The Express.
London, England, 1852-06-29 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, JUNE 29, 1852.

unanimously adopted at the London Tavern meeting.
Ve'hea those gentlemen who attended there, and at
fine opposed the predominant feeling, yet at last gave
way to it, and held up their hands in favour of- the
conjoint candidature of Lord JOIN RUSSELL,
Befell ROTHSCHILD, and Sir JAilltd I)tlY6—when
those gentlemen did so, they surely by that act
bound themselves not to take other steps that would
in any degree interfere with the re-election of the
selected candidates; and to sacrifice soy oue of them
now for Mr. CRAWFORD, will be very discreditable.
Liberals should not fight with Liberals when so many
Derbyites are unopposed.
Let the Liberais signing this CRAWFORD requisition
consider for a moment the position of Lord Joust
ItessELL in the City. The great bulk of the Liberal
party support him. There is. however, a dissatisfied
section who will refuse Lord Jour their votes; to
them must, no doubt, be added now a largo party of
the Roman Catholic electors. Now let us suppose a
contest produced by Mr. Ca•v•Toutis becoming a cam-
didate. What security can he, or any of his Liberal
friends, give the party to which we all belong, that the
Tories as a body will not,to benefit their party, all vote
against Lord JouN Itesse.m., and thus, by co-operat-
ing with the dissatisfied Liberals and the angry
Roman Catholics, place him in a minority? Time
defeat of the ex-Premier would be worth anything to
the Tories, who could then be able to sing over the
whole of Europe a loud song of " Reactiou."
If the Libouls could ensure the rejection of Mr.
MASTERMAN, by all means let us have Mr. CRAW-
FORD as a fourth candidate. But if the real danger
of a fourth Liberal corning forward is to full upon
Lord Join Itussem. because he opposed l'apul ilyyres-
sum, in the name of common sense let the City
Liberals conilne their present exertions to ensure the
return of the three Liberals who have already served
us. It can play no game but Lord DERBY'S to run
any risks about Lord JOHN'S re-election for the City.

BIRMINGHAM, already famous fur the hardware of
commerce, is in danger of earning for itself a celebrity
for the hardware of morals—civil and religious in-
tolerance. The picture in little of petty espionage,
treachery, and condign cruelty which pursued the
Baroness VON BECK to immediate death, was only a
miniature of the historical pictures recently presented
by Louis NAPOLEON and Fans:cis of Austria on a
grander scale. The latest issues of the Birmingham
newspapers present a companion picture, the shadows
of which, if nut quite so (lark, are no less
startling, since the principal actors in the
living tableau are ministers of our religion.
It is no affectation to say that we present
an outline of the scene to our readers with pair, ;
but the moral and tho warning which are to be
drawn from it—quite beyond its local character and
influence—must not be passed over.
The scene was the Birmingham Town Hall; the
occasion, a meeting of the local branch of the Church
Missionary Society; the principal performers,
clergymen of the Church of England. The
auditors were chiefly ladies. All this is
necessary to be understood, because the oc-
currences we are going to relate would be more
in harmony with an election riot or a quarrel at a
sparring club, than with an assembly of the dissemi-
nators of "peace and good will upon earth," in the
presence of those whose softening Influence ruffian-
ism itself respects and obeys. The president of the
day was the Hon. and Rev. G. M. YORKE, Rural
Dean, and a long list is given of other " Reve-
rends" occupying the platform. After a prayer,
some routine business, and an apology fur
a reverend absentee who had gone to
London on business connected with the NEWERN-
AcHILLI trial—the Rev. Mr. GALE, 11.C.L., Curate
of All Saints, expressed a wish to move an amend-
ment to a resolution connected with the adoption of
the report which had just been read by the secre-
tary. This simple announcement produced for some
preconcerted reason, says the local reporter, "a
scene of indescrible contusion." The noise which the
clerical occupants of tho platform made prevented a
word of what Mr. GALE was saying from being
heard. They only had ears for the CHAIRMAN when
ho culled Mr. GALE "to order." It is, therefore,
the law of a Birmingham missionary meeting that
to move an amendment to a resolution is
to be out of order; but the Reverend Mr. GEDtiE—
Mr. CAWS next assailant -thought to put down
the mover of the amendment at one blow. " Was
he a subscriber to the society ?" Mr. GALE could
not at the moment say; for he contributed to so
many charities; but he would then and there pur-
chase the right of addressing the meeting by a ten
shilling subscription. (It turned out afterwards that
he was already a moot liberal supporter of the
society.) Again he attempted to speak ; the confu-
sion increased to a degree to describe which we
must make the Birminuham Journal responsible to
our readers:

