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Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul clichd, il est filmd d partir de Tangle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthoae. 'rata o lelure, I a 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 KEPORT Ac.i OF THE SPEECHES & PROCEEDINGS AT A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE ^mnilU ^\kAx^^^$$(>mtm 0f ^^onfrmf^ HELD ON MONDAY EVENING, APRIL 8, 1850, TO TAKK INTO OONSIPEBATION THE ACTION OF THE BOABD OF DIRECTION IV RESPBOT TO THE EXPULSION OF THE i< CHRISTIAN INQUIEER" FROM THE NEWS ROOM. PRINTED BY JAMES POTTS, HERALD OFFICE. r -^ iil Ifi REPORT .«, ifi Of a Special Muting of the Mercantile Library Association of Montreal, convtntd by the President in compliance with a requisition from thirty-nine membertf and held in the Rhecabite Hall, on Monday Evening, the Sth of April, 1860. The President, Mr. Theodork Lyman, took the Chair about 8 o'clock, P. M., and called the meeting to order. Mr. Lyman then read the requisition, and briefly expkined that the object o? the meeting was *'to take into consideration the action of the B<,ard of Direction in respect to the expulsion of the Christian Inquirer newspaper from the News Room." He urged members to bear and forbear ; to conduct the proceedings in a kind spirit ; to avoid theological discussion, and all offensive remarks. He hoped that the Meeting would advance the interests of the Association, and called upon the Requisitionbts to bring forward the business which the meeting had boen convened to consider. Mr. S. Lester Taylor rose, and said— Before I call upon the Secretary ',o read the Imvn deliberation,-,--- — , — ^--^ „ , ., j that those who are acting with me entertain similar sentiments, and will not desert the Institution, in event of an adverse verdict, which I do not, cannot, and will not appre. hend. I hold in my hand official copies of some of the resolutions, but I believe it will be mrre correct, more b\isiness like and more satisfactorv, more in accordance with official etiquette and established usage, for you, Mr. President, to request the Secretary to read from the Minute Book, the resolutions passed by the Board in respect to the matter we have met to consider. I therefore now call upon you, Sir, to direct the Secretary to read the resolution expelling the newspaper from the News Room, which was passed by the late Board of Direction in December, and also the resolution of the existing Board deeming it "inexpedient" to receive the newspaper into the Room; and I must further request that the Secretary will read the resolution of the late Board, by which it was deliberately determined to receive this proscribed journal, and all other action of the Board touching it. , T,r ^ t. • The Presiwent— Anticipating this call, the Directors met on last Monday Evening, and appointed a Committee to draw up a report, which the Secretary will now read. Mr. Tavlor— I must object to the reception of this report. We are not competent to receive it ; we have not met for that purpose ; we are not assembled to receive a reply to an Address, but to arrive at the simple and unadorned truth. The Directors will have an opportunity to explain their conduct in the course of the debate. They can verbally give reasons for the faith that is in them, and inform the members by what motives they were actuated, but it is due to the members to let them hear the naked IT6Solut)lOTlS lT63.n. The President— I think the Report will be the most convenient way of bring- in g the matter before the meeting. Mr. Taylor— I would prefer the resolutions by themselves. Several Directors from their seats. The Report will be found satisfactory. J. J. Day, Esquire— I agree with Mr. Taylor. I know notUuig respecting the merits of this business, and wish to first be put in possession of the simple facts. The Report may prejudge the matter, and I think the meeting is entitled to the resolutions from the Minute Book. . r u -o John Leemino, Esquire— I see no reasonable objections to the reception of the Re- Eort, if it embodies all the resolutions. Does it contain them all ! If it does not, we ad better have them read. . Several Directors— It contains the substance of all the resolutions, and was drawn up by a Committee, and afterwards approved of by the Directors. Mr. Taylor— We do not want the substance. People differ as to what constitu- tes the substance of a resolution. If the resolutions are read, each member can judge of the substance for himself. I must again, Mr. President, urge my request. The President gave the requisite order, when the Recording Secretary read the foliowing from the iiook of Record :— The first exlntct does not appear to have been recorded an a formal resolution, but as the record of a getieral agreement arrived at by the Board of Direction. 1849, Oct. 1st. — " The News Room Committee also reverted and submitted to the Board, a letter which the Superintendent had received from Mr. Benjamin Work- man, presenting the Association in the name of the Rev. Mr. Cordner, with a paper entitled the Chrittian Inquirer, for one year, upon which it was resolved to allow the paper to remain on the Table of the News F»oom, until the next meeting of the Board, :■ trhen it should be re-considered." a ^ 1849, Nov. 6th. — It was moved and carried — "That the Corresponding Secretary be instructed to intimate to Benjamin WorKraan in reply to his letter, that the Chrii- tian Inquirer would be received and laid on the Table. 1840. Dec. 3rd. — It was moved and carried—^' That the members of thfe Board are of opinion that the Christian Inquirer should be no longer received into ths Rooms, on account of the insidious tendency of the articles which are found in its columns.', 1849, Dec. 21st. — It was moved and carried — " That the Board are of opinion that nnder the present cii'cumstances of the Association, it is considered inexpedient to re- ceive the Christian Inquirer in its Rooms."* 1860, April 1st. — It was moved and carried unanimously — " That the Board of Direction regret that the action of the preceding Board, with reference to the Chrit- lian Inquirer, should have wounded the feelings of any portion of the members of this institution, that although they are in no way responsible for any action of that Board, yet they cannot refram from an expression of their opinion that such was not tho purpose of their predecessors. At the same time they feel it to be their duty to re- present to the members of the Association, that the action which the present Board took upon the matter, was dictate*! by a sincere desire for the welfare of the institu- tion, based as it was upon the reasons conveyed in tho resolutions passed at the Special ; Meeting of the Board, held on the 21st December last, to the effect that it was inex- >! pedient to receive the paper." Mr. Taylor — I regret, Sir, that there has been any necessity for this meeting. To strengthen, encourage and aid the Board in the performance of its duty, has ever been my study and wish ; and I believe that members generally entertain the kindest sentiments towards the Directors, and wish to sustain them in whatever course they may determine upon. I have great pleasure in testifying to the zeal, energy, and i general good management of the Board, who are, I am quite satisfied, actuated