The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-04-16 00:00:00

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the associate of such a society gives me position and rank
mmongst my fellow men, and this is a great stimulus to
ke myself worthy of such a position. Gentlemen,
permit me in conclusion, to thank you sincerely for the
honour you have conferred upon me.
b The whole of this society was officially present, having
sPecially summoned. Major General the Hon. Sir
Cust, presideneof the society, was in the room.
:"ID members were decorated with the badge of the
let Y--a satin ribbon, with the letters "M.H.S. Lanes-
e and Cheshire."
Loud anplause followed.
a The address and the reply were both splendidly engrossed
bud illueatitiful wmin and enclosed in rich gl frames. This
oarkte was executed by Mr. Mayeir,t of Lord street.

, NONCONFORMIST MINISTERS.
'rue Rev. Dr. Raffles came forward and said: Sir, I am
Zl,trtrited with an addres from the N ,nconformist
-"Waters of various denominations in Liverpool and its
'?hti '
eurhood, which they desire to present to you upon
''t most interesting occasion. I feel that your time is far
iate Precious to allow me to occupy any portion of it by
shall
matter of my own. If you permit me then
ti,"all at once proceed to read the address. ,Dr. Raffles
t'ln read the fallowing address, which was signed by
irtY eight ministers on behalf of the rest of their reverend
srethren :
Address from the Dissenting. Protestant Ministers, to
William Brown, El., M.P.
b We, non conforming Protestant Ministers of Liverpool,
,sntider it incumbent upon us, as friends to ,the education
p"d Moral progress of the people, to express to you our
3titede for the munificent gift which you have placed at
1 disposal of this great community.
,It is; we believe,
;solemn duty of every man to consecrate his talents,
o whether pecuniary, intellectual, or social, to the, 'nigh pur-
Pesta for which they were intrusted to him "ey God, and we
Contemplate your recent act with the deaper interest as one
h4,eulated to quicken the ssnse of this responsibility in the
earts of-men of all ranks of Societe.' We respectfully
nest you to accept this e'llsression °four cordial desires for
teer
Personal happill".4., and of our fervent hope that your
4ture days mey cheered by witnessing, in the improve-
p,,ernit "f Yo"..:;• fellow-townsmen, the first fruits of the Liver
-
I Library and Museum.
-gr. Brown replied as follows
hey. Sirs.—l really feel greatly at a loss to express
toy self in suitable language for the honour pu have con-
rted on me by presenting this address. To be thought
worthy of having such a document cremating from the
er„se I can assure you is highly appreciated by me,
e`nough I cannot feel that I merit it. I have ever con-
:tiered that prOperty has its duties as well as its rights,
4.11.1 to part with a portion of it for good objects where it
st' not seriously interfere with or prevent you from
,B,ntaining that position in the society with which you
a'he in the habit of associating, or deprive your family of
buy of its comforts, or injure its prospects, is dust in the
Ca'ince when Compared with the widow's mite. To have
en, ho
approbation of the conservators of public morals thus •
lely proclaimed, is placing me in a position that must
"e great 'easure to my family and my friends, and no
1.4 can possibly estimate its value more highly than I do.
Iteur presence puts me in mind of the will of the late
~lePhen Gerard, who founded a collige in Peansylvanie—
of the clausesin his will prohibited a clergyman from
Vr entering its walls. My feelings are of a very different
1,„Ild. I trust that the clergy of all denominations will
th
Very frequent visitors at the library, to aid and assist
their
readers in the choice of such books as will facilitate
studies. Much time is lost, and much talent thrown
4tv,Y •
, for want of this knowledge. A greater ser-
e cannot be rendered to students than to have their
oe
d`teution called to the best authorities to aid their
saYtieular tastes and pursuits. Whether it is botany, chemistry,
slaeralc.y, mechanics, or any other of the useful arts and
e°ees, they all improve our minds, and lead us more and
Tore to appreciate the wisdom and power of .the Creator.
1.14 Y make us moe retigious, which never can be a secondary,
tenever must beta primary consideration, and the founda-
tilt on which to WM every useful and va'utble tseperstrue-
Libre. With your valuable co operation, I trust the intended
th ri'rY will add to• the improvement, the pleasures, and
aalrieeds of thousands, particularly of the industrial
tiasss
8, who only want the opportunity and the means to
s,,tr °P much latent talent, most valuable to themselves
all those around them. I would not exclude frotn
t raries any works bnt what the ministers of relogion
,031tsider dscidedly immoral. I am quite of Lord Harrowby's
0,14'"n, that readers ought not to be prevented, but have
4°,ets to both silks of a question. Place tbe bane and anti-
te bstore them ; they have a ready discrimination of what
ttight, and what is wrong.' I am sanetirne that the
hiutell;gence they acquire, the less we shall be subject
(;,`hose ebullitions of public opinion, which always inflict
ress On the parties in place of benefilng their sttuation.
thteel assured the more we know, the more we shalt value
ft,! excellent Constitution under which we live. The
powerful
of di.cussion, and the freedom of the press, have a
"werful influence in maintaining it in all its integrity,
tl4llttl_ odd to the security and stability of the throne.. Gen-
te,,,Ze_,u, permit me again to thank you for the honour you
:sgoorte me in presenting this address ; and I will only
"ilat it is expressed in language far above my deserts.
fir SUNDAY SCHOOL INSTITUTE.
Hall presented the address of the Liverpool
tt-"`taY School Insitute. He said : Thing president of
ese institute yourself, sir, it has devolved upon me, as
t'iairrean of the committee, accompanied by a deputitton
itnrn the committee, and the members of the institute, to
4,.:r You this* address, which, with your permission, I shall
Tolv,ro`ronec;d to read. Mr, Hall read the following:
ti;ibiam Brown, Esq., M.P., President of the Liver-
Pool Sunday School and Literary Institute, on th
occasion of laying the Foundation Stone of the
Liverpool Free Public Library.
is a matter of sincere satisfaction to u', the
Onimittee and members of the "Liverpool Sundry
01)001 and Literary Institute," that you this year fill the
ice of our president. We should fail in our duty, as
o^'e certainly should deprive ourselves of a great pleasure,
We did not join our fellow citizens in offering to you
fieartfelt thanks for your munificent gift to the town
til 86 useful and costly a public edifice as that in which
bt,Oeposit the "Free Public Library." It is in no spirit
` vulgar homage to, wealth that we address you, but
iteeause we have a deep conviction that ihe true prosper-
-1) aod happiness of a peopte are very greatly promo'ed
taste
those pursuits which. tend to the refinement of the
,:ste and the culture of the understanding, and because
o believe it to ba your design to promote these high
,e‘,,11 noble objects. The movement in favour of popular
i'lleation during the last fifty years, derived its first
ttn,Polse from the establishment and extension of Sunday
po°flools in the closing quarter of the last century. Had that
tt'tvement not taken place, however much you
tilKht have desired to confer and perpetuate the
mtjssings of knowledge, you world have found such a
th"de of expressing your desire for the well being of
ie. People, as that you bare adopted, quite inappropriate.
is the happiness of din present generation to witness
„.eq great and a very extended improvement in the edu-
ttion of all classes. The number of those capable of
rg the benefit which your bounty will provide r ever
a`t so great, and is still on the increase. The rising
thaeration will probably appreciate even more highly
an their fathers the advantages which you do yourself
I;'e honour to confer, and thousands yet unborn will
less the 'memory of a eitzti, who, understanding the
ants of his age and the true interests of the people,
tieneroesly app'ied his wealth to place within the reach
all some of the highest and best blessings after which
414
can aspire. Knowledge without religion may con-
f„
many advantages ; religion without knowledge is
2lPerstition; religion, directed by knowledge, forms in
, „'an the highest state of character. We hail the. "spread
aknowledge as promotive of the great object at which all
Nehere of religion aim
in the name of • and, therefore, for ourselves
4nd
Sunday School Teachers, who lab tur to elevate the
Illnral and religious condition of the vast masses of the
thenthful population of this great town, we tender to you
Ito expression of our warmest approbation, of your
erelity in providing at your sole expense, a building for
vtheitPtee Public Library. We venture to express the hope
it T.- it may accomplish all the good which you have had
'n your heart to do, and trusting you may live to see
D'e building completed, and its mission commenced; and
hi.aYing that all your remaining years may be years of
ii4Pitiness and peace.—With admiration and respect, we
I:ve the ho. our to he, on behalf of the committee and
el:abets, your obedient servants,
C. R HALL, Chairman.
' WM. LITHERLAND, Treasurer.
• H. F. HALL, Hon. Sec.
JAMES L. CROSS.
THOMAS JOB.
JOHN PATERSON.
G. R. BELL.
BENIN. W OODW ARIL
r'Y of W. Brown, Esq., M.P., to the Address of the
, niMembers of the Liverpool Sunday School Institute.
I,entleen,—l receive with unfeigned satisfaction the.
Address which you have been pleased to present to me. I
sol desirous, in however small a degree, to contribute
Cnettoog to the intelligence of my friends and neighbours,
°4
,gising increased accommodation to those who are
atous and who can be prevailed on to become readers
ba the, intended new library. 'You justly say that the
t4venient in favour of popular education during the last
oft! lean derived its first impulse from the establishment
do ""day Schools. To their promoters, .and. to'those who
httvate their time in giving instruction to the scholars who
if :rid) we are deeply indebted. There neier was a time,
axe" look at the calendar of our cOurts of justice, when
vi!tions were more called for to check vice, and to promote
toSnotts and religious habits amongst our increasing popu-
"°ll, than at present; and no one eau for a moment doubt

