The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-04-25 00:00:00

bit xamTHERN TIKE6.-LIVERPOOL9 FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 1866.

direct-evidence on the question, as she could only spea
from hearsay,' and, therefore, declined 'giving evidence.
The Presbytery declared the lady contumacious, and
declared that she be suspended. from all church privileges.
Against, this, decree Mils. knox appealed'.
The Rev. Profess& Lorimer Moved that the decree of
the Presbytery be reversed, that the lady be restored to
her church privileges; and that the Presbytery be severely
censured for their very tyrannical act. (Hear, hear.)
He thought it a; fiery lamentable thing that the general
Presbytery should be niiirenresented by, Such acts of
injustice. awl that the cdnduct 8f the businesi of the
Newcastle Presbytery-Should appeal to be so much in the
hands of brethren who . were yet young in years, and
unripe in ecclesiastical experience.
The Ex-moderator seconded, the motion. He thought
the Presbytery of Newcastle had placed themselves in a
most unhappy position, and he hoped that the lessons
received the previous night and that morning, would teach
them to be careful how they dealt with Christian ministers
in the spirit of petty sessions' lawyers, rather than as
ministers of religion. (Hear. hear.) When they -entered
into the privacy of domestic life, and inflicted an outrage
upon a venerable lady, (who for half a century had adorned
the church,) they should be made to kno;v that such con-
duct could not be tolerated, and that if they attempted
anything.of the kind again; they should stiffer the heaviest
Censure. (Loud 'cheers.)
The Rev. Mr. Chalmers did not think the Synod
should tolerate beirift called on to be in at the death of
some pine, hunted down by the Presbytery of Newcastie
every year ; and the very last game they ought to run
down, was a venerable lady. The very circumstance
of that lady being the mother-in-law of the Rev.
Mr. Anderson, should have been to any men
of delicacy, or gentlemanly feelinK, not to say
Christian feeling, amp e reason for exempting her from
being required to give evidence against a relative so
near and dear. (Hear; hear.) He thought the Presby-
tery should be compelled to send an apolOgy to the
venerable lady on whom they had inflicted such an indig-
nity. Hear, hear.)
Dr. Mackenzie, Mr. Blyth. and the Rev. Mr. Wrightson,
and others, spoke to the same effect, condemning strongly
the conduct of the Newcastle Presbytery.
The Rev. Mr. Anderson stated that if Mrs. Knox had
appeared, her evidence would have been in his favour.
The Synod finally adopted a resolution to the effect that
the decision of the Newcastle Presbytery be reversed, and
Mrs. Knox restored to her full privileges : that the severe
censure Of the Synod be passed upon the Newcastle Pres-
bytery for such a tyrannical stretch of ecclesiastical
power : and that the minutes of the Synod's finding be
sent to Mrs. Knox, and that the moderator be instructed
to convey to her the regret of the Synod that she should
have been subject to such a procedure.
THE LONDON WALL AND DALSTON. CONGREGATIONS.
This was an appeal against the decision of the London
Presbytery. The London Wall congregation proposed to
remove their place of worship from its present site to
Dalston, for several reasons, which were stated at great
length. The proposition was opposed and disallowed by
the London Presbytery.
The Rev. Mr. Chalmers. the Rev. Professor Lorimer,
the Rev. Mr. Ballantyne, and M.r. Tulloch spoke at con-
siderable iength•On behalf of the appeal.
The ex-Moderator, the Rev. Dr. Hamilton, and the
Rev. Dr. Corey, supported the decision of the Presbytery.
After a lengthened discussion' the Rev. Mr. Anderson
moved, and the Rev. Mr.. Barns seconded, a motion
t a thnit effect that the appeal. be sustained, and the
decismn. of the Presbytery set aside. The motion was
carried by 57 to 14.
THE BIRMINGHAM CHURCH.
The next business•was the hearing of a petition from
the Rev. J. R. Mackenzie, D. U., Broad-street Church,
Birmingham, for aid to pay off a debt of £l5OO on the
church, and to meet its current expenses.
The Rev.' Dr. Mackenzie addressed the Synod at con-
siderable length in support of his appeal.
Mr. Robert Lamont supported the appeal, and moved
that it be received and referred to a committee, which
was seconded by the Rev. Dr. Munro, and agreed to.
The Synod then adjourned to the afternoon sitting.

