The Sun.
London, England, 1841-04-05 00:00:00

"FIN SUN, LONDON. MONDA Y, APRIL 5, 18/1.

Cii.A.RTISTS ANO CtitiRCHMEN.

Oa ThurL'ay we gave an aceaunt, furnished by a
Correspondent, of the Annual Met ting of the 13 ith
Protestant Asseeiation hell in that city on TueAay.
\Vf have since received a more detailed account of the
strange prone dings, and ire hive them at full length, in
order to show what the good sense and firmness of the
middle and lower el isses can do when fai'ly opposed to
the selfish and political priesthood. The Rev. IL
Stowell and the Bath parsons Wel e shan't- fully defeated.
Their opponents h: d the best of the argument, and out•
numbered the n by ten to one, e,,en iu the city of B tth
where the clergy are supposed to be omnipotent. From
the small number of the inhabitants of Bath that
mounted the scaffold with the plotting clergy on this
occasion, we can foreiee that the despotism which the
priesthood have exercised for some time, is drawing
towards a close :

During the last fortnight the walls of this city have
been extensively placarded, announcing a meeting at
the assembly raorns, for uesday evening, March 30,
at seven o'clnek r.m., precisely ; for the formation of
a " Bath Protestant o)erative Association." A se-
cond series of bills were subsequently issued, stating
that the " Rev. Hugh Stowell, of Manchester, would
address the meeting, the attendance of the working
classes is particularly recoested"—and " tickets of ad-
mission may be procured of all the Bath booksellers."
These tickets were, as also the bills, signed ‘, F. Fysh,
S2cretary" (a person whose name and conduct have be-
come somewhat notorious), and required the parties
using them to be " amenable to the chair."
It was also announced that James Lord, Esq., of ti,e
Inner Temple, barrister-at-law, would attend as a depu-
tation from the London Protestant Association. As
the hour of meting approached, numbers of people,
particularly the working classes, were seen flocking to
the Assembly Rooms ; and many hundreds were ex-
cluded from the impossibility of getting tickets ; and
the lobby and passages leading to the large room of
meeting was filed by persons anxious for admission.
At the hour appointed for commencing the business,
the room, which holds from 1,500 to 2,000 persons, was
well filled.

About twenty minutes after the hour appointed,
great impatience was manifested by the meeting for the
commencement of lee proceedings, cries of " Chair,"
proceeded from every quarter, and, amidst stamping of
ieat, and other signs of disposition to proceed to the ob-
ject of the meeting, Mr. R. K. PHILP arose, and was
received with loud cheers. He said—" Ladies and
Gentlemen,—We are met this evening for the purpose
of forming a Bath Protestant Operative Association ;
and as the business that will be brought before us, is
more particularly connected with the working classes—
( Here Mr. Philp was interrupted by several gentlemen
who rushed in upon the platform, and cried out, " Sit
down, Sir,—you have no right to speak," " What are
ou doing, Sir ?" &c. &c.)—I am about to propose a
Chairman.

Rev. Mr. TOTTENHAM—We have a Chairman
already appointed.
Mr. PHILP—By whose authority?
- -

Mr. TOTTENHAM—.-We have chasen him.—( Hisses.)

