The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-01-17 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL SCRIPTURE
READERS' SOCIETY.

TIER annual meeting of this society was held on Thurs-
day evening, at the Collegiate Institution. The chair was
occupied by the Lord Bishop of the diocese. Amongst
other gentlemen on the platform were=the Revs. A.
Campbell, W. Pollock, J. Bardsley, H. Carpenter, H.
Jones, T. C. Cowan, H. Marlen, J. B. Lowe, G. Read, J.
Hassall, J. Evans, J. Lea, Hughes, J. Robinson, W.
Maynard, Hodgson, J. R. Conor, Vernon, J. Paine ;
Messrs. T. B. Horsfall, M.P., A. Hodson, C. Glazebrook,
T. D. Anderson, E. Jones, C. Gregson, E. Higgin, T.
Welland, G. Wagstaff.
The proceedings having been commenced with prayer,
The Loan BISHOP said it was a great gratification, not
onlylo himself, bat to his friends around him, to see so
many there to show their goodwill to the Scripture Read-
ers' Society. With respect to the society itself, the estab-
lishment of it had been a source of great gratification to
him on many accounts. An effective staff of scripture
readers was the way, and the only way, by which they
could reach the toiling masses of the poor population,
who never came within the walls of a church. They did
not come to church, and even if they did, there was not
the room to hold them, though, he hoped, in time it would
be otherwise ; and, from the spirit that showed itself in
Liverpool, that there would be more new churches, and
that he would have the satisfaction of seeing those
churches filled with congregations of the poor as well as
the rich : but, in the meantime, it was a great satisfaction
to them to be able to carry the light and comfort of the
Gospel to the doors and dwellings of the poor, to their
own homes, and their own firesides. That related to the
general object and principles of the society ; but there was
also another subject of congratulation connected with it—
he meant the very liberal and prompt support which it
had met from the people of Liverpool generally. He knew
very well they had many other claims upon them, but he
knew also that they responded to every claim freely and
generously, if it could only be proved to them that they
had a good and a strong cause ; and he (the chairman)
thought there could not be a better or a stronger
cause than that. No doubt it was a good thing to
show their Christian sympathy to those at a distance,
and to those to whom they were strangers—to the poor
emigrant, who was leaving oar shores to work his way in
a distant land, or to provide for the heathen spread over
all the dark corners of the earth. All those were good
things ; but it was surely also a good thing to show their
Christian sympathy to those nearer home, those living
alongside of them, and who were employed in their ser-
vice ; those by whose labour not only the general prosperity
of the town had been enlarged, but the private fortunes
of individuals amassed. Surely they must be considered
to have a very close claim on their Christian sympathy.
His lordship then referred to a statement which had been
put into his hand by the excellent superintendent of the
society, the Rev. Mr. Bardsley, from which it appeared
that the number of readers, which last year, was seventeen,
had been augmented to twenty-four. (Hear, hear.) There
were at that time 870 subscribers, and these had been
increased to I,oso—(applause)—an increase of 180; of these
250 were new subscribers. He hoped to see year by year
its numbers increasing as public confidence increased in
the management and superintendence of the society. The
income of the society from all sources for the Last year
would be about £1,900, which would have been more agree-
able had it been made into round numbers, and come up
to £2,000. (Applause.) He had mentioned two subjects,
and there was a third which had given him great satisfac-
tion—that was the cordiality and harmony which existed
amongst the committee of the society, and he hoped they
would continue to work well together. He congratulated
them also on the success which had attended the efforts of
the readers in the work in which they had been engaged.
The Lord Bishop then spoke of many of the tried friends
of the cause in Liverpool, and alluded to the absence of the
venerable , Archdeacon Brooks, who was prevented from
attending owing to the severity of the weather. He also
referred to the Rev. Dr. M`Neile, who was absent in con-
sequence of a domestic affliction.
The Rev. WILLIAM POLLOCK then read the report.
It referred, in the first instance, to the success which
had attended the society in the object for which it
was established, and the benefits which it had been
the means of disseminating amongst the working classes
of the population. There had been a large increase
in the funds, by which the operations of the society were
extended more widely than they had hitherto been. The
annual income was augmented about £3OO, and the total
receipts including subscriptions, church collections, &e.,
amounted to about £1,525, besides which there was a
balance of five hundred pounds in the bank. An objection
had been taken to the name of ward meetings, and in con-
sequence the committee decided upon adopting some other
mode of making known the objects of the society. They
were more deeply impressed than ever with the importance
of the Scripture Readers' Society, and cordially recom-
mended it to the support and sympathy of their fellow-
townsmen. The teachers did not trench on the work
of the clergy, but did all in their power to assist them.
The number of visits paid during the year was 77,633,
besides which meetings were held, and sermons had also
been preached in connexion with the other proceedings.
Some of the readers had been engaged in learning the
Irish language, in order that they may the more effectu-
ally assist in giving instruction to the Irish population, of
which there is such a large class ii this town.
The Rev. Rector CAMPBELL, in moving the adoption
of the report, had the pleasure to announce a donation of
£2O from the late Sir John Gladstone, through his
executors. (Applause). The purpose of the Scripture
Readers' Society is to help the clergy with the conscien-
tious and devoted assiduity of men willing to undertake
a moral guardianship over the poor, and ply them with
such attentions of Christian kindness as may be effectual
for humanising a semi-barbarous, because neglected, po-
pulation ; and it is a purpose deserving the co-operation
of every one who professes Christianity or professes
philanthropy. If we really believe in Christ, let us do