AFTERNOON SITTING.
On the assembling of the Synod for the evening sitting,
the service belonging to the ordination of the Rev. Mr.
Sandiman, as missionary to China, was proceeded with.
The ordination service 'was performed by the Rev. Mr.
Frazer, of Lewick, the Rev. Dr. Hamilton, Rev. D.
Menroe, and the Rev. Mr. Anderson.
THE ORGAN QUESTION.
The next business before the Synod, was the considera-
tion of an overture, or motion, made by the Rev. Dr.
Hatnilton, and supported*by, memorials, calling upon the
Synod to declare that the use of instrumental music in
church worship was not approved of, and to enjoin all
Presbyteries to take order that no such innovation be
introduced.
In expectation of this question coming on for discussion,
the chapel was exceedingly crowded.
The papers on the question were read by the Clerk.
• The Rev. Dr. Hamilton then proceeded to support the
motion. He contended that the very fact that there were
people who took both sides of the question, was a reason
why those who felt themselveS free to use instrumental
music, should refrain from doing so. The very
fact, that there were, those who felt it against
the genius of the New Testament to employ
such instruments. be they ever so benighted, was a
reason why their brethren should not employ them.
They had the authority of St. Paul, that they should rather
give up a privilege to which they were entitled, than cause
their brothers to be offended. If they found in their
brethren so much tenderness of spirit that they would be
wounded by it, he urged that they who felt themselves
free to' use the organ, unless they felt themselves con-
strained by a 'conscientious conviction to use it, were
bound by all apostolic and scriptural principles to forbear
from the use of it. It was not because he was such a Goth
or Vaudall, as to have no
ofttase for music that he intro-
duced this question as part a common crusade against
instrumental music. He believed he could enjoy instru-
mental music in his own dull way as much as his neigh-
bours. He believed that in other churches both organs
and liturgies were tne vehicles on which the devout
feeling of many a hearer had been enabled to go up-
wards. 'But that was no reason why that church should
adopt the principle. That church stood upon the simple
principle that it had never adopted it. The proof that
instrumental music was not approved of was that it had
never been employed. He denied that the church should
so far adapt itself to the usages of those around as to give
up its scriptural and gospel simplicity. He urged that
the church should not be induced to put on Babylonish
garments which would betray their origin. ,He reminded
them of the example shewn by the great American nation
which enjoined its representative at the Court of St.
James to appear amidst all the splendidly attired ambas-
sadors of foreign courts in true republican simplicity. He
denied altogether that the introduction of instrumental
music would tend to elevate the devotional feelings of the
congregation, and contended that quite a contrary effect
would be produced. If they adopted mechanical mea
ens
of of musical praise, he did not see why they should
adopt mechanical means of prayer. They might also
get 'for each minister a set of neatly lithographed ser-
mons ; and, finally, they might introduce an automatom,
or reading machine. which could just turn over
the leaves, of the lithographed sermons, and rattle
them out with sufficient reservance, to answer all the
purposes of their present ministers. (Hear, hear, and
laughter.) He opposed the principle of adopting the
organ as a means of increasing the numbers of their con-
gregations, and urged that if they acted on such a prin-
ciple, they might as well at once have pictures hung in
their churches, and even go on to the performance of
