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

WORKING MEN'S PROTESTANT
REFORMATION SOCIETY.

. THE Anniversary Tea-party of the Liverpool Working Men's
Protestant Reformation Society was held last night, in the
Concert-Hall, Lord Nelson-street, which was tastefully deco-
rated for the occasion with loyal and appropriate flags, ban-
ners, &c. The refreshments, which were abundant in quantity
and excellent in quality, were provided by Mr. Milbourn, of
Clarence-street, and as every seat in the vast building was
occupied, the coup d'ail was of the most pleasing character,
showing the satisfactory progress of the society, which, at its
present rate of increase, will soon outgrow any building in
Liverpool.
The chair was occupied by the Rev. Dr. M`Neile, and-
beside hinif on the, platform were the Rev. Dr. Taylor, Rev.
J. Bards:ley, Rev. S. Sampson, Rev. J. B. Lowe, Rev. S. B.
Sutton, Rev. Levison, Rev. V. M. White, F. T. Glazebrook,
Esq., Dr. Batty, Messrs. J. Purnell,..Theinas Ball, W. N.
Thompson, C. P. M`Carthy, A. Eaton, Dr. Whittle, &c. ti fter
due justice had been done to the refreshments by the party
assembled, which numbered •nearly eleven hundred, and
acknowlegraents had been made by grace, which was sung in
good style.
The CHAIRMAN said, that Englishmen should never allow the
sth of November to pass unhonoured and unsung, for it was
the anniversary of great and important events. They might
take advantage of the recent enthusiasm to animate that
spirit which he trusted would ever burn within the breasts of
Englishmen, notwithstanding the blighting influence of
Liberalism. He wanted to see more boldness and courage in
high places ; he wanted a minister -to state in plain and intel-
ligible terms what course in his opinion ought to be pursued,
and to stake his existence as a minister upon that coarse being
carried out. There was too much, however, of plausibility and
clipping phrases and pleading practical difficulties, instead
of that out-spoken manliness which ought to animate British
statesmen. They, however, as Protestants, would stand by
their opinions, and let all the world know, from the people of
this town to the Pope of Rome, the reasons which induced
them to continue their commemoration of the sth of November.
They had been accused of being uncharitable in thus per-
petuating the remembrance of a grievous and monstrous crime.
He denied it. They commemorated the merciful deliverance
of the nation from a frightful blow which was aimed, and
unless it could be shown that any one living had sympathies
or connexions with the eunspicators of 1605, their coin-
_

memoration could not be said to be uncharitable or unkiad.
If there were any class, or even an individual, who said their
commemoration was an insult to their feelings, their princi-
ples, or their religion, such a class or such an individual must
feel a sympathy with those who would have committed the
horrible outrage, the deliverance from which. they com-
memorated. _lt was said that the language made use of was
insulting, because the Church of Enwlnnd called it a Popish
conspiracy. They did call it so, and they would continue to
call it so, for the simple reason that it was true, and no other
word expressed it so appropriately. The prelates of the
Romish ClArch had openly avowed that that church detested
the horrible principles by which the conspirators were
actuated. If that were so, why did not the Romanists join
with them in commemorating the deliverance of the nation
from such a foul conspiracy ? If, on the other, hand the
Romanists thought the .commemoration insulting or un-
charitable, then it was clear that they did not detest the
abominable principles of the conspirators. They were-on the
two horns of a delemma, and they might take which they
please. If there were no other circumstance than the
Gunpowder Plot, there would be ample justification for them
to call it a Popish conspiracy; but when they had abundant
proof of the Church of Rome sanctioning, and enjoining
the horrid principle of subjects putting Princes to death,
there would be no doubt of their right to call it a
Popish conspiracy. The Chairman read some extracts from a
work, showing the claim of the Romish Church to power over
temporal sovereigns, and the form of the bulls promulgated
against Henry VIII. and Queen Elizabeth, the latter inciting
to numerous attempts against the life of the Sovereign, and
leading, in course •of time, to the Gimpowder Plot. The
Chairman also read some extracts from the history of the
period, showing the means that were taken by the instru-
ments of Rome-to incite conspiracies against the Sovereign of
England. He thought they had abundant testimony that the
Gunpowder Plot was a Popish conspiracy; and he thought
also he had shown logically and conclusively, that the charge
against them, of their commemoration being uncharitable and
unkind, was totally Without foundation. After some brief
-observations on the recent excommunication of the King of
Sardinia, because of his manliness respecting the sale of
church property, and of the concordat by which the Emperor
of Austria had bound hiMself to the Pope of Home, the
Chairman concluded by remarking that they wanted to make
every Christian a better Protestant, every Protestant a bettor
Christian.

