially to the bill for preventing Seditious Meetings . After a correspondence with Lord Liverpool , from whom they received

    the most prompt and polite attention , a provision was inserted exempting all meetings held in rooms and buildings from the operation of the bill . Had not such clause been inserted , that Meeting could not have been held : for any meeting of more than fifty persons , for

    the purpose , or on the pretext of deliberating upon any public grievance , or any matter in Church or State , except parish meetings , became illegal . Then the Test and Corporation Acts would have been eternalized ; and what were the subjects of all their deliberations , but those which related to matters of Church or State ?

    ( Hear , hear . ) The insertion of that clause was a measure of great importance ; and when it was recollected that the Act had been twice committed in the House of Commons , and sanctioned by vast majorities before the insertion of the clause , might he not affirm that again the friends to religious freedom had been

    the best upholders of civil liberty , and again claim for them the eulogy of Hume , " That by the Puritans alone the sacred spark of freedom was preserved . " ( Loud applauses . ) But he hardly ought to detain them . ( Loud cries of hear , hear ^ and from the noble Chairman , " jVo , go on : )

    From Parliamentary affairs , then , he would proceed to state some cases of Disturbances and Riots . Cases at a Sunday-school in the Edgeware Road , at Corton , in Wiltshire , near Basingstoke , and at Southwick , in Hampshire , were alluded to : some of which had been

    settled by local exertions , and in others prosecutions against the offenders were depending . At Alvington , in Gloucestershire , disturbances of a nature more serious had occurred . The congregation waa often disturbed by many persons , one of them a man dressed la a morris dancing jacket , who danged in the place

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    They pinched the women , imitated shaving : with a stick , and by noises within and external disturbances , had affrighted some , and disturbed the peace of all . One of the gentlemen attending the Chapel applied to the Society , and no sooner was the application known , than the offenders sought to propitiate the poor Dissenters they had insulted ; attended at the next

    occasion of worship , expressed publicly their sorrow , and promised in future to conduct themselves with propriety . The matter was thus happily concluded . To the Society ^ might be applied the motto , <( Stat nominis umbra . " By pacific measures they converted their enemies to friends ; again wolves might be changed to lambs ; and a peaceful , useful triumph was obtained . ( Applause . )

    But there was a class ot miscellaneous aggressions which he could not classify under any of the previous divisions ; they were , however , not less intolerant , nor less oppressive . Amongst such cases to which he referred , was one at Sherringham , near Poole . There resided a worthy man of celebrated name . He bore that name of John Bull which was

    celebrated through the world . ( Laughter ) This John Bull had improved an inferior building on his farm , and converted it into a commodious Chapel for religious worship , by Protestant Dissenters . A

    neighbouring clergyman instigated the landlord of John Bull to give him notice to quit the premises , of which he had a lease , because he had by an improvement dilapidated the estate . The landlord ventured to commence an action of

    ejectment . The honest farmer , not affluent , but firm , nobly resolved that he would sell his waggon and best team of horses before he would yield to the attempt . But the Society prevented that sacrifice ; and no sooner was an appearance entered to the action , than all further proceedings were abandoned , and John Bull was left

    m peaceful possession of his domain . ( Laughter and applause . ) Many former triumphs of John Bull resulted from his obstinacy , and had generally been stained with blood and been succeeded by distress ; but this was a victory which humanity and religion could not but approve . ( Hear ? hear . )

    Another case of oppression towards a labourer , at Stretton upon Dimsmoor , in the county of Warwick , that excited horror and sympathy , was stated with tenderness and great effect , ; bat as the aggressors , including t < he churchwardens

    and the principal officers- and farmers are indicted , and will be tried # th& next assizes for the offence , ^ e -abstain from a detail , t ha * UftfrtiW offenders , or assist in th ^^ ef 60 C £ >~ Mr , WiHuj then proceffiwl * tf ! -fc * H ^* W » -t *

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    488 IntelUg'enc ^ . - ^ Protestant So ciety : Mr . Wilktfs Speech *

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Aug. 2, 1820, page 488, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2491/page/44/