The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-01-15 00:00:00

SCRIPTURE READERS' SOCIETY.

Tire annual meeting of this society took place last night, I
the Collegiate Institution. The hall was well filled by a
l'esPeetable audience of ladies and gentlemen, and the chair
Ras occupied by the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of
fester. The following gentlemen were likewise on the plat-
her; viz.:—The Rev. Drs. M`Neile, Taylor, and Hume; the
~.4evs• W. Pollock, T. C. Cowan, J. Bardsley, J. J. Butler, W.
• Palloon, T. Pain, C. W. Lawrence, J. Hassell, T. M. Lester,
°• Powell, Williams, T. Moore, I. Holmes, Power,
Harker, H. Carpenter, T. W. Moeran,
esue, Levison, Woolam, Gilmour, Hunt,
Dandy, Wolseley, and J. R. Conor ; Messrs. M. Gregson,
A t
edgson, C. Bushell, H. J. Webster. J. K. Rounthwaite,
414 >y Ilalhe,ad.
The Rev. W. POLLOCK read prayers, after which
TheLoun BISHOP, on rising, said,—l feel great pleasure in
:king_ se many friends assembled to give encouragement to
society. It is a society for bringing God's word under the
°flee of many who would not otherwise have any knowledge
of that Holy Word at all. This, it may be said, and truly,
h._,.811(411(1 be the work of the clergy. The town of Liverpool is
'''''ularlY happy in the excellence and zeal of its clergy; but
.r Can do no more than man's labour in man's time. They
are Willing to do their work, and they do it ; but they are too
bea't, in number for so great a work. To aid these, we may
to e laYmen employed in going about reading the Scriptures
ten who would never be brought under the notice of a
..dergYraan, the rounds of the clergy being too extensive to
m
st of their overtaking all. When the operations of the
13ttire Readers have been fairly in work, many will be
eeglit to a regular attendance at Church, and so will be
tea within the circle of the influence of God's Holy Word.
a society deserves, and, I am happy to say, receives the
Iltenatate and aid of liberal Christian men. It cannot,
,bablsS be said that all is done for our society which should
he ''one, bat we are glad to find we -enjoy extensive and widely-
-I)rea(i'sYmpathy ; and, secure of that, we need not fear that
Vire shall want pecuniary aid. Mr. Campbell, the Rector of
Liverpool, had intended to be here, but the feeble state of his
health has prevented his leaving his residence at Childwall at
s 0 late an hour and on so cold a night.
A letter was read from The Rev. Rector Campbell, apolo-
-183-11g for his inability to attend, but conveying an expression
°`, sPproval of the society.
211 e Rev. T. C. Cowart., secretary, read the 'report, from
Loeb
appeared that though the income of the society had
;v4l 4'2,000, yet, on-the year's account, there was a deficiency
:.125. The number of readers, the report stated, has been
made
framtwerity-seven to thirty-one. The nnmberof visits
,4124 e last year by 'the readers was upwards of 96,000, being
ill:l'6'e addition to the number of visits of the preceding year.
e• reports of the readers represent in many of the districts
se
improvement among the inhabitants in their moral and
—utletis deportment ; and in the cleanliness and orderly ap-
33rence in their dwellings. Small depoti have been established
the different districts for the distribution of Prayer Books
, Testaments. The establishment of these has been at-
fleded with the happiest results; bttt it is unfortunately too
'le that much evil still prevails, and manifests itself in
tziejetis forms in Liverpool. The value of Scripture Readers
I)eeirmanifested in various ways, and in none more than
47
the establishment of mutual improvement societies. The
texatnittee, under the straitenedeircumstances of the society,
1:1:k'llestly call upon their follow-townsmen to aid them 'with
die ineans of carrying an their good work.
~314:0RECI-SON moved the first resolution, which was to the
the report now read:be adopted, printed aud.circu-
,..te4. The society, he said, • had been instituted four years
,r;t'a grapple with the monster evii by which the•popuk-
k.ft of Liverpool, in common-4 that of other large towns,
has been and still is beset. Tocombat this we send men who
are carefully selected for their moral rectitude, their energy,
their tart, in pressingsreligious truths upon those with
Ilona they came in contact. The discharge of their duties is
attended with difficulties not easily appreciated by those wha
iare hot minutely acquaintedswith the nature of those duties
'hey have to labour amonglhose who are averse, in many,
Let in all respects, to thespregress of their labours. .In con-
lesion he moved-the adoption of the report, andthe appoint-
rit of the committee, and also urged upon themeeting the
of the society for general support.
The Rev. W. P43LLOCIK; in seconding the resolution, said he
felt honoured in having been called on to take so prominent a
part in this 'sneer:mg, asheilad from the first been a member
54.„ the Scripture Readers' 'Society, and had alk'along been a
',either of the standing committee. The working and success
4:4 the SOeiety badbeeireminently useful in allaying jealousies
,
:4ellg those who had at. first objected to lay agency in such a
TrIE, and had led .to the 'complete establishment of a unity
" feeling and action in, opposition to popery--an opposition
Which has been always inscribed in the articles of our church,
~._kad which we have derived from oar martyred forefathers.
