29 DECEMBER 1838, Page 13

THE DISSENTERS IN MOTION.

PROOT..SHEETS of an article entitled " Proceedings and Position of the Dissenters," in the fbrtheoming number of the Eclectic Review, for January 1839, have reached us. It is known to most of our readers, that the great majority of the Nonconformist body, com- prising the Evangelical or Orthodox Dissenters, as distinguished from the Unitarians, have very little Parliamentary influence. There are between twenty and thirty Unitarian Members, the Reviewer says, in the House of Commons; but " only one solitary Member (Mr. Banas) is recognized as ranking with Evangelical Dissenters." It is admitted that the Unitarians deserve their political influence, by their superior activity, wealth, and compact organization. But they have formally dissolved all connexion with the Orthodox Dis- senters.—being irritated by an attempt to deprive them of certain chapels and shares in charitable funds. which they have possessed for many years. After the secession of the Unitarians, the great body of tho Dissenters felt as if they were cut off from all connexion with the Government and Legislature of the country. The Unita- rians had done the business of the various sects. and alone had easy access to the Ministers. " Dissenters, though not deficient in head or heart, have not yet fimund their hands."

In the general election of 1b37, though seven millions, they could only secure the return of one Member of Parliament. They are resolved to do better at the next opportunity. hitherto they have given " support and confidence, without hesitation, to Repre- sentatives having no connexion and little sympathy with them as a religious body ;" but it is considered politic to assume a new at- titude— "'The circumstances of the times render an adherence to this disinterested [(pm. supine ?", policy no longer compatible with a just regard either to the sacred interests that are at stake or to their own social position."

With a view to organization, it is proposed to establish a " Gene- ral Union for the promotion of Religious Equality "- " The immediate object of this Union is to briny the concentratedflow of es- lighleued public sentiment to bear more effectually upon legislation ; and to secure for this lowpose en efficient coateration between the fliends of religious liberty in the British empire in detente of their common rights and privneges. The Fundamental Resolutions' affirm it to be 'the inalienable because it is the paramount duty' of every man, to worship God ac- cording to his religious convictions of the Divine will; and declare, that to compel any one to contribute to the support of religious rites of which he dis- approves, is manifestly unjust, and st vanallee with the spirit and principles at Christhunity ; also, that chart Is establishments involve * violation of equity towards "trier denominations, create serious impediments to the propagation of the gospel, render the union of Protestants impracticaide, and arc the occasien of inevitable social discord.'

" The present plan contemplates HU illicit agitation, no sinister purpose of sectarian partisanship, vu attempt to obtain fire ether 'religious bodies a share of the ecclesiastical revenues time •..ountry. It is submitted under a deep souse of the obligations devolving upon the Christiah citizen. the po triot, and the philan- thropist, at this critical a.m. The very concessions to she principles of religious liberty and equality that have been pined. have imposed upon the conservators of those principles new duties arising out of thew altered social position—a position exposing them at the same time to the vindictive jealousies of ftwmi- &hie opponents. Should they decline to ;discharge the public duties thus de- volved upon them, or relax in their vigorous resissame to new encroachments. it is easy to foresee that the very adv;mtages that have been won will eventu- ally be tamed against them.' " In pursuing this course, of' independent action, it is plain that the Dissenters disregard the influence it may have on time fate of the Whig Ministry and party ; of whose weakness and treachery they seem to be fully convinced. " Their former friends," it is said, " are in power and—lauuoi're inabeid mores." The loss of the seat which the Liberals ought to have retained in Essex is thus accounted for— " The Dissenters of Essex form two-fiftlo‘ of the populatian—a minority so powerful as to awaken the jealousy a thc landed interest ; aid hence the very Whigs have played into the hands: of the Conservatives. Essex has been lost, partly owing to the aristocratic supineness or treacherous neutrality of Lord Western, and the defection of the Baring.; partly thaoadi the impossibility of producing from among its higoted gentry a decent Liberal candidate."

The " temporizing, indecisive, evasive, and haughty conduct" of the Whigs " towards the Dissenters "—the indisposition of the Whigs to risk any thing for the sake of their.former allies "—these and similar expressions continually occurring in the Eclectic article, indicate that the old delusion in ihvour of the Whigs is at an end. What fruit the new movement will produce, remains to be seen. We hail with satisfaction the symptom of awakenina energy and self-reliance in so large a portion of the middle classes. Their re- cent supineness and subserviency to time placemen has been incal- culably- mischievous. It is not a sufficient excuse, that the aristo- cratic Unitarians handed them over to the Ministers. Let their future conduct prove that they are really ashamed of what we must call their present degraded position in the country. They are seven millions—with oue Member of Parliament !