The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-11-06 00:00:00

I_ESTIMONIAL TO THE LATE YEN.
ARCHDEACON BROOKS.

ON Friday last, a numerously attended and influential
meeting was held in the Sessions-house, to take into considera-
tion the propriety of erecting some public testimonial in com-
memoration of the late Ven. Archdeacon Brooks. The meeting
was called by the Mayor, in compliance with a requisition,
numerously and most respectably signed, expressive of the
general desire entertained for such a proceeding. His worship
the Mayor presided, and among those present were W. Brown,
Esq., M.P,, J. C. Evart, Esq., M.P., John Moss, Esq., (Otters-
pool,) Joseph Pollock, Esq., Rev. Rector Campbell, Rev. Dr.
M`Neile, Rev. W. Pollock, Rev. J. S. Howson, R. Horsfall,
Esq., A. Waln, Esq., J. H. Turner, Esq., J. B. Lloyd, Esq.,
T. D. Anderson, Esq., F. Shand, Esq., J. Tyrer, Esq., T. Sands,
Esq., Major Bourne, Rev. Dr. Barry, Rev. J. R. Conor, C. B.
Barclay, Esq., C. Bushell, Esq., Rev. Dr. Raffles, Rev. Dawson
W. Turner, Churchwarden Woodruff, &c., &e., &C.
His worship the Mayor expressed the gratification he ex-
perienced in presiding over a meeting having such an object
in view as that of erecting some testimonial to the memory of
the late Ven. Archdeacon Brooks. He having been for more
than half a century iu the ministry, was well known to every
individual in this town. (Hear, hear.) Who was there among
the rich that ever had occasion to consult him—as I very fre-
quently had— who did not find him a most judicious adviser ?
(Hear, hear.) Who was there amongst the poor who did not
always meet from him a kindly welcome, a ready hand,
and a willing heart? (Hear, hear.) His active zeal to the
last day of his life in behalf of our local charities, and the long
desire of his heart to see the light of the Gospel carried into
the dark and dreary districts of the town, where vice, im-
morality, and crime had long held undisputed sway, testified to
the active liberality and Christian benevolence of his character.
(Cheers.) In a town like this, where there is so much difference
of religious opinion, it is most gratifying to see men of all
religious denominations coming forward to join in paying a
tribute of respect to the memory of the " good old man"—
(hear, hear)—whose life proved that the Gospel which he
preached was, indeed, a gospel of peace and good will to men.
(Hear, hear.) Let us hope that his example will not be lost
upon us, but, realising the words selected by the Lord Bishop
of Chester as the text for his funeral sermon, let us Teel that
" he being dead yet speaketh."
Letters of apology for non-attendance, but expressive of
sympathy with the objects of the meeting, were read from T.
B. Horsfall, Esq., M.P., from Mr. Alderman S. Holme, from
W. Thornely, Esq., M.P., and from John Rosson, Esq.
Mr. W. BROWN, M.P., said he felt much gratification in
being privileged to propose the first resolution for the adoption
of the meeting. He entered at considerable length into a
eulogy of the numerous virtues, private and public, which had
throughout his long life distinguished the late Venerable
Archdeacon. As a magistrate, and in the discharge of the
important duties of chairman of quarter sessions, he was
probably unequalled. This had been honourably testified to
on the preceding day by the magistrates assembled, in quarter
sessions, and by the members of the bar, who, by their leader
Mr. Monk, expressed in touching language the feeling of
regret entertained by that body in the death of the Arch-
deacon. As a clergyman he was an honour to his profession ;
and in his labours on behalf of the numerous public charities
were to be found the most unquestionable evidence of his
Christian benevolence. He concluded by moving,—" That
this meeting deeply lament the death of Archdeacon Brooks,
and feel it their duty to propose a public memorial of such a
value as may testify the regret of the whole community for
the loss of a man whose whole life was devoted to the public
service." (Heae, hear.)
