The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-05-02 00:00:00

'Sod an District llctus.

Cushnis or Pt:tom:Y.—Yesterday. at the King's Meath
Petty Sessions, G. W. Prescott was charged befhro Messrs.
Welch and 'fliern, with haring, on the VIII of March
last, C.dttinitted wilfsll and corrupt perjury in the testi.
many he gave on oath in a charge of assault lie made
against Charles McClean Mr. Batt prosecuted, and Mr.
Wilson (if the Oxford Circuit) defended. Beyerdl wit-
nesses were called for the prosecution 7 but they contra.
dieted each other most egreinously. After beating the
evidende, Mr. Uoilmo asked the Bench if they thought
there was any cast to answer. The Bench thought tLere
was not, and at once dismissed the summons.

Lucerne—lt will be seen on referring to oar adver-
tising columns that a coune of lectures will be &livered
during the ensuing week by Brother Stanislaus awl J.
Manson, Esq., Liverpool, against Popery.
THU LUSH CIWIWI! DIIIIATIL—This debate was re-
meet on Thursday night, after which the committee
divided on Mr. Gladstone's resolution, which was 111 fol.
low,: —•• That it is necessary that the Established
Church of Ireland should cease to exist as an establish-
ment, all regard being had to all personal interests, and
to all individual rights of property." For the resolution,
330; against, 265 ; majority, 65. The resolution was
thetefoie carried. The announcement of the numbers
was received with loud cheers by the Opposition.
Tue ABYSSINIAN WAlL—Captain Roberts, of the 4th
Foot, who was wounded in the engagement before Nag-
dale, on Good Friday, is a son of F. Roberts, Esq., of
the Field House, Clout.

RETURN or LORD LYTTELTON.—ra another columd
will be found a full report of the return of Lord Lyttel-
ton Baru New Zealand. Previous to his leaving he wrote
to a gentleman in Birminghnin. stating that he should be
Wee on the lit of May. A few hours previous to the
lst of May he arrived at his seat, Hugley Hall. Consid-
ering the length of the journey, this is imparailelled
punctuality ia travelling.
I....erves.—Ori the evening of the 11th ult. a lecture
was sieliosre 1 in Si. Joha's Schoul.neoin, by Mr. Allied
Freer. President of the Church of England Asseciation.
on the "Ut sat Cities of Basilan." Captain Walker offi-
ciated as Chairman, and there was a very good attend-
ee., Mr. Freer gave an interesting sketch of the hind
of 11. ban and its ancient buildings, and mentioned styes
rat hist .flees illustrates of the fulfilment of prophecy in
reg led to pl tees t s which he hod referred.
Tire Itosu 011;1WD MItItIONA.—OD Thursday evening
last, a lecture was delivered in St. John's Seliondroom,
by the Nev. T. NViiliams, on "The progress of the Irish
Church Missions." The lecture was given under the
auspices of the Church iif England Association. and the
President, Mr. A. Freer, took the chair. The Chairman,
referring to the questiou of the Irish Church, said it was
nst merely a question of disestabiishinent of the Irish
Church. but of the disestablishinent of the English
Church also. Cold a nation professing to be Christian
forbear to give its support to that which it fully believed
to he the purest form of religion ? From extracts from
Continental papr,ra he had seen, it appeared the Homan
Catholics were rejoicieg at the prospect of the disestab-
Belmont of the Irish Church. persuaded that it would
lead to the supremacy of the Roman Catholic faith.
He hoped, however, that the Estaulishment would be
maintained, and remain the glory of their land—leheers).
Mr. Williams said he should not enter much into the
question of the Irish Church. He did not wish to en-
tertain extravagaut opinions on any subject, lint he did
feel the union of Church and State had hitherto been a
leading feature. and he for one was not prepared to
abaudon that principle. If it was the duty of the state
to provide for the religion of the people, and neverthe-
less they gave up the union of Church and State in I re-
laud, he did not ace how they could withstand it is Eng.
land. It wsa the favourite theme with the opponents of
the Irish Church, that the Protestants were in a great
minority ; but figures showed there had been a great in.
crease in the number of Protestants. Since 1931 the
Hamm Catholics had diminished three per cent., and
Churchmen had increased two per cont., and Presbyteri-
ans one per ceut. It might be add that this change was
the effect of the Irish famine, but other things showed a
positive increase amongst the Protestant community.
Anesher thug that was said was that there were 200 par-
ishes in Ireland, without ally parishioners. But the
reams returns, on which this statement was grounded,
were to takes as regards the civil parishes, and not upon
the basis of the ecclesiastical benefices, which showed a
very different state of things, the fact being that there
was only one ecclesiastical parish ill Ireland without any
resident Churchmen. It was also said that the Irish
Church had failed to do any good among Roman Catho-
lics. His object would be to prove on the contrary that
it had done good in several haetances, and that there bad
beta a great awakening in the minds of Roman Cattle.
lies. He then traced the origin of the Irish Church
Missions to Roman Catholics, particularising the opera-
tions in 9001,, parts of the country, and described the
agency by which the work was carried on. There was
scarcely a trace of Fe/Minims in those places where the
missions had been most successful, nod it was a marked
feature that where Protestantism had made most pro-
gress, there teas the least Sign of disaffection. He did
net wonder at any outbreak taking place when Father
Lavelle lectured in Dublin on the Catholic doctrine of
the right to revolt,'' and used the lauguage he then did.
Having spoken of the number of conversions which had
taken phi. from Idsinaii Catholicism in Ireland, Mr.
Williaina said he would not merely give them the testi-
mony of those who it might be said were interested in
maklng the best of the progress of Protestauitistu, but
he would quite Lein Boman Catholic papers. The
Xrto S some years a.;o had said, "The Irish notion is
fast dismiving. Ireland is eeasiag to be a Haman Cath-
olic 05,5e4. The 11 01551 Catled.c Church in Ireland will
need a dstence ass:xi:than of gua,diuu angels te save it
hien ext,ncilon." VilU .1110 paper also :aid. "There
Can no Mager any qus.eion that tile syitematie prosely-
tism hero with as immense success in Connaught and
Kerry. It is true that tier altars of Cle Catholic Church
have been deserted by thousanda born and baptised in the
atchnt ,faith of Ireland." The Lmejs had also borne
testimony to the same fact :—" The desolate places of
Connaught and Keiry are the strongholds of prose'',
turn. It is unquestionable !hit many are failing from
the faith. The MY et, another Roman Catholic payer,
had stated "We repeat that it is not in lawn, nor
Cashel, nor Armagh, that are the chief seats of sueeesa-
(al proselytism, but this very city (Dublin) in which we
lire." The result of the missions was that there wine
new engaged in the work 31 missionary clergy, 111 lay
agents and scripture readers, 112 schoolmasters and
mistresses, and 160 Irish and English text teachers.
There were 64 Sunday Schools carried on with an at-
tendance of 2.662 scholar,; 85 due and night schools
with 3,663 scholars; and 1,717 scholars of Irish and
English teachers. There were 51 Sunday services, at
which the nasal attendance was 4.6)9; and 61 week-day
services with an attendance of 2.953. These were the
results which had attended the Irish Chereh Missions to
Homan Catholics. Mr e mentioned that at
the last confirmation of the ArchbieLop of Dublin, out
of 90 candidates, 60 ware converts from the Chan% of