by a sincere desire to further the best interests of the Institution— and I do not desire to censure them or impugn their general management. I have, therefore, drawn my resolution so as to avoid censuring the Board, and have confined it to simple disap- proval of certain resolutions that have been passed, and the affirmation of a broad and * general principle. I believe, that those persons who expelled the Christian Inquirer, ■ conceived that they were doing right. I do not question their sincerity ; but I regard i) their zeal as mistaken, and their course intolerant. I do not wish to censure the ran(l itH dwtrino aa " insid'oua." I hare abeady shewn that we have boon unjust towards the Unitarians, and 1 must now say, that coiwiderinw how much we owe to them, wc are exhibiting the blackest ingratitude. Let us contrast the conduct of our Association, with tho course puraoed by a sister society in the United States — a society that is far more prosperous than ours — a society that rejoices in 1700 members — a society that possesses a proprietary interest of ten thousand dollars in o splendid building, and a society that owns one of the most mag- nificent libraries on this continent. I refer to the Mercantile Library Association of Cincinnati, in whose last Annual Report I observe a glowing eulogy on the late Rev. Mr, Perkins, an Unitarian Clergyman to whom they were much indebted. I may remark that I am acquainted with Cincinnati, which is made up of a great variety of sects, which is nearly three times as populous as Montreal, and in which the Unitarians are not as proportionately numerous as they are in Montreal. Mr. Perkins died last autumn, and his loss is mentioned in the Report in the following words. Mr. Taylor here began to read from the Report, and was interrupted by Mr. Henry Ltman, who rose to order. He had not come there to hear an eulogy on Unitarianism, or Unitarians, or the Rev. Mr. Perkins. What Mr. Taylor was read- ing had nothing to do with the question before the meeting, and he must ^ Mr. Taylob — I must call upon you Mr. President, to prevent these inter- ruptions. The gentleman does not understand my argument. Perhaps ho may hav© heard of contrast. I am endeavoring to make ray argument powerful by contrast. I am endeavoring to show that in a city where Unitarians are much less numerous in Eroportion than they are here that justice is done to them ; that an Institution which I chiefly composed of Trinitarians does not brand the doctrines of those who differ from them in religious opinion, as " insidious." I wish to shew the unenviable position that we occupy before the world, and to impress members with the extreme narrowness that has been exhibited. I am not an Unitarian, and with the great cardinal feature in their creed, which di&tinguishes them from nearly all other religious sects, I have no sympathy whatever ; but as I have before stated, I am prepared to do justice to all, and stand here to argue for perfect mental freedom, I am speaking to my own reso- lution, and trust that I shall be allowed to speak to it in my own way, and without in- terruption. Mr. Taylor here concluded reading the extract from the Report, and then remarked, — I had intended reading the resolution adopted by the general meeting of this body, but as the Pamphlet seems to trouble some persons, I will omit it, and con- tent myself with saying that a highly eulogistic resolution on Mr, Perkins was moved at a fuU laeoting by a staunch Trinitarian, with whom I have the honor of being ac- quainted — ^was adopted unanimously, and was placed on the permanent records of the Association. This is what was done in Cincinnati by a sister society. What have we done here ? This city. Sir, is peopled by men of different races and creeds. We differ much on political and religious topics, and here, above all other places, Christian charity should prevail. Our Protestant denominations are pretty equally divided, and interest should teach us to consent to differ. If we were all composed, or nearly all belonged to one sect, there might be more reason for discountenancing the views of a very small sect— . though that would be neither just or generous — but as we appeal to all for support, we must be prepared to mete out to all without distinction, even handed justice. An liastitution like this cannot flourish in our divided community if it exhibits the slightest sectarian taint. We must consent to differ, and we shall get along all the better for it. If the principle which has been acted upon, is approved, I ask members where they will stop ? We have expelled an Unitarian newspaper gratuitously presented. Shall " ' ■ " ' '^ ■ ' ■ •' ' •• " Shall we expel complete works never read, but I find by the Literary Gazetteer, that is so immoral in tone and obscene in language, that it was, by order of the authorities, pubhcly burned by the common hangman of Paris, We have the works of Frederick The Great, the friend and patron of Voltaire. Shall we expel them ? We have the complete works of Voltaire, tho most formidable oppooentthat Christianity ever encountered. Shaii we expel his worlu ♦ I hope before they are oxpellod, that every member wiU read <"»• o'them-- f ^!*?/* A hi- KiAv on Toleration Thebe works are much less danKerous than the Sous iourMil. ' Shall «-» copy our Illustrious and patriotic n..oi.try « /"""'■'' •"' f r rfbcTJc .a,.c.atiou jour'/aU • Tbo mn... n>u»t tall «r»t a. tho ".-t^"/'-*^ of Annexation— next the Herald, and then the Courier. 1 he 1 ory papers musi come nLtand th'n thrRadical journils. and as each partv ^e^ "PP-7^^ - ^ ^^^^ until we have no newspapers whatever, wShall wo do this ? or shall w« "tu«e 10 recognfze poUtical or relJsious differences, in this non-pohtical and unsecUnau Insti- '"''°T hU Institution is chiefly composed of Protestants, and wo talk a good deal about theaWd'pfeSorSStUR^^^^^^^ Church to infallibility. We arc aU Ff J much fSuie The Church of Rome is infalUble ; wo are always right, bhe cannot err , wo Jeve; do I thTnk, upon the whole, that wo, Protestants,, have the f van)age--for whiewe escape the' ofium of extreme and doubtful pretensions we got t^^^^^^^^^^ nf Divine insoiration. All Churches set up great claims ; but it is gratitymi-, fo know ?L?birfew of E members feel disposed to carry out the exclusive vrows confined in the creeds and confessions of faith to which they subscribe. I give tlie ^enibers of iL Board who voted for the expulsion of the Jn^utVer full credit tor '^'ncenty-they ^a notthink that thev are intolerant; but I amat'raid that they are insensibly actuated bv Jn intotrantsS^^ that they have given a modified practical applica- Son ?o The ^me spirit that impelled pious and zealou. Catholics to burn heretics ; that Se ProtSnts^burn Cathofics ; that induced the Church to persecute Dissenters ; Tafm^e the " pSm in their turn, burn and persecu Q^aj^^rs and WitcC True religious liberty can only exist when men agree to judge their fellows *'^^"had?he'lS'ure'of'at;^^^^^^^^^ - another capacity. this winter m the caD^itv of a r^^^^^^ tb« invitation ox ended to me aXratifiedby the'^^^^^ in which my remarks were received I eudeavoured Kove on that occasion, that there was nothing narrow, intolerant or sectarian m commice : that it opened men's minds and gave them comprehensive and hberal views j Commercial meS