" The gentlemen. ley and clerical, clamed round Mr. Gale,
and endeavoured to push him aside, to whom he said, " I
will not sit down; allow me for one moment." (Uproar,
and cries of "Turn hi n 0u,.") Turning to the meeting,
Mr. G. uid—My Christian friends—(uproar, during which
some of the gentlemen surrounding Mr. Gale seized him)—
in the name of justice consider the object of this meetirg.
(Uproar.) Now, I appeal—(lnterraption). lam not an
enemy to :he society; I am not here to oppose anything,
(Here Mr. 11. notion seized Mr. Gals by the arm to pre-
vent him from addressing the meeting, amidst cries of " Send
for a policeman.") Mr. Hutton asked Mr. Gale how mach
time he should require, and he replied "three minutes, but
eve minutes at the outside." Mr. Hatton then went to
the chairman to obtain leave from him for Mr. Gale to
speak that lenwh of time, but the chairman refused,
and Mr. Hutton told Mr. Gale that be should
not be allowed one moment. During this col.
.oguy, Mr. Gale was beset on all sides by the enraged gen-
tlemen, who certainly looked daggers at him, especially the
Rev. S. Ledge, who repeatedly interrupted him, and Mr.
Bacchus, who prised Mr. O. by the coat with some force,
on which Mr. Gale. pointing to Mr. 8., exclaimed "what's
that man's name ?"

The Rev. I. C. Barrett—As the chairman has put it to
this meeting whether he (Mr. G.) u a non-member of the
society, should be heard on the proposition of en amend-
ment which has nothing to do with the real question, and
the meeting hes decided that he should not be heard, I put
:t to him whether he does not coma& r it more consistent
with the principles of the Christian minister, and, as a man,
to postpone any observations he may have to make on that
particular subject, which evidently is neat and dear to him,
till he can call a meeting in the Towithall for that particu-
lar purpose. (Applause.)
Mr. Gale—My Christian friends.—(uproar).
Mr. Barrett —This is the first interruption, or anything
of the kind, that has taken place in the proceedings of this
important society as conducted in this Town-hall. May I
venture to appeal to the kind feeling and good sense of Mr.
I Gale to waive this matter till the opportunity occurs to
which I have already called his attention.
Mr. Gale.—My Christian friends.—(uproar)—allow me.
(Continued interruption sett great uproar). My Christian
(mends. (Uproar.) I am very sorry that this meeting.
(Renewed uproar.) I should he sorry to interrupt this
meeting. (Much confusion on the platform.) It is with
extreme pain that I receive this interruption—
(Here Mr. J. H. Beilhy, bookseller, an a frantic state of
excitement, went up to Mr. Gale, laid hold of his coat collar
with both hands, shook him violently for some time and
then deliberately struck him a smart blow on the side of
the heed, knocking off th' spectacles from Mr. Gale's face,
which fell to the floor and were trampled on. All this was
observed by the plat faun and the body of the meeting without
any expression of censure or disapproval. Mr. Gale pre-
served his selipmsessnin end mid not return the compli-
ment to Mr. Beilby, although be is evidently possessed
of far superior physical strengths, and a decided blow from
him would have laid his antagonist sprawling on the
ground, or sent him over the orchestra into the body of the
meeting. As soon as Mr. Beilby had done with Mr. Gale,
the latter quietly turned to the meeting, which was most
strangely excited. Ile proceeded, hut only the reporters
could hear what he said. Mr. B. was allowed to remain on
the platform.)"