miracle plays, such as the Roman Catholic friars of old
adopted to attract larger audiences, and to obtain more
money. Having reviewed at considerable length the
principle arguments usually urged in favour of the organ,
he called upon those who telt themselves at liberty to use
the organ,not to hurt their brethren, by doing what was
distasteful to their conscience, and would drive numbers
away from the church. He called on them not to do any
thing which would cut them off from historical associa-
tion with the Presbyterians of old England, and from
communion at present with their dearly -loved friends in,
Ireland and Scotland.
The Clerk of the Synod (the Rev. Mr. Duncan) seconded
the motion. He said that he telt it was a question or far
greater importance than at first blush of it they were
ready to imagine. They' seemed to suppose that the
introduction of an instrument into their music was a mere
matter of accident—a small piece of detail, and that it was
a singular thing that so much should be said about a trifle
of the kind; but he considered it was no trifle, just
because he believed it to be the first plain, palpable mark
of a change in their policy, and a change for the worse.
He looked abroad over the whole of England. and seriously
contemplating the condition of the religious world and
the churches of England, he declared (and he hoped he
should not be accused of want of charity) he could not see
in all England a church, except their own little church,
that was prepared to maintain firmly and steadily every
portion of Gods truth without the slightest curtailment—
to maintain it boldly and to keep her ministers to it if
they should venture to deviate from it. He could see no
church.but their own in their position—a little church.
exceedingly insignificant in the eyes of the world, but still
occupying one of the noblest positions that could be con-
ceived ; and for them now to begin a• downhill course—to
give the slightest indication of swerving from the course
which their forefathers had followed seemed to him to
have a most disastrous aspect in regard to the religion of
future times.
,The Rev. Mr. Wright, of Southampton, moved that the
matter be referred to a select comos mitle eon the subject and
, with instructions
to collect all the information psib
to report to the next Synod. He said he was not very
strongly desirous for the introduction of organs, nor had
he any objection to them. On, the contrary he should say
that he would like to see' organs in their churches, and he
would do all he could to introduce one into his own
church consistently with the peace and harmony of h
congregation. But be would not drive a single individual
from his congregation who had a conscietious objection to
the introduction of instrumental music into their churches.
At the same time they should remember that there was a
very strong feeling among their congregations on this sub-
ject, and that it would not be wise of the Synod to legislate
hastily in reference to it. They were told by D
ha r. Hamiltheton
that in America the introduction of organs d been
destruction of the church there. Now, he had worshipped
in the church in America, and he could not see that such
had been their effect. He believed that the church had
fallen off there from the introduction rather of Socinianisna
than of organs among the congregations, and as that
belief was shared in by many others it showed the
necessity of having full information on the subject before
they attempted to legislate on a matter of such importance
the
If the Synod now peremptorily decided against
introduction of organs, the ministers would go back to
their congregations and enforce that decision at all
hazards. But, were they prepared for the alternative?
Were .they prepared to lose those congregations who