what Christ commands. Let us not be content to clothe
ourselves in purple and fine linen, and fare sumptuously
every day, and call ourselves his disciples, while we re-
fuse to contribute to one great object of his mission—the
preaching of the Gospel to the poor. In pressing, however,
the claims of the society, I am met with two objections,
which I feel bound to answer, in vindication of the society
and of my own consistency. It is said we are meddling
with politics, and are carrying on an unchristian warfare
against the religion of our Roman Catholic brethren.
Now, if either of these accusations is true, I should not
wish to see your lordship in that chair; and, with respect
to the first, that we are meddling with politics, I say
distinctly, that if they who made the charge will prove it,
I for one will renounce all connexion with the society.
(Cheers). When I talk of proof, I mean, of coarse, not
vague assertion or doubtful disputation, but bond fide
proof, such as ought to satisfy a reasonable mind. But
in the absence of proof I utterly discredit the charge, and
believe that it has originated in the fact of our having
used the boundaries of the municipal wards as an
area, and the machinery of the municipal wards as
an instrument, for the collection of subscriptions. 'With
regard to the other accusation, that we, as a society
(of course I cannot answer for the independent seperate
action of its individual members,) are carrying on an Un-
christian warfare against the religion of our Roman Ca-
tholic brethren, I say the same. If in our controversy
with the Church of Rome we are exceeding the limits of
Christian duty or Christian charity, I will have nothing
to do with it. It is a course of action I never have sanc-
tioned, and never will sanction. AsProtestants we claim
entire liberty of conscience ; andthe same liberty we claim
for ourselves we must concede to others. We must not
persecute by sword or pen, by fire or faggot, or words
which are as drawn swords, making the tongue an unruly
evil, full of deadly poison. But here lam obliged to stop
I abjure unchristian warfare of every desceiption, but we
must defend the truth. (Cheers.) Our controversey is
with error of every kind, and we cannot omit Romish
error. (Applause.) I cannot say of the Romish contra
versy as I said of politics, that we are not to meddle with
it at all. (Applause.) We can no more ignore the Romish
controversy than we can ignore the north-east wind when
it blows in our faces, or a man who meets us in the street
and tries to knock us down, (Laughter and cheers.) As
a minister of that great peace society—that evangelical al-
liance—called the Catholic Church, I am as unwilling as
I am unfit to engage in offensive warfare of any kind.
Self-defence is called a law of nature, and the defence of
our faith ought to be as dear to us as that of our honour
or our lives. As loyal subjects, as Christian men, and
Christian ministers, we must protest ; we cannot, in honour
and conscience, fail openly to protest against what the
greatest liberal statesman of the day has called an act of
" insolent and insidious aggression." Still, however, we
are bound to do this in a Christian spirit, and in Christian
language, civilly and courteously, though without com-
promise, but still without betraying the sacred cause
which we are sworn to defend. The Bishop of Rome,
usurping the prerogative of our sovereign, has conferred
territorial titles upon his subjects. The chief of those
subjects, decorated also with a foreign title, has declared
to the world, in his famous pastoral, issued from the
Flaminian gate at Rome, that this great Christian nation
had had no national Christianity for nearly 300 years,
till he, forsooth, was made Archbishop of Westminster,
and the nation thereby restored, like a wandering planet,
to its orbit round the sun of righteousness, the Pope of
Rome. Now, however peaceably inclined, I really cannot
stand this : I connot quite hold my tongue under this un-
christian imputation. I cannot refuse to go so far with
my highly talented and warlike friend, Dr. M`Neile—
(Cheers)—as to tell this Roman dignitary, quite civilly,
but still resolutely, that although we cannot presume to
compete with him in his eminence as a foreign prince—
and, indeed, would not compete with him upon condition
of swearing allegiance to a foreign sovereign ;—yet that we
are quite as good priests of the Catholic Church as
he is. We need not tell him, as he tells us, that
he is out of the pale of salvation, and must be
damned, but will tell him that our priests' orders are as
valid as his ; that whatever virtue there may be hi the
apostolical succession (I am not going to define what
that virtue is, but I suspect that my opinion on that sub-
ject, when properly understood, might probably be found
to be not very different from Dr. M`Neile's) ; that what-
ever its virtue may be, we have it to the full in as plenary
a manner as he or any priest of the church of Rome ; and
that, in addition to the apostolical succession of episcopal
orders, we have what he has not—the succession of apos-
tolical doctrine, which is a much better thing. The society
is put upon its trial, and I am bound, for your satisfaction,
to demand the counts of the indictment, and to ascertain
what is the head and front of its offending. Have those
of our scripture readers whose attention is specially
directed to the subject trespassed beyond the bounds of
Christian prudence or Christian duty in their dealings
with our Roman Catholic brethren ? If they have, they
have done so in direct contradiction to express orders ;
and I disbelieve their having done it. With regard to the
inquiring classes, referred to in the report, which are held
twice a week in the north and south ends of the town,
the conduct of them is entrusted—l may almost say re-
stricted—to the caution of our clerical auperintendent,
a man high, and justly high, in our confidence for discre-
tion. He assures me that their proceedings are conducted
with the most perfect decorum and propriety, and that
they are, as their name imports, strictly inquiring classes
for the instruction of those who voluntarily seek for in-
struction upon all points, including the points of difference
between the Church of England and the Church of Rome.
(Hear.) If this is an offence, why we must plead guilty;
but then I do not see how we can avoid committing it
without being faithless to our ordination vows. Dr.
Wiseman has invited us to a solemn controversy. He
said, " Let it be a fair contention between us, with theo-

