The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-06-06 00:00:00

NORTHERN TIMES.---LIVERPOOLI FRIDAY.

THE COURIER'S "LOVER OF TRUTH" ON
THE REV. J. MACNAUGHT'S SERMON,
OF 25TH MAY, 1856.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN TIMES.

Sir,—We, as churchwardens of St. Chrysostom's

Church, wish to correct certain mis-statements made, no
doubt unintentionally, by a writer in the Liverpool

Courier of the 4th June

Mr. Macnaught's texts, on the occasion referred to,
were from the latter part of Romans, xiv. 5, and from

Deut. xii. 8

Our pastor did not state that there was any " infallible
standard to appeal to in matters religious."

Mr. Macnaught never fails to insist, hi his sermons, on

the great truth, that the spirit of Jesus is always present
with every Christian, striving against what is evil in
man, and suggesting and supporting whatever is good.

The first object of the particular sermon in question
was, to show the " sin of doing what was right in our
own eyes," that is, of acting on the first hasty glance at
any subject. The evil of such a course was illustrated by
reference to the contexts of Deut. xii. 8, and Judges xvii. 6,
and xxi. 25.

From these passages it was clear that the Bible
blamed haste and confusion in religious services, and
blamed Micah's theft and idolatry, also the violence and
brutality exemplified between the Benjamites and their
countrymen, as instances in which men were
what was right in their own eyes." The preacher,
throughout, warned his hearers against falling into
modern sins, that would be similar in spirit to these

ancient transgressions,

If, then, we were not to do what was " right in our
own eyes," the preacher asked, in the second part of his
discourse, to whom should wo go for counsel? The
answer—and a good answer, too—would be—go to Christ.
But where was Christ to be found ? We could not go to
him personally, for he was not now personally on earth.
If it were said, seek Christ in "the Church," who should
tell us what was " the Church ?" Was it the first four
Councils ? or the first seven ? or the first twelve ? or all
the general Councils ? or the general Councils of the
Pope? or was each man's Priest "the Church ?" The
Priests differed, and the Popes differed, and the Councils
differed. We could not find " the Caurch," and, there—
fore, we could not get an answer from Christ through
" the Church."

The Church of England wisely taught us to seek Christ
in that blessed and inspired book which the preacher held
in his hand. This was good advice ; it sent the enquirer
in a right direction. But when some simple text (like
I Tim. ii. 4,6) was found in the Bible, how should the
reader know its true meaning? On the one hand, the
learned and holy
,amongst the teachers of the Armenian
theology, said these texts referred to " all men'' through-
out the whole world, and so must include the reader. On
the other hand, the no less learned and holy amongst the
teachers of the Calvinistic theology, said these texts re—
ferred, not to " all men" in the widest sense, but to " all
the elect" only, of whom the reader might or might not
be one.

On each side of the controversy, texts—and often the
same texts, with their opposite interpretations—were
quoted and felled on.
What must an enquirer do ? the preacher asked in the
last part of his discourse. He had the blessed words
of the Bible. But which of two contradictory
interpretations was he to adopt? He must avoid the
sin of rashly accepting either interpretation, and so doing
what was right in his own eyes." But would not Paul's
suggestion, as contained in one of our texts, be the very
advice he needed? "Let no man judge hastily, on the first
superficial glance at a subject, but let every man be fully
persuaded in his own mind."

;Thus did the Apostle refer us for the interpretation of
scripture, and for the decision of every conceivable ques—
tion to our " own mind." The mind should be carefully
and piously informed, as the Spirit of God would help
very earnest man to improve his mind. The mind should
determine honestly, according to the evidence laid before
it. With these conditions, which the preacher said were
implied in the words "fully persuaded," St. Paul urged
every man to rely on his own private judgment, and to
refer all questions—religious not less than others—to his
own headland to his own heart. Thus wisely did Chris-
tianity and the Biblo teach, that we should not judge
rashly of any matter, lest we fell into the sin of doing
what was "right in our own eyes ;" but, at the same time,
they taught that we should and must refer all questions—
including the interpretation of scripture texts—to our own
minds, and feelings, and conscience.
Such, sir, was Mr. Macnaught's morning sermon on May

the 25th; and we think that any one who will compare
this statement—which is drawn up, not only from our re-

collection of the sermon, but also from trustworthy notes

in our possession—with the letter of the Courier's" Lover

of Truth," will perceive that in this, as in a good many
other matters, Mr. Macnaught is being mi srepresented by
persons who lack either the will or the ability to do him
justice.—We are, Sir, yours, &c.,
_ _

F. J. EATON,I Churchwardens of St.
Wm. UNWIN, f Chrysostom'o Church

Everton, June 5, 1856

V/ALLASEY LOCAL BOARD OF HEALTH

The usual monthly meeting of this board was held last
evening, at the Pubic Offices, Cnurch-street. Mr. Pooley
presided. The other commissioners present were—Messrs.
Neville, G. W. Co.born, Wilson, O'Dell, Fishw•ick, Hill,
and Ball.

DOCK COMMITTEE.-YESTERDAY.