NEW UNITARIAN CHAPEL

ALLEGED MUTINY ON BOARD A LIVER

POOL SHIP

, .
desired the introdnction of i
instrumental music in their
churches? He believed that these eonsiderations should
secure a general'stipport for his motion ; for unquestion- . Tire usual weekly meeting of this committee was
abl3 if they nosy legislated in haste onsubject the held yesterday. -Mr: Alderman tangsdale presided. The
,
geribus. ~(Hear, hear.)
consequences Which they would reap, would be bitter and
M•Guflie, it. Gladstone, Beckwith, Godfrey, Crosth-
Mr. dlover of fltithlihields, seconded the Rev. Mr. ()thee coniruittee members present were—Messra. Dover,
vi aite, Shell, Hodson and Haydock.
Wright's motion. Be denied that there was either logic
or common sense in the argument that the organ was
tem.
never used in the early days of the church ;he tdld an e
.
amusing anecdote of a reverend gentleman to whom some TOE 'Wm DERBY urrr. .• •
clerk:
minutes of the last meeting were read by the
rs" and Messrs.
of thp ladies of his congregation presented a pulpit gown. A depUtation, consisting of the following gentlemen—
.As be feared there might, be some objection to it, he Messrs. Whitty and Wsnsley, the oversee ; . .
stated to the congregation that ir would, not wear the Scone, Bailey, Lloyd, Rates,, Sidney, Yuud. Pilling, and
gown until he hid an ciiiptirttin q cif hearing all the Whitman, attended before the committee as the
objections to' to it, and he appointed a Miain night to ', sentatives of West Derby, relative to the rate proposed
hear the objections. On the night appointed, nd one to be leried on that township. The proposed rate was
came but one very old lady. The reverend gentlernan to he 14 Od in the pound, and they wished to have it
asked her what was her objection to the pulpit gown. reduced to what it Was last year, namely Is 2d.
A' weel," she said, we never heard of the Apostle Paul Mr. Stone, Mr. Sidney and Mr. Witham each
wearing a pulpittgown." " Very true," he replied, "but
then we never heard of the Apostle Paul wearing a pair addressedp the committee, with a died' of showing that
of breeks." (Laughter.) The speaker took up the argu- • ' d 'poor'
the Increase rates, the increased price of
ments of Dr. Hamilton seribtim, and replied to them, after provisions, and other causes, the ratepaye
rs were not in
Which he seconded the motion. a-position to pay such a demand, and, therefore, hoped
The itev. Mr: Donald ivionroe of gunderland, Condemned that the committee would take ' the subject into con-
irom
._
altog.ether the idea of-judging of this question iicort_,the sidetation; with a view of reducing the stme to Is 2d,
elastic principle of expediency too much in use in mOdern which it *as last 'year.
timeS, and eSpeeiallY by Modern pciliticiaas. Be opposed ' &Veld others of the deputation addressed the corn-
altogether the us,e of musical inpruinelits in the church,
and contended that the gradual introduction of these 'mittee in the true West Derby st sle, having repeatedly
to be called to order for referring to motives perfectly
instruments into the Christian Church was Cotem-
extraneous to the Motion in question, Which, on their
poraneous with the gradual entering of dorruptioni .
into that church. This, alone, should warn them against retirement, caused one of the committee to rentark that
they were a fiel lot, and should hare been drilled before
the pract'cit was, he contended, intrinsically
inconsistent with, and opposed to. the simple and pure they were admitftd; as it Was usdal for deputations to
principles of the Presbyterian church. What was the treat the health committeLe with courtesy and respect.
distinguished element of the new dispensation under which THE .
they were privileged to live? Its spiritual character.
The more, then, their worship was a purely spiritual one,
the more was it in accordance with the spirit of that
dispensation. They should aim at having more of that
spirituality, which was the essence of the Christian
religion, and to turn away as much as possible from those
outward adjuncts, which could be attractive only to the
more carnal min.
The Bev. Mr. M'Caw denied that the question was ode
to be decided by a reference to the usage of any other
church. The great question was, whether it was lawful
and scriptural to use an organ in leading the psalmody of
their sanctuaries. The spirit and genius of the Old
Testament arid the New were thti same. tinder the Cild
Testament he found that the use of musical instruments
was sanctioned, and this, he contended, was a proof that
it was legal, unless it could be shown to be disallowed by
the New Testament. He denied that anything in the New
Testament set aside or made unlawful the practice, and
therefore contended in favour of the organ.
The Rev. Mr. White, of Hanley, said that if the question
had been left, as had been intimated, to the decision of
minister and sessions, he questioned very much if there
ever would have been a second organ in the kingdom. He
believed it to be a question that was purely and solely a
matter of expediency, a matter of prudent regulation,
taste, and so forth. Be held that in the matter the Bible
did not require, and that the Bible did not condemn. It
belonged to the category of things indifferent, to which
there attached a character of neutrality.
The• Rev. Mr. Clelland, of the Isle of Man, denounced
the use of the organ as unscriptural, and supported fir.
Hamilton's motion.
The Rev. Mr. Murdock opposed the first motion,
observing that if the introduction of anything that had
been used in the Church of Rome was necessarily to have
a corrupting influence and to lead to the corrupting of
doctrine and worship in the Church of God, then the very
same feeling would have justified those who opposed the
introduction of gown and band. He objected strongly to
such a conclusion, and to its justness or propriety in
regard to the introduction of organs into their churches.
After a long and excited discussion, the Synod, at ten
minutes to one o'clock, and proceeded to the vote.
The motion of Dr. Hamilton for the confirmation of the
overture, and that of Mr. Chalmers for receiving it
merely, and appointing a committee to consider the whole
subject being put as the " first" and " second " motion.
The first motion, that of Dr. Hamilton, was carried by 58
votes to 32. The result was marked with loud cheers and
hisses. which were checked by the Moderator.
A protest &lam Mr. Cromar, Mr. Chalmers, and others,
was entered against the vote.
The Synod then adjourned.