had been the pioneers of all great hberty movements ; had been foremoSTn all good works ; that they had been the first * V'TIf atT^^tha? thev were chains of the system that smik the individual m the Church or JJate ? f at 3^^^ the true friencfs of freedom, and the sworn foes of tyranny. , ^^^^f /JJ^J"J ^Lt "^^^^ had succeeded in making out a strong case, and from your cheers I thought that you SS?eSdtSe'»mco^„io„;butlSa.tco„fe..ha*jhaved„^^^^^^^^^ ft t, . circumsUnce applicable to tms suoject »tix«-c» "^ "y"' — • '« "> t nwor vou of it You will remenS^er that but a few years ago, m this Province of Lower Sada none buHhe Clergy of the Roman Catholic &hurch and the C ergy of the ChSch of England, were IJtitled by law to marry the living, or bury the dead A LeSaturercSy composed of Roman Catholics, granted to al other denominations KrvilSeX/enjoyed themselves. Shallweshewourselveslessliberalthanthey ? ril^rv win cSSy obey our wishes. Let us g\ve them that advice. Let us SiT;byCunanimou3%ote that we are e«»ghtened,. tolerant ; up to the age^ rant'sentiments contained'in the resolutions passed by the/r^«o^=^ P^^^'^^r^^^^ •nd affirm the broad and comprehensive principle enunciated m the resoluUon vmcn I have bad the honor to propose, and which I wiU agam read. . 9 it Mr J MiTRRAT— Mp. PrMltlent, I rise to second the resolution moved by Mr. T»T- lor *He hft-* gone so fully into the subject, that I shall conftno my remarks to a simple •xplanatlon of tho maimer in v/> Ii tho newspapnr was introduced into tho News Room The paper was not forceuv,.* the Institutiou by tJuitariani. Ihe circumstance* were theso. Somi'time last summer,— in Augiist I bollcvi._a member mot mo m the street and enoulrid of mn why wo had no Unitarian newspaper in tho room as we had those of other denominations. I replied that the Association was too poor, upon which he asked if wlogize. That we concur m the opuiioa of llie present Di- «rto« that it is not exiMjdient to add tlie '* Cluistian Inquirer" to the number of newspapers received into our rooms." The amendment is now before you, and I would earnestly implore all present to consider that the probable existence of the Association may depend upon its rejection ^^ *Mp/wi'nn said he came forward after a long period, during which he had not appeared before the Association, to take part in warding a blow, which, if it took et- fect, might destroy the Institution. The feeling already excited was sufficient to convince any one, that unless this unfortunate business were gently handled, the Association might be expected to dwindle till it perhaps became extinct. It was not necessary to say anything to increase the warmth of feeling and cordiality entertained by every member of this body for the Institution. Nor was it necessary to dwell on the fact of its being highly calculated to build up and form an enlightened taste among the young men of the Library Association. The literary character of the city in fact depended upon this Institution. Those who moved that amend- ment, came forward with a desire to suppress all unkind feelings ; not to advocate any intolerant views of their own ; but to make peace between those who differed, and he would desire all to recollect, as religion had been spoken of, that the rehgiott in which they all believed, pronounced a special blessing on the peacemakers. He would say nothing in disparagement of the excellent Mr. Perkins, on whom the mo- ver had passed, he had no doubt, a well deserved eulogy ; nor would he attempt to diminish the respect, which all felt for commercial pursuits. But he desired the Asso- ciation to adopt such a view of this case as would end all hostility, and with this ob- ject, he came forward. What did the Board allege ? They said that on the spur of the moment, individual members of the Board had drawn up the minute relative to this paper, whicli was never meant to be made public, and which, as gentlemen, they would have cut off their heads rather than have sent to wound the ieelmgs of any professor of the Unitarian faith The resolution, however, by mistoke was sent to a ffentleman holding that creed, a ho was the agent for the '•' Christian Inquirer, - -° /> 1 ^1..^ ^u.i. i.i~~.»_ _.,.,1,1 n»f V\o.\n onnoiHomncr if. 9.4 tL studied in- this having been done, should they now shirk the responsib'.Uty of the act, B &UU uS 10 or cast the entirfi blame on otiiors. No, tliey cauio forward aA men, as gantlemen, as christians, to bear their full share of the burden, aad to tender aa apology, such as must be satisfactory to any gentleman. They t<^idered the olive branch of peace ; and ii; that same spirit they went on to the second part of the amendment. But it would perhaps be said, well, if you are willing to make peace, why not undo what you have done ? That involved a different question. It was the introduction of this paper, whioli was the occasion of strife, and a larije number of persons entertain- ed the opinion that ils continiu'd reception would diminish the number of subscribers to the Association and be a continual source of ill feeling. It was replied, however, that on every principle of fair play, as other religious journals were taken, this should be taken also. l?iit there wore in Canada a considerable number of religious newspapers, and tiiough some more genei-aiiy smiglit for were taken, about three fourths of them were not taken. Why then should the smallest body of all nrake this bitter complaint ? If these local papoi-s were not taken, why should any one feel annoyed that a foreign journal was exclud'Ml ? A Voice — Are they presented gratulton.sly ? Mr. Winn continued— TIjo question of the paper being given certainly ought not to be taken into consideration. If 'ts reception would lose subscribers, the Asso- ciation would be the loser though they paid nothing to have the paper. But, as he was observing, as there waj no local ITniairian organ there could be no cause of complaint. There were thirty or forty religious newspapers published ii. the Unit- ed States, of which only one, which was the organ of several ci»ristian bodies was received ; h was therefore most unreasonable to expect that a paper, the organ of the verv smallest body should be taken, \ .lile the rest were excluded. He would appeal to *he kindly feelings of gentlemen of the Unitarian faith— he would ask themselves when the Board was ready to unsay what it had said to give otience, wo'dd they ask us to receive a paper the receiving of whic7i would do mischief to the Institution? — Much had been said about intolerance ; but he had long learned to appreciate loud talking of that kind at its worth. The more loudly the lion roared, the more cer- tain was it that he was — you know what a lion's skin. Therefore he did not feel much hurt at imputations of bigotry and intolerance. If to do all he could to sustain the society wf s to be illiberal, he was illiberal ; if to love peace were intolerant, he was intolerant ; if to cherish awarm sense of the benefits of that Association were bigo- try, he was a bigot. Mr. Alex. Mokuis confessed t'iat he felt pleasure in seeing so large a number of members of the Association present on that occasion, though he regretted the circum- stances which had given rise to the meeting, and especially regretted their occurrence at a time when the Association was about to appeal