Mr. WOODRUFF, one of the churchwardens, seconded the
resolution, which was unanimously adopted.
Mr. JOHN Moss (Otterspool), in proposing the second reso-
lution, said :—Fully concurring in all that has been said with
respect to the merits and character of our late friend, I might
commence by stating that he was my most intimate friend for
more than fifty years. He and I commenced life not exactly
together, but very nearly, and during these fifty years of con-
tinued friendship, both as magistrates, and in every other po-
sition in which we were thrown together, I can truly say, from
my experience, that a more useful or benevolent man never
existed. I would say he was the friend of every class and every
denomination. (Cheers.) Now, what are we to do to honour
his memory, and to tell to future generations who and what
lie was? It does occur to me and to some other gentlemen
that we cannot do better than recommend for your adoption
the erection of a statue. (Hear, hear.) We have in the town
of Liverpool, owing to the liberality of the Corporation, one of
the most splendid halls in Europe, and it appears to me that
we cannot do better than place our friend's statue in that hall,
alongside the memorials of the great men, some of which are
there already, and of which others are to follow. (Hear, hear.)
I hope to see other statues there —so that the time may come
when our St. George's-hall,,like Westminster Abbey, may have
suitable monuments to our great men departed. (Hear, hear.)
• It is on this account I am particularly anxious that a statue
should be erected to the memory of our friend, and placed, with
, the consent of the Corporation, in a niche of St. George's-hall.
I should myself have been very glad to see erected to the good
man's memory something more useful to the town ; but it is
desirable that the memorial should be a something that could
not give offence to any one, and which would gratify every
subscriber; and, as it is desirable, too, that the smallest sums
should be taken, with a view of showing the general concur-
rence and good feeling in the object, I think there could be
no better appropriation than the proposed statue. There are
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Archdeacon—and I am sure, looking to the Savings Bank and
the other various societies in which he took a leading part, we
shall get such a sum as will do credit to all. Under these cir-
cumstances, I beg to move that, in furtherance of the resolu-
tion just passed, a marble statue be erected, with permission
the lof the Town Council, in St. George's-hall, to the memory of
late Venerable Archdeacon Brooks. I hope that this sug-
gestion will meet the approval of the meeting, and that,
adopted here, it may be carried out with befitting energy and
spirit. (Cheers.)
Mr. J.C.Ewa RT., M.P., who was received with loud applause,
said—The object of this meeting has already been brought
fully before you, and it is scarcely necessary for me to say a
word. But, I have a melancholy gratification, in attending
here on this occasion, to allude to the many services of our
moat excellent archdeacon, who is now lost to us. After a
long and useful life, he has been summoned to another and,
let us hope, to a better world, amid the regrets of his many
friends, and the respect, I am sure, of the whole community
(hear, hear). Attached to a particular party in the state, he
never allowed his party feeling to interfere with his private
friendships • and in times of political excitement, when bad
passions shone out in all their sad deformity, he practised
only Christian forbearance and Christian charity (hear, hear).
By the poor he will be long remembered, and I may say, by a
large portion of this great community, amongst whom I am
sure he never had a single enemy (hear, hear). Sir, it would
but ill accord with my feelings to say anything which might
appear to be fulsome praise of our late excellent friend ; and
cordially agreeing as I do with my friend Mr. Moss, in the
resolution he has just proposed, I have great pleasure in
seconding it, and in expressing a hope that it may be one of
the many worthies which we may see filling the niches of the
grand hall (applause).
Before the resolution was put,
The Rev. DAWSON TURNER suggested that, in the event of
any surplus remaining after the object contemplated by the
resolution had been attained, it might be worthy of considera-
tion whether it would not be desirable to fOund medals, to be
competed for every year by Liverpool youths of all classes,
under 19 years of age, educated in any school whatever, or at
home—the examiners to be appointed by the Town Council,
but, of course, not to be persons of the town. (Hear, hear.)
The resolution was then put, and carried unanimously.