Mr. Gladstone wished to know whether any collector
of money was permitted to do other business than that
of the committee. He had a case, but, as the collector
was not present, he should defer it until the Tuesday's
committee 'lnc ing. lie thought it right to mention the
subject, in order that gentlemen might consider the

matter:
The Chairman replied that no collector had a Het
to do any crher business, except than that of the board,
as the committee paid for the collectors' time.
The Borough Engineer, building surveyor, and in-
spector of nuisances reported vatiocis particulars of the
bpetations in their several departments during the week,
iii L it appeared that 168 dilapidated privies and
ash pits were altered and repaired. 1,162 cesspools had
been discharged, 106 nnisances complained of by in-
habitants had been inspected and Means taken to remedy
them, 792 houses in the unhealthiest districts, containing
2,449 apartments, and 279 cellars, had been put under
examination, with the view of improving their sanitary

'rood w I

condition.
The Medical Officer of Health reported that the
mortality of Liverpool in the week ending February, was
lower than any week of the nine months preceding. The
total deaths were 186, being 37 less than the corrected
average of the same week of former years. In the
parish, 135 deaths were registered, and in the out-town-
ships 51. Zymotic diseases caused a smaller mortality
than in any week (without exception) of the previous
three years. Of 31 deaths from this class, 7 were from
scarlatina, 6 from typhus,4 from measles, 4 from hooping-
cough, 4 from croup, 4 from diarrhma and dysentry, 1
from erysipelas, no fatal case of sniall•pox was recorded.
From diseases of the lump, the deaths were 73,
being one more than that of the preceding week.
Of the total deaths, exactly one half occurred
below five years of age. The mortality of the
more advanced period of life was unusually low, only
17 deaths having been registered above the age of 60.
Some routine business having been disposed of,
Mr. Gladstone said he wished to ask the Committee a
question, namely, whether they thought it would be
consistent with their duties to assist the poor and labour-
ing classes in obtaining from their landlords an agree-
ment to pay all the local taxes. To the poor this was a
subject of great importance, and had already occupied
the attention of Mr. William Earle, a member of the
town council, who had published the following advice
to the labouring classes and to those keeping lodging-

houses :
Many of you have suffered great personal annoyance
in consequence of being summoned for your rates. This
annoyance you will continue to suffer until you make
your landlords pay all your rates, both of the parish and
of the borough. • Many good landlords will be willing
to make this agreement with you. and you will compel
all landlords to do So if you insist upon this bargain
before you consent to remain in their houses. When
you are arranging with them about the rent which you
are to pay, have nothing to say to them unless they will
give you, in .writing, an agreement in the following
terms, signed by themselves or by their agent:—
" I hereby agree to pay all parish and borough rates
whatever for my tenant,
living , they being included

On Wednesday, the ceremony of laying the founda-
tion stone of a new Unitarian Chapel, on the site of the
old Presbyterian Chapel, in 131aekwater-street, Roch-
dale, was performed by G. Holt, Esq., of Liverpool.
There was a large and very respectable assembly present.
Joseph Wood, Esq., of the firm of Messrs. Royds and
Co., in a brief speech, presented, in the name of the
ladies of the congregation, a silver trowel and a mallet
for the occasion, which Mr. Holt suitably acknowledged.
He then proceeded to lay the foundation-stone, after
which the Rev. W. Smith, minister of the hapel,
deli vored a short speech. The following is a
description of the intended chapel :—The new chapel
will be pointed or Gothic in style, current in the
13th century, when the early English was being fully
developed, and was about to merge into the decorative.
P will he very simple in character, consisting of a nave
and south aisle, under separate roofs, that of the nave
being terminated at each end by a gable with a small
• bell canopy and metal cross on the apex of the west,
and a stone ornamental cross on that of the east gable.
In length the chapel externally will be 66 feet, and the
width 34 feet. The principal entrance will be at the
west end, and over it there will be a large four-light
window, with geometric tracery in the head—a feature
which will characterise the whole of the windows. The
cost of the chapel is expected to be about £2,000, and it
will, probably, be finished by September next.

The New York Herald gives the following account of
an alleged mutiny on board the ship Underwriter, on her
passage from Liverpool to New York :
Nine arrests were made yesterday afternoon from the
packet ship Underwriter, Captain Shipley, just arrived
from Liverpool, of parties charged with mutiny at sea.
Their names are Silas B. Philips, Joseph Smith, James
Reiley, John Robinson, Joseph Gilman, Charles Lester,
Michael Mahon, Wm. Welch, and Huron Fisher.
They were all taken before U.S. Commissioner Morton,
and committed for examination. Tney had been kept
in irons on board the Underwriter several days. A
more miserable, filthy, and revolting set of whitemen
was n ver presented. They claim to have been very
severely used by the officers of the Underwriter, and
charge that one of the crew was so severely injured by
the third mate, that he died during the passage from
Liverpool. One shows several teeth knocked out—
another a severely flattened nose, and a third a badly
bruised head, which they aver were caused by blows
received without just provocation at the hands of the
officers of the Underwriter.
Yesterday, upon counter affidavit of the above-named
parties, Wm. Welsh, the first mate of the Underwriter,
and Thomas Keel, the third mate, were arrested, the
former upon a charge of cruel treatment of several of the
crew of the Underwriter, and the latter of murder, in
having caused the death of one Johnson, of the crew, by
a flogging administered at his hands. The parties
charged with mutiny, together with the first and third
mates, are in Eldridge-street Jail. The case will be
examined into in a day or two before Commissioner
Morton. _

