The Sun.
London, England, 1869-05-26 00:00:00

BIRMINGHAM.

A crowded and enthusiastic meeting was held in Dir.
mingliam, on Tuesday, in the Town Hall, Lord Harrowby
presiding, in opposition to Mr. Gladstone's bill for the dis-
establishment and disendowment of the Irish Church.

Lord Harrowby said Mr. Gladstane's measures would be
a breach of national faith with the Irish Protestants, who
were sent into an enemy's country with a pledge that they
should have the comfort of a national Protestant Church;
and in the name of liberty and equality it would give predo-
minance to a Church which anathematises both liLerty

au equality. He deprecated the system of coaxing
llomanism in Ireland ; a system which was extending to
this country, so that we could not speak of Romanism
above our breath, or else a hostile mob was threatened,
and the Home Secretary searched out an obsolete statute
to stifle discussion.

Mr. Sampson S. Lloyd, the Conservative candidate for
Birmingham at the late election, moved the first resolu-
tion, which was as follows :—" That the bill to put an
end to the establishment of the Church in Ireland involves
a violation of the Act of Union, an attack upon the
security of property, and a renunciation of the principle
that the Government of the United Kingdom is Protestant;
and that the .House of Lords will consult the best interests
of the country by rejecting it." He said that IZomanism
was already too strong fur good government here and
in Ireland, and he called upon the English people to
make a stand in time. The Church question lay at the
root of liberty, enlightenment, and progress.
Mr. Newdegate, M.P., who seconded the motion, said
if the property of minorities was to be confiscated, let the
Eomanists in England look out, for England did not love
monasteries and convents; and if llomanists in their pride
supposed they could rob a Protestant minority in Ireland
let them not look for security for their monastic property
in England.

The motion was supported by the Rev. Brewin Grant,
M.A., and carried unanimously.

Dr. Sebastian Evans moved : " That a petition be at
once drawn up praying their lordships to reject the bill."
IMr. W. T. Charley, M.P., seconded this, and it was
supported by Mr. J. C. S. Fremantle and the Rev. C
Marson, M.A., and agreed to.

WAKEFIELD.
A meeting of the opponents of the Irish Church Bill,
the second of the series now being organised in the West
Biding under the auspices of the Yorksh:re Church Insti-
tution, has also been held at Wakefield. Mr. Sanderson,
the Conservative candidate for the borough at the late
election, presided, and speeches were delivered by Pro-
fessor Foley, from Ireland ; Alderman Shaw—who had
previously been a strong Liberal, but whn, on this question,
differs from his party--two working men, and others. The
following resolutions were passed, amid great enthusiasm
:
That this meeting regards the Government bill now
before Parliament for the disestablishing and plundering
the Church in Ireland as wrong in principle and in policy,
arid as an attack against the basis upon which the rights
of property are established." " That petitions be promoted
to the HOuse of Lords to reject the bill, and so thereby to
protect the religion of the country and the rights of property,
and defend the Queen from being asked to violate her
Coronation Oath."

The rejoicings at Carnarvon in honour of young
Mr. Asheton Smith's majority have been marred by two
fatal accidents. During the illuminations at Vetenol, a pair
of horses attached to a gentleman's carriage while passing
through the town became restive and one of them fell on tLe
postilion, causing his instant death. Again at Gaerwen
some workmen, anxious to show a good feeling towards
their young master, were engaged in firing off a gun, as an
attempt at a feu de joie, when it exploded, killing a man.
Other accidents are also stated to have taken place in the
past week.

Two NEW MEMBERS OF -TUB REFORM CLUB.—
After the arduous struggle for Reform had terminated in
the great victory of 1832 (the Daily News remarks), it was
felt that the increase of social intercourse among Reformers
would tend to strengthen and sustain the principles of true
Liberalism. With a view to bring about this result the
Reform Club was founded. It has become the rule for
active members of the Liberal party to seek enrol-
ment in its ranks. For some years, however, the
leader of the Reformers has not been a member of the
Reform Club. This anomaly is now a thing of the
past. In a way most flattering to Mr. Gladstone and
honourable to the Club, he has been elected under a rule
specially passed to provide for cases in which unusual
personal merit or valuable party services might be fitly
recognised and rewarded. Two members only can be
admitted annually in accordance with this nee. The
second person selected for the honour is Earl Granville, a
Minister to whom the compliment is deservedly paid. Py
the Liberal party throughout the country the action of the
Reform Club in this matter will assuredly be noted with
unalloyed ph astu e.
• AN " ENOCH ARDEN" CASE AT. GLASCOW.—III
the year 1864 a painter Lelong:ng to Fcrt-Glasgow left
that town and j the American army: From time to
time, for twelve months thereafter, word was regularly
received from him, the last wed being that he was pits
moted to be a sergeant in the Union army. About two
months after that letter was received another came to his
wife in Port-Glasgow stating :hat her husband, the ser-
geant, was no more, having been shot in one of the battles
in which General Lee was the opposing commander.
His widow, his father, mother, brothers, and sisters
mourned for him as dead, and donned the usual habili
ments for twelve months. After that his supposed widow
was married, and with her second husband lived happy
till Friday night, when her former husband arrived at
-.Port-Glasgow, all alive, and in excellent health. The
wife refuses to leave her second spouse, while the first
threatens to take legal proceedings to compel her to share
his bed and board. Ilowlhe matter may end it is prema
ture to conjecture. Meanwhile, the gossips of Port
Glasgow are busy discussing the matter. The first pus
band was in Greenock on Monday, consulting a legal
gentleman m to the course he cught to pursue,