The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-01-31 00:00:00

Enact).

Goods received at t'le loading-berth,"west side Huskisson Dock,
and shipped according to priority of arriva 1.
STEAMERS BETWEEN
LIVERPOOL. CONSTANTINOPLE, SMYRNA,
SAMSOITN. AND TREBIZONDE,
Calling at
0!! ,111fN, GIBRALTAR,MALTA,and SYRA,
With liberty to call at any other ports.,
• Loading Berth, west side of Huskisson Dock.
The First-class screw Steamers
LEBANON.. ......... Capt. T. Cook.
ALPS Capt Moodie MELITA ......Capt. Anderson
TAURUS .. Capt. Langlands BALBEC Cant.llockly
TENERIFFE.. Capt. J. R. Bell DELTA Capt.lLittle
KARNAK .... Capt.H.Dubbins BRITISH QUEEN Capt. Martyn
are intended to sail (with or without Pilots) from Liverpool,
as follows, unlessprevented by unforeseen circumstances.
LEBANON ..... Thursday Morning ...... 7th Feb.
With Goods for Malta, Syra, Constantinople, and Smyrna.
Passengers for Gibraltar, Malta, Syra, Constantinople, and Smyrna.
Freight on all Goodsmust be paid in Liverpool.
Bills of Lading mast be atthe office forslgnature the day previous
to sailing.
To prevent the possibility of all after-discussion, it is requested
that shippers will send a person to the quay to see their goods
measured.
**l. In the event of thesesteamers being placed in quarantine at
any of the above ports, goods will require to be immediately taken
away, and transferred to another vessel or depot, to perform guar-
antine, at the expense and risk of the shippers or consignees. This
also applies to Passengers.
. Goods for any of the above-named ports must hay. the place of
their destination distinctly marked on them, in letters of not less
than two inches, otherwise the agents will not be accountable for
mistakes.
Shippers will please send a shipping note along with each cartload
of Goods.
For freight or Passage apply to G. & J. Blurts, Glaigow, or
here to

BURNS & MAC IVER, 16. Water-street

-1i- Ich EAI Di
sI AI
ANN.
Goods will be received, in p.krity of arrival, at the loading berth,
Wellington Dock.
First-class SteaAcrnTi
LEVANT SCREW STEAM SHIPPING COMPANY'S
,-_,
-_,:i,._ .
,* ) GRECIAN.
'-'721711..a.:,.. EGYPTIAN. li
CRIMEAN. .
__„,
FOR SALONICA, CONST ANTINOPLE, & SMYRNA
CALLING AT MALTA AND SYRA.
EGYPTIAN

Wm. M'MICKEN, Commander,
Is intended to sail from Wellington Dock, ou WEDNESDAY, the
13th February.

,
FREIGHTS t Malta, Sara, Salon c Censtantin,ple, nd Smyrna
—Fine goods, g ey goods.
ar.d
tw st goods,
primaee ; other t ooi.s as Fer awed., nt. 53' and 10 per cent,

c-All Fre ghts must he paid in Liverpool.
To prevent the possibility of after discussion, It is requested that
steamers
the Steamer, require to be
Shippers will send a person to he Quay to tee their Goods measured.
any ***p
lonr port, eCeaNregnot of
thesen ea
immediately taken away and transferred to another Vessel or Depot,
on
the rreivrsal heiro placed in Quarantine at
to perform Quarantine, at the expense and risk of the Shippers or
Consignees. This also applies to Passengers.

Bilis of Lading are required to be at the Office is Liverpool for
Signature the day previous to sailing.
Goods for the above-nsFned Ports must have the place of their des-
tination distinctly marked on them, in letters of not less than two
inches. otherwise the Agents will not be accountable for mistakes,
' ''' • • " •

Shippers will send a Shipping Note with eacll7;iillOad
of Goods.

For freight or passage apply to Lewis Potter & Co., Glasgow; or
here, to

FOWLER & DAGNALL. 4, Tower-buildings West,

(irea4tb3t.

RHYL, DENBIGH, HOLYWELL, AND ALL
PARTS OF NORTH WALES.
$ vir„. The quickest and cheapest route is by
THE SATELLITE. TO MOSTYN.
SAILING FROM LIVERPOOL.

