The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-12-20 00:00:00

NETHERTON NONCONFORMIST
ASSOCIATION.

The members and friends of the above association,
which has been formed for the purpose of promoting
national education and religicam.equality, , held 'public
meeting on mouday night, in St. John's School-room,
Netherton, Dudley. There was a good attendance.
The Chairman (Mr. Round) said they had met to-
gether to advocate the cause of Noucomfonnity and
religious equality. Throughout the country the Non-
comformists had done their bests to advocate those
principles which were dear to them. During the past
year they had had a series of meetings, and lectures,
which had resulted in uniting the different branches
of uoncomformity ; and he hopefully looked foward
to the time, not far distant he belived, when in Neth-
erton the diseuters would be banded together for one
common object, namely religious equality ; and when
by united action they would secure for the people,
what in in this enlightened age they must have, civil
and religious liberty—(loud applau.e).
Mr. Parry (sec.) then read the annual report, whieh
showed that good and useful work bail been done
dur-
ing the past year.
CJaucilior Cooper moved, aud Ur. J. Ridgway seev
onded the adoption of the report, which was unaui.
mously carried.

The Rev. It. W. Cressky, deputation from the
Central Committee, Birmingham, said he wished
to state a few of the principles for which the Non-
conformists of this country were now contending.
In Birmingham they had just lgot out of a hard
fight. and he wanted those in that district in the
forthcoming contest
principlesehostfortlteDudlehiSechhloioadl Board
been
to stand p for n
so successful in. Birmingham—(hear, hear, and
applause). The contest in Birmingham was more
than local; it had a national interest. He came
there that evening to ask them to work with ear-
nestness, and join those who had ;undertaken the
tesk of assisting their great Liberals reformers—
(applause). In Birmingham they had been told
that they had fought their fight on false issues,
and that their programme of education had de-
ceived the many. He sincerely hoped that his
hearers would not sacrifice their liberties to the
capric of the priesthood, and that they would not
submit to ecclesiasticalelomination in matters of
education—(hear, hear). The Nonconformists
were described as godless and graceless infidels.
and the people weae told to avoid then, and not
listen to their teaching, They, (the Nonconfor-
mists) asked for no privilege which they denied
to their opponents; they merely asked for an
acknowledgment of the principles of self-govern-
ment carried on by the representatives of the
people—(applause). Who managed most of the
schools now P The answer was to familiar to them
all, they wanted to educate the rising generation
in schools managed by those specially appointed
for that purpose, on a broad and free platform—
(hear, hear). They did not want to give to their
children education as a privilege, but as an indi-
vidual right—(applause)—and they wanted their
schools to be on a level—each doing his own duty
and religious work. They wanted their schools
to be managed by men elected by the people, so
that the present disgraceful standard of education
might be improved. He had been told that, at
the next meeting of the Birmingham School Bo-
ard, a proposal would be made to increase the
staff of teachers iu Board Schools, which clearly
showed that the Nonconformists were fully alive
to their responsibility—(hear, hear), In Birming-
ham they intended to make the Board Schools
better than the present Denominational schools
and he did sincerely hope that in the borough of
I Dudley would follow suit—(loud applause), He
did not believe in preaching alone. They heard
a great deal about the anxiety of members of the
National Church to train their children, but their
programme was too limited. What was wanted
was a free school for the people, and he for one
advocated a free school for every child in the
country. He objected, however, to the introduction
of religious instruction in those free schools. They
must have religion taught away from the noise of
ordinary schools, so that it might touch the chil-
drens s hearts—(hear: hear)t The wretched cry
of godless .education was a weak assault of the
enemy. In effect, that cry showed their opponents'
weakness, for they had no foundation for the as-
sertion, although it had some effect upon a certain
class, it was intended to uphold the tyranny of
the priesthood, and to mislead the people. They
frequently heard the ministers of ',he Church of
England cursing the Nonconformists, but, happily,
their curses had no effect. Let them curse on and
nurse their particular notions, but the grand work
the Nonconformists were struggling for would
ultimately be accomplished—(applause). The
Nonconformists defied their opponents, for the
time must come when they would have a free
ehurch in a free State, and civil and religious lib-
erty all the world over—(applause). In the last
session of Parlitnent, Mr. Gladstone challenged
the Nonconformists, and they intended to respond
to that in a practical way. They had been trifled
with long enough—(hear, hear)—and they did not
intend to put up with it any longer. They said
let every religion or sect stand by itself. They
did not want their children to be denied the glo-
rious benefits of a religious education, but they
wanted the religious instruction given at the pro-
per time and place, and by qualified perons. They
wanted perfect equality, and they would not be
satisfied with anything less—(hear, hear). The
rev, gentleman then offered some excelent advice
to the leaders of the Nonconformist party in the
forthcoming election for the Dudley School Board
and expressed a hope that they would return a
majority of Nonconfornust candidates. The Go-
vernment of the country, he said, was trembling,
and it would be greatly influenced by the School
Board elections. Let Dudley assist in the coming
' triumph of the Liberal cause.
I Thanks were voted to Mr. Crosskey for his
I address, and other speakers, followed.
The meeting was a very successful one, and
I augers well for the coming struggle at Dudley.