The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-06-03 00:00:00

Baron Bramwell in a subordinate instead of a lead-
ing position in the courts.
The annual general meeting of the proprietors
of the Bank of British North America was held in
London yesterday, Mr. J. J. Cumming in the
chair. The report showed the following assets :
Specie and cash at bankers, 302,587/ 19s 3d; bills
receivable and other securities. 2,633,1221 lOs 4d ;
bank premises, 44,5001; balance of undivided net
profit to 31st December, 1855, 145,1171 9s 10d; net
profit for the year 1856, after deducting all current
charges, and providing for bad and doubtful debts,
90,9431 18s 6d A dividend at the rate of six per
cent per annum was declared, and a bonus of 30s
per sbare, the latter free from income tax. After a
short dismission, the report and statement of ac-
counts were adopted. The retiring directors were
re-elected.

In another part of to-day's paper, will be found
a paragraph setting forth the furore that has been
created in the County Fermanagh, Ireland, by the
preaching of a young woman. This is the third
rival of the original Spurgeon. We have now
Spurgeon, Spurgeon's younger brother, Guinness
of Dublin, and this young woman. But ac-
cording to a Belfast paper, Spurgeonism, in
its proper sense, is what the Church most
wants " Its ritual is beautiful in parts, but as a
whole is ndmitedly dull, formal, and lifeless—full
of tiresome repetitions—unnecessarily long, fatigu-
ing to the senses, and presenting no life-like
attractions to the mind. We want many reforms,
but the reform the Church most requires is, to
have its ritual reduced to proper form, so as to
meet the wants of the age. Even when well
read—when recommended by a graceful elo-
cution—it is cold and monotonous. Sunday after
Sunday ; but when drawled forth in a sing-song,
hum-drum fashion, as it too often is, it
becomes an infliction—a positive torture. Then we
have a dull prosaic sermon read in an equally
unattractive manner—for extempore preaching is
not permitted. Servioco of this kind are not
calculated to excite the feelings, to arrest the
attention, and to arouse the latent sympathies
of the audience. There is no earnestness at work
—no Spurgeonism, and therefore it is that the
people, as a body, crowd Dissenting Meeting-
houses, while the Parish Churches remain com-
paratively empty."
On Monday, that magnificent structure, the
Crumlin Viaduct, was formally opened, in the pre-
sence of many of the principal engineers in the
country, and a vast number of spectators. Special
trains ran from Hereford, Bristol, and other parts,
bringing with them more than the usual comple-
ment of holiday makers. The viaduct, by
far the largest in the world, has been
erected for the purpose of extending the Newport,
Abergavenny, and Hereford line to Taff Vale, thus
opening up the means of communication
between the rich mineral districts of Monmouth-
shire and Glamorganshire. Its height is 200 feet
and beneath runs the Western Valley line of the
Monmouthshire Railway and Canal Company. It
is almost exclusively constructed of iron ; the
piers, which rise above the valley beneath to the
elevation already mentioned, presenting, in con-
sequence of the material used, a singulaily light
and symmetrical appearance. The general aspect
would lead a spectator to imagine the structure
was a most fragile one ; but the tests which have
been employed conclusively prove that it is
capable of supporting a far heavier weight than
can ever be brought upon it in the ordinary course
of traffic. When the first train passed over, a
shout from thousands of voices rent the air, and
the sight was a most spirit-stirring one. A dinner
was afterwards given by Mr. Kennard, at which
about 150 sat down. The health of this gentle-
man was most cordially drunk after the usual
loyal toasts, and the whole proceedings were of a
most interesting description. A large number of
visitors from Londor3/4 were present.
The ship Wave of Life, Captain Charles
Stuart, from Sydney, Feb. 14, with wood, tallow,
and about 4,000 ounces of gold, and 18 passengers,
landed a small mail at Plymouth on Sunday. She
rounded Cape Horn on the 21st of March, and
crossed the line on the Ist of May ; when near the
Falkland Islands, on the 23rd March, spoke the
ship Sydenham, from Melbourne, February 21st,
with about 30,000 ounces of gold:
The West India mails delivered here yesterday,
do not supply us with much information from
these islands. From Mexico, the South Pacific,
and Central America, there is, however, some
interesting news. The Mexican priests had
attempted to exclude President Comonfort and
the municipality of Mexico from the cathedral.
The President surrounded the cathedral with
troops, and took the priests prisoners. Nicaragua
despatches of a late date, state that the allied
forces of Central America continued pressing
Walker severely. Deserters were coming in daily:
to the allies. Walker's party were living on hides.
The allied fire was suspended from want of ammu-
nition, but on the 23d a supply of 20 quintals of
powder reached the allies, and the fire was re-
opened. Walker's party was reduced to 320 men.
The allied forces mustered 2,500 men, which num-
ber was daily increasing. The River San Juan is
open to traffic by passports from Greytown and
Fort St. Carlos. The American steamers have
discontinued visiting Greytown, now that the
transit is in the hands of the allies. San Juan
del Sud is also in the possession of the allies.
Walker is hemmed in at both seaboards. The
difficulties at Peru, to be found reported at length
elsewhere, will repay perusal. From Cen-
tral America we learn that in the
Bogoto Chamber of Representatives, on the 6th of
April, the second reading took place of the bill
proposed by one of the representatives of Panama,
giving certain powers to the executive relative to
defending the territory and securing the transit of
the Isthmus. The bill was supported by the
secretary of the government for foreign affairs, and
was opposed by Pradilla, Holgium, Arosemena, &c.,
Sur , who stated that, to preserve the transit free, it
was only necessary to render effective the obligation
imposed on the railroad company to pay a
police force necessary for the purpose. Senator
Arosemena concluded by recommending that the
House should take into consideration the project
of law introduced by him, placing tho Isthmus
under the protection of New Granada, England,
France, the United States and Sardinia. The
Governor of Panama had issued a decree against
filibusters.