Thursday
Saturday
Tuesday •

Jan 31, 23A a.m.
Feb 2, 6 0 a.m
Feb 5, 833 a.m

Apply to Mr. John Watkins, 8, Strand-street; or to
DANIEL JAMES, 22, Union-street.

INCREASED STEAM COMMUNICATION TO AND
FROM LONDON,
Calling at WATERFORD,

The Waterford steam-ship Company's Powerful Steam-ship
. AD0N15........... .... ...... Captain Taylor
VW,..„ kb' \ RANGER
• 4/V ' lfflt, WM. PENN Captain Fry
----.."... DU8L1N.....,

THE SABBATH DEFENCE MOVEMENT.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN TIMES.

Sir,—lt is pleasing to observe the prevalence of earnest
religious feeling. Without it, little good would be
attempted in this world, and less accomplished. It there-
fore deserves respect, and this I gladly offer to my fellow-
Christians who attended the meeting at St. George's-hall
on the Observance of the Lord's day, while, at the same
time, I warn them to reflect whether, in their anxiety to
be righteous, they have not been dangerously mistaken ?
It will, I apprehend, be no injustice to assame, that a
great number of persons were entreated in the sermons of
their pastors to attend the meeting in question, for the
purpose of " defending the observance of Sunday." Per-
haps more vehement language may have been used, but I
will limit my remarks to that which, I believe, may fairly
be taken to be the substance of most of the exhortations
delivered from the pulpit. If lam wrong, I shall be glad
to be corrected—if right, I will observe that a very false
impression has been conveyed, by this, or similar phrases,
to the hearers.

It is impossible to defend that which is not attacked. No
proposals have conic from any quarter to coerce any
individual, in his or her observance of Sunday

No one

has denied that it is most fitting for Christians to assemble
on that day for prayer, or, that it is a benificent institu-
tion that the weary should find rest from their labour upon
one day in seven.
The phrase, however, that I have mentioned, " the
defence of the Sunday," taken in its obvious sense would
imply that men's Christian liberty is in danger of being
violently interfered with. I put it to any honest antagonist,
whether there was the slightest ground for any such
apprehension ? If not, the phrase and its equivalent are
more than an exaggeration, they amount, as nearly as
possible, to actual falsehood.

It is very painful to think that men whom we respect
should, in their anxiety to do that which is right, have been
driven to such extravagant assertions as that in question ;
but it is still more grievous to observe that the same rash
seal should have sanctioned the following words in a fly-
leaf, distributed in the churches on Sunday, the 20th inst. :
" Reader ! that Saviour who died to purchase the Sabbath and
its blessings for you, expects that you in its defence will do
your duty."
I know not under what circumstances, or by whom these
words were written. To me they are shocking beyond
expression, inasmuch as they distinctly falsify the awful
dispensation of Christ's death in atonement for men's sin.
It is dreadful to reflect, that for the questionable object of
a particular form of Sunday observance, so mighty a gospel
truth should be so carelessly (I will not say blasphemously)
set at nought.
The object in question is, after all, to ascertain in what
manner a Christian ought to observe the Lord's day ? From
the speeches in St. George's-hall it is difficult to ascertain
what is really intended by the speakers. Dr. M'Neile
seems to intimate that the Sabbath of the Old Testament
was not abrogated, but transferred to Sunday by Divine
authority ; and all concur that recreation in its ordinary
sense should not be permitted by the Legislature on that
day.