The Rev. V. M. WHITE moved the first resolution, viz.—
" That this meeting desires to express its fervent gratitude to
Almighty God for that special providence exercised on behalf
of his truth in these kingdoms, in the detection and defeat of
the conspiracy known as the Gunpowder plot.' " In moving
the adoption of the resolution, he defended the celebration of
the anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot by reference to the
celebration by the Israelites of their festivals in Egypt. He
remarked that many people pretended .to say it was un-
charitable to denounce the religion of those who conscien-
tiously differ from us. Such pretended charity he regarded
as the most unwholesome species of apathy. It was not
necessary, in offering the most strenuous opposition to Popery,
to do any violence to Papists. While we hate the evils of
llomanism, we do not hate Roman Catholics. The reverse of
all this is true. His Holiness the Pope_ himself may yet have
to flee from Rome, as he has aforetime. If this thould hap-
pen, I only wish he may come to Liverpool, and I shall take
care that he meets with a fair reception in a place not a hun-
dred miles from Islington. (Laughter.) I hope those who profess
so much charity as that to which I hav e alluded,may not yethave
to appeal to us fOr aid to enable them to retain possession of
God's holy word itself. In reference to the landing of
William 111., he read an extract from the history of the Pres-
byterian Church in Ireland, and contended from it that the
Presbyterians arc in reality the more thorough Protestants.
He next made allusion to the class of politicians known as
the Peace-at-any-price men, who were not, he said, very
popular among any of the parties now dividing the country ;
he was afraid there was a sort of peace-at-any-price men in
connexion with the sacred principles of truth. Men professing
to be Christians, who would compromise their allegiance to
Christ, and, deserting his standards, prefer to gain the ap-
plause of men as professors of charity, while they allowed
the oracles of truth to be trodden under foot. By this class of
men, we are told that it is disrespectful towards our Popish
French Ally, to be, at the present time mere especially, de-
• nouncing the errors of Popery. While we are told this, may
we not ask at the same time, whether it is not as disrespectful
in the Emperor of the French to refuse toleration to his Pro-
testant subjects ? Whether it is not as disrespectful towards
us, that he should be at the present moment devoting the
cannon taken at Sebastopol, which we have fought for, to
casting a statute of the Virgin Mary. (Oh ! oh !) In con-
clusion, he said he had much pleasure in moving the adoption
of the resolution.
The Rev. S. B. SUTTON seconded the motion, and in doing
so referred at great length to the scriptural examples for cele-
brating peculiar times. He also, adverted to the censure
thrown by Christ himself upon the Scribes and Pharisees for
being ignorant of the signs of times and seasons. He said
unless some times were set apart for such observances, men
were apt to forget the peculiar marking periods of their his-
tory : and it seemed to be a special interposition of Providence,
which from time to time stirred up particular recollections.
Unless something out of the ordinary course happen to awaken
men's attention, they are apt to forget the over-ruling band
which glides and regulates their acts. it is only when the ordi-
nary course of things are interrupted that men begin to
turn towards God, and to reflect on the inestimable value
of his aid. When war, or famine, or pestilence or some great
:convulsion of the natural world occurs, men are immediately
roused to look from secondary to first causes. In the course
of these mysterious occurrences which God sometimes permits
to occur, we are led to see, in a marked degree, the means
provided by him for our escape. So, on one of these occasions,
•we were favoured with the landing of William Prince of
Orange on our shores. That event took place on the sth of
'November, and that circumstance alone gives good reason for
a celebration on its anniversary. Popery, though it laid claim
to being a religion, it should be borne in mind, was not a
religion —but a delusion ; and it behoves religious men to
devote one day in the year to a celebration of a great and
specialinterposition of God in favour of His divine truth. In •
conclusion, be had much pleasure in seconding the adoption of
the resolution.