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 1854.

logical weapons and fair arguments." He challenged ng
to meet him in the slums of the great towns,—we know'
what he means—" nests of ignorance, vice, depravity, and
crime, whose atmosphere is typhus and ventilation it
cholera." And here it is the purpose of our society to
meet his adherents " with the Word of God," and try
which is the strongest—the sword of the Spirit or the
wand of tradition. In this Christian warfare, thus carried
on, not against Romanism only, but against every form Of
error, with Christian motives and for Christian ends, we
are entitled, I think, to the sympathy of the whole Pro-
testant community. (Cheers.) The reverend rector sat
down amidst loud' pplause.
Mr. T. B. HOUSFALL, M.P., said it gave him the
greatest pleasure to second the resolution which proposed
the adoption of the report .that had just been read. He
thought he need not explain; as fully as-he might do, the
objects of that society, because their rev. rector had already
stated them in full; but amongst the various societies in, •-•
question there was none which, in his humble opinion,
claimed a more cordial support than the Liverpool Scrip-
ture Readers' Society. They had societies for almost
every object—they had at that moment almost a national
opportunity for Legislative efforts with regard to juvenile
delinquency ; but the Scripture Readers' Society had
marked out a course for itself—(hear, hear) ;—and his •
lordship had well said, in a few words, that the object of
that society was to send to the poorer body of men,
amongst the working population of our town, and to read
to them the Word of God. (Hear, hear.) Amore simple,
a more safe, a more scriptural course, it was impossible
for them to pursue. (Hear, hear.) Their reverend rector
had alluded to the desirability of not introducing politics-
within the province of this society, and with him he en-
tirely concurred. (Hear, hear.) He was glad, howe er,
that the reverend gentleman had introduced to their
notice the head—at least, so far as this country was con-
cerned—the head of the Roman Catholic Church. He
would endeavonr to introduce the worthy cardinal in a
different character to the notice of this meeting, and they
might be enabled to view the objects of the society in
another light, and see that the Scripture Readers' Society
was eminently a Protestant Society. (Applause.) Car-
dinal Wiseman boldly asserted that the views of the
Roman Catholic Church were antagonistic to Protestantism.
Watch with a jealous eye the progress of Romanism—
watch with a jealous eye her grasping power. He believed
an attempt would be made in the ensuing session of par-
liament to endow Romanism in another form ; an attempt
would be made to sanction the payment of the Roman
Catholic chaplains to our gaols and our army ; and unless
the people of England—unless the people of Liverpool—
spoke out, such a measure would be carried ; but he asked
the meeting, in the presence of his lordship, whether they
were desirous that such a measure should he carried for--
ward ? (Loud cries of "No.") He then went on to speak
of the temporal and spiritual destitution of the masses,.
and concluded, amidst loud applause, by urging the meet-
ing to give their hearty support to the society.
Mr. GLA ZEBROOK moved the second resolution, which:
was to the effect that the meeting, recognising the useful-
ness of the society, pledged itself to give it its support.
The Rev. Mr. BARDSLEY, the secretary of the society,
seconded the motion. He detailed at some length the
interesting proceedings of the society during the past
year, and concluded by calling upon the meeting to give
it their continued support. The motion was then put and
carried unanimously. _

Mr. PORTER proposed a vote of thanks to the Bishop
for his kindness in taking the chair.
fr. ANDERSON seconded the motion, which was enthu-
siastically carried, and after his lordship had replied, the
meeting broke up.

BREAD RIOTS IA- DEVONSHIRE.

On Tuesday simila'rdisturbances took place at Tiverton
—represented by Lord Palmerston—where a farmer roused
the fury of the mob by asking a higher price for a sample
of wheat. He was pelted with mud, and otherwise
ill-
treated. From this violence the mob proceeded to commit
other outrages, and Mr. Hole, a magistrate who endea-
voured to calm the populace, was severely injured.
At Bideford, also, in the north of Devon, there was a
riot on Tuesday. It appears that the farmers are in the
habit of offering their corn for sale, by samples, on the
quay; and several of the poor people, believing this had a
tendency to enhance prices, determined, if possible to
prevent it for the future, and make the farmers lodge
their corn in the market for general competition. Accord-
ingly some women, in the middle of the day, assembled,
and proceeded to carry their design into effect by assailing
the farmers. The authorities, however, acted with the
utmost vigour, swore in a number of special constables,
and succeeded in apprehending several of the rioters.
The mob then increased, and assembled on the bridge,
and threatened to liberate their companions, and began to
make hostile demonstrations. The authorities, however,
soon succeeded in dispersing them, and the town is now
quiet.

Os Monday last week, in consequence of the high price
of bread, a general attack was made on the bakers' shops
in the lower part of the city of Exeter. The police being
found insufficient to quell the disturbance, the Mayor pro-
ceeded to the barracks, now occupied by the 3rd Light
Dragoons, for assistance. About a quarter of an hour
afterwards, a detachment of the soldiers rode into the
streets, and were hooted by several of the bystanders. In
the meantime, the rioters had proceeded to St. Thomas,.
a town separated from the city only by a bridge. Here
they had prepared a vast deal of mischief. One baker's
shop was smashed to atoms, the bread being taken away,
and the fixtures destroyed. In one or two instances the
bakers threw out their bread to the mob, who were thus
appeased, and proceeded to other shops. At night they
proceeded to Alphington, a village about a mile from
Exeter, and ransacked the shops of two bakers, carrying
off •the whole of the bread and flour. They then went in
the direction of Exminster, where they did great damage
to the residence of Mr. Trood, a large farmer and corn- '-
grower. The arrival of a troop of the 3d Dragoons,
however, prevented them from further carrying on their
mischievous designs. The most prompt efforts were used, •
and upwards of twenty-five of the foremost of the mob
Were secured and removed by escort to gaol.
The county magistrates assembled at the Castle of
Exeter on Wednesday, when 27 rioters were brought up,
and committed for trial at the assizes. On Wednesday a
man named William Davis was apprehended for having
been mixed up with the rioters ; it was proved, in one
instance, that when a carpenter used his hammer to keep
off the crowd, he threatened, if he did not desist, to use
his knife. This took place in St. Thomas's, and whilst it
was going on a lad ran through the streets exclaiming,.
Let's on to Trood's, and fire the house !"