Mr. PHILP—You have no right to elect a Chairman
for the meeting. It will be most proper that we have
an operative in the chair, and I propose Mr. Thomas
Bolwell.—(Loud cheers.)
The motion being seconded, a gentleman on the plat-
farm cried out—" Mr. Wilson is already in the chair."
Upon the motion being put, a forest of hands were held
up for Mr. Bolwell, followed by loud and long-con-
tinued cheering.
Mr. BOLWELL rose amidst hearty plaudits to ac-
knowledge the honour conferred upon him, and to open
the business of the meeting, when he was assailed with
noisy interruptions from several gentlemen on the plat-
form, who persisted in keeping Wilson, Esq. in the
chair, against the will of the meeting, and threaeened
to call in the police, which drew forth loud and long-
continued hisses and groans from the audience.
Mr. Aldermao CRISP, amidst tumultuous cheer-
io;,*, rose, and stated that the meeting had, by an over-
whelming majority, chosen a chairman. That it had
waited more than twenty minutes after the time fixed,
and that no chairman was announced in the bills con-
vening the meeting ; there could be no question but it
was the duty of the few individuals on the platform to
yield to the overwhelming majority that had elected the
chairman, and, as the cards of admission required," be
amenable to the chair." (Here there was tumultuous
interruption from the parties on the platform, who de-
nied Mr. C.'s right to speak, when he, Mr. Crisp, re-
quested those in the meeting who were willing to hear
him, to hold up their bands, upon which a forest of
hands appeired, and, on the contrary, about a dozen;
exclusive of those on the platform. Mr. Crisp then
proceeded) Are you satisfied now of my right to
speak ?—Will the paltry few on the platform dare bid
defiance to the will of the vast assembly before them ?
—(Loud cheers.) The gentlemen on the platform deny
that a majority of the meeting are in favour of Mr.
Bolwell presiding over them. I now request all those
who desire Mr. Bolwell to take the chair, to hold up
their hands. (Hate again a multitude of hands ap-
peared, and on the contrary being put, some two dozen,
exclusive of those on the platform, appeared, thus
electing Mr. Bolwell a second time, by an overwhelming
majority, to preside. Mr. Crisp turned again to the
platform, and said, " Gentlemen, are you now satisfied?
Upon which cries of " No, we have our own chairman,"
proceeded from several gentlemen, with brandishing of
umbrellas, and other hostile demonstrations, amid loud
yells and hootings from the body of theeneeting. Mr. Crisp
then said) The fact is, you have come here to dictate
to the meeting, and not to hear its sentiments. You
vainly imagined that you had a population to deal with,
like those of past times. The eyes of the people, how-
ever, are now raper. They are no longer to be deceived,
delu led, and humbugged by such proceedings as yours.
—(Laud cheers.) Your object is to collect together
Chid :eh and King mobs, and restore the days of Lard
Geo age Gordon. The days of trickery and delusion are
past —the people now reason, and think for themselves.
—(Tremendous cheering.)
At this part of the proceedings, en effort was made
to lace Mr. Bolwell, its Chairman, upon the plat-
form, but the parsons put themselves in a
figleing attitude, oee of them seizing Mr. Bolwell by
the ihroat, and !hrusting hint violently back. He was
manfully supported by some friends around him, who
placed a chair for him upon the reporter's table, when
several gentlemen, leaning over the platform, seized
hold of' it, and a struggle ensued for the possession of
it, between the " shepherds" on the platform, and their
" flecks" below, the chair being ultimately wrested from
them, amidst loud laughter from the meeting, and a
cry of " Police" from several parties on the platform.
Here Captain Carroll, with a small band of police,
made his appearance from the ante-room on the plat-
form, giving ri-e to gre dt excitement in the meeting.
Mr. Alderman Crisp, addressing Capt. Carroll, said, " I
arts surprised, Sir, to see you are here, acting on the
part of the few gentry around you, in opposition to the
will of this vast assembly. 'There is no necessity for
your interference—the people are proceeding legally to
express their sentiments. You must withdraw those
men. I will be answerable for the peace of the meet-
ing ; there shall not be the slightest offence against
persOn or property ; the room shall not be dammed,
nor a hair on the head of any person on the platform
he hurt, if the pelce are withheld front unjust inter-
ference. But if it is persisted in to keep the police-
men here, with the view to over-awe the people, in the
exercise, of their just rights, I will not be answerable for
the consequences that may ensue. Shortly after Capt.
Carroll and the police withdrew.
Mr. BOLWELL, turning to the platform, said, " Be-
verend Gentlemen—lf you do not behave yourselves,
and allow the business of the meeting to proceed, I
must have you all teken out."—(Loud cheers.) Here
a conflict of words ensued, between the front row of
gentlemen on the platform, and thosd immediately be-
fore them below : the parsons sometimes coaxing and
sometimes raving. It was attempted to obtain a hear-
ing for Mr. Stowell, by one of the reverends declaring
he was the man, if the people desired to hear a good
speech."
Mr. STOWELL here called, once more, for the ser.se
of the meeting respecting the Chairman.. Upon Mr.
Bolwell's name being put, and that of Mr. Wilson, the
former was again, elected, by, if possible, a larger ma-
jority than before—Mr. Stowell, with others oo the
platform, being the principal supporters of, and hold-
ing up both hands for, Mr. Wilson. Mr. Stowell then
called for a division of the room. Mr. Crisp said it was
impossible—the meeting was so crowded, it would
create a dangerous tumult. Such a proposal could be
only made to create a riot. If they wanted to divide
the sheep from the goats, he knew where the goats
would be. Mr. Bolwell had already been elected al-
most unanimously to the chair, and it was an insult to
the meeting to make such a proposition.—(Deafen-
iog cheers, and cries of " Bolwell.") Several " gentle-
men" added to the confusion of the meeting, by
stamping, whistling, and using noisy cat-calls, particu-
larly in the orchestra—a contrast with the conduct of
the " lower orders " who were present, and to whom
were repeatedly applied the epithets " noisy mob,"
" tools of Popery," &c., by their spiritual pastors.
A reverend gentleman shouted out, " It was our
Chairman who had the majority."
Mr. Plliee s aid, " Rev. Sir, do von know the liar
shall have his portion in the lake ?"—(Great cheering
—confusion on the platform.)
Comparative quiet being obtained, Mr. BOLWELL,the
duly elected chairman, rose amidst tremendous checre.
He said—Ladies and Gentlemen, a very large majority
of this meeting has been pleased to confer on me the
honour of electing me to preside over the present im-
portant meeting, for which confidence I tender my
warmest acknowledgements.—(Great cheering.) You
are called together to-night for the purpose of taking
into consideration the propriety of forming a Bath Pro-
testant Operative Association. It may be proper to
observe, that I find myself placed in some difficulty,
not having had an opportunity of knowing the
precise routine ia which the gentlemen who convened
this meeting intended to submit the business to your
consideration. I do not mention this circumstance for
the purpose of throwiog any blame on the gentlemen

