Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-12-03 00:00:00

NORTTIERN DAILY TIMES

every. man, woman, and child, interested in the
prosperity of British Shipping.in this community,
can: hear, her.

TESTIMONIAL TO THE; tV. J. W. TWIST;
INCUMBENT OF CHRIST CHURCH.

There is a proper spirit abroad amongst us on
the volunteer question, and the defence of the
country. This ,is as it should be ; but this is
like resolving to make a stand only on the second
line of ,defence, after our enemies have crossed
our . first and_ chief line—the sea. Let us not
forget that we must mainly rely on our sea,
rather than on our land power for
for safety, and existence. Now our
tile marine is essential to our sea power
It is in a prostrate condition, if not a decaying
one. This is not. safe. I would therefore urge.
the importance of Liverpool taking prompt and
active steps, by a public meeting in the first place,
and otherwise aiding the movement that is on foot
for the relief of British Shipping, and showing
our sympathy with it.
The great Napoleon Sighed for
nieS;, and Commerce." The ships

Last evening, a gratifying testimonial of the good-
will of his congregation.: was
,presented to, the Rey.
J. W. Typist, the respected, incumbent of Christ Church.,
The interesting ceremony took place in the schools con-
nected with the church in Christian-street, an' additional

eclat being given to the occurrence by the performances,
gratuitously offered,., of the band of No. 1 Company,
of the Lancashire Volunteer Rifles.

empire/

merean-

Mr. W. McCheane, one of the- chdchVfaideni or the
church, presided ; and there was a' numerous attendance
of the congregation, amongst whom we observed Mos, srs.
Roger Haydock, .Watts, Routledge' Pennington, James
Lyon, Bright, FletCher, Osborn, MasOn, Ackers,` and

Captain Bensfield.
The CHAIRMAN, in openingc, the proceedings; i said he
could ngt help regretting that the force of circumstances

ii iesponsi-

had thrust him into a position the duties a
bilities' of which he felt himself very unable to fad
They knew they had all met here that evening for the

Slips,

IL-Merchant

purpose of paying a tribute of respect and esteem to
their worthy pastor, Mr. Twist ; and accompanying it,
with some substantial manifestation of their good will,
in the eilliie of a purse of gold. Now, it was not for

shipshe put first hi the list ; could he rise from
the dead, how he would wonder at England;
" his greatest and mkosteOnstant foe,'-' deliberatelylegislating for the increase of foreign, and the
dise6uragement of British ships. That great
man knew their importance, and looked on
thein in the same light as did Adam
Smith, and all ' our other political . writers
of any note. I say again', therefore, let us
arrange for an.carlypablic meeting being held of
those interested in shipping; and of thoSefriendly
to its prosperity. - There is no real apathy here on
the subject. We have a Shipowners' Association.`
Why has it not moved ? What is it f6r if it does
not instantly take up the matter Let 'some of
those who have already done good service, and
who ought to be deaders in: such a movement,
once start the subjeCt fairly, and-'they will find a
true. British feeling prevalent on it.—l am, sir,
your obedient servant, "RULE BRITANNIA."
Dec. 2, 1859.

him to say how the active-and energetic 'manlier in
which the pastor had, discharged the duties of hiaAcp,
_ _

richly entitled him to it, for the earnest co-operation in
which they had all entered into' this matter was a stiffi.-

Cieni pica of the high estimation in which he was liel&
One thing; which .certainly suggested this testimonial
was -the paltry. stipencl he received, which was owing

to the Aleprease of the congregation, arising from.
the gradual change which- was taking place in all
large towns, :driving those who were not obliged either
by business or necessity to remain within the towns, to
the more, salubrious places in the suburbs—leaving. be:
hind them an amount of vice and ignorance which callbd

for increased activity on the part of the clergyman,
while atthe same time he was obliged to submit to a

corresponding diminution of his stipend
was another cause which had raised their indigpatiOn

But ,there

and stimulated their zeal.

Ae alluded to' tliose un-

graciois attacks which had been made npon,hlr. Twist.
recently by anonymous slanderers, in some of the public
prints, misrepresenting his actions, misconstruing his
motives, and doing all in their power to hold him
up to public scorn and ridicule. If there was one thing
which he (the chairman) had a supreme contempt for, it
was an anonymous slanderer. The spirit of Englishmen
recoiled with 'disgust from anything which savoured of
treachery or disguise.- -'We. were not given `to stabbing
men in the dark. The wily tricks of the serpent had,
it was hoped, disappeared from amongst us ; but 'it
seemed there were creatures still who, with craft and

subtlety, were ever ready to pounce upon their victims,
and pour out all the venom of their malice and wicked.;
ness. (Hear, hear.) Addressing the Rev. Mr. Twist,'
the Chairman continued,—From the poison of -such
reptiles no man's character is safe. They are dangerous
—I had almost said they are diabolical, But, vhile ittis a