The usual weekly meeting of this committee was held
at one o'clock, yesterday. Mr. Francis Shand occupied
the chair. The other members present were—Messrs
Rankin, Palmer, Robinson, Chalon

Rounthwaite, Glad-

stone, Barber, Mondell, Smith, Langsdale, Anderson,
Hubbock, Gregson, and Evans.
The sub committee recommended that a sum of .ElO5
should be appropriated to the privates of the Royal
Lancashire Artillery, 180 in number, who had assisted in
putting out the fire in the Huskisson dock upon the night
of the 22nd ultimo : each to the three men reported to
be severely hurt, and £l5 to be placed in the hands of
the chairman of the watch committee to be distributed
among the police constables.

Mr. Barber thought Jelos was a large sum to distribute
among 180 men for one night's work.

Mr. Smith stated that the men were estimated to have
lost clothes to the value of £3OO The Royal Insurance
Company were giving X. 50, the Underwriters' Association
£25, and the resident underwriter £25. Mr

M'lver

had promised to give £lOO to make up the difference;
and it appeared that, in fact, the men would receive
nothing beyond what was required to make good the loss
of their clothes. The clothes which were injured were
their own, and in fact the only clothes they had to wear

when disembodied.
Mr. Gladstone remarked, in reference to the gratuity to
the police force,
paid already, they o

that i

e men were not sufficiently

I their ordinary pay-
ment ought to include the discharge of all services. He
disliked extras. A man might say—" I did not do my
uttermost, because I did not get any extra pay." He
doubted if giving these extra rewards was sound in
principle.
The Chairman said in this instance it would only
amount to a very small sum, divided among the men.
Mr. Gregson said a man might do his duty, and only his
duty; and another might do it in a very differeM and more
efficient way.

ht to be, a

-Mr. Gladstone : But they are paid, or ought to be paid,
for the most efficieut—manner in which the duty can be
performed.
The recommendations were, however, finally con-
firmed. _ _ _

It was reported that 6,409 persons passed through the
Wapping warehouses on the day of rejoicing.
Mr. Evans : Were they all respectable people ?
The Chairman I I have no doubt they wtre so respect-
able that no injury was done by any of them.
Mr. Barber : None of them fell from the windows, I
hope?
The Chairman : Not one.

THE GRAVING DOCK REGULATIONS

The harbour masters' committee recommended that the
present regulation of allowing vessels to remain upon the
graving dock lists for ten weeks, be abolished, and that
the time allowed in future be five weeks only.
Mr. Rounthwaite thought the old regulation had been
working very well, and was sorry it had been altered.
The Chairman said there were complaints made of the
system not working well, and the committee Were
requested to look into it, the result of which Was the pre=
sent recommendation.

Mr. Rounthwaite said it would place all foreign going
steamers in a very awkward position, and would, in fact,
almost amount to shutting them out altogether.
Mr. Smith said the subjnt was well considered, and
dismissed by the harbour master's committee. The ten
Weeks' regulation worked in this wav—a steamer in port
today could enter for the graving dock, make a voyage
occupying seven or eight weeks, and return just in time
for entering the graving dock. A sailing vessel, although
she had the same opportunity of remaining on the books
for ten weeks, yet from the nature of her voyage could
not return within the same time, and could not, therefore,
enjoy the same adVantage. A sailing vessel might, there=
fore,have been waiting four or five weeks for the graving
doek, and just a; she was about to go in a
steamer, which only arrived in port the pre-
vious day, could come in and put the ship out of her
turn. lie and erstood that Mr. Rankin had stated a case
of the kind. He had a vessel which he intended to make
two voyages to Quebec. She was in turn for the graving
dock on a certain day, but at that very moment, in came
a steamer, which had only just arrived, and had been on
the,books for some nine weeks, she took the turn before
Mr. Rankin's vessel, which was, consequently, shut out,
and deprived of making her two voyages. It was felt,
after a long discussion by the harbour masters' committee,
that this did not work well. The grounds on which they
reduced the time to five weeks were that upon consulting
the harbour master, he was of opinion in which they all
agreed—that any ship entered bona fide for the graving
dock, would get her regular turn within five weeks.
Mr. Robinson said, if, instead of altering the term of
ten weeks, they had disqualified a ship when she left
the port on a voyage, it would have served the same
purpose.
Mr. Smith said the question was considered, whether a
vessel on going to sea, should be struck off the list,
but it was thought better not, for this reason—there was
a great distinction between foreign going vessels and
coasters ; he might be the owner of a coasting vessel or
steamer, and might know that in the course of three or
four weeks, she could go into the graving dock, but he
could run her two or three coasting voyages in the mean-
time.

Mr. Evans : But I t

no rig

A a ship, unles

is in port, has

HEALTH COMMITTEE

,-YESTERDAY

The usual weekly meeting of this committee was held at
half-past two o'clock, yesterday, in the Town Hall. Mr.

Langsdale in the chair

Other members present

—Messrs

Beckwith, Robertson

Gladstone, Hodson, Tinne, Sheil, Crosthwaite, Johnson,
Godfrey, Hodson, A. C. Stewart, Halbead, and Haydock.