The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-04-28 00:00:00

ST. PAUL'S CHURCH.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN TIMES.
jrSir—As so much has lately appeared in your
4'141 reflecting on St. Paul's church and district,
4yerhaps you will kindly permit me, through the
„ntie medium, to convey to the public a more
4""t'rect impression of matters as they really
to
with us, and not as, they are set down
there
Malice by our enemies. In your columns
ere appeared, a few days ago, a report of a
,glleech delivered by Mr. Roberts, at a meeting of
t q,e Commissioners of St: Paul's and St. John's
e
tillrches, in which he is represented as saying
at the ministers of St. Paul's fleeced but
c
eelected the flock, and in a letter in your impres-
„lett of Friday last he insinuates that, because
the enlarged district" is not assigned legally to
u
We attend, not to it. These are very serious
Llarges, and, if true, most damaging to our
"uoisterial character; but with all due respect for
!heir author, I give them the most unqualified con-
of42 •
',action. Since ever I entered on the sacred office
the-ininistry, I have made it a matter of conscience
4,
11' lischarging the duties it imposes, and, with God's
tl), endeavoured to fulfil my solemn ordination
t:tVB. In self defence lam compelled' thus plainly
deny the truth of those statements, as I desire
not to lose the character I have hitherto, main-
ttitried in the estimation of my clerical brethren
of the Christian public. I send you, by the
:arer of this communication, a list of the sick
;11ich is kept in the vestry; they are visited
:gularly. I send you, also, one of the tracts that
are circulating in the district, from the cover of
oeich you may learn that there are two services in
itl' church on Sunday, and one on Thursday even-
t two classes in the week, a prayer meeting
j`ell month, a Sunday school, which I generally
tend twice. I also give the young people a
,
(leers
lecture once a month. I am several
(leers in tho district every day, and visit. Some
a}.B lam twice, and even thrice in it. The tract
(li ltributors also have kindly undertaken to report
dll case of sickness of which they may hear; and,
esides all this, I have a diligent reader who is
daily among
is
among the people. Mr. Roberts knows all
ti IN at least he might have known it, for it is no
levy thing; and surely he ought to have enquired
into the real state of things, before he made such
anderous charges. I ask now, can a district be
111113esidered neglected where there is such a moral
011inery in operation. I maintain that no dis •
lie` in Liverpool is better cared for than ours It
iiY of the commissioners or of the Christian pub-
Who may have been disposed to think favourably
,r
lir. Roberts's cause, from the apparent religious
titYor and tone of his observations, and inclined to
Irlic in the same proportion unfavourably of the
ttilirdsters of St. Paul's church and of the state of
e district, will please call on me any morning
plt week at the vestry, between ten and eleven
4.e00k, I shall soon disabuse his mind, and show
Ittt what we are really doing. Mr Roberts
, IPresses his regret that the ground rents collected
for
the pews in St. Paul's for the last year, amount
hnlY to 239 18a 6d; but he omits to add that he
u!elsolf has been a defaulter for several years in
ease of three pews, and has thus kept back so
‘'Sh from the parish. As to the changes he
4:,ellses Mr. Stafford of having made in the fixtures
' the church, they all occurred before my connec-
tions' with it, and Mr. Roberts admits all is now
rectified again. He also speiks much of the
paucity of our members, and of the vast population
of the district. The population is not so great, and
shout one-third are Welsh dissenters, one-third
IlDman Catholics, and the remaining third mem-
bers of the English church. When we consider
`his fact, and bear in mind how Mr. Roberts con
t
I'Mes to hold up the ministers and the church to
public odium, it must appear truly marvellous
Ithati so many attend our services ! I have laboured
t 1 important spheres of duty, and been accustomed
~ e large congregations, and beloved by my people,
tfrom whom I have received handsome testimonials.
~ also have received three such since I became con-
geeted with St. Paul's, and I feel now truly
glieved to be obliged thus publicly to write of one
"Do calls himself a parishioner Mr. Roberts
lt!knowledges that the church requires much re-
Pair; to effect this now may cost £l,OOO, and had
lot he prevented the Commissioners some years
`g4 from ordering these repairs, the parish might
tie saved three-fourths of that amount. The rector,
,e regret to say, has given point and pungency to
gr. Roberts' observations, by making him certain
eencessions in an unguarded moment and for
Peace sake. We can assure the rector that all is
,
'in vain—nothing,. nothing but the removal of
„lordecai will gratify Haman. We would advise
I,lr.Roberts to try and forget his old quarrel with
fir.
Stafford, and to believe us when we say that
Co'rr is human, to forgive is divine," but to pursue
/v,ith rancorous hatred is devilish. " The wisdom
that is from above is pure, peaceable, and easy to
e entreated."—l remain, your obedient servant,
GEo. READ, Second Minister of St. Paul's.
St. Paul's Vestry, April 25, 1857.

13IRKENHEAD GAS AND WATER COMPANY.