The Express.
London, England, 1867-10-10 00:00:00

ME EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 10, 1867.

they find an °cc-talon to which that maxim would apply I
more certainly ? All the attempts to heal the existing '
stain of things only served to show that it did not ad-
mit of healing. Each party had meant to save the
church, and each had contributed in ita own way to
render the saving of it impossible. (Hear, hear.) Again.
the church of England had come under pupilage to
the principle of voluntaryism during the laat thirty
years, and bad carried it out on a grand scale.
She had come to see how much might be achieved by
that principle ; and her clergy and members were feeling
blore hicre the galling ftttcri which the state con-
nection imposed upon them. What then were the posi-
tion and the duty devolving upon congregationalist' in
relation to these events ? It should be clear that if the
controversies now raging were to be brought to any set-
tlement, it must he upon the basis of the equality and
religious independence of churches—(applause)—that
every church should have perfect liberty and power to
carry on its own work, and no liberty and no power to
force its convictions or modes of worship upon others.
(Applause.) On what ground short of this could peace
be promised in Ireland? The finger of Providence pointed
with the fixedness of destiny, not to the endowment of
more churches, as was proposed for Ireland, but to the
endowment of none. The principle he was urging
came from those obscure men in the time of Elizabeth,
James I. and Charles 1., who met often in very obscure
places—the early separatists in English history ; so when
the principle came into general action it must be remem-
bered that the founders of congregationalism were the

authors of it. What was their present duty ? To bring
the press into play as a great educating power in the for-
mation of opinion ; to use the pulpit, and there enforce
Christ's words, "My kingdom is not of this world;'
and the time might come when it would be right to
speak to the public at large by resolutions. Would not
17 ngregationalists be faithful to their principle? (Applause.)
their conviction of the spiritual nature of Christ's
kingdom was a truth, it was the grandest of all truths.
Their object was not to be placed in an equal political
position with churchmen ; their object was only religious.
They were jealous that no power should intervene between
the conscience and heart of man and his God. The kingly
rule over the conscience was as much usurped by the
Erastianism of the state as by the sacerdotalism of popery.
There was a time when the church was free for three can.
turies, and it then conquered the world. Let it be made
free once more, and it would conquer the world again.
(Applause.)
The Rev. Dr. Flamm spoke of the importance of main-
taining the old principles of nonconformity in opposition
to the Romish tendencies of the ago. He said in these
days of free intercourse, of free negroes in Amerce, of free•
men in Manchester working now with free grown material,
he would say, in the Free Trade-hall, that every country
tinder Heaven should have a free church. He made
humorous reference to the Pan-Anglican Synod. The
colonial bishops, he said, were sadly perplexed to know
whether they were established or not. The bishops in the
north generally took good care to keep far enough north
of that Pan-Anglican Synod ; and he ventured to pre-
dict that it was the last Pan-Anglican Synod that
would ever be convened, so long an the English and
Irish churches remained connected with the State. With
regard to the papacy, be had no objection to the
Pope wearing his tiara, providing he would grant the
same liberty to his subjects which he claimed for himself.
Garibaldi might go to Rome, and if ho did, God help
him. (Applause.) The men of Lancashire had had amongst
them in former times great examples of Christian heroism,
consistency, and endurance, on behalf of ecclesiastical
freedom, and he related several interesting instances in
rapport of this. He concluded by speaking of the many
changes which had taken place in Manchester since he
I first came to reside here, 10 years ago. It was his delight
still to enjoy the friendship of many of its inhabitants, and
iw pisyedfor their continued prosperity.
The Rev. W. M. STATHAx addressed the meeting on the
relation of congregational principles to political life. He
said bethought they ought to rejoice at the passing of
the Reform Bill and to wish anemia to Mr. Miall at Brad-
ford. (Applause.) It had been said that if they wished
to make men tigers, they must chain them as such. It
would be a good thing if some ecclesiastics would leave
their church rule and take up railways. (Laughter.)
They could control fares much better than opinions.
There was no necessar7 antagonism between the different
communities of Christian churches, and he would eve
-
chilly insist that the legislature mast do justice to Ire-
land. He who did not want Ireland to be renovated,
and its church set free from the state, was a traitor to his
own country. lie spoke of the sacrifices made by Mr.
Bright, whose name, he said, would long be a household
word, and be honoured along with that of Mr. Gladstone.
He was sure those present would stand to their banners as
their fathers did, and God would defend the right.
(Applause.)
Mr. JANES Smenorrom proposed, and the Rev. J.
PARKER, D.D., seconded, a vote of thanks to the chairman,
which was warmly adopted.