I shall deal with these opinions separately.
In the Gospels our Lord adverts upon two occasions
to the superstitious observance of the Sabbath. He
sanctions ordinary actions, such as pulling an ox
or an ass out of a pit--actions not absolutely
necessary—and by them justifies the nobler works
of mercy towards mankind. Next he reproves those who
condemned his disciples for the wanton act of plucking and
eating a few grains of corn. He announces the great
doctrine of mercy and not sacrifice, in other words a
spiritual instead of a carnal and ceremonial faith. Upon
these occasions he rebukes the superstition of attaching
peculiar sanctity to a time, as upon others, that which
was ascribed to a place.
If we need further explanation upon this point, we find
there is no lack of it in the inspired writings of the
ApOstle of the Gentiles. In the 14th Romans we are
warned not to condemn each other for opinions on such
prints. " One man esteemeth one day above anothe r ;
another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be
persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day,
regardeth it unto the Lord ; and he that regardeth not the
day to the Lord, he cloth not regard it."
In 2nd Colossians there is a still (more remarkable
testimony. " Let no man judge you in meat or drink, or
in respect of en holiday, or of the new moon, or of the
Sabbath-days."
If the Sabbath, with all the importance of its observance,
were transferred, as is contended, to Sunday, we naturally
ask how it happens that such a momentous institution is
passed over without a solitary word from our blessed
Saviour or his Apostles, nay more, without the slightest
notice in Christian history for three hundred years.
Was it traditional ? God forbid. Our faith is in the
Scripture. But let us take even tradition. St. Chrysostom
says, Homily V., on Matt. 1., "After the congregation is
dismissed, every man may apply himself to his lawful
business." St. Athanasius reports—' We keep no Sabbaths
as the ancients did, except an eternal Sabbath, that shall
have no end." Eusebius says, speaking of the patriarchs
(and there is a similar passage in Justin Martyr) " they
cared not for circumcision, nor do we ; neither for the
observation of the Sabbath, no more do we."
I might cite many other passages from writers of the
earlier ages to show the usage and feelings of cotemporary
Christians ; but my space is limited, and I would use it to
show that the same opinions have been successively recog-
nised by the greatest teachers of the Gospel.

Luther. If anywhere the day is made holy for the
mere day's sake—if anywhere any one sets up its observance
on a Jewish foundation, then I order you to work on it, to
ride on it, to dance on it, to do anything that shall reprove
this encroachment on Christian liberty."

Calvin.—" By changing the day, and yet attributing
the same sanctity to it that the Jews did to their Sabbath,
we retain the same typical distinction of days. Those who
cling to them go thrice as far as the Jews in the gross and
carnal superstition of Sabbath worship."
Beza is much to the same effect.

Cranmer in his Visitation Articles inculcates the duty of
workinr, at the harvest on Sundays, and this, by the way, is
a much greater necessity and mercy than to pull an ox or
an ass out of a pit, which our Saviour reckoned ; —so that
those justices do manifest wrong who fine p )or country
labourers for such working.
I will now proceed to the modern divines. Paley
says, " Cessation upon Sunday from labour, beyond the
time of attendance upon public worship, is not intimated in
any passage of the New Testament ;" and again, " The
resting on that day from our employments, longer than we
are detained from them by attendance upon religious
worship, is, to Christians, an ordinance of human institu-
tion."—Mor. Phil. Dr. Arnold says, " Sunday should be
a day of greater leisure than other days, and of the sus-
pension, as far as may be, of the common business of life ;
but then I should have much greater indnlgence for recrea-
tion on a Sunday ; and if the railway enables people in
great towns to get out into the country on a Sunday, I
should think it a great good."—Arnold's Life,Vol. 11. p. 10.
Archbishop Whately : " The Lord's-day is to be held as a
purely religious festival. Judaism being abolished, all its
vitual observances must, of course, be wholly at an end ; so
that we are no more compelled to keep the Fourth Com-
mandment, than we are to keep the worship of the Temple,
or the daily sacrifice."—Essays on St. Paul.

I might multiply quotations, but these are sufficient to
establish my position, viz, that the Lord's-day is of human
institution, and that the Church, from the Apostolic age to
the present, has always held it dangerous to invest it with
the character and observances of a Sabbath.

Thus we arrive at the astounding conclusion that many
hundred persons were summoned by their pastors to defend
either a Sunday which was not attacked, or a Sabbath
which does not exist in the Christian Church, and by Dr.
111‘1Seile in particular we are told that the attempt to foist
this unwarranted doctrine upon Christians was "fighting on
the _Lord's side ."' I cannot but suppose that the Rev. Canon
was completely ignorant of the theological position he took
up, otherwise he would have resorted to some argument or
some authority to show why he advocates opinions which
are not even recognised by the Church of England, much
less taught by her in any English University.
I am afraid 1 have already exceeded my limits, though
even this portion of my subject has been incompletely dealt
with. I propose to finish the argument at a future time.

