The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-07-20 00:00:00

THE LOYAL DEMONSTRATION AT
OLD HILL.

On Monday night a large and enthusiastic meeting
was held in the Reddal 11111 Schools, Old Hill, for the
purpose of receiving a letter in response to the address
adapted at the recent " loyal demonstration," and for-
warded to her tlajesty the Queen. The chair was
occupied by ziir itorace St. Paul, and among those
present were the Itevds. J. Ormiston and J. 11.
•Thompson ; 2,1 r. W. 'Touchstone (of Manchester) ;
Messrs. W. Bassano, H. G. Walker, W. Walker, and Dr.
Higgs.

iin
Chairman intimated that an address was to be
delivered by Mr. W. Touchstone, and also described the
objects of the meeting in assembling to receive the
gracious answer of her Majesty to the address sent to
her. They met, he said, also at the completion of what
he trusted was one of the greatest works of this century
--the peace of Europe. (Applause) Reverting to sub-
jects elude the lecturer was to deal with, he said of dis-
establishment, which was the enemy from without as
Ritualism was the enemy within their Church, he, as an
English layman, was nut afraid. (Hear.) The British
laity would call, he thought, not for the disestablish-
imeLt, but for the purification of the Church of England
—(applause)—the driving out of idolatry and heresy.
(Flour, hear.) He felt bound to make reference to some
observations lately made by a public speaker in that
neighbourhood, alr. Charles Cochrane—(hear)—who
was pleased to make use of a very amusing expression,
The blessings of Republicanism," He had been in
Paris at many different periods, both before and after
the fury of the Republicans, and he should like Mr.
Cochrane to enlarge upon the blessings dl Republicanism
in the time of Robespierre or during the Commune
(dear, hear.) Mr. Cochrane talked about the " bless-
ings" of Republicanism, and said that in doing so he
did not conueum Monarc'a. (Laughter.) He would
not attempt to explain that he only wished Mr. Cochrane
waspte.si _
r;ent to explainpl.ain it himself. (Hear, her, and
iaugh

iiev. J. Ormiston read a letter from Mr. W.
Barton, secretary to the Birmingham Conservative
Association, in which the writer, after apologising for
inability to attend the meeting, alluding to a meeting it
was proposed to hold in Birmingham, said :—" Thanks
to the truly wise and patriotic policy pursued by Lord
Beaconsfield's Government, it is CO easy matter to
arrange for a Conservative gathering in Birmingham
which is certain to be full of enthusiasm and loyalty.
Our opponents are almost to be pitied when one con-
sider toe plight into which their want of patriotism,
arid preference for party before country, has led them.
When next week that grand old man returns from his
labours at the Congress he wit! in London meet with.
such a spontaneous outburst of feeling on the part of
the people-1 say people advisedly—as has not been wit-
nessed within the memory of the present generation as
offered to a Minister of the Crown." (Cheers.) Mr.
°moisten proceeded to read the following from Mr. B.
A. Cross, addressed to the Chairman:—

Sir,--I have had the honour to lay before the Queen
the address forwarded by you, adopted at a public meet-
ing held at Old Hill on the 20th tilt, expressing good
wishes towards her Majesty on the occasion of the forty-
first anniversary of her reign; and I have to inform you
that her Majesty was pleased to receive the address very
graciously."
The letter was received with repeated cheers. Mr.
Ormiston, in the course of his speech, said the address
sent to her Majesty sent forth their loyal attachment
to the great constitutional principles which her Majesty
had always so consistently and conspicuously main-
tained; and they ought to be proud that theirs was
the party which represented those great principles.
(Applause.)
Mr. W. Touchstone afterwards delivered a long and
able address on " Constitutional Principles."
At the conclusion Mr. Bassani) moved a vote of thanks
to the Lecturer, which was seconded by Dr. Higgs. and
a
nd a similar vote to the Chairman concluded
thePs'ed;
meeting.