Ile scheme had, on .the whole, been well received by the
rple of Liverpool ; in the first year of its existence we
ieeived upwards of £1;800, and had the countenance of the
'STI,'d Bishop and of the two Rectors of Liverpool, for we then
two. It had been •met also in the kindest and most
L ellevolent-spirit. by the laity of Liverpool, who have on many
occasions left their counting-houses and their.warehouses, and
-'t with the committee 'to consult as to the best mode in
;well they could aid .usin our good work. If there is any
among
of liberality' to this society, it is not to be met with
sfeeng the members of oar working committee, for in these
have the contributors of large donations. One gives a
o two give seachs£66, and several others contribute in
gelar decrees. In allusion to the labours of the committee,
LlP:ade :feeling and- eloquent reference to the part taken on
a-7F of the Bee ietybythe late Archdeacon Brooks, and in doing
get he Paid a feeling tribute to the memory .of that departed
bsatlemau. 'The .rev. speaker explained the regulations by
Tevollie.h the society guided the conduct of their readers, and at
tolsiderable length combated the views of those who objected
res,ll,e employment of lay-agency in spreading the benefits of
t-von. He narrated several very impressive anecdotes
FLl3l.3trative of the efficiency of the teaching .afforded by the
algure Readers, dwelling at length upon the cases of two
I,7'aPsy women who, .having fallen from the paths of virtue,
Cadre reduced to the greatest misery ; but whose dying hours
been consoled and cheered by the religious services of
i;,4ll3ture Readers. 'ln conclusion he said, if we are employing
sZneient arid lawful agency, an agency acting in obedience
Wile laws of Christians charity and love ; and if in spite of
die their efforts the state of the lower portion of our town is
essgraceful and appalling.; and if, in spite .of eleven gaol
cite
in the year, we still furnish calendars.of crime which
ss'ate the astonishment ofjudges and juries, it surely becomes
incise who have the means Ito afford our society such. aid as
enable it yet more effectually to oppose the growing and
alarming evil.
'ate resolution was adopted unanimously.
esill hymn was here sung, during the singing of which the
ection was made.]
liThe Rev Dr. MiNaiLai on -rising, was received with cheers.
.4e said it must now be obvious that the establishment of this
il'letY was, to use a common but expressive phrase, "a step
usthe right direction." By its aid the back streets, the alleys,
40'1 the lowest haunts have been explored. There we have
tiNi that the desert is indeed barren, but not now, however.
wi
eve
the presence of some streams of living Raters. We
flinch to comfort us, as well as not a little to discourage
to the warfare in which we are engaged—not against any
-'ll or individual, but against drunkenness, irreligion, and
prY• These are enemies more fatal and dangerous to our
Ittzl'atilation than all the soldiers ,of the Emperor of all the
4ias. He was far from desirous.of underrating the disas-
r
and miseries of reel war, but these cannot compare with
the frightful evils of sin. The one great sin of drunkenness
sse,to more crime, suffering, and destitution than were to be
the" With among the horrors of war. We hear with a-shock
sot narrative of casualties occurring in the Crimea, but do
dsor,eflect that in England more deaths have been caused by
Isi."Seoness, within six weeks, than have occurred during the
Zit eO7 •'scirreeankti_einnntehses Cwraims eaa ffrrznh:ftel calmer
gitrioeswionfgwaorn.e.
Tin
Niernool there was one beerhouse for every one hundred
onty-nine individuals ; and 'within last year 25,111
had been taken into .custody by the police.
as it Pray give some indication of the effects of drunkenness,
ens is well:known that by far the greater number of those
i4l9f apprehension arise directly from intoxication. This
dt1,41, eting more misery on our community than can be pro-
lajs4 by foreign wars. The scenes to which allusion has
into g so eloquently made to-night, we are brought directly
ktio Contact with. They are the every-day arenas of
for our:society. It is in them that the read-
110,.'eatow their most strenuous labours. I cannot say
Kith far legislation may be a competent mode of dealing
saps this monster evil ; but surely it cannot he neces-
sti-.;)„ to have so many places for the sale of intoxicating
elassee. Nor will I say how far the example of the upper
likbee in abstaining from the use of intoxicating liquors
tio tbe efficacious in arresting the evil. Such a considera-
t' fall
itia 8 Theont exactly within the scope of our society's opera-
C'lss_'• ob'ect of that society is to bring the blessings of
toj the hearths and homes of the poor and the
is I,s:at at and the depraved. Christianity is not negative. It
latßta mere refuge from guilt. It is a passion, and is cake-
ts ths' excite love in the bosom of man. The love of Christ
ozo`niooeizt4aleinpg power
aonfde Christianity.elt losrtowciairicr?:
4., this
fo 40f Scriptuere-readers has been called into existence, and
the as leb it seeks the public aid. In conclusion, he moved
ti,os brAtion of the resolution which was to the effect—" That
-i-°1"41 and religious condition of the working classes is of
ahq belePest interest to the community, and that it is the duty
terest of all to promote their improvement?,
n4O. CaRISTOPHER BUSHELL seconded the resolution, and
SO, said it is not man's reason we have to fear. That
tnlioia exalts him above the brute, and which makes him that
It la the was when he stood erect a man, is not to be discarded.
Ilata,sse misapplication of reason which is dangerous. In the
etle. °rid all is harmony, and so also with the moral
e.xsl s Reason if thus applied in sincerity of inquir will
aovvledge that man is a sinful creature. He re-
Tteatic7 great length the various evidences of adaptation and
I,,etitteee,Pl the physical and moral world, and from these
the conclusion that the Scripture Readers' Society
fib'Red harmony with the requirements of this town, and
"„eatiar Claims on the support of the wealthy and in-
xhe '
Sdootod motion Was
b,A s, put from the chair, and unanimously
mello/Zsssf
thankst was then passed by acclamation to the
meeting separated.