6. That whilst =this Meeting= acknowledge the efforts made by a former
Administration, who have now succeeded to the Government, and by liberal
Members of the Legislature to remove the impediments which prevent
Dissenters from sharing the benefits and honours of our =National English
Universities=--they have yet to complain that the spirit of intolerance,
and of selfish and sectarian exclusion, has been triumphant; and that
even the Charter to the London University, founded on expansive and wise
principles, has been deferred: and especially as on the survey of Europe
and America, and even of Scotland, they discover that Colleges and
Universities, with powers of conferring degrees, have been numerously
and usefully established--and as they believe that the prevalence in
England of similar liberality would improve our national destinies, and
give cause both for Science and Religious Liberty to rejoice.
7. That many other matters prejudicial to Dissenters require
interposition and relief--as, 1. The absurd jurisdictions of the
Ecclesiastical Courts, and their powers to enforce by penance and
indefensible punishment the decrees they pronounce. 2. The liability of
Dissenters to provide substitutes if chosen church-wardens. 3. The heavy
charges arising from the want of some summary means of perpetuating the
Trusts of their Chapels, without the enormous tax from frequent
conveyances at present sustained. 4. The non-extension to them of the
remission of duties chargeable on the materials used in the erection of
their places for worship, which is allowed in favour of the churches and
chapels of the Established Church. 5. The powers of the clergy to
prohibit the tolling of the bell on the death or funeral of Dissenting
parishioners, and to refuse the admission of their corpses into the
church, and to read the Burial Service over those who die unbaptized,
though interred in the parish church-yard. 6. The exclusion of
Dissenting Ministers from officiating (as is permitted in Ireland) in
church-yards at the interment of friends. 7. The difficulty of
punishing, summarily, the interruptions of public worship by the
persecuting or profligate. And 8. The right of Clergymen, however
prejudiced, incompetent, and unpopular, officially to preside at
Vestries of parishioners; as well as other matters, diversified and
vexatious, which chiefly arise from the peculiar favour manifested to
the Established Church, and the withholdment of that perfect equality as
to civil rights between religionists of every class, for which =this
Society= will ever contend.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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