The Rev. Rector CAMPBELL said,—Mr. Mayor, under the
impression that this was intended to be a movement of the
laity, and a spontaneous expression of their respect and esteem
for a man who so highly deserved it, it was my intention not
to have taken any part in the proceedings of the day. In
deference, however, to the wishes of those who are entitled
to my deference—and in order not to show any coldhearted-
ness in a cause in which my feelings and affections are deeply
enlisted—the purpose of paying respect to the memory of my
highly-valued and deeply-lamented friend —1 have great
pleasure in moving that a committee be appointed to carry out
the resolutions which have already been unanimously passed.
(Hear.) In proposing this resolution, perhaps I may be per-
mitted to say that, if my own individual preferences were to
interfere, I confess that, looking at the character of the man,
I should prefer, as Mr. Moss has said, something useful, in
preference to what is merely ornamental. (Hear, hear.)
There are many other reasons, no doubt, which may make
this the best mode of testifying our respect. On such occa-
sions unanimity is absolutely necessary—(hear, hear)—and
our dear friend was a man who made himself acceptable to
all classes—to persons of all religious, of all political opinions.
(Hear, hear.) It is absolutely necessary, therefore, that all
should have an opportunity of contributing to this testimonial
—if they think proper to contribute—as far as lies in their
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satisfaction to us all, to see his venerable form perpetuated by
a marble statue in St. George's-hall—(Hear, hear)—the first
of those Liverpool worthies, who, no doubt, in after times will
ornament that hall in a similar way. (Hear.) I need not
speak of him in that public character in which you all knew
him and delighted to honour him ; but perhaps I may be per-
mitted to say a few words with respect to the private virtues
of the friend whom I have lost, and whose private virtues no
man was better able to appreciate than myself.. (Hear.) For
thirty years I lived in uninterrupted friendship with him —in
the perpetual sunshine of unalterable friendship. During
that time not a. single angry word, not a single angry look,
ever passed between us. (Hear, hear.) I conscientiously
ascribe the merit of this—if merit there be—not to myself,
unless it were the merit of appreciating his character, but to
his temper, which it was impossible to ruffle. (Hear, hear,
hear.) He was a man with whom it was impossible to
quarrel, however disposed you might be to do it. In
the first commencement of our career together—which
we ran, as I have told you, for more than thirty years
—I was told that I would have to deal with a somewhat
overbearing man, who would let me have very little of my
own way. I prepared myself for this. I knew that subordi-
nation was a virtue of the Church militant, and that sub-
mission was a Christian excellency, and I prepared myself for
endurance in the stern path of duty. But in a very little
time I found that I had mighty little to endure. I never met
with a man more gentle, more patient, more easy to be en-
treated, more inclined to defer to the opinions of others, nor
one with whom I could act more cordially on all occasions.
(Hear, hear.) It certainly did happen that upon all great
points of interest which are apt to agitate the clerical mind
we were cordially agreed. (Hear, hear.) He was anxious, as
I was, to take the middle path, and to avoid every extreme.
We had no leaning towards Rome, or towards Geneva ; we had
no predilection either for flowers or candlesticks ; and, fortu-
nately, we bad not the slightest inclination to quarrel with
our brother clergy for any opinions that they might hold.
(Hear, hear.) We knew perfectly well that in a Protestant
country the Protestant mind would have its way, and we
granted to others the liberality which we claimed for ourselves.
With respect to our friends without the Church, it was our
anxious wish, while doing our duty faitfully to those who ad-
hered to the communion of the Church, to live in peace, and
amity, and friendship, with those whose consciences compelled
them to depart from her pale. (Hear.) We had very little
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difficulty in doing this, because I must say, with the greatest
possible satisfaction, that our friends and brethren within the
Church always showed us that kindness, and paid us that
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Church, I am thankful to bear this public testimony to them
but always treated us with kindness and respect (Hear.) A
great part of that I am willing to attribute to the conduct of