Still Mr. GALE persevered, and actually succeeded
in proposing his amendment amidst cries of "'turn
him oat! "lie's drunk!" (Mr. GALE is, it seems,
a notorious teetotaller.) "Send for the police!"
Then came the mop de grace. While speaking,
Mr. Oslo was out short by the arrival with Mr. T.
Goodman of a beadle, who had acted as a doorkeeper, who
collared Mr. Gale, according to his instructions, sad by
whom Mr. Gale, supposing hisconduetorto be a policeman,
was ejected.
After this heroic hurricane had utterly swept away
the gentle GALE, the various orators delivered them-
selves of their act speeches, and the Honourable and
Rev. Rural Ikon was specially complimented for his
Christian bearhig and impartiality in the chair—the
proceedings being terminated with what seem. the
really irreverent irony of singing, " Praise Gon,
from whom all blessings flow."
Conduct such As we have here described
—with the help of :lie local paper--would hardly
be justified by any amount of provocation, still
provocation must he taken into account to
mitigate the censure which such a scene, per-
formed by such actors and before such an
au•lio nee, naturally rail loath. Perhaps Mt. Gat.E's
amendment contained something subversive of re-
ligion or morality; pa-e,ibly it recommended some-
thing utterly abhorrent to the church—such as less'

pay ft* eharch dignitaries and better pay for reel
curates. Peradventure it pointed out sonsetbing
destreetive of the principles of missionary enterprise
—such as a recommendation to defer the evangelisa-
tion of the dark and distant heathen until the
heathen at home had been brought into the Christian
fold. Either of these propositions might in some
degree have justified the ruffianly uproar—the clerical
hustling of Mr. au.e.—the boxing him about the
head—the smashing of his spectacles—the calling for
police—and his final ejectment by the beadle; all in
the presence of ladies, immediately after prayers to
the ALMIGHTY, offered up by the hpeof some (as will
presently be explained) with a full presentiment in
their hearts of what was to come—and just before
the performance of the Doxology. Indeed something
even more dreadful than either of the foregoing sur-
mises is to be apprehended as the contents of Mr.
GAT.H'S amendment. That even he dreaded it would
produce an explosion is proved by his having
prudently oommunicated its tenour to the chairman
previous to the meeting. Hence his very presence
lighted the mine of intolerance and blew it np
before lie had time to open his lips. The incendiary
amendment ran thus :

That it be an iestruction to the committee, as far as pos-
sible, to encourage the employment, as missionaries, of those
gentlemen whe abstain altogether from intoxicating liquors
except under the advice of a medical attendant.
Absurd! Shall the clergy of tho Church of
England —never very celebrated for mortifying the
flesh—be recommended temperance in the use of
port and all other wines; shall they be debarred
from bowls of "bishop," and from all intoxicating.
liquors, and the adviser not summarily exterminated ?
Forbid it, Chri3tian love and charity!
The mere assault and battery on so heinous an of-
fender, and kicking him out of a meeting for the propa-
gation of the Gospel in foreign pads, was not enough
to satisfy the Birmingham clergy. Immediately
after the occurrence the Incumbent of AU Saints
writes to his " Dear GALE" as follows :

" The report I hare Just heard of your conduct et the
Town-hall, on Tuesday la-t, makes it my painful duty to
inform you that I shall !MVP uo lusher need of your m-
ince. at All Sainta'.—l am, dear sir, yours faithfully,
The lien. 11. Ode. S. F. Ilouo m 4."

As a specimen of clerical intolerance, we hope that
these transactions are unmatched. No ingenuity can
supply the shadow of an excuse for them. It is not
impossible that the Rev. Mr. GALE'S zeal in the
cause of temperance may occasionally outrun discre-
tion. This is a mere surmise : we have no know-
ledge of any of the parties except that which the
Birmingham papers supply ; but nothing should
screen his persecutors from the censure of their
diocesan, as nothing cau save them from public
indignation.
The moral is short, but momentous to public inte-
rests. It is to the Church—with the rude intolerance
here described reigning in its bosom—that Lord
DERRY seeks to confide the education of the youth of
England.