The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-09-11 00:00:00

MR. TURTON SUPERSEDED.

(From the ow Courier o fhursd ay)
We have this momeGlas g
nt received the follT
owing communica-
tion from a gentleman of this city. It is an extract from a
private letter. The Mr. Thom here spoken of was editor of
the Montreal Herald, a conservative paper, and the uncom-
promising opponent of the late administration of Lord Gos-
ford :

"You will be surprised to learn Mr. Thom has been ap-
pointed in the room of Mr. Turton, who, it is said, proceeds
immediately to England with dispatches of an important na-
ture from Lord Durham. It is confidently affirmed here, that
a very serious misunderstanding has arisen between his lord-
ship and the Home Government. Indeed, it is said that the
Governor-General insists upon Lnrd Melbourne's unqualified
approbation of all his measures, as a sine qua non of his con-
tinuing the government of Canada."

REGISTRATION COURTS.—Frederick Robinson, Esq.,
Spencer Horatio Walpole, Esq., and Robert Wharton, Esq.,
the revising barristers for the southern division of this county,
will hold courts far the purpose of registration and revision
of the lists of county voters, at the following times and places:
Newton, Legh Arms Monday. 17th Sept. 'l'en.
Wigan, Mont Hall Wednesday, 19th „ „
Ormskirk, King's Arms Thursday, 20th „ Eleven
Ashton, Court House Friday 21st
~ 9 •
Bolton, Sessions-room Monday, 24th „ Ten
Bury, Eagle and Child Inn Wednesday,26th „ Eleven
Rochdale, Wellington Hotel —Friday, 28th „ Ten
Oldham, Court House M mday, Ist Oct. „
Manchester Town Hall Tuesday, 24 „ ~
Liverpool, Sessions House Thursday, 4th „ „
It behoves overseers to be in attendance at the hours speci-
fied.

MEETING OF THE CHURCH PASTORAL AID
SOCIETY.