to the public for pecuniary aid. Whatever, the decision might be that night, it seemed too probable that that appeal would be injured by the present discussion. He was as much in favour of tolera- tion as any man could be ; but he felt that the Directors were elected to carry on the business of the Association, according to their best discretion, and that they ought to be supported in their measures by their constituents. The Board felt they were responsible for the effect of their proceedings, and that while prejudices existed in this community, opposed to the reception of this paper, it was n'ecessary that it should be excluded. There was an unconscious mistv-.e, however, in the remarks of the gen- tleman who moved this resolution. The second Board found the paper excluded, and declined to receive it, believing it not to be for die interests of the Association todoso. He was also mistaken in saying that thefirst minute for rejecting the resolution ■was forced through the Board a minute before the Board was dissolved. The first intention was to recommend the foUowing Board to consider the subject, and it was only when the chairman refused to put this vote, because it would embarrass then- successors that the minute was adopted. Mr. Murray did not refuse to put the resolution referred to. He merely stated that a recommendation would fetter the succeeding Board. Mr. McDonald said he was present at the meeting in question, and in his opinion, Mr. Morris was nearest the truth. Mr. Morris continued— It was an unfortunate mistake that the resolution was sent by the Secretary of the 7\ssociation to the agent of the newspaper, because it was plain that that m ght wound the feelings of Mr. Workman. The true question to be decided was, whether it were expedient to take this paper in the intorost of the- Assne!.a= tion— whether it would contribute to the interests of the Institution. He believed it could not cond ice to the harmony of the Association. The first religious papers came 1! 11 t Into the room when it was joined bv the late Religioua Library. The question now mooted was not a new one. It had been broiight forward on the occaaion when the Bible Christian was sought to be introduced ; and tnen, as now, it seemed to be the general, and as ho thought the correct opinion, that those papers should be alone selected which were agreeable to the majority. Benjamin Workman, Esquire— Allusion having been made tome by name, by the last speaker, as having taken serious offence at tijo Board of Direction, I would saj that such is not the case. I intertain no harsh feelings, and am n^ady to extend to- wards them and towards all my cc-corporators i.i this Association, feelings of kindness, and neighbourly respect and deference, whether they vote with mo or against me ; and now that 1 am upon my legs I may say that certain assertions having been made in one of the journals of this city, that it had boon stated in the Inquirer that if Christ had lived in Boston at the present day— (here Mr. W. was interrupted by o.xpressiona of disapprobation)— I merely wished to say Mr. President that I have a hie of the pa- per (the Inquirer) here, and will be happy to aftbrd any gentleman an opportunity of verifying the fact. John Young, Esquire — Mr. President, whicliever way this question may be de- cided — whether for or against the Resolution ottered — I shall in eitlier case remain iu and stand by the Association, and I trust that every member will conie to the same conclusion. Allusion has been Made to mo as the Founder of the Association, and to its progress. The latter fact is gratifying in the extreme. Ten years ago next No- vember, I put a notice into the newspapers calling on those who were favourable to such an institution to meet at the rooms of the Mechanics Institute. The meeting took place, and consisted of nine persons, three of whom were opposed to the forma- tion of the Association. You see what it has since become. The Association is how- ever only in its infancy. Difficulties have been already ovorcome, but greater ones are yet before you. Better times, however, are in prospect, and all will be surmounted if yoii are true to yourselves. The progress of this country and of this city in particu- lar, depends in some measure on the intelligence of its Merchants. The present clerks must, in due time, be the merchants, and as this Association is admirably adapted for aiFording the means of Intel lectual improvement, particularly to those who cannot afford to pay for private instruction, there is no friend of the Association but must deeply regret any circumstance which is hkely to endanger its existence, or sow djs, union among its members. In such an Association as this, there must be a diversity of belief as to religious matters, among its members. The object of the Association is to embrace all in its folds, irrespective of their opinions on poUtics or religion, and hence any attempt lo expel or stigmatize the opinion of any member or members, not only brands the Association as sectarian in its government, but deprives the members so stigmatized of that equal liberty, which the Association was intended to give to all. In this instance the Christian Inquirer was received by a Resolution of the Board, and as formally rejected at a later period for its "insidious dogtviwes." It is this receipt and expulsion of the paper, whicii gives it a sectarian character, and as one of the proscribed sect, I ijrotest against its injustice. I have no doubt, whatever, that the gentlemen on the Board, who expelled the Christian Inquirer, believed that the paper contained unsound doctrines, but I would wish them to understand, that I am equally conscientious, when I state that I believe in the truth of the doctrines therein taught, and I claim equal liberty of conscience, \Yith any member of this Association, and the rejection of the Christian Inquirer iov its doctrines, strikes, in my opinion, at the very root of religious liberty. As an Unitarian, 1 know that I am one of a small minority in this Association, but I cannot and will not believe, that the liberal minded young men of this Associatioa •will reject the proposed resolution, this matter through the instrumentality of tha press, has obtained a wide circulation, and the eyes of thousands in the United States and elsewhere are upon you as to the vote of this night. It is, however, but little matter to me, whether you decide for freedom this night cr not ; I t>eUeve my view of the matter to be correct, and under this view, should you reject the reso., lution proposed, I hereby promise that I will through the remainder of my life, at each regidar meeting of "^ the Association, until accomplished, offer a, resolution to re- movo what I consider this stain on our Association. It is a n\istake to say that any efforts have been made by Unitarians to force this pape^wto the room. Your records will show that some three years ago, when some one wished the Bible Christian, % small paper then published by the Unitarian Soci.ety of this city, to be admitted, i; opposed its introduction, as well as the i^dmissioaof any religious papers for I foreM,w 12 they would produce difficulty. Other religious papers have been taken into the roomt and all or none must now be received. John Lkemino, Esq., said he was happy to hear the determination