source 'of gratification to us to know that the enemy
has signally failed in sowing the seeds of diisension and
discord amongst us; it must be no less gratifying to you,
sir, to find yourself surrounded by such a phalanx of
firm friends and devoted followers; ready to do battle in
your cause—alike ready to defend, you from the attacks
of open enemies or from secret foes. (Applause.) I
have great pleasure, therefore, sir, in presenting this
testimonial to you, accompanied with this purse of gold,
in the name of this congregation, and with our united,
best wishes for youmhappiness and welfare, Aud. lam
sure you will not prize it so much for its intrinsic value,
as that it embodies in itself that _great spirit of Christian
. _

sympathy which should ever exist between those who
hold the mutual relationship of Oster and people.
(Applause.) I will now call upon the secretary to read
the address.
Mr. LYON, the secretary, then read the following
address :

To the Rev. J. W. Twist, 31. A., Incumbent of Christ Church,

Hunter-street.
REVEREND AND DEAR Sire,--4 have been requested; by, a
committee of members of. the, congregation of Christ Church to,
express Our heartfeltsynipathy with you in the recentattempts
that have been made.to disparage your efforts in the fulfilment
of the duties of your office in this district. and to assure you
of our deep convietifo, that Toar ministrationa have been most
raltatuily.and zealously •performed. .•
It is to us, your congregation, a matter of regret and surprise
that such attempts have been "[lade ; -hut it is equally one of
congratulation that they have carried with them their own, re-
ward ,• and we trust you may be long spared, undertlM blessing
of Clod, tominister among His people as sincerely and earnestly
as you have been enabled to do hitherto.. • ,
As a testimony of our sincerity in this matter, andto:Maric
our•continued attachment to yourself and
.our appreciation of
your,teaching ; and considering that the stipend derived from
the endowment of the church is So limited,' I am to tender for
your acceptance the accompanying purse of- gold, whioh,•:
though inadequately representing our feelings, we offer as the
united and spontaneous' expression- of our regard and-esteem,
in the fervent hope that you will receive it in the spirit in
which it is offered.—Believe me, reverend and dear sir, yours
most faithfully,
Signed by N. mccumANE, Chairman of the Committee.,
The purse contained the sum• of £75. ,
The Rev. 1. W. TWIST, having received the testimo-
.
null, said be must confeSs himself quite inadequate- to.
express those feelings which, of allothers, he wouldihave
wished most strongly and forcibly to state ; because
when he saw himself .surrounded .by so many persons or
all ages, of various conditions .in life, and of various'
ranks, all joined fOr, to him, the most gratifying object
as testifying their good will to himself personally. He
must- be utterly- deVoid of all the feelings of -.the
human heart if he did.-not most deeply and cordially
thank them for :this,..-mark of their great attention
and kindness to him. The , Chairman had Men,.

tioned the word " symi)athy ;" and he might be
permitted, perhaps, to say, that the word was dear to
his mind, and that a clergyman, in common with . all
professional men whatever, was deeply concerned in
winning the good: feeling,. and regard of those
amongst whom his lot was cast.; and for two reasons,
first, If, by their s'mpathy with him, he succeeded in
winning their goewill and attachment and affection, it
opened for .him towards them a door of access- which
would otherwise be closed against him-in his,mi,nistra-
tions ; and, secondly, with regard to his private .happi-
nescand -comfort, no man could be so misera.ble ana
wretched as a clergyman froni whom the feelinssOf his
flock were alienated instead of being in friend Ship
with him. -On those two grounds, then, he was most
deeply sensible of the. high honour which had been paid
him.that:night. Referring back to -the course of his
experience, he, only say, and after; the example of
the. Apostle Paul, he must say, he gloried in it, and he
was proud Ito confess it, 'that he had been singularly
happy and fortunate in thatPrespect-.- He had ministered
in communities olthe most various and' opposite..kiads,
He had laboured, amongst the sons of peers of tbe,realna

on
,the one hand, and ainonpt the poOr in a
0000000000•
en the other hand; in addition to which he hieilig;

laboured as a missionary amongst the negrOes in 'the "-14;.VVILLLkM '6OLBOTT-RN° E il' SUpPortinig the reselu- -
West Indies,- and had• received the most hearty and ;ion said he believed if the elation -of war should be
:kind 'testimonials: of ;his :.acceptability in that.
,sphere.
(Cheers.) ,He had received•:testimenials from ithe,most again•soUnded; that the same zeal, energy; -.and bravery
out-of-the-way places—from, the choir of Westminster ,would:btfilisplayed by: the .seldiets .and •Bailor4:9.9,that
Abbey, 'and from the Coloired choir of a church in which was shenn ~ so conspicuously on the heights, of •
Jamaica. It was now more than 'faur years since, he Alma, at Inlerinan and Sebastopol
, A..
.. REYNOLDS... also snyperted the reSolutrorticn, ,
returned home, and he had received from thnhande of trr' . l'" '-: 091 :': ~.. : .119 -' '' ' .'''.',i,:'; (' f !4 ': 4
his present congregation, no less than three testimonials.
.hr...the....jeeonti,yeta--ef-Itia-miniokiy....scw.iv.a „an on being putto.the mceting,4as tuiitnimthisly tarried:
address and A.-present :from his .confirmation class ; in : ,-Mr. HERBX Gnzy 2 moved that:fa itVXMAittelii,.,be
the third year of his incumbency, `he had .bien favoured appointed to carry out the .nepessaKLningements- ..
by the-congregation with a most magnificent testimonial Mr. WALTER, in seconding the .resolution, said that
of their 'regard,' and now he received this' testimonial • i •,.. .. • .
ing gave him greaterL ' pain thanntO find him- elf
'before 14m, which ,*rus,, no ltsvnia.gniticent than the 1.1°.t1.3
`on wig public. "occasion. 'Sat there were
former ones. Thsq reverend ~iiilemen then alluded prominent
to th,..i decrease in his congregation, arising from !eccaiicins '_wheireiery man _should stepforward and,do
the 'fact that a_ greA. :.number of his friends had his best, when the public calls,,-Auit.,, .;, -When
left the now crowded' aistrict in which the cureli • ~., ,-
tomsacting business at the 'War . ce, the other
do fed, and *'had betaken themselves to more Mil- ..i._.itu,._,,.,
he was to that t cr. illery Co ' with which°
toldh A'
b'xious sites in the suburbs of:''...the town. The fact 4,7'
was an inevitable consequence of the deterioration of ',he' ii'beniteoted is the' largest in the conntry..- (Loud .
'the neighbourhood, for -where .maPectable.housedfonce ..applauie.),,,And this •factilcoming-,from.isueli el quarter,
stood"only loffices :were now to; be seen. , , There was, „ trpl,4:,,lo,Jitoped, silenoi ithe tAmittrvhich .had been
however, a large and comparatively poor populatiou;in thrwil. out, against. Livpirollas being backward the!
the neighbourhood, ,and.,he , hoped .tlip,i4tt.ity would ..1 li. if
Itne9movenent. 'lf 'aniirtilfery9Cerpa. is necessary in
co-operate with the patron of ;the church in, D4ll*g
it capable .ef:-.l9f4vAng .a Jarge, miniberapf, persons Liverpool, it was, he cOnliiiitereclPAifeli more so in Wal-
who could not pay for__ aecOmmodation, for if they lasey, which may be said to he the entrance into Liver-
did this they , : would do, a- great service to the pool. Ift9ould, assure he meitrtifitherg, as the most'
cause 4 C4rist, their master. Now, however long anxious desire a the Wai.-4.ce that `artillery corps,
or Sher ifileConnection with this .church might be, he
,sheuld be i raised ?- and'he"lielieved that the Governments
should rtglalith iiiiii6fiattglihos4-pritiaiiile6iwiiich he :
had ever. advocated at Christ Church;, namely the Orin- fltidno6(l iii.
deal,., l'itiOst liberally `with thein: '''Hehad not
•cipli Of inrairartion, toleration,: thiudian 'kitidneaS anal' •donlit•GovWriiiiiiiitrvioiild'Pre‘iiie eVeryttflig'''eteofrthe
charity.' ('Cold cheers,):: He ' neirexiihad, sdunded,- and' • uniform. '• He -Bincluded: by 'retainding -tbeM 'that the
never would: sound anything to set febple at fvaripllie main fkiturn ofthe;tiorps blight' to ho pernial'erAch and
one with another. His im should be in the direction .
The motion bting
of good feeling an i ness-with one another. He. thattheir,iaiin should be to be sorlrdieiedisun.
unanimously.
wished to extend to: all others that right which lieye the third. leaoltition.
claimed for himself : ft:, advocate his own opinions and Mr: IsA.Art :PENNY rose to mo
the erapexor of France.inteuded
to be protected in-' the Advocacy of those opinions. Ile did not; believe that
And he held that he had no right to say to to inva;te this country.. 'with all despotic
In common
any man, if he claimed the right to have liberty '
ntor,archs in these times, he, was confined. by public
' of opinion for himself—and liberty of opinionmas the
r • • d. he was fully alive to its influence. Though
most glorious feature in this country, he had no right
0 pinion, an
this movement at the first/ he bad become a
to sayto a man- who differed from him .that he would. ' against .
set upon him and destroy him, because he was oppose:a convert Th
! to it. e effect, he had no doitbt, would be
put, was ca