The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-05-31 00:00:00

THE TWENTY-NINTH OF MAY.

On Wednesday last (the 29th of May), the anniversary of
the restoration of King Charles 11. to the throne of these
realms, was celebrated in a spirit of great loyalty and enthu-
siasm by that numerous body, the shipwrights of this port,
the apprentices to the trade, and the rope-makers. At an
early hour in the morning flags were displayed on the steeples
of the churches belonging to the establishment, and from the
windows and tops of many houses throughout the town.
The shipping also displayed their flags, and the streets, which
were unusually crowded, presented the bustling and gay
appearance of a general holiday. The weather was remark-
ably fine and sunny, and this, together with the curiosity
excited amongst young and old to see the intended proc_ission,
drew into the principal thoroughfares through which it was
to pass, thousands of the inhabitants, as well as no incon-
siderable number of strangers from the country.
The members of the shipwrights' society and the ropers
mustered at Williamson-square, and there, for the first time,
having unfurled a rich and beautiful new standard of Eng-
land, amidst the loudest applause from the by-standers, they
proceeded to attend divine service at St. Paul's church—the
route taken being by Whitechapel, Byrom-street, Crosshall-
street, Vauxhall-road, Earle-street, &c. &c. —where the
prayers, with the form of thanksgiving for the restoration of
the royal family, were most impressively read by the Rev.
Mr. McGill. An appropriate anthem, selected for the occa-
sion, was effectively sung by the whole strength of the choir.
THE SERMON
was preached by the Rev. Mr. Stafford, who selected for his
text the 21st verse of the 24th chapter of Proverbs—" Meddle
not with those that are given to change."—The rev. gentle-
man commenced by observing, that at no period of the
church's history did she stand in greater danger than the
present moment. Her day of trouble was at hand •, for our
eyes were shocked, and our ears continually insulted, whilst
the clergy and laity were scoffed at by the profane and the
infidel, whose dark designs were no longer concealed, but
whose watch-word and war-cry was " the overturn of the
church of England." But, continued he, we need not des-
pair; we may yet bid defiance to their taunts and revilings,
for our holy church is founded on a rock, and neither the
gates of hell nor the powers of darkness shall ever prevail
against it. We had more to fear from the carelessness and
negligence of those within, than the invading foe from
without.

In addressing so vast an assembly as the present, the
rev. preacher said that he should not be discharging his duty
as a minister of our holy and venerable church, did he not
warn them in the emphatic words of his text, to " meddle
not with those who are given to change." He would address
them as citizens, as fathers, and as members of the church
establishment, and warn them against the specious philosophy
of a large body of nominal christians, but who were in fact
chiefly composed of socinians and infidels. These contended
that the union of church and state was an unhallowed alli-
ance. There was a class of men, too, who set themselves up
for itinerant preachers, and called themselves anibassahrs
of Christ, who boldly asserted that the church of England
should possess no such order as that of bishbps— Twelve
hundred years ago was the church founded by the apostles,
and it was from St. Paul himself that the bishops derived
their authority to °Hain a succession of ministers for the
holy office. For himself he would as soon believe that Christ
was not the head of the church, as that he did not leave full
authority to his apostles to appoint a succession of bishops
and priests to administer to the spiritual state of those whom
He came to save.—With regard to the union of church and
state, the rev. gentleman maintained, that if for a moment
they were to be dissevered, nothing but anarchy and confu-
sion would be the consequence. " Look at our mountain
villages— pull down the parish churches, and the result
would be the population would revert to perfect heathenism."
They would indeed possess " no pleasing hope, no fond
desire, no longing after immortality." Tne time was now
arrived for the clergy of the church establishment to speak
out ; he would therefore call on all who heard him to cherish
an attachment to the church and religion of their forefathers.
It was not in the learning or eloquence of her ministers that
she stood pre-eminent, but it was that the establishment was
the focus of true religion. Our fears were not for the church
but for the state : wicked and designing men might plot
against it, and involve the kingdom in all the horrors of
bloodshed and civil war, but the church would reign trium-
phant, and stand the test of ages. The rev. gentleman then
went on to say, that out of fourteen millions of inhabitants,
there were only three millions and a half who dissented, so
that the great bulk of the population still adhered to the
religion of their forefathers.
Every faithful minister of the gospel, like St. Paul, was
determined to know nothing save Jesus Christ and him cru-
cified. But, said the reverend gentlemen, he might venture
to address a few observations to them in their character of
citizens and electors. What we were contending for was a
national church, free from Popery. In this great crisis of
our struggle would they give their support to any individuals
who would not in return give their whole support to their
venerable church and the revered institutions of the land ? or
to those who would support a system of education not based
on the word of God, or attempt to draw from the ministers of
the gospel the control of superintending the education of the
young members of the church, so that they might be trained
up in the fear and nurture of the Lord ? The rev. preacher
would implore them to turn a deaf ear to the random preach-
ings of itinerant missionaries, whose only desire was a change
of theology. Did time permit he might touch upon the topics
of national education, of the state of the poor, and last but
not least of the profligate state of the press. Bet he did sin-
cerely hope that the vast assembly who now-heard him would,
when the time arrived, be prepared to understand their pri-
vileges and to assert them fearlessly, and as masters of fami-
lies oppose those who were inimical to their institutions;
to become united and firm ; to make a hold front ; and to meet
with determination the enemies of their church : and to their
exertions he trusted they would add their prayers, and in the
beautiful and sublime language of our church ritual which
had that day been read to them, pray that God in his infinite
mercy " would be pleased to direct and prosper all their con-
sultations to the advancement of His glory, the good of His
church, the safety, honour, and welfare of our Sovereign and
her dominions ; so that peace and happiness, truth and jus-
tice, religion and piety may be established among us for
all generations.
The rev. gentleman concluded his discourse by an eloquent
and powerful appeal to his auditors on behalf of the funds of
the Bluecoat Hospital, in which he reminded them that the
children in that establishment received a truly religious edu-
cation—that it was an orphan school, many of whom only a
few short months since, had been led by a father's hand, or
pillowed upon a mother's breast, who had received the morn-
ing's admonition and the evening's blessing, but who had
now been deprived of their natural protectors. Many of
them too were young and helpless females, who had an ad-
ditional claim upon their benevolence and sympathy.
A liberal contribution was then made in behalf of the
school, and the services of the day concluded a little before
two o'clock.

At the conclusion of the service, they formed in order
of procession, with bands playing and colours flying, and
moved at a pace considerably retarded by the immense
crowd of spectators on each side, along Edmund-street,
Rigby-street, Oldhall-street, down Exchange-street East,
thence up High-street, and round Nelson's monument,
entering Castle-street from Exchange-street West.
Long before the procession carnet up, the area of the Ex-
change, and all the adjacent streets through which it was to
pass, became crowded with spectators including an apparent
numerical preponderance of females. The turn-out appeared
to be general, and comprised persons of every grade and oc-
cupation in life, from the highest to the humblest. The
windows were also crowded; and in Castle-street not a few
took their stations on the tops of the houses. A rumour had
gone abroad that a fight had taken place in St. Paul's-squaw,
and had resulted in serious injury to some of the Fillies
but it appears that no disturbance of the peace took place
beyond a slight contention between two or three boys, which
was soon suppressed.

The appearance of the procession as it entered the area of
the Exchange, or afterwards extended along any of the prin-
cipal streets, where it could he seen to.advantage, was im-
posing, and considered as composed of a useful body of
workmen, highly respectable. It was preceded by a consi-
derable body of men and boys, of rough exterior, and some-
what noisy demeanour, but the presence of a small body of
police behind them, kept them in check, if, indeed, they con-
templated any disturbance of the proceeding.
The procession was headed by the Royal Standard, before
noticed, a beaut.ful, and very large flag, supported by four
poles. This flag, with the arms of En :land well executed
upon it, was of silk, appeared to be, at least, twelve or four-
teen feet square, and was bordered with yellow. Motto—
" God save the Queen, and our country." Below was in-
scribed " Success to the Shipwrights." A military band in
martial attire followed, and five other bands were interspersed
at various points in the procession, and played appropriate
tunes, amongst which the most prevalent was " Rule Bri-
tannia," " See the Conquering Hero," &c. A great number
of other tine flags and banners were also exhibited, including
several Royal Standards, British Ensigns, and Union Jacks.
One large flag, fringed with red, represented " Charles 11.
mounting the Oak-tree," was much admired. Another con-
tained the Liverpool Arms, and all bore suitable and various
devices. We also observed the handsome flag of Lime-street
Ward, belonging to the Conservative Association, and several
minor flags, that had been used at the elections. In the pro-
cession were also carried some very handsome and appropriate
models of vessels, including one of a frigate on the ways,
ready for launching, about five or six feet in length. This
was carried on a stage or platform, by boys. There was also
a fine model of a steam-ship, and a number of smaller ships,
brigs, cutters, steamers, &c., mounted on poles.
The number of shipwrights who walked was about eight
hundred, of apprentices about five hundred,—besides from
two hundred and fifty to three hundred rope-makers, whose
flags were surmounted by specimens of hemp, models of
spinning apparatus, &c., emblematic of their trade. Sonic
of the carpenters also carried axes, having the formidable
appearance of metal, but were only of wood, the blades
painted in imitation of steel.
The appearance of the men was exceedingly respectable.
All of them were well dressed, and the greater part wore
long coats and white trowsers. They had rosettes appended
by blue or party-coloured ribbon from the neck, and many
of them had gilded sprigs of oak and acorns in their breasts,
and artificial roses, tl/4.c. The apprentices also looked well.
They wore round blue. jackets -and. white trowsers. The
rope-makers were equally well attired ; and the whole pro-
cession was highly creditable to those who composed it, and
was quite orderly thrgughout. It marched along Castle-
street, down Lord-street, up Church-street, Bold-street and
Leece-street to Rodney-street; then along the usual line of
streets in the upper part of the town, from Ricmond-row to
St. Anne's-street and Sootland-place,—and, finally, along
Byrom-street to the place of starting (Williamson-square,)
whence they dispersed' to' their, several 'club-rooms, where
they passed the remainder of the day in a convivial and agree.
able manner. The whole of the streets through which they.
passed were-densely crowded at each side by spectators.
Not the slightest accident occurred to mar the festivities Of
the day.