of all parties, to stand by the Association, whatever might be the result of that niglit's meeting. The meeting had heard that if the resolution was not carried, it would be brought forward again and again, until what the first speaker called " perfect mental freedom" was obtained. Now he thought that as the Asociation had got wrong, the sooner it retracted its steps the better, and by so doing it might set itself right. He did not think that the interests of the Society could be advanced by delay and postponement ; and there certainly was no shame or reproach in retracing a false step. They had heard from the gentleman Avho had preceded Iiim that there was a resolution in the books adopted some years ago, to the effect that it was not desirable to take any reli- gious newspaper at all— and therefore he (Mr. L.) thought the best way to throw oil on the troubled waters would be to resolve that at the expiration of the present periods of subscriptions all religious newspapers should be banished from the Rooms of the Association. When he advocated that course he spoke merely for himself ; but it did appear to him that the only path of safety and of peace for the interest of the Mercan- tile Library Association was that which went back to the step where it got wrong — that Avas where they began to take religious newspapers— by so doing, he believed every thing might be made right. He did not think that taking these religious news- papers was necessary or would eventuate in the benefit of the Association. They were little read. People read or ought to read these religious newspapers at home. This Institution waa not established for that purpose. But this he would say that in the case before the meeting, that of excluding the Christian Inquirer, a degree of injustice was practised towards the Unitarian members of the Association, and that were he one of them he would take the view they took ; that it was unjust to refuse their paper, while others, representing other religious opinions were admitted. He would therefore move an amendment, — " That taking into consideration the action of the Board in reference to the Christian Inquirer, it is the opinion of this meeting that inasmuch as the Association is one of a strictly mercantile character, and not founded for the purpose of propa- gating religious opinions, that it is necessary for its peace and future welfare that all religious newspapers be now and henceforth refused admittance to its reading room. H. Allan Esq., had come prepared to propose a similar resolution, and the only change he would suggest would be to exclude all religious papers from the present time. Mr. Taylor thought the amendment was not in order. The meeting had been convened for a snecial purpose, to take into consideration the action of the Directors touching the Inquirer newspaper, and not to entertain the project of expelling all the religious journals. The rule respecting special meetings was clear enough. The amendment was clearly out of order. Respecting its merits, much could be said on both sides. About four years ago he had made a similar suggestion; but he would feel disposed to oppose their expulsion now. Mr. John Lowe— I rise to order. I consider the amendment of the gentleman, if amendment a motion can bo caded embodying a subject so entirely different, is out of order, and in violation of the constitution of the Association. [Here the gentleman read from the constitution, to the effect that a special meeting might be called by the President on requisition.] Now, this meeting is a special meeting, and the subject the gentleman desires us to vote upon, is not the subject for which the meeting was called ; but it is entirely different, and involves far other considerations. I know that many of our members have joined on account of the rehgious papers, and they desire to have them. Mr. Chamberlain— Even if this amendment, Mr. President, were not out of order, which I agree with the last speaker in thinking it to be, I should still oppose it, at the present time ; and hope that the gentleman who proposed it will consent to its ' withdrawal. I conceive it to be unjust towards persons who have come here prepared to deal with the particular question, mentioned in the requisition, and that only, that they should be asked to decide upon this, which is in a measure foreign to it, and which comes upon them unawares. I, for one, am not prepared to vote for or against it, this evening, and I have no doubt that many of those around me are similarly situ- ^t^A . T u^«.^ tu^^^t^^^ iUnt- i-Viic oTvioni-lmoTif urill V)f> withrlrnwri. Tf not. I am decid- atcu , X «'_*:,"w, lum^evf^., t-fit.f .•..■' — *- — ••-' ..... __--.,-. edly of opiniv,n that it should be rejected as out of order. As I am on my feet, and as aUusion has been made to the part 1 took as a member of the Board of Direction, with \ 4 » 13 regard to the proceedings complained of, I hope that the memhers present will ex- cuse me if I trespass upon their time a few minutes, in order to offer an explanation of my conduct. [Mr. C. here yielded the floor to give tiie Chair an opportunity to decide the point of order, which was ruled against the amendment. J Mk. Leemino made a slight verbal alteration in his motion. Mu. Chamberlain — Does Mr. Leeming mean to insult our intellects, by trying to make us pass that, as in order, which we have declared not to be so, merely by the addition of a few words of form. The amendment was considered out of order, on account of its subject matter, and not of its form, and the words which Mr. L .has insert- ed in the beginning of it, do not alter its offensive part. Besides, I must continue to oppose the reception of this amendment, upon the grounds which I stated a few minutes ago, that we are not come here prepared to decide the question which it raises. It is, therefore, unfair to press it. Mr. Cantwhi-l — I believe the motion of Mr. Leeming to be out of order. The principle of that motion is not the principle which Ave have met here to-night to con- aider and decide ; and, according to the clause of the constitution just quoted, the pro- position must be overruled. But if it be not thus disposed of, I am still prepared, upon Its merits, to give it all the opposition in my power. No religious papers ought to be excluded from our Rooms, for this reason, if for no other, that they not unfrequently contain the most important disquisitions on semi-political subjects. I do not doubt that there are many members of this Society, who, like myself, would find it highly inconvenient to subscribe for all those sectarian journals which they might find it ne- cessary to read. The object of this Institution is plainly to prevent suph inconvenien- cies. Let free admission, thei-efore, be conceded to the organs of all varieties of political and religious opinions; and let us by the vote we are about to give, declare our given determination to maintain inviolate the principles of perfect tolei-ation. Mr. J. J. Day considered that it was shirking the question for which the had met ; a course which he considered unfair to the Unitarians. Mb. John Young tiiought it was out of ordex*, and read from the constitution the paragraph read by Mr. Lowe. The President ruled the amendment out of order. M-. J. Boyd — Mr. President, injustice to myself, and a number