The news from the continent this morning is
not of much importance. Perfect tranquility seems
to have been restored in Belgium ; the adjourn-
ment of the Chambers being considered by the
people as equivalent to the abandonment of the
obnoxious Public Charities Bill. Some of the
persons arrested have been released, and it is
probable that those only will be prosecuted who
have shown a mischievous intention.
The most significant feature of the Government
circular concerning the elections in France, is the
proposal that the people should re-elect the whole
of the Legislative body, as constituted at present.
On this point; it is said, differences of opinion pre-
vailed between the Emperor, who wished some
new men, and his ministers, but at last he yielded.
The insulting words applied in the circular to the
different shades of the Opposition, show that no
opposition whatever is desired.

- The confusion in the Principalities is daily grow-
ing worse, and the European Commission has found
it necessary to cease its operations until the elec-
tions shall have taken place. The Prussian Gov-
ernment journal declares that in consequence of
the present interference with the liberty of election
in the Principalities, as practised by the Turks and
their adherents, it will be altogether impossible to
ascertain the real state of public opinion there;

IT is not the first time in her history that
the Chureh, as by law established, has taken a
leaf out of the book of the Nonconformists.
Exeter Hall has been a platform for Sunday
services of more than one denomination. Pres-
byterians, Baptists, Independents, have all
figured here, and among them, the Rev. Mr.
SPURGEON, who is now attracting such crowds
to hear him. The Church of England hae

wisely determined to adapt herself to the wants
of the time, and she consents to appear on
the said platform, being represented by her
bishops, dignitaries, and clergy. A noble Lord
in the House of Peers had expressed his concern
that anything low or uncanonical should be
introduced into the practices of the Church. It
would be undignified that the Church of Lords,
and Dukes, and Archbishops should follow in
the wake of CUMMINGS and SPURGEONS. It
seemed like burning unhallowed fire on the
altar, if a multitude should be brought together
for worship and instruction in an unconsecrated
building. Would not this tend to assimilation
with dissenters, gradually break down the
middle wall of partition, and so lead on to
indefinite irregularities ? Much7to his credit,
Dr. TAIT, the new Bishop of London, explained
and defended the practice, and the Archbishop
of Canterbury saw no reason why the Church
of England should not learn to accommodate
herself to the spirit and requirements of the
times. If a large number of people can be got
together at Exeter Hall, and cannot be got
together in St. Paul's Cathedral, why not take
advantage of the circumstance ? The clergy
must go to the people, if the people will not
come to -.the clergy. If the mountain will not
come to MOHAMMED, why, then, MOHAMMED
must gu to the inuuutaiii. the Lonimon
sense view, and the Church of England exercises
a sound discretion in conforming herself to the
new circumstances which have arisen. Accord-
ingly, last Sunday evening, May 31, the Bishop
of Carlisle opened the services at Exeter Hall,
preaching to a large audience of three thousand
people. The Church Service was used,
hymns and prayers were sung and offered,
people of all ranks and classes of society formed
part of the audience ; peers, duchesses, members
of Parliament, and many of lower grade, whose
souls were as precious in the sight of heaven as
even the soul of a lord or countess, and the
whole was presided over, sanctioned, and con-
ducted by a mitred Bishop. This is quite a sign
of the times for the Church, and it is only the
commencement of services to be followed up by
other preachers, with a view to bring religion
into wider contact with the popular mind.
This, at least, is the right thing to aim at, as
most will allow, except the Lord DUNGANNON of
etiquette, and those who agree with him. For
our own part, we are glad to see any signs of a
good and :earnest spirit anywhere, among
Church or Dissent. We are all, indeed, of one
church, however we may differ in speculations
and creeds, if only we seek to live the life of
righteousness, and to do good to all men, as we
have opportunity. The clergy are, perhaps,
imperfectly aware of the extent to which great
masses of the people doubt and distrust all reli-
gion and religious treachery. This, we believe,
is especially true of the four leading nations of
the world —France, Germany, England, and
America. The battle is not now respecting some
disputed dogmas that lie on the surface, such as
Predestination and the Trinity, much less about
such mystical and unpractical things as Baptis-
mal Regeneration, and all the contrariety
of the Puseyites ; but the controversy now
extends to the very foundations of religion
and of society. The battle is between religion
and no religion. Multitudes of our countrymen
care nothing for ritualism; are unimpressed by
the sacerdotal claims of the clergy, and if they
are to have a religion at all, demand one that
they can live by—one that is felt to be an
instrument of social usefulness—one to
enlighten the intellect, cheer the heart, and
strengthen the conscience for the battle of life.
Bowings, and sprinklings, and chantings, are,
perhaps, no essential part of true religion. We
must, then, be near some great religious changes
if the grand and spiritual ideas of a spiritual
religion are to hold their place or to acquire
additional influence over the minds of thoughtful
and inquiring men.
We do not pretend to analyse the causes of
Mr. SPURGEON'S popularity. He must have
power of some sort to draw such multitudes.
We have heard that his manner is often coarse,
and his matter very commonplace. He drama-
tises, and is said to take unholy liberties with
the most venerable characters and topics of
Scripture. MOSES, and PAUL, and the angel
GABRIEL, are summoned from the upper
spheres to give evidence, and to do duty in the
religious drama which is presented to the
imagination of his hearers. The doctrine, of
course, must he ultra-evangelical, to suit the
taste of certain -classes, and, accordingly, Mr.
SPURGEON preaches a high and unmitigated
Calvinism. The gloomier the doctrine, the
more evangelical it is believed to be. A favourite
device with the popular preachers of our
early recollections, was to plunge all into the
unmentionable place on the Sunday morning,
and in the evening to raise the elect portion of
them to the highest heaven. Mere criticism
upon the mariner of a popular preacher seems
hardly in place, if his ?natter is good—if his
teaching is adapted to produce earnestness in
the culture of the spiritual life, with candour
and charity to those who differ from us. The
worst part of the popular preaching is the
narrow and exclusive spirit which it inculcates.
It assumes its own infallibility, and denounces
all who differ from it in interpreting GOD'S
written and unwritten Bibles. We can forgive
Mr. SPURGEON many faults of matter and
manner, if only his teaching is, on the whole,
adapted to make people thoughtful, earnest,
upright, charitable, pious with that piety which