whose duty it was to makfp the necessary arrange-
rients. I b:-Iteve they were not ttlinre of my being in
t until I had the honour of meeting them in the
capacity of Chairman of th' present meeting.—
L.nghter, and cheers, and " Thet, have got a Tartar.')
Judging from the bills that. hnive been issued, several
gentlemen will address the meeting in favour of its ob-
i,ets, and resolutions will be submitted tar your 4p-
probation or rejection. I hope you will give an at-
tentive hearing ; and if any gentleman should feel
inclined, from a difference of opinion, to address
the meeting in opposition to the sentiments of those
who support the object for which we have been
cee I t,gether, I trust you will give a fair and im-
partial hearing.—(Cheers.) I have my opinions—but
they will not sway me in the exercise of my power as
Chairman.—( Loud cheers.) I shall now call upon any
gentleman who may he prepared to submit a resolu-
tion.—(Great cheering.)
In the course of Mr. Bolwell's address, considerable
interruption was caused by some of the " peace-
makers.' handing a huge carpenter's mallet to the
pseudo Chairman, designed to belabour the table at
which he sat, in order to drown the wards of the
speaker. The worthy gentleman, however, chose rather
to brandish its huge wooden head, amongst the many
others on the platform, to the no small amusement of
the spectators.

Mr. STOWELL, turning to Mr. Wilson, attempted to
address the audience.

