The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-04-12 00:00:00

to read and write, and who receive no religious education
nor any kind of instruction that would tend to reform their
hearts and minds. He would read another portion of the
review, lest some should go away, and say that the speaker
had made out the very contrary of,
what he wished to prove,
namely, the advantages of education. They would say that
he had succeeded in showing that education, so far from di-
minishing, had increased crime. The writer, who is indefa-
tigable in his inquiries, observes, that one thing is very curi-
ous with respect to the bent of mind of those who have been
taught to read. He examined lately the theories of those
who argued that if the people were taught to read, they would
betake themselves to the study of the works of such writers
as Bacon, Locke, &c., and thus compensate for the excesses
that others of the same class in life would be guilty of. .But
on searehing the libraries they were in the habit of using, so
far from finding in them valuable and useful works, capable
of elevating the mind and improving the heart, nothing was
to be seen on the shelves of it but the fashionable novels
and useless trash of the day. The honourable and reve-
rend gentleman then read several extracts from the works of
M. Cousins, which, he said, went to prove the accuracy of
the remark, that " a little knowledge is a dangerous thing."
That writer stated it to be his opinion that there could be no
good popular schools, where Christianity was wanting, and
that it is indispensably necessary to have them superintended
by the clergy, as the high ground of christian duty, and as to
the low ground, of acceding to and giving a proper direction
to the popular demand for education he hoped they had been
convinced, and now acknowledged that all were imperatively
called upon to aid in the promotion of this nationatsystem.
The next:clause of the resolution was, that education ought
to be in connection with the Established Church. He be-
lieved it was not necessary to tell them that to a church'
which had descended to them pure from the Apostles;-the
education of the people was particularly entrusted, and he
would therefore pass over this point, as none amongst them,
he was sure, would dispute it, and would proceed to consider
another portion of the resolutions which referred-to. the ne-
cessity that existed of meeting the pressing wants of the
working and middle classes on the subject of religious educa-
cation. Need he do more than allude to the extreme wants
or the middle and working classes on this subject, which all
must admit. By the middle ciasses he meant trades=people;
farmers, and others, who, he would admit, had been
hitherto neglected by the church, until theit education
had been altogether severed from any communion with
the church. As he had already mentioned, the rich have
their schools in connection with the church—they have their
Eaton, their Harrow, their Winchester, their Rugby, and
the Universities also, in which the connection is superin-
tended by the clergy of the Established Church,—the poor,
also, have their endowed schools, their national schools, and
other institutions, which are supported by the bounty of the
rich, and are under the guidance of christian pastors ; but
the middle classes have been left to themselves, and'they,
(the clergy) had also deserted them. This was_ a great mis-
take, and the result of it, he regretted to say, was most la-
mentable. If any of these were present, let them not think
the clergy were, lukewarm' With regard to them : it was .not
because they did not feel an interest in what concerned the
well-being of the middle casses they did not come forward ;
far from it—no men could have a more lively interest in the
subject than the clergy—this nation was called by foreigners,
a nation of shopkeepers, and for himself, he was delighted at
the great influence they enjoyed; but in reference to the
question of education, he thought he could explain satisfac-
torily the reason why the middle classes and the clergy of
the Established Church had not heretofore co-operated.
He believed that the middle ciasses looked upon the schools
for the education of youth, in the principles of the Church
of England, as eleemosynary establishnmedts, and that the
clergy interfered merely with a view to get the education of the
of the people into their hands. This was a mistake practi-
cally and theoretically. The hon. and rev. gentleman then
related a circumstance that came to his knowledge while in
Edinburgh. He stated that the children of the most influ-
ential and respectable people in Scotland were called upon by
the clergymen from the pulpit, regulary every Sabbath, after
divine service, to remain to receive instruction in the prin-
ciples of the Christian religion, and he trusted that ere long
the same system would be adopted in the country, for the
advantages to be derived from thus catechizing the youth of
the country would be incalculable to them in after life, when,
buffetted by the atheist, the Deist, or the infidel, they will
be able to give a reason " for the hope that is in them." As
to the working classes; was it not lamentable to contemplate
the defective state of their education—for instance, look at
the deplorable state of the country at the present moment,
in the manufacturing districts—all were in a state of alarm—
there was apprehension of great disturbance—secret societies
it is said exist, the people are arming themselves with pikes ;
and it is admitted, that unless a stop be put to this state of
things, it will inevitably lead to a convulsion. Were the
people to be blamed ? No, they are ignorant of their
Christian duties, and are in consequence preyed upon
by clever, insidious demagogues. How were they to op-
pose the machinations of these demagogues. They could
not, of course, become chartists—(laughter)—but they could
arm themselves ; and they would do so in the spirit of Chris-
tian faith and with Christian weapons. And if the poor man
were properly instructed—if he was told that he was bound
to submit to the ordinances of man because they are the or-
dinances of. God—that all rulers are appointed from God,
and those who oppose thenr are evil doers, if they were so
taught they would submit to the ordinances of man, con-
vinced of the truth of that awful declaration—" that he who
resists the ordinances of man resists the ordinances of God,
and will receive damnation." Having dwelt thus far on the
general subject of education, and stated sufficient reasons-for
the adoption of the first part of the resolution, he would now.
assume his character of official secretary, and proceed to give
the details of the scheme of diocesan education, which they
were met to confirm. The hon. and rev. gentleman then pro-
ceeded to lay before the meeting the plan, as frequently ex-
plained by him and repeated at length in this paper-on former
occasions. He concluded by proposing the resolution.
The Rev. Mr. PALEY seconded the resolution, and pur-
sued the same line of argument as the rev. gentleman who
preceded him.

The resolution was then unanimously adopted.
The Rev. Mr. HORNBY proposed the second resolution.—
He said, he was forestalled in his sentiments by his reverend
friend, (Mr. Powys,) as to the loss of a faithful servant of
Christ, who had done much amongst them in .the cause of
education. In those sentiment of his friend, he cordially
joined, for he recollected, that while he laboured as an
assistant hi his (Mr. H.'s) parish, he produced great benefits,
the fruits of which were still experienced. He then con-
gratulated the rev. chairman on his appearance amongst them,
and said that he uttered these sentiments with sincerity. He
then proceeded to consider the resolution entrusted to him.
It was as follows :

" That this meeting approves of the establishment of dio-
cesan and deanery boards of education in union with the
National Society, and views with much satisfaction the sim-
ple and comprehensive terms of that union,. viz.: „
" 1. Adoption of the authorised formularies of the church.
" 2. Reception of the diocesan inspectors.
" 3. Clerical superintendence.
" 4. An engagement to make regular statistic returns."
That resolution was obviously a resolution that pledged the
meeting to support a system of combined unity from the high-
est to the lowest rank in the county, in the furtherance of j
this plan of education—a system that ranges from the high-
est dignitaries of the church, through the deanery boards,
down to the humblest of the clergy of the country. These
schools are tolbe submitted to the clerical snptrintendence of
the'parish—they are to be visited by inspectors who will be care-
fully appointed, whose interest and duty it will be to perform
what is assigned to them properly, and to give satisfaction to the
public. The terms ofthe resolution are simple and complete—
and it sets forththat this experiment will be conducted by the
heads, and under the superintendence of a church that is
justly called Catholic—it requires the observance of unity, in
essentials, of uniformity in prescribed circumstantials, and
of liberty in all things harmonising with essentials, and not
opposed to• prescribed circumstantials. The terms are en-
larged,
complete, definite; strict, but liberal (cheers.) The
rev. gent. gave an eloquent eulogium on the constitution, and
and discipline of the !Church of England, and vindicated
her titles to Catholicity and Apostolicity, in opposition to
the Romish Church, that, without any foundation, arrogated
to herself these distinctive characteristics of the true Church
of Christ. The Church of England was equally re-
moved from the Church of Rome, and from the Pro-
testant families that have successively separated from her.
The Church of Rome is more than Catholic, while Pro-
testantism on the Continent is less than Catholic. He
formerly adds the modern corruptions of Popery—the
latter has dropped adherence to the (concurrent voice of
church authority, episcopcl ordination, and apostolic succes-
sion. The Church of England retains all three. The rev,
gentleman then read a long extract from a work published in
1816, which denounced in vehement language the conduct of
the House of Commons towards the Established Church,
and said that his friend who would succeed him, would speak
to those parts of the resolution that he omitted to comment

The Rev. THOMAS BAYNE seconded the resolution, and
it was carried unanimously.
The Rev. ROGER CARUS WILSON moved, and the Rev.
AUGUSTUS CAMPBELL seconded the next resolution.

JOIIN LORD, Esq. moved, and THOS. WooocooK, Esq.
seconded, the next resolution.

Thanks were then Toted to the chairman, and the meeting
separated.

HALF-YEARLY MEETING OF THE CHESTER AND
BIRKENHEAD RAILWAY COMPANY.

On Wednesday last the half-yearly meeting of the share-
holders in this company was held at the Clarendon-rooms,
at one o'clock. W. Dixon, Esq., the chairman of the direc-
tors, in the chair.

The CHAIRMAN, in calling upon the Secretary to read the
reports, congratulated the shareholders on the promptitude
with which the respective calls had been met. Unless this
had been the case,. the works could not have proceeded so
satisfactorily as they had done.
The SECRETARY then proceeded to read the following
REPORT.

The directors have, on this occasion, little else to report
than that the works, after having experienced some delay
from the contractors for the Morton portion of the line, are
now proceeding with vigour. ,
The joint report of Mr. Stephenson and Mr. Dixon is
appended to this report, and will disclose the .state of the
works in detail.
In the financial department the directors can only congra-'
tulate the subscribers on the promptitude with which the
calls have been answered, as it not only affords the means
•of accelerating the completion of the works, but strengthens
public confidence in the stability of the undertaking.
The directors refer to the annexed accounts, as exhibiting
the total receipts and payments of the company from the':
commencement to the twenty-eighth of February last. ••
Pursuant to the
_powers conferred upon the directors' byt
the last general meeting, satisfactory arrangements havebeenz:
entered into to place the Woodside Ferry under the control
of this company.
It may not be known to the main body of proprietors, that.
a line has been surveyed, and plans deposited, and parlia
mentary notices given, for constructing a railway between',
Ruabon and Chester ; a line which, from the general support
it has received on the part of the landowners, and from its
vast importance to the coal and iron districts of Wales, in
establishing a communication with Liverpool, is sure to be
, sanctioned by parliament. As it is intended to form a junc-
tion with the Chester and Birkenhead Railway at Chester,
the resulting advantages are too obvious to demand any
further comment.

The directors, anticipating that the business of the board
may be much increased as the period of opening the line
draws nigh, beg to suggest that the number of directors be
now increased to eleven—a number allowed by the act of
parliament. Nine were before chosen, of whom one re-
spectable gentleman, William Cross, Esq., of Chester, has
resigned. Two directors, Mr. Wm. Wardell, of Chester,
and Mr. Hamilton, of Liverpool, are, by ballot, the retiring
directors of the present year.
The retiring directors are eligible for re-election ; but in-
dependently of the two annual vacancies being so supplied,
three other directors, if the suggestion now submitted to the
proprietory be approved of, must be elected.
This report, the directors feel, ought not to conclude with-
out expressing their obligations to Mr. Stephenson, the
engineer, for his attention to the/ interests of the company,
and to Mr. Dixon, the resident engineer, for his indefatigable
zeal and constant watchfulness in the service of the company.
. (Signed) WILLIAM DIXON, Chairman.

The SECRETARY then read the report of the engineers,
showing the progress of the works on the line, which we
subjoin.
.ENGINEERS' REPORT.

To the Directors of the Chester and Birkenhead Railway.
Gentlemen,—ln compliance with your instructions to pre-
hare a report of the works for the half-yearly meeting, we
ave gone over the line, and now beg leave to lay before you
the following statement of work done, and yet to be done,