Last evening, a meeting of this society was held at the
Music-Hail, Bold-street, the Reverend Rector Campbell in
the chair. On the platform we observed the Rev. Aiessrs.
Barker, -Buddicom, Lawrence, Jones' Hugh Stowell, of
Manchester, Robert Davies, &c. and the Rev. Hugh Mil\ eile,
who entered the room after the commencement of the meet-
ing, and was loudly, cheered. In -the first instance, about
20dto 300 persons were assembled, chiefly ladies, but as the
meeting proceeded the room rapidly filled, a great proportion
of the late corners being artizans. Altogether, we should
think not less than 800 persons were assembled. The meet-
ing, was opened by the ReY. Mr. Lawrenccuffering up an
appropriate prayer.
The CHAIRMAN then rose. He said, although it would ill
become him, as chairman, to trespass on their attention at
any very great length. Stills perhaps, they would have the
kindness to bear with him for a very short time, while he en-
deavoured to lay before them some reasons which ought to
encourage and, constrain them to give their best support to
the Church Pastoral Aid Society. And for that purpose he
need not do much more than read to the meeting one or two
sentences out of the circular which had been put into his
hands, in which it was said—" The principles of the Society
are few and simple: they are briefly these, that in a Christian-
land a church establishment should adequately provide for
the spiritual instructionof all the people; and that it is pert
of the duty of a christian legislature to furnish the church
with means to this end." This, he hoped, was a truth to
which most of their hearts would tespond ; and he thought
they had great reason to lament that they lived in a time
when this great truth should fail to be acknowledged by a
legislature professing to call itself "Christian." (Hear.)
He thought they had great reason to lament that any differ.
once of opinion whatsoever upon the subject of church dis-
cipline, or unessential church doctrines should lead men's
minds astray from the great truth that it was the incumbent,
the solemn, the religious duty of a christian legislature to
provide its subjects with the means of a religious education,
and the means of worshipping God in the beauty of holiness.
It was deeply to be lamented that because, in funner times,
men fell into the monstrous error of attempting to 'compel
their fellow men to confm m to an Established Church, men
should now tall into the equally IDOUSIrons error, he thought
of saying, there should be no Established Church at all.
(Hear, and applause.) God forbid that any minister of the
gospel should, and he was sure no Protestant minister of the
gospel would, ever be foand to forget the religious principle
of christian toleration if it was honourable, but allow every
man to worship God according to the dictates of his con-
science. (Hear, hear.) But he meant to say, that this
principle of religious toleration was perfectly consistent
with the great and solemn duty of providing for the religious
education of the people, and for the public worship-of Al-
mighty God. But then they must not forget an import-
ant point adverted to in the subjects of the circular, "that if
, he legislature fail in its duty, then, rather than that souls
shoutd perish, Christian men shoula jolt] together to supply
he deficiency and make the church as effective as it is io the
power of ineu io do." - Let them never forget this; never
let them forget their own responsibilities it the legislature
should forget its responsibilities. If tile legislature slotted
tail in its duty that was no reason whatever they should fail
in theirs. They were to work out their own salvation with
tear awl trembling, with the help of Him who has promised
to work in us both to will and to do. They must therefore
consider their own responsibilities, and while they pressed
on the legislature of the country by every means in their
Dower, by the expres.7'on of their sentiments and of the judg-
ments they had Caine to, that it was their duty to provide the
people with the means of a religious education and of religi-
ous worship; it was their (the people's) solemn duty if the
legislature failed in its duty to endeavour to supply the defi-
ciency themselves. For it' it did so happen that any one
branch of the legislature should refuse to acknowledge this
truth ; if it should so happen that the majority of the repre-
sentatives of the people of England should be indifferent to
to this great, this solemn, this Christian education, whose
fault was it ? Why, it was the fault of the people of England
who failed to return such representatives as would acknow-
ledge this Christian duty. And how was this fault to be re-
medied? Why, it was to be remedied by giving the people
of England betiet instruction by teaching them their duty.
And how were they to be taught their duty but by an increase
of spiritual pastors who should be able to do this? How
should the people hear a sufficiency of truth if there were not
a sufficiency of teachers to teach it to them? And here was
the point in which they were called on to exert themselves;
for surely they need not look very far from home to be aware
that the supply of spiritual pastors was miserably short of the
demand. The harvest way immense; the labourers, they
knew, were few. Let them take this parish, containing pos-
sibly 180.000 souls; let them take the town and neighbour-
hood of Liverpool, containing possibly 230,000 souls; and
who must not confess that a vast number of those must be
like sheep without a shepherd? And if the legislature did not
supply their deficiency, surely it was their duty to do this;
and as such they could not do better than support the
Church Pastoral Aid Society, which did this. The reverend
speaker then read an extract from the society's circular,
showing that the petsons appointed to carry into execution
its designs were to beu oiler the direction and control of the
pastors of the parishes to which they were sent. Now, when
this was said, he, as a minister of the Church of England, had
heard enough to give his co-operation to this society. They did
not obtrude ministers into a parish where there were appointed
pastors without the leaveand concurrence of the local clergy ;
their wish was, that the ministers they contributed to should
act under the direction of the appointed pastor of the flock,
and that was of great importance, in order to keep up the
unity of church discipline. But then, in addition to spit itual
pastors, it was true that this society employed lay assistants.
To that there were some persons who had some objections:
now, for his own part he could wish that the spiritual watts of
the country were fully and adequately supplied by spiritual
pastors—by men holding the orders of-the church, and in
every respect accountable to the discipline of the church; he
thought the'primitive order would be better preserved if such
were the case; but how was it possible that such could be the
case in a parish like Liverpool? How was it possible to have
spiritual pastors properly supported for 180,000 souls? and
therefore he said, it was necessary that lay assistants should
be appointed to co-operate with the clergy, more especially
as these lay assistants were not required to expound the word
of God, or adminster the sacraments of the church, but sim-
ply to assist the clergyman in visiting families, and by no
means taking on themselves the office of public instructors or
preachers. It had been said that lay assistants so employed
might be tempted to try to become preachers with an irregu-
lar zeal, but which was most likely that these preachers
should fall into these irregularities, or that the persons not so
acting should fall into irregularities of a different kind? It
was far preler lo have these persons even so acting in
connexion with them, than tit have them actlng towards them