Mr. BOLWELL inquired whether Mr. Stowell re-
coenised him (Mr. Bolwell) as chairman ?—(Cheers.)
Mr. STOWELL-lt is no matter about that.—(Laud
cries of " Oh, oh ; yes it does.")
Mr. BOLWELL— I have been appointed to preside
over this meeting three times, and you yet bid defiance
to the people's choice. This is an insult to the opera-
tives of Bath that cannot be borne. Unless you re-
cognise me as chairman, I will not permit you to
speak.—(Tremendous cheers.)
Mr. STOWELL persisted, in vain, to effect a hearing.
He moved in dumb show, amidst deafening hisses and
groans.
Mr. R. K. PHILP, on getting up, was received
with general applause. He proceeded-Ladies and
Gentlemen, we have been called together, as the ope-
ratives of Bath, to form a Protestant Association ;
and now we are assembled for the purpose, the reve-
rend gentlemen who called this Meeting refuse to per-
mit us to express our opinions upon the matter.—
(' Shame, shame.") But, my friends, we are not to
be made the playthings of any body of men, whatever
their station or calling. The gentlemen on the platform,
and a few more sprinkled around the room, are the only
ones who have raised their voices against the appoint-
ment we have made to the Chair. But how many ope-
ratives arc there upon the platform ?--(None, none.)
Then what right have they to interfere with the legiti-
mate expressions of our opinions?—(Loud cheers.) It
is for us to decide whether we will have the proposed
Association or not. Are we to be called here, and to
allow a few interested persons to decide for us ?—(No,
tie.) The Church is the moat formidable enemy of the
people.—(Cheers.) The most obstinate opponents of that
great measure of political reform, the People's Charter,
have been the clergy.—(Cheers.) The influence of the
Church is exerted against every measure likely to benefit
the country—against every kind of civil or religious
liberty.—(Cheers.) It is our Christian Church that has
imprisoned Thorogood and Baines for the non-payment
of Church-rates—they conscientiously differing from the
tenets of the Establishment. It is our Christian Church
that has imprisoned Hetherington and Cleave for pub.
lishing a work, the author of which had conscientiously
expressed his opinions upon matters of religion.—(Loud
cries of "Shame.") It was a Church minister,who, whilst
Frost was awaiting his trial, exerted every influence from
the pulpit, over his parishioners, against hitn.—(Shame.)
It is the Clergy that is seeking todo away with the harm-
less amusements of the people, and is ever seeking to
drive them into church, and cram bibles down their
throats.—( True, true.) Toe Bishop of Exeter, in the
House of Lords, watches with eagle eye every oppor-
tunity to crush the people, and every particle of liberty
they have left._ In Bath, the clergy had influenced the
authorities to take proceedings against several poor but
honest tradesmen, for merely selling instructive cheap
papers on Sunday, to those working men who, from un-
fortunate circumstances, could not buy them on Satur-
day night—for this they put two individuals in the
stocks, and fined two others.—(Loud cries of " Shame,"
Away with them.") And are you, operatives of
Bath, prepared to form an Association, which shall
assist the clergy in their work of oppression?—(Shouts
of " No, no.") I glory in your determination ; those
shouts will strike deep into their hearts ; when they
wake on the morrow, they will have a very different
estimation of the sentiments of the operatives of Bath,
than ever they dreamed of before.—(Loud cheers.) I
will now propose a resolution.—(Here Mr. P. was inter-
rupted with whistling, thumping, stamping, &c., from
the pl dform and the orchestra—the attempt was to pre-
vent the resolution being heard.) The resolution is:—
" That in the opinion of this meeting, seeing the
vast revenues al-eady applied to Church purposes,
and contemplating the distressed condition of the
people ; taking into account, also, the epposi•
tion given by the Church to every measure
of political Reform calculated to benefit the coun-
try and extend civil and religious liberty, it is inexpe-
dient to form a Bath Protestant Operative Association.
But this meeting pledges itself to use every effort to
effect such political, social, and religious reforms, as
shall place the Church upon a more Just basis than at
present, and bring complete justice and liberty to the
whole people."—(Tremendous cheering.)
Mr. C. BOLWELL, on rising to second the resolution,
was received with loud cheers. He said it gave him
great pleasure to find that the time was come, when the