The resolution, having been put from the Chair, was carried
unanimously.
The National Anthem was here sung, and a collection was
made.

The Rev. Dr. TAYLOR moved the second resolution, that
"this meeting desires to record its deep thankfulness to
Almighty God for the prosperous arrival of King William
111. in these realms on the sth of November, 1688." He pro-
ceeded to say that there were circumstances connected with
that event, which justify the language of the resolution, as
-we were then .delivered from the dominion of Pope and
,Pcpery. As all must be aware, William 111. succeeded James
11. who had succeeded his brother Charles 11. James was of
an arbitrary dispoSition, and he was also a bigotted adherent
of,his religions opinions. An honest bigot, but a fooliSh one.
INTo sooner had he -succeeded to the throne but he
.publicly
gave official attendanee at the Popish Mass-house. This was
contrary to the law at the time, but he persisted in it, and
did more, he insisted ,on his subjects attending also. It is
impossible for ft Roman Catholic who carries out his principles
to be a loyal subject of ;the British Sovereign. I do not say
that :a Boman Catholic is necessarily a disloyal subject,
but one taro tarries - out his principles cannot be a loyal
subject. James not one;; took- the means to introduce
Romani= into this country, but he also insisted on
its being generally observed. This was resisted, notwithstand-
ing; the peremptory orders of the King. Conspicuous among
those who 'opposed the King was Dr. Sharp, who refused to
obey -the injunction of the Kalil, to cease from preaching
controversial sesmons. Failed in this, the King suspended
the laws of the land, and ordered the Bishop of London and
Dr. Sharp both to be deposed from the ministry, and he
obtained a none.° of the Pope, who, coming over to this
country, four Popish Bishops were, by his means, consecrated
by the hand of the King in Westminster. He next interfered
with the election of Members of Parliament; and afterwards
he ordered the Universities to confer honours upon his pet
Jesuit confessors. His next movement was to command
obedience from the clergy, to introduce the Popish mass-books
into their churches. This led to the persecution of the seven
Bishops, and finally to the opening of comnpnications with
William, Prince of Orange, who gave expression to such a
declaration of rights. Shortly after this the same parties
had entered into negotiations with Willliam, ultimately
leudinc, to his arrival in this country, which, from a

history he (Dr. Taylor) had read, appeared to have taken
place on Sunday, the 4th of November, in Torbay ; but so
great was the reverence of Prince William for the sanctity of
the Lord's Day, that he spent the whole of that day in the
observance of religious worship, delaying his landing till the
following day. On the sth day of November, 1688, this most
illustrious Prince landed in England, and, almost immediately,
James made his escape to France. (Cheers.) In allusion to
the Bill of Rights he called for such a shout of approbation as
would shake the walls of the Vatican, and make the Pope to
tremble in his own palace. (Tremendous cheers.)
Mr. C. P. WCARTHY seconded the resolution, which,
having been put from the chair, was unanimously carried.
A vote of thanks was then proposed to the chairman, and
carried amidst great applause ; after which the meeting
separated.

STREET RODBERY.-3lichael Groman, a young man, was
charged yesterday, before the Police-court, with having
knocked down Michael O'Donnell, at the foot of Copperas-hill,
on Saturday night last, and robbed him of half a sovereign.
The prosecutor was drunk at the time; but the case was proved,
and the prisoner was sentenced to one month's imprisonment.