the influence that Sunday schools have over the rising
generation in imeroving the Morals of the scholars. They
are a most important preparatory step to make libraries
useful. How different is our position to what it was
fifty or sixty ye ,rs ago, when schoolmasters .cOnsicle -ed
the " birch" as the means of enforcing learning. Happily,
wiser counsels and a better knowledge of mankind now
prevail. In place of trying to beat knowledge into bays'
heads, Which gave them a dislike for learning, we lead
their youthful minds by kindness and persuasion to
attend to our instructions. I wonder that our forefathers
did not discover long ago that you may lead men, but
cannot drive them, and boys are but' younger men. If
you can gain their affections you have infinitely more
power over their minds than if they are afraid of you.
The attention that has been .paid to education has very
much improved the system. In looking over those little
books called the Irish Extracts, for the use of schools, I
believe mainly suggested and promoted by Lord Derby,
when he wes Irish Secretary, you will find many vestions
asked which the juveniles of the present thy would answer
at once, but which would puzzle many of us who have not
had the same advantages. It was a happy conception, by
whomsoever originated, to induce all religious sects, if
possible, to be erlbeiteci under the same roof, as it would
create thbse kindly school boy feelings which list
through life. Ti,ose gentlemen who are now trying
to accomplish that end deserve our warmest thanks,
be their p3litics or their religion what they may.
Gentlemen, you have done me much honour in presenting
this address, and by electing me your president for the
coming year. You might hive found a gentleman who
had more time and more ability to perform those duties
for which yoti'have been phased to call upon my services.
I shall only add that I feel very sensible of your good feels
ings, and I sincerely thank you. •