of the Members of the Board of Direction, I wish to say a few words in explanation of the course adopted by me when I voted at the meeting of the Board of Direction " not to re- ceive the Christian Inquirer into the rooms, on the ground of expediency." The members of the Board now present must remember at the first meeting of the new Board, the question regarding the expulsion of the Christian Inquirer came before them for action. After a great deal of discussion, it was moved by Mr. Chamberlin and seconded by myself, and carried by a majority," * That the " Christian Inquirer" be received and placed upon the tables of the Mercantile Library Association. — The principle upon which I voted was this, — the Mercantile Library Association is not a religious Institution, merely a commercial and literary one, consequently the various re- gions papers received, cannot be received except in accordance with the wishes of the members of the Association. Therefore, as the Unitarian Members of the Associa- tion require the reception of their paper, they have a right to have their request granted. Immediately after the motion alluded to was carried, the propriety of put- ting out all the religious papers was discussed ; this question with the motion were laid on the table for further consideration at the next meeting of the Board. At the next meeting of the Board the discussion of this question was resumed. I advocated the principle of toleration as forcibly as I could, I was thoroughly opposed to the re- jection of the Christian Inquirer as I held that its rejection would be unjust. I come now to explain how it was that I gave my vote not to receive it. It was represented upon good authority (authority such I could, and cannot doubt) that if the paper were received some thirty members were prepared to leave the Association. It was ascer- tained from the canvassing of the Directors for subscriptions that six or seven Unita- rian members would leave if the paper was not received. Now, I ask the members of the Association how was I to act in such case ? I reasoned with myself thus " here is a paper" will its reception benefit or injure the interests of the Association, on one hand I find thirty members prepared io leave if it is received, on the other hand six or seven if it is not received, keepi^ .\ ^^trictly in view the interests of the Association, • Tlier» is no record of this resolution on the Miauto Book. 14 I could on the ground of expediency (iiiid without the violation of any principle) vote hot to receive the paper. Gentlemen, I am not a sectarian or bigoted, I advocate " Free and Religious I Jber. ty" as much a» the gentleman who has oix-ned the proceedings this evening. I am not an Unitarian, I am not a Roman Catholic, neither am I a Church of England man, I am a Dissenter, but I wish th(! Unitarians to enjoy the same privileges as myself, con- sequently) I voted against the Christian Inquirer, not because it was an Unitarian paper, but simply on the ground that its reception would not belter the Association. It appears to me'that the Wording of the resolution proposed by the gentleman (Mr. Taylor) that he impugns the ])rinciple and motive upon wliich the new Hoard had acted, he wants to make the present Board responsible for the conduct of last years Board. This I cannot admit, for I have and do now denounce the resolution passed by the old Board, 1 have never agreetl to it. 1 think he has put the saddle upon the wrong horse. For the present Board are not responsible for the action of last years Board. I think, gentlemen, the better course would be (and one as regards myself and which I should like the best) to approve of the principle of expediency, upon which the present Board have acted, and then propose a resolution to have the paper re- ceived, and if the majority of the meeting are in favor of its reception, I pledge my- self that I am prepared to bring in motion after motion before the Board at every meeting until the paper be received, — this I am convinced is the proper course. We, the Directors have a right to keep in view, in every matter the interests of the As- sociation, we have a right to consult the wishes of tlie members, and thus fultil that for which we hjive been put into office. I therefore trust that the members of the Association will decide this evening, that the Directors have acted conscientiously, not in a bigoted or sectarian manner. I conclude by again repeating, that I never voted against the Christian Inquirer, because it was a Unitarian paper, but because its reception would injure (at the time I voted) the interests of the Association. W. C. Evans, Esq In rising upon the present occasion I cannot say that I feel the same pleasure that some of the speakers who have preceded me give expression to, because, I am aware, that my ability in this respect will not enable me to give the subject that justice which it'meri*s ; but, I cannot allow the question to be taken or the mover in this evening's business to reply to what has been advanced against him, without setting him right in regard to some of his facts — such of them as have come under my own knowledge. The gentleman stated that the paper had been originally received' by the deliberate opinion of the board : now the fact was it had been received only by the casting vote of the Chairman, at a meeting called an hour before the usual time. He (Mr. Taylor) further stated, that tlie resolutions proliibitory of the paper were passed by a bare majority of a fractional part of the Board of Direction. Now, how stards the facts ; it the meeting where the reception of the paper was decided upon there were eight members and the Chairman jiresent, and at the meeting expelling it there were just the same number, with one additional member who did away Avith the necessity of the chairman's giving his vote upon the matter ; and, at the subsequent meeting when the question was again brought up, its reception was deemed inexpe- dient by a vote of 10 to 2 — the chairman and another member not voting. This cer- tainly does not look like carrying the measure by a fractional portion of the Board. He also endeavoured to lower the Association in the eyes of the public by contrasting it with sister institutions in the United States. He said that the Cincinnati Asso- ciation was much more liberal than the Association of Montreal, because they had given prai se to an Unitarian minister. But it appeared that the Montreal Association were not behind the others in liberality, since their reports showi^d that they likewise had bestowed praise on Unitarians. The gentleman whom the last annual report of this institution, eulogised, is an Unitarian. He deserved the eulogy and we gave it to him. The gentleman who had moved the resolution would lead the meeting to believe that he knew the hearts of the entire community ; yet he wanted to make it appear in another part of his speech that there had been a great deal of secresy. Now one of those two things must be wrong, there was an inconsistency between them. Ho (Mr. Taylor) tells us of all that happened at the meetings of the Board of Directors, which suited his purpose, and withholds that which does not, displaying a deficiency either in knowledge or candour. I must say that I feel pleasure in being permit- ted here to give rcaiions liiat influenced