Rome.—Mr. Freer przpsed a vote of thanks to the rev. I
Weimer, which was seconded an 4 carried unanimously.
The a-ual benediction was pronounced. end the meeting
broke up.—There was a good attendance.
CRICKIiT.—For some time past cricket, in this district,
has been on the wane. We are happy. however, to say
that s new club has been formed into srbich a good deal
of new blood hot been infused, and they commence play
this day (Saturdayt, at two o'clock.
BOARD OF IiCARDIVM—The weekly meeting of this
Board was held DD Thursday, Mr. Grainger in the chair.
There were also present :—Messrs. Brookes, Richardson,
Rhodes, Bennett, Griffin, Pargeter, Cartwright, Bird. I
Manlier, Powell, Beckley, lan., and Wright. Admitted
into the house during .the week, 58; discharged. 46;
born, 3; dead. 2 ; remaining. 493. Corresponding week
last year. 351. Out-door relief, Kingswinford district.
/46 16s 4741 Stony-bridge district. /30 Si 3d; Ilalesowon
district, 133 103 144 . total, /103 3s 111 d. against rs
8131 last year. -The order was received for the addi-
tional duties for the medical officers. . . I

AFFILIATION CASE.—At the Petty Sessions, yesterday,
before the Hon. C. G. Lyttelton and W. C. Firmstont,
Esq., Joseph Eleatheock, of the Lye, was summoned by
Sarah Ann Round to show cause why he should not sup-
port her illegitimate child, of which she alleged he was
the father. Defendant did nct appear, and as an import.
ant witness for complainant was absent, the case was
adjourned for a week.
AN AFFECTIONATE SON.—George Billieghsm, residing !
at the Two Gates, Cradley, was summoned by James
Barrett, Relieving-officer, for neglecting to support his '
mother. Mr. Maltby defended. Mr. Barrett said that
defendant's mother became chargeable to the Union on
the sth of March. Witness relieved her on that date.
and ahe was still in the Workhouse, at a cost of 2s lid
per week. Defendant's mother is 73 years of age. For
the defence it was contended that defendant was
mete, and therefore not liable. The Bench said they
were botind to dismiss the case, but thought it very dis-
creditable to iLfendant not to support his mother. He
was morally bound to Snunort her, if not legally. De-
fendant said he had suppOrtea er for fifteen rare, and
could not afford to do so any longer.
STE SLING WATERCRESS.—At tbe Sessions held
on Thursday last, before J. Holeroft, .1 • 11,"!I
O'DonaM and Bridget Brannan were charged with
jag • quantity of watercress, the property of Samuel
Bradley, of Blakedown. Police-constable Taylor proved
the ease, and defendants were tined lid each and coats,
and ordered to pay the value of the watercress, 3d.