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

WORKING MEN'S PROTESTANT
REFORMATION SOCIETY.

TILE 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'&il 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. Br. M'Neile, and
beside him on the platform were the Rev. Dr. Taylor, Rev.
J. Bardaley, Rev. S. Sampson, Rev. J.. B. Lowe, Rev. S. B.
Sutton, Rev. Levison, Rev. V. M. White, F. T. Glazebrook,
Esq., Dr. Batt; Messrs. J. Purnell, Thomas Ball, W. N.
Thompson; C. P. M`Carthy, A. Eaton, Dr. Whittle, &e. A fter
due justice had been done to the refreshments by the party
assembled, which numbered nearly eleven hundred, and
acknowlegments had been made by grace, which was sung in
good style. •
The CHAIRMAN said, that Englishmen should never allow the
6th 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 barn 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 course 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 Pepe 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 agrievons and monstrous crime.
He denied it. They commemorated the merciful deliverance
of the nation from a frightful blow which was aimed, and
unless it coed be shown that any one living had sympathies
or connexions with the conspirators of 1505, their com-
-1 memoratien could not be said to be uncharitable or unkind.
If there were any class, or even au individual, who said their
commemoration was an insult to their feelings, their princi-
ples, or their religion, such a class or such an individualC must
feel a -sympathy with those who would have committed the
horrible outrage, the deliverance from which they com-
memorated. It was said that the language made use of was
intuiting, because the Church of England called it a Popish
conspiracy. They did call it so, and they would continue to
,Pall it so, for the simple reason that it was true, and no other '
word expressed it so appropriately. The prelates of the
Romish Church 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 Gunpowder 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 Rome, the
Chairman concluded by remarking that they wanted to make
every Christian a better Protestant, every Protestant a better
Christian.

The Rev. V. M. WUITE 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 14 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
Romanism, 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, 1-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
40 much charity as thatto Fhichl have 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 are in reality the more thorough Protestants.
Fie 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 more 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
,easting a statute of the Virgin Mary. (Oh ! oh !) In con-
.elusion, he said he had much pleasure in moving the adoption
. of the resolution.

•
The Re.v. 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
.unleas some times were set apart for such observances, men
swereapt 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.
lJnless something out of the ordinary course happen to awaken
,men's attention, they are apt to forget the over-ruling hand
-which *ides 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
special interposition of God in favour of His divine truth. In
:conclusion, he had much plea Sure in seconding the adoption of
the resolution.

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

The Bev. 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
Ave were then delivered from the dominion of Pope and
Popery. As all must be aware, William 111. succeeded James
11. who had succeeded his brother Charles IL James was of
:an arbitrary disposition, and he was also a bigotted adherent
of his religious opinions. An honest bigot, but a foolish one.
No sooner had he succeeded to the throne but .he
_publicly
gave .official atteodatce at the Popish Mass-house. This was
contrary to the law at the time, but he persisted in it, and
did more, be insisted on his subjects attending also. It is
impossible for a Roman Catholic who carries out his principles
to be a loyal subject of the British Sovereign. I do not say
that a Roman Catholic is necessarily a disloyal subject,
but one who carries out his principles cannot be a loyal
subject, James not only took the means to introduce
Romanism 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 wag Dr. Sharp, who refused to
obey the injunction of the King, to cease from preaching
controversial sermons. 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 nuncio 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 Papish mass-books
into their churches. This led to the persecution of the seven
Bishops, and finalli to the opening of communications with
William, Prince cf Orange, who gave expression to such a
declaration of rights. Shortly after this the same parties
had entered into negotiations with William, ultimately
leading 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
e ae
of
itief
eortdethhhFresar
Vatican,r n,spnucirvdceo ah.
pe
sdols(
proposed
dsai
unanimously
nietoe:
dieumr (Cheers.)
me;)ueoaf
slkacluyelhpt In allusionatoirhrnorme rail:et:od approbation
entaht
(loos,
illustrious Prince landed in England, and, almost immediately,
thee
his ea
wouldtjilaemßesi slmhoaafkd Rightsee
tremble in his own place. (Tremenous cheers.)
aka
taT
having
AAir.
vote been
oe nf P.
p u t3l‘
thanksfromC
carried amidst great applause ; after which the meeting
separated.

STREET ROBBERY.--Michael Groman, a young man, was
charged yesterday, before the Police-court, with having
knocked down MichaelO'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 seztoned to one month's imprisonment.