A CHURCHMAN

Recruiting is proceeding in the metropolis with much
vigour, not only for the regular troops, but for the
auxiliary forces, land transport corps, &c.
The Daily News records the death on Sunday, at
Hampstead, of Mr. John Lalor, formerly one of the
editors of the Morning Chronicle, since then contributor
to the Quarterlies, and the author of an essay on Educa-
tion, and of a work called " Money and Morals."
THE EDINBURGH ELECTION.—We hear from Edin •
burgh, that the requisition to Mr. Adam Black, signed
by 1,124 electors, was presented on Saturday. Mr. Black
has consented to stand, and has invited the electors to
g,
meet him this (Thursday) evenin when he will state his
views upon public affairs. The 'names of Sir William
Johnston, on the " No Popery" interest, and the Hon.
T. Bruce on the Conservative, have been mentioned, but
no one is
yet actually in the field but Mr. Black, whose
prospects of an unopposed return are pretty certain.
SHOULD AI LD ACQUAINTANCE BE FORGOT S.
Lindsay, Esq., the M.P. for Tynemouth, was in very
early youth a "printer's devil," in an office in Glasgow.
Some time ago when in that town he called upon his poor
old master, kindly inquired how he was, and how times
went with him ? '' Oh !" said the old man, " very bad,
and 7 can scarcely make ends meet." The worthy M.P.
looked at his old governor feelingly, sat down and wrote
a cheque for £3OO, remarking, in aiding him in h s dis-
tress, he really did feel a pleasure. The old man felt
keenly at this unexpected New Year's present, which
was far more than he wanted to make his ends meet.

THE RUGELEY MYSTERIES.
•
BIRMINGHAM COURT OF BANKRUPTCY, J. 23.

(Before Mr. Commissioner Balguy.)

This morning the appeal against the adjudication. of
a fiat of bankruptcy against William Palmer, the sur-
geon of Rugeley, came on for hearing in the private!
room of the commissioner, it being usual (as it wa.s
stated) to take all such preliminary proceedings out of
the public court. The learned commissioner, as well
ae Mr_ Smith, the solicitor against the adjudication.
consented to the admission of the press ; but this was
opposed by Mr. James, the solicitor for the petitioning
creditor; and his Honour, under such circumstances,

could not deviate from the usual practice of the cc
The preliminary circumstances of the case are

follows:—Mr. John Spittle, coal master, West Brom
wich, presented his petition on the 9th of January

instant, against Palmer, of Rugeley, surgeon-apoth,

dealer and Chapman. On the same day Mr. Sl.

proved his debt, which was to the amount of £l,O
upon a bill of exchange, dated 19th September, 18

drawn by William Palmer upon and accepted by S

Palmer, payable to the order of William Palmer, three
months after date, and by G. Palmer endorsed to Spittle.
The petitioning creditor also proved the trading of an.
apothecary by the mixing and dispensing of drugs and
medicines by Palmer, and vending the same. The act
of bankruptcy relied upon was then proved by Henry
Gillard, of Stafford, sheriff's officcr, who stated that he
arrested Palmer under a copies ad satisfaciencluna at the
suit of Mr. Henry Padwick, on the ,13th day of Decem-
ber last ; and on the 17th day of the same month Palmer
was removed under the same writ, anki also on a coro-
ner's warrant, on a charge of murder, to the county jail
of Stafford. Upon these facts Mr. Charles Waterfietal,
the Registrar of the Court of Bankruptcy .acting for Mr.
Commissioner Balguy during his absence, adjudicated
Palmer a bankrupt. The notice of adjudk•ation was
duly served, when Mr. Smith gave notice that L'e should
this day dispute such adjudication. After some argu-
ments had been gone into Mr. Smith stated that he was
to dispute the trading, and the act of bank-
ruptcy itself—the trading on the ground that Mr. Palmer
had not been in business for more than two years ; the.
act of bankruptcy on the authority of "Ex parte Bowes,'
4 Vesey, and " Regina v. Page," 1 Broderick andi
Bingham, where it had been clearly held that a person
must be in custody upon civil process only; and although,
the 69th section of the Bankruptcy Law Consolidation.
Act used the words, " having been arrested or committed,
to prison for any other cause," yet such cause should be
sui generis, and have reference to the law relating to
bankrupts, which was not the fact in this case. The
first petition in bankruptcy, of which notice had been
given to dispute, was then annulled. Mr. James then
left the room for the purpose of presenting another
petition, and in the interim Mr. Smith intimated that he
should not go into another petition now, and suggested
that the case should be taken next Thursday. At a later
period of the day Mr. James presented another petition
from creditors, which the court refused to open.