THE IRIBH ROMAN CATHOLIC PRELATES AND
THE STATE CHURCH QUESTION. —We have reliable
authority for stating that at the recent meeting of
the Irish prelates in Dublin, their lordships unani-
mously declared they would tako no part of the
revenues of the established church, and expressed
their opinion and their desire that those revenues
should be appropriated to the relief of the poor in Ireland.
This decision was arrived at after the fullest and most
deliberate consideration, end under circumstances which
impart to it peculiar significance and importance. We un-
derstand that a few menthe ago inquiries were addreised by
he government, through Lord Stanley, to Cardinal Anto-
nelli, for the purpose of ascertaining whether the Irish
prelates would accept en endowment for the catholic
clergy as a solution of the church question. The fact
that negotiations were pending transpired, end it was
rumoured that the Roman government had placed •
veto on the acceptance of the proffered endowment.
Such, however, was not the fact. The Papal govern-
ment declined to interfere in the matter one way or the
other, and the proposition of the English cabinet was
transmitted to Cardinal Cullen, as the representative
of the Irish church, to be laid for consideration and
decision before the Irish prelates. Cardinal Cullen
thereupon issued • circular to the bishops, stating
the overtures that had been made, and invited their
lordships' attendance in Dublin on the Ist October, to
take the matter into consideration, requesting them
in the mean time to give the proposal their best attention.
At the recent conference three distinct propositions were
submitted to the assembled prelates. Ist. Whether they
should accept a share in the present revenues of the esta-
blished church. 2nd. Whether, in the event of the partition
scheme being considered objectionable, • distinct and sepa-
rate endowment would be accepted by the catholic clew.
3rd. Whether, in case the clergy should repudiate personal
'Upends, they would receive an endowment for the pur-
poses suggested by the Right Rev. Dr. Moriarty—the main-
tenance of churches and glebes. After mature considera-
tion the three propositions were rejected, the decision of
the prelates being, as we have stated, to accept no subsidy
in any shape or form from the state.—Cork Examiner.
THE CONDEMNED FRENCHMAN BORDIER. —A
petition has been addressed to her Majesty the Queen by
the late employer of, and fellow-workmen with, the con-
demned Frenchman, Louis Reedier. Philanthropic efforts
have been made by a French gentleman, M. Edward
Lowy, of Victoria-road, Peckham, aided by Mr. William
Tallack, of the Howard Association, 5, Dishopagate-
street-without, E.C., during the past few days on
behalf of the unfortunate foreigner. These gentlemen
have brought the matter before the)French embassy and the
Duke d'Aumale, and influential interposition has been ex-
erted, it is hoped with good effect. Thapetition isas follows
" To the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty,—The bumble
petition of the late and last employer of, and fellow-
workmen with, Louis Reedier, now under sentence of
death for murder, showeth that your Majesty's petitioners
have had long and constant opportunities of observing the
conduct of Louis Bordier, and have often noticed in him
indications of decided iusanity ; that it was a frequent
remark made by the workmen in the same room with
lkirdier, that 'he must be mail that in justification of
such remarks he habitually worked merely by fits and
starts since leaving the hospital. He used frequently to
burst into maniac-like laughter without any ap-
parent cause, and often played in a childish
manner with small pieces of leather. He repeatedly
opened doors at which no person was knocking, then
blowing his breath loudly would laugh and run away.
That two of the fellow-workmen with Louis Boralier,
namely, Charles Postal and Edward Hebei, were requested
by an inspector of police to attend at the trial at the Old
Bailey to give evidence in favour of the prisoner. When
the said two persons arrived at the Old Bailey they were
served with sub's:rues to give evidence for the prosecution.
Neither of the two were, however, called into court.
That it is most important to remember the; no witness
whatever was summoned for the defence. And that fur-
ther, your Majesty's petitioners have reason to believe
that Louis Bordier is (end was previously to the murder)
in a condition of such advanced disease that his life, in '
natural course, will probably be extremely short. On all
these accounts we humbly pray your Majesty to graciously
commute the fatal sentence passed on this must unfortu-
nate man."—Signed by Mr. John Lambert, late employer I
of Reedier, and by twenty-five of his fellow-workmen in
the currier business, Bermondsey New-road.
TILE RUSSIAN TARIFF AND THE GRAIN TRADE.
—Lord Stanley having requested information and opinions
with respect to the effect of the modifications proposed by
the Russian government in the existing duties on foreign
goods, the council of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce
yesterday adopted a resolution to the effect that the pro-
posed tariff (avowedly based on the principles of protec.
tion) was extremely objectionable. The article named in
the tariff of most importance to the interests of Liverpool
was salt, the value of which was lid. per cwt., but upon
which the duty was proposed to be continued at the rate
of Is. 91d. per cwt. to the ports in the Baltic, and at
2s. 2d. per cwt. to those on the White Sea. The council
thought this duty specially objectionable, not only as in-
creaming the oast of a necessary of life, but as limiting the
supply of tonnage in the Russian ports and raising the
freight on and restricting the import of grain generally,
and of Archangel oats into this country. It was decided
that a copy of this resolution should be transmitted to the
Foreign Secretary.