The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-02-26 00:00:00

OPERATIVE CONSERVATIVE MEETING.

Last night, a meeting of the Operative Conservative Asso-
ciation was held at the school-room, Hackin's-hey, for the
purpose of considering the propriety of adopting a petition
to the Common Council, praying that that body, in erecting
the additional schools they have in contemplation, would
make the same available for the scriptural class of the opera-
tive population.
The attendance was numerous, and most attentive to a
series of eloquent addresses by the movers and seconders of
the several resolutions. The Rev. Mr. James presided, and
aft,

:er an impressive prayer, introduced the object of the
meeting in an appropriate manner—shewing, in particular,
the evils of Popery to be two-fold, namely, civil encroach-
ment and spiritual tyranny ; inculcating at once disaffection
to the institutions of the country and a disregard of that
sole guide to salvation, the Scriptures. He was followed by
Mr. M'lver, in a long and eloquent address, in which he
showed, by an appeal to the best authenticated histories, and
to the Scriptures themselves, that Popery, so far from being
the most ancient religion, was an innovation—idolatrous and
absurd •, and its rejection, in the fourth century, when at-
tempted to be introduced into Rome. He condemned in
strong terms the withholding of the Bible from the corpo-
ration schools, and moved,—
" That this meeting calmly convinced that Popery is a
novelty ; that its direct tendency is to dishonour God and
degrade his creatures here, and plunge them in hopeless sin
hereafter ; and sincerely anxious to deliver and preserve all
men from such cruel bondage, desires to express its determi-
nation not only to oppose the further introduction of it in
any shape into England, but to exert with all their might all
fair Protestant means to drive it in every shape from her
Majesty's dominions, and from all the world."
Mr. WILLIAMS seconded the resolution in an animated
address, in which he also dwelt on the evils of popery. He
was followed by Mr. LEATE, who concluded an appeal in
behalf of the Church, by moving—
" That this meeting, whilst it endeavours to stem the en-
croachments which Popery is now making, cannot but regret
the present spiritual destitution of many parts of this town,
especially among the working classes, and earnestly invites
the members of this association to use their utmost endea-
vours to extend to their fellow creatures the glad tidings of
the Gospel of Christ."
This was ably seconded by Mr. RATCLIFFE, who was suc-
ceeded by Mr. CRISP, who, after an animated speech in
favour of Protestantism, moved the third resolution ; viz.—
" That this meeting being of opinion that the system of
education which is now carried on under the patronage of
the leading men in the Town Council of Liverpool, is not
only unscriptural, but also calculated to bias the minds of the
children under its influence to scepticism and infidelity, do
think it their duty to discountenance and to protest to the
utmost of their might, against such ungodly proceedings, not
only in this town, but through the whole of this land:
The resolutions were unanimously carried, as was the fol-
lowing

" EDUCATION PETITION

" The respectful 11d-earnest petition of the undersigned
operatives of Liverpool, to the worshipful the Town Council;—
"Humbly sheweth,
" That your petitioners are anxious, beyond their power
of expression, upon the subject of the education of their chil-
dren.
" Unable, from their limited means, to send their children
to expensive schools, they have gratefully availed themselves
of the schools supported by the Corporation and others,
where they were not required to make large payments.
" Three years ago, they were conscientiously compelled to
withdraw their children from the Corporation Schools, in
consequence of the new system introduced there.
" Your petitioners do not presume to argue the great
question of the change of system. They merely state the
fact as to their own conviction, of what their duty is as
Christian parents. They would not have their children in
schools from the regular business of which the readings and
explainings of the holy Bible were excluded.
All that time they found refuge in the new Church of
England schools. But these schools are now filled to excess,
and your petitioners have heard with dismay that your wor-
shipful body intend to build additional schools, from the
benefit of which their children must be excluded.
" Your petitioners respectfully suggest, independent of the
higher considerations of Revealed Truth, that if there be two
classes in the operative population of the town,—one class
who feel themselves excluded fromiScriptural schools, and
another who feel themselves excluded from non-Scriptural
schools,—it would be but common fairness in your worship-
ful body to provide impartially for both classes : that your
schools already in operation are sufficient for the non-Scrip -
tural class ; and, therefore, your petitioners pray that the
additional schools now contemplated may be made available
for the Scriptural class."
The CHAIRMAN closed the meeting, which was enthu-
siastic throughout, by a very suitable address, which was fol-
lowed by a hymn.
Numerous signatures were obtained to the petition in the
room, and arrangements are made for further signatures in
various parts of the town during the present and next week.