as enethies, and doing them and the cause of gospel truth
they supported, much harm. lie, therefore, could not see
uuy valid objection to this society; but, on the contrary, he
houg,ht with the blessing of God, it might be productive of
unspeakable benefits to the community, and he, therefore,
felt himself caLed on, oppressed and burdened as he must be
with the great and heavy responsibilities resting upon him, to
render assistance to this society, and to bid it "God speed."
(Applause.)
The Rev. Mr. JONES moved the first resolution—" that
this meeting while it rejoices in the persuasion that tnere is
a growing desire for spiritual instruction and religious ordi-
nances in the country at large, deplores the lamentable de-
ficiency which in many parishes still exists, and would im-
plore the meeting to unite their earnest efforts for the exer-
cise of grace throughout the land."
The Rev. Hoaano MOULD, the Secretary of the Society,
explained its object and its utility in affording relief to in-
digent pastors, and providing spiritual instruction. Though
the society had only been commenced two years and a half,
it had spread its branches throughout the land. He con-
cluded with seconding the resolution.
The Rev. H. STOOELL, of Manchester, proposed the next
resolution—" that this !Peeling having heard the report or
the Secretary, desires to return thanks to Almi;:hty Gud for
the success of the society."—The Rev. Gentleman, in a
strain of energetic eloquence, pleaded on behalf of the so-
eiety at souse length.' The lower classes of society were con-
gregated in masses in large towns, to contribute to the wealth
of the wealthy,.and were left destitute of spiritual teaching.
They had a clear claim on the provision and care of the
wealth they produced. They were a class which could not
provide instruction for themselves. The church had com-
mitted a beneficial act. Dissenters could build a chapel
where tl.ey pleased and how they pleased; but if a number
of pious Protestants determined on building, a church,
the legal difficulties which opposed them were so great
as to be quite disheartening; and this had led to the
want of churches and the great increase of chapels.
He hoped, however, that the church would extend its basis,
and win back those alto had left the fold. Ile strongly urged
the propriety, and beautifully elucidated the happy results of
visiting pastors, L—forting. drawing, leading, exhorting,
teaching his parishioners individually, and endearing them
to the church. A minister in the pulpit was but half a minis-
ter; for he was commanded not only to " save sinners," but
to " seek" them. The minister ought not, to do his duty, to
be sent for, but ought to be the first to visit in affliction; he
ought to carry out the principles of our church in its beauti-
ful pastoral propriety, and bind all hearts to its venerable
temple. This was the chief end of the Church Pastoral Aid
Society. It was to provide additional means of visiting the
poor from hamlet to hamlet, till there should not be a house
which had not heard of the kindness of the ministers of the
gospel. It was also to aid men inadequately paid. There
was many a man with all the refinement, and education, and
birth of a gentleman, who was ground down by his heavy
duties, and by the miserable pittance he received, less than
a merchant of Liverpool would think enough to giVe to his
lowest clerk. Let them not wait for the legislature, but
make the legislature follow them; let them infuse into the
people a Christian feeling, and no legislature would be able
to thwart them. The rev. gentleman sat down amidst loud
applause.

'The Rev. JAMES FunNivAr. seconded the resolution, and
the meeting was afterwards addressed by the Rev. Hugh
M'Neile, and other clergymen, but the late hour at which
we write prevents us extending our report.

SUDDEN DEATHS—A truly-affecting instance of the un-
certainty of human life occurred on Sunday morning last.
While John Whiteside, a ropemaker, was on a visit at his
father's house, in Gore-street, and when engaged in conver-
sation with his parents, be dropt his head, and instantly ex-
pired, without any seeming struggle. His remains were
shortly after conveyed to his ovvn house, in Upper Mann-
street, Toxteth-park, where he has left a disconsolate widow
and four helpless children to bewail his loss. We have since
learnt that the deceased, who was a sober and industrious
man, has been in a delicate state of health fur some time
past.

BRITISH REFORMATION SOCIETY.—On Tuesday and Wed-
nesday evenings last, public meetings of this society were
held in the Assembly-room, Wigan. The admission was by
ticket, and such was the desire to be present on the occasion,
that 850 tickets were distributed nearly as soon as it was
known they were ready,—indeed, more were disappointed
than the number who procured tickets; and, had there been
a building sufficