Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-02-15 00:00:00

subject. /One of their iubseiiiiers:

,ed a consid

time mu

rable interest in their proceed-
s, withdrew his subscription, expressly and solely on

the ground of the great prominence given to temperance
in the report of their missionaries. The committee and
himself (the chairman) did all in their power to prevent

theamount, but to keep up the principle that the societj,
would not be committed to the peculiar views of the inis-
sionaries upon. that point. It was always thought right
and desirable. that the missionaries should employ such
instrumentalities.as their own consciences and judgments
might suggest to be needed in the work upon which they
were engaged, but that the society, as a body, would not
be committed to the peculiar instrumentalities whichthey
might employ. Whether the same circumstance might
have caused others to withhold their. support, it was of
course impossible to say ; but if, on the other hand, there
were those who approved of direct action upon the evils
of drunkenness by the means which the missionariesem-
ployed, he hoped .that they would come forward with
Increased encouragement and aid. . (Hear, hear, and
applause.) It could hardly be denied that the only hope
for the confirmed drunkard was in total abstinence. How,
then, could any. One object to those who .felt that this was
their position being. formed into a pledged fraternity for
mutual sympathy and support ? (Hear, hear) Then,
to go one step further, cquld any one object to otheri who
hail not such a need, voluntarily associating themselveS in
the pledged body, in order •to: afford encouragement and
example, and to remove the stigmnwhich would other-
wise attach to the pledge ? (Hear, hear.) He felt
himself some . doubt -whether the Legislature ought'
not— to' a

control and. restrain
by

the fatal facilities for obtaining intoxicating drink _
which so many, were led ,astray. ~.It was objected that

this was a mete question of demand and supply, and that
those who had such a passionate demand for drink would
find the .means of supplying it ; and that, therefore,
legislation upon the.subject would be useless, or worse
than useless. But he denied that iewas a simple question
of supply and demand, because the provision of such
fatal facilities fostered and stimulated, and often even
created, an artificial thirst which would not otherwise

as the introauctl.o... __a's are-
water 'gave the American Indian a passion which he had
never felt before. On these grounds the chairman argued
that the missionaries were at least entitled to sympathy
in the motives which urged them to recommend the special
agency of the temperance pledge, even from those who did
not fully concur in the arguments brought forward
in support of that agency. Having glanced at one or
two other subjects connected with., the progress and the
objects of the sociefy, the chairman concluded by calling
upon the Rev. Mr. Steinthal to read his report.
The Rev. Mr. Steinthal read the annual report, which
but most interesting document. It• described

ted by instances the labours of the, missionary

during the past year ; dwelt upon some of the special
temptations and dangers which surrounded the poor, and
endeavoured to show the causes from which ,they arose.
The want of female employment was a topic on which
the Rev. Mr. Steinthal dwelt with some emphasis, and in
which he remarked, that some improvement was being
seen; but he especially enlarged upon the evils 'of
intemperance, and strongly condemned the absence of any
movement on the part of the legislature to check this
evil. Ile expressed a disapproval of the course taken by
the magistrates in the granting of licenses ; and
contended earnestly and warmly on behalf of legislative
interfenee- with intemperance. :
Reports . were also read by - Mr. Wilson and Mr.
Jones, whoSe general purport seemed to be somewhat
similar, although withhldifferent instances and illustrations,
and in each case marked with ability and earnestness,
and possessing a deeply interesting character.
The Rev. W. H. Charming moved the first resolution,
which expressed the sympathy of the meeting in the
labours of the missionaries, and ifs thanks for their
faithful services. He observed that no one could listen
to such reports without feeling deep joy in his heart at
the results described, and the promise they afforded of yet
greater results to come. It was at the first view very
discouraging, to think that they could not, in a: very
large average of- cases, prevent the causes froth
operating, which led to pauperism and to crime. The
returns of the Registrar-General, showed that in
the year 1858 there was an increase in the number of
deaths, and a decrease in the number of marriages, as
compared with 1857. The condition of commerce during
the latter year accounted for these facts ; and it showed
how the lives of the working classes, to whom the sta-
tistics especially applied, were bound up with the state of
the actual business and practical relations of the country.
• The statements of Dr. Greenough and the pamphlets of
Mr. Newlands and Mr. M'Gowan showed, beyond a
doubt, how the condition of the people was bound up
with the places in which they lived, the streets, and the
houses. The same practical good sense and sagacity
- which were brought to bear in what were ordinarily
termed practical affairs,, in the distribution of water or
gas,, for instance, would produce the same improving and
directly-beneficial results in the conditions of life. Society
was at last awakening to the fact, 'that to make human
beings really human, they must be surrounded with human
conditions: This he declared to be entirely encouraging.
He pitied the man who 'only blamed the working classes
for yielding to temptations ; his own wonder was that,
surrounded as they
.were, the poor did not yield still
more often. Society must seek, by practical
means to bring out positive results ; and the public
gymnasium provided by a member of that body in Upper
Parliament-street, was of itself an indication of the
intelligent spirit which was awakening among those.who
had influence and means, and which led them to see that
they must remove the conditions of temptation by
offering the means of healthful and cheerful recreation.
(Hear, hear ) . .
Mr. Henry Meade King seconded the resolution, which
was supported by the -Rev. Edmund' Kells in a few
.words, and carried by acclamation.

The Secretary, Mr. Alfred Thornely, read the com-
mittee's report, from which it appeared that there was a
balance in favour of the society of about £2OO. The
regular subscriptions, however, independent of extra
donations, still fell short of the annual requirements by
about £5O. _

Mr. C. M. King, treasurer, read the financial. state-
ment. • . - -

Mr. Wm. Rathbone, who was received with loud
applause, moved that the Committee's report and state-
ment of accounts be received and adopted.
Mr. Enoch Harvey seconded the resolution, which was
earried unanimously. _

The Rev. Mr. Brunner moved the appointment of the
committee for the ensuing year.
Mr, Charles Melly seconded the motion, which was
carried.

The Rev. John H. Thom moved a resolution, express-
ing the sviapathy of the society with the undertaking,
which his (established a similar mission at the north
end.

Mr. George Molt seconded the motion, which was car-
ried by acclamation.
Mr. C. T. Bowring moved that the reports of the mis-
sionaries, &c., be printed and circulated.
Mr. Geo, Holt, jun.,, seconded the motion, which was
carried.
The proceedings closed with a vote of thanks to the.
chairman,