operatives of Bath were resolved to conduct their own
business, instead of, as hitherto, permitting it to be con-
ducted for them, by men whose interest it was to keep
them in bondage.—(Tremendous cheers.) The State
clergy of this country—taking them collectively, anti
with reference to their whole acts—were the most
vicious, immoral, despicable body of men existing.—
(Cheers.) They have shown themselves to be ene-
mies of every institution having for its object the real
happiness of tl.e people. The clergy have ever
shown themselves ready
to persecute those men who
have entleevoured to instruct the people in a know-
' ledge of their rights.—( Loud cheers.) Who was it
that imprisoned five hundred of the people's best
friends for their opinions' sake ? The Government, by
the express sanction of the clergy.—(Cheers.) Who
imprisoned Thorogool and Baines for non-payment of
Church-rates ? The villainous St de clergy. Who per-
secuted Hetherington and Cleave for publishing Has-
lern's opinions on retgion ? The money hunting, tithe•
seeking clergy of ties country.--(Loud and long-con-
tinued cheering.) But though they had acted thus
outrageously, they had the daring impudence to call on
the operative s of Bath to assist, them in their wholesale
plunder and persecution, which they have been practis-
ing for so many eenturies.—(Cheers, and " It won't do
here.") The working classes are merle the victims
the other classes, and are insulted and enslaved.
Tice clergy have aided to bring the starving millions
to their present deplorable conditipn.—(Cries oS" True
true." " They take care of themselves.") If it were
not for the advanced and increased power of public opi-
nion, the clergy would inflict torture—would bring the
stake and the rack to all who differed from them in opi-
nion. But the people were not, to be deluded as in
days of old—they are not to be led by profligate and
designing men, In their pulpits, on the Sabbath, they
taught the doctrine of equality : but did they ever carry
the principle into practice ?—(Cheers. " No, not
they.") The conduct of the gentlemen on the platform
this evening is calculated to open the people's eyes, and
show them wolves in sheep's clothing.--(Bravo.) The
Church has ever been the bitter enemy of the people;
and, desiring, by every possible method to curtail her
Power. I second the resolution most cordielly.—(Loud
cheers.)
Mr. BOLWELL asked if there was any amendment ?
—(Great confusion existed on the platform, but there
was no :attempt to oppose the motion.)
The CHAIRMAN then put the resolution, when not
less than a thousand hands were held up for it, and, on
the contrary, not one. This was followed with loud
cheers.
Just before the resolution being put, the pseudo
Chairman, thumping the table with the mallet, cried
out, " I dissolve this meeting," which was asset with loud
laughter, and cries of " Don't run away
About this time a working man held up a paper (the
Northern Star), excl.titning, 1. This is our Star," which
was foil awed by three hearty cheers.
Mr. PHILP proposed the thanks of the meeting to
was carried with hearty
Charter, and Mr.
Mr. Bol,vell, for his able and impartial conduct in the
Alder-
man Crisp.
Mr. BOLWELL returned thanks, and declared the
clip'apCilriustsewer.hs icwt•ierbeeignigvesneefoonrdtehde
meeting dissolved.
After several minutes had elapsed, and the respec-
tive parties were about to retire, Mr. S. BARTLETT
mounted the platform, and called the attention of the
meeting to the necessity of discussion for the sake of elicit-
ing truth. Mr. Bartlett spoke at some length upon the
diversity religiousou idpermit Mr.
subjects, and concluded
by hoping of opinion o
gthemeetingn wStowell to ex-
plain his objects before they sent him away.
Mr. STOWELL commenced by regretting the har-
mony of the evening had been disturbed. As a minister
of God, and possessing a desire at all times to promote
peace, he could truly say he had not allowed his temper
to he ruffled throughout the whole proceedings.
Mr. PHILP—Why, Sir, you threatened to call a po-
liceman to me, because I exercised my right to speak.
Mr. SToweee—l did certainty say I would call for
the police—( Hisses, groans, and laughter)—because
I deemed the conduct of those who were epdeavouring
to ascend the platform most unruly.—(Cties of
" Oh, oh.") And it was very clear the majority
of the meeting were fur Mr. Wilson taking the chair.
(Loud and vociferous cries of " No, no, no." " Don't
insult us." " Tell the truth," &c., from all parts of
the meeting.) He feared that many present had lent
themselves as the tools of popery.—(Laughter, Oh

dear!") He had met a 7entleman of Bath in a rad-
way train, who told him that. a good Proteztant Ope-
rative Association might l e for in Bath.—(Cries
or "Go back by fie next train.") He had made such
liberal speeches, that he could not fail to please the
people of 1.3.:t1r, for many who had heard him had set
him down for a thorough-going Radical.—(Soft soap.)
But he was open to declare himself a red-hot Tory.—
(Cheers from the pusons, and groans and yells from
the meeting, with cries of " A bad lot altogether.")
His motto was to fear God and honour the Queen.—
(" What's to be done with Prince Albert and the
bobby ?") lie had done much to relieve the distresses
of his own starving flock. He wished more attention

had been raid by the nobility and gentry to the wants
of the people. He must say they were too widely se-
vered, and the best way to unite them was to form such
associations as he had come there to establish. He
v,muld as soon sit down, on the three legged Etiol with
the poor man, as on the cushioned chair of the rich.
He was an advocate of religious liberty, but he would
beat down Rom inism —(Oh, oh.) He would not de-
stroc the man, but he would destroy the principles of the
Romanists. He had met with a poor Irishman by no means
unintelligent,who was a Papist—he said he declared to him,
that if the priest directed him to burn his only child, a
sweet little girl, he would do it.—(Disapprobation.) Was
that a power any man ought to have over the mind of
another ?—(No, no, no.) The same man had toll
him he believed the priest to stand in God's own shoes.

—(A voice, " And so do you.") There, there ! (em-
phatically) that's an honest man—there, he has toll the
trnth.—(Great and long-continued disapprobation.)
He had aways made it a practice to invite the Ro-
manists to discussion. Did they want the Pope of
Rome to rule in these Protestant dominions?—(" No,
no," " Nor the Bishop of Canterbury either.") He
would willingly meet Bishop Baines and the whole
squad of Prior Park, in eontroversy.—(" Don't malign
them behind their backs," " What have you done with
the property taken from them ?")—l'll answer that—l
never fear to answer a question. You all admit it is
no harm to take stolen pr.perty from a thief!—(" Oh,
oh, then it ought to be taken from you we only took
that which belonged to us before. Protestantism ex-
isted before Romanism. At the Reformation, the
Church was not. formed but reformed.—(Confusion.)
Mr. Cerse rose, and, taking out the bill convening
the meeting, said he had not come to hear a tirade
against the Cat holies.—(Loud cheers.) There was
now no Chairman. The business had already concluded.
Mr. Stowell had, however, commenced maligning the
Catholics in their absence, which was illiberal, and
wholly irrelevant to the object of the meeting.—
(Cheers.) The time of Mr. Stowell had expired. He
must now come to what he desired to say respecting the
Association he would form, and then permit another
person to reply.
Mr. STOWELL then complained of interruption, and
said he was sorry to observe the people of Bath did not
know how to behave, as well as his townsmen of Man-
chester.—(This was received with a burst of disappro-
bation. Unable to bear which, Mr. Stowell seized his
hat and cloak, exclaiming " I can stand this no longer,"
and made his exit, followed by his " Reverend bre-
thren" who retired to console each other over their
disgraceful defeat.
Mr. CRISP remarked, that they were now skulking
off, escaping from that chastisement he intended to
have inflicted. To answer all the calumnies that had
been heaped upon the Catholics, for ages, would oc-
cupy the entire time of the professors of the Catholic
faith. It would be as useless for him (Mr. Crisp) to
attempt to answer the infamous calumnies and false-
hoods which the disgraceful Bath Chronicle was for ever
heaping upon himself. What had the Protestant
clergy been doing with all the property and power they
had possessed for the last 300 years ? In Catholic
times, at least, three were no degrading Poor-law
unions—( Loud cheers)—the churches were repaired,
and the poor maintained, out of the Ecclesiastical reve-
nues. They had brought the country into a state of in-
describable misery and wretchedness. Alter some fur-
ther remarks, Mr. C. concluded by saying they were
now endeavouring to cajole and delude the labouring
classes into an union to prop up their tottering fabric.
—(Tremendous cheers.) The meeting then quietly
broke up.