Prince Mensebikoff has been relieved of his post as
Governor of Cronstadt.

I, is thought probable Mat the treaty of. peace will be
ratified on Friday or Saturday.

The Blackwall, with gold from Australia, is believe,
to have passed Deal yesterday morning.
It is officially announced that the confinement of th
Empress of Austria is expected to take place early i
June.

The King of Greece has given a grand banquet on
occasion of the peace, at which all the representatives
of foreign pow erg were present.
EDUCATI )11AL APPOINTMENT. —Miss Victoria Fowler,
daughter of Mr. Joseph Fowler, of Newry, has been ap-
pointed by the Commissioners of the National Board of
Education, Dublin, to ta,, e chsrge of the National School
at Melbourne, at a salary of £250 a year.
BRITISH i MONUMENT AT SCUTARL—The monument
designed by Baron Marochetti for the heights of Scutari
will always occupy a foremost place in the memorials of
the war jest ended. In substance gray granite, in form
an obelisk, rising to the height of 100 feet, and surmounted
by a latin cross—strange emblem in that land of the cres-
cent it will be an erection worthy of the event which it
commemorates, and of the enduring material out of which
it is to be wrought. The base of the monument, or at
least a considerable portion of it, is of unpolished granite,
whereas the obelisk above is polished. Hence, at once.
in the mere sensuous effect, a deeper, calmer, softer tone,
which is entirely in unison with the expression of foul

angels that stand at the four corners of the pedestal, and
give their character to the monument. Although there
are four figures, they are all the same in form, attitude,
and expression, the artist making a bold use of monotony
to intensify the feeling. They are not caryatides,
although standing very much in the position of
caryatides, with their heads bending under the cornice
and their wings folded into a beautiful eclipse, rising
above the head and sweeping down to cross below their
feet. They are angels of victory, colossal in size, arms
falling down and crossed, a crown in one hand, a palm
branch in the other; and nothing can be more perfect
than the repose of the whole figure—nothing can more
aptly express the feeling of the place than the expression
of the countenance. The sorrow of the countenance is
toned down to solemn thought, which is chiefly marked in
the eye ; the exultation is toned down to superb content,
which is chiefly marked in the mouth ; and with beads
slightly drooping, and masses of hair spread out to over-
shadow the bust, the four colossal angels are to stand thus
for ever at the four corners of the plinth, each with folded
wings, and each looking down with the self-same expres-
sion of divine content. The whole effect is very solemn
and suggestive, and he must be indeed a callous man who
can gaze on it unmoved.

in the rent of
" Have this in your possession, and you will not onl
save your time and money, but also be spared from a
great deal of trouble and misery. Any dispute you may
then have with your landlords will be settled either in
the county or borough court."
He (Mr. Gladstone) had been informed that the form
given was sufficient, and would stand good in any court
of law, but the town-clerk could give a better opinion
on that point than he could. While he felt that they
had no right to interfere in private affairs, he would ask
the committee whether it would be inconsistent for them
to keep some of the blank forms at the offices to give or
to retail out to the poor. He had, during the past week,
seen hearing cases of the non-payment of parish
ates, and a vast number of persons had been before him
vho had stated that their rents had been advanced by
he landlord, with the distinct understanding that he
vas to pay the rates, but as they did not possess any
locument to show that they (the landlords) had to pay
hem, .vith a document, like the one he had read, in their
possession, they would be able to force the payment of
He suggestel that some of the forms should

printed.
After a few remarks from Mr. Hodson, Mr. Sheil,
d Mr. Beckwith, the subject was referred to the sub-
mmittee.