my conduct at the Board of Direction. I think it is a good plan for the members to ask for an explanation, when the con- duct of the Directors is such as to call for it, for if all was right then our ex- I ? t 15 planation would do away with any ill-fe«rm;» that mi<;ht exist, and if all was not ritjht then suitable instruction could bo given by the !n;.'mber9 unitedly that would make it satisfactory if not to all at least to the majority, and release the Board of any responsibility they might feel. I am perfectly willing that the majority should rule. 1 am, further, of the opinion that tlie views of a minority should not be wholly disregarded. I am also, notwithstanding all the odium that that gentleman would attach to it, and he has deprecated it in very strong language I am one of those who are to a certain extent governed by expediency, and I will show in explanation how my conduct was based on that ground from the first, though I admit my feelings of opposition to the Christian Inquirer were as strong as those of any man could be. At the time when tlie last annual rei)ort was read for my approval, 1 suggested that its reception should not be mentioned in the report, because I feared that it would disturb the harmonious working of the Association ; and this suggestion was carried unanimously. After this at a subsequent meeting of the Board at which I was not present, it\vas thouglit that as they were ashamed to acknowledge its reception, they had better not receive it, amf it was decided accordingly. As the question really stood, it amounted to tliis, whether one, two, or half a dozen members should force on the rest of the Association a paper they did not want. The Board thought not: the Board had been elected on account of their past cliaracter for good man- agement in other affairs, and in order that they should use their best discretion in the management of the affairs of this institution. Tliey were all Trinitarians ; and if Unitarian"papers were wanted, some Unitarians would have been, ho supposed, placed among them.* I would repeat it is a question Avhether one or two shall rule the Board as thev please, or wliother the Board shall rule for the interest of the Society for the year they are elected. If the Directors conduct does not please the members the remedy in their own hands, let them not re-elect, let thoin put others in power. I for one am quite willing to make way for one more ])leasing to the majority, if my past conduct be displeasing. But I cannot sit down without urging upon all the necessity of union, and in doing so I would, without hesitation, state my intention of continuing a member of the Association without any reference to the decision that may be arrived at this evening, because I am firmly of the oi)inion that this institution may be made a very powerful instrument for good or for evil. I will endeavour to do by it as much good I can, and in furthering that endeavour will keep to the Association so long as they keep together. . . ,r t> -i Mr. John Lowe rose amidst interruptions. He said,it is my mtention,Mr. President, to maintain the floor. I have a few words to say, and mean to say them ; and I am sure that gentlemen will not facilitate business by interrupting me. It is not my intention to detain the meeting many minutes, as I do not believe that any eloquence at 20 minutes past ten o'clock at night in this hot room will change the opinions of gentlemen on a subject so exciting as the present. I do not however say that if I could bring into the field such eloquence as that my friend Mr. Winn gave us a specimen of, and which I am sorry was not enlisted on the other side, that I should not be tempted to detain gentlemen a little. Some gentlemen have been at great pains to discuss and excuse the conduct of the present board, and also that of its predcossor. I cannot but think such discussion irrelevant to the issue on which we are assembled to decide this evenin". It has been stated that no offence is meant tc the board. I mean none, nor do I want to discuss its conduft. It is enough that I say, I have confidence in the gentlemen who compose it. A different issue has now arisen, and we the supreme legislators have met to decide it. I think it is of no use talking about the right we have to turn out a paper. We can turn out any or all the papers we have, there is no doubt about that, and there is no use of taking up time to discuss it. The question is if we now exclude the paper in question, as it is asked to be admitted, and in the manner in which it is asked to be admitted, shall Ave not give our Institution a sec- tarian character ? I believe that we • «. !., and on this principle I shall vote against the exclusion of the paper, and I trust that the majority of gentlemen here will .support the same principle. I think that any thing which would have the effect of giving our Institution a sectarian character would be very much to be deplored. I believe it to be unsectarian in its foundation, and that its objects are wide, and the reverse of sec- tarian. The only ground on which I can see that a paper can be proscribed in the manner that the one in question is sought to be, is on that of infidelity or immorality. * One Unitarian, a merchant, of this city, wiis elected by the Directors a.s aa honorary member of the Board, but he was not preseiU at any of its meetings when this subject was umler considera- tion. 16 It is of no use to talk about tendencies on one side or the other. We must have pal- pable infidelity or immorality. I have heard no charges against the paper that somo cenUemen, wish to proscribe. I am not an Unitarian, but I do not be leve that Un - farkns are Tnfidels.^ I hope, gentlemen, by their votes wil not violate those wide principles ou which our Institution was founded, and as an old member of the Associa- Son, and office bearer, I would implore them to pause before giving a vote that will attach to it a sectarian character. i „ „„„„ Hknrv Lyman, Esq., said, that he would venture to make a few remarks upon the question before the Chair, principally to explain why he had thought it hs du y to call the gentlemen who had introduced the business of the meeting to order. Ho cM so becLse he thought t.iat he was wandering from the point in the reference he made to the Associatfon at Cincinnati. He was extremely desirous of allowing "erv Possi L latitude to that gentleman, so long as he kept^to the point; but he was norwiUinJ to allow him to extend his peregrinations i^ul^finf v 5 e^P^^'^ f jl ^n those remarks did not touch the precise point at issue. Much had been said about the ewS of the Christian In^pdrer from the Reading Room, and the terms bigotry, infolerance and proscription were freely used ; this was a matter of -•o»';«-^ ^"^ ^^^^o expected, especially when a partioular impresMon was to be made ; but he tbought St the matt'er wou'ld resolve'itself into a very simple P-f "pon ex^imin divested of all extraneous circumstance, it would be f«"n'l>hat the paper had been re- ceived temporarily, and afterwards declined. The terms, in which the ^l^^^^^ «^o"f Jhe Boird of Directors was conveyed, were offensive. It appeared that on all hands this point was conceded, and the Board were ready to make the ™««t amj^e pology So ?ar there was little or no diversity of sentiment, but that was not ^"ffi-^." satisfy the requisitionists ; they insist upon the reception of that paper and nothing short. Now hS not think this was reasonable, considering that had the paper been taken and paid for, as other papers, and subsequently discontinued no one would considei Eimself e'ntSed to co^mjlain. There wL only one other P-"Vi:; tf thrbenefac rect their attention, it was to the allusion made by the ^^^^ speaker to the b^^^^^^^^ tions of Unitarian gentlemen. He did not noean in ^he slightest manner to d^^^^^^ their liberality, but it had been said with emphasis, in eff ect that the ^ssociation were wiling enough to receive their money, but at the same time did not scruple to pro scribe their reli-ious sentiments. He did not believe the statement to be a fair one. He bel evid the°things were entirely dissimilar ; it was one thing t o-f oiye a gentl^^^^ man's money for a purely secular or mercantile object, and quote anothei to endorse Wsreli^^ous belief. He did not think the statement a fair one, as re atmg to those g^ntlelSrhe did not believe that they offered their money -^th th. view to the „ troduction of their peculiar views in matters of religion. Pecun.a y contnbut^^^^^ under such circumstances might be too dearly purchased. He ^V/S f /J'f "/ '"? ^^"^ marks to much greater length did the lateness of the hour permit, but as he believed enou'rh had been said, he would not further occupy their time. _ Mr. Taylor-I have promised to detain you not above five minutes and I will redeem the pledge, but this will oblige me to pass over several points which I would Tke to not'ce I si all first grapple with the ingenious and eloquent speech of my friend Mr. Winn. He said that the resolution expelling the Inquirer was not intended to be made public, and has cast censure on the Secretary who communicated it to Mr WoSan. " Not intended for publication"_was this thing done in a corner Has the Board of the Mercantile Library Association passed a resolution of which they are ashamed ' Under the circumstances, the reflection cas upon the Secre ary who hi JesigTed his membership and is not in a position to defend himself-under these cir- c^stances, the reflections are contemptible and unjust. I was for several years Se- crSv to this Association and I have been Secretary to kindred Societies, and if I underslEand the duties of a Secretai^, it is his business *« conduct he co.respmid^n^^^^ and communicate resolutions without instructions The Resolution ^^".^ J^^^P'y ?o Mr. Workman's letter and the Secretary only did his dutyn communicating it to that trentleman. (A voice-He was not the Correspondmg SecretaryO I am aware ^fthriut by ihe^Rules and Regulations, the Recording Secretary is to do the d^^^^^^^^^^ the Correspondma- Secretary in his absence, and m this case he had been absent toi some time,^and hfs duties hid been performed by the Recordmg Secretary, who was right^in communicating the ^resol^f o"-^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^^ ., ^^, ,^^ j^. variSe- pra^cS trrnTtl^^Uhe ■■secreTary"to commuAicat resolutions when it wa. intended to promulgate them. » •> 17 Mr. Tatlob — I do not so comprehend the duties of the office, but in this case the resolution was a reply. The point, however, is trifling, and I will not dwell upon it, but I would ask again if this thing was done in a corner ? Were the Directors ashamed of what they had done ? It would seem so. " It was drawn up hastily" — ■ why it had been before the Board three several times and twice voted down. There was no haste in drawing it up. I understood Mr. Winn to object to the Inquirer be- cause it was a foreign paper ; and he intimated that we took only local religious pa- pers. He kept back that we pay large suras for several English Religious Journals. It has been said too, that this paper is more calculated to stir up strife than a local religious journal. I hold to the very contrary. The questions treated of in the Inquirer are general questions, and do not move that local and parti- zan feeling which the Church and Witness excite. It is pleasant to read the thoughts of a writer who generalizes — there is nothing particularly exciting in it — but local questions are irritating and engender bad feeling. The meeting has been told by some of the speakers that if my resolution is adopted, the destruction of the Associa- tion may bo looked upon as unfait accompli. From whom 'lid these threats proceed ? Not from the tolerants — we are going to stand by the Association — we cannot be dri- ven out of it. Are the gentlemen sincere in their threats ? Do you (to Mr. Roe) do you (to Mr. Winn) intend to desert the institution if you arc beaten ? If not, why do you regard your neighbours as more intolerant and illiberal than yourselves ? You should have greater confidence in your friends. One speaker has asserted that all the Religious journals came into the Room when the junction was formed between the Association -and the Religious News Room, and contends, therefore, that we are bound to receive only those papers. The statement is incorrect. Religious journals have been taken by the Association since its foundation. I am an older member than the gentleman who makes this assertion, and I appeal to you Mr. President, in support of the correctness of my statement. All of the speeches in defence, have put this expulsion on the ground of expe- diency. I must repeat that is never expedient to be unjust. Expediency ! it is the excuse invariably offered for injustice. Expediency ! from the young mercantile men of Montreal. I am horrified to hear tliem speak of expediency. What will they become when the world has worn off the generous enthusiasm of youth ? when chey are old and hardened ? Expediency from old and effete men, from political hacks is natural enough, but it sounds strange indeed in the mouths of the young and intelligent men of Montreal. Expediency ! let us repudiate it altogether. Let us shew that we have confidence in the immutable principles of eternal justice. Let us shew that we appre- ciate the beautiful and complete system of morals taught in the Book of Life, in which we all believe. Let us " do unto others, as we would be done by,'' and shew that our reading of the Testament has not been fruitless. The amendment offered to my reso- lution tenders an apology, makes sundry excuses, but it leaves the injustice untouched it sanctions it on the miserable ground of expediency'. Shall we sanction the pro- scription of any respectable class of our citizens. Those in favor of equal rights will vote against the amendment and for my resolution. The motion of amendment was then put, 71 voting for it, 70 against it. Messrs. Young and Leeraing, scrutineers, had notl'voted. Mr. L. would rather not do so, but pair off. Mr, Y, would decidedly vote, Mr. L. then voted for the amendment, Mr. Y. against it. Loud cheering hero arose from the majority, and confusion followed. Several members called upon the President to put the orignal motion as amended. The confusion increased. Mr. Taylor thought they had been fairly beaten, the amend- ment was a substantive motion. The President amid shouts for the amended mo- tion, and much confusion, declared the meeting adjourned, Mr, Leemino gave notice that at the Semi-Annual Meeting in May he would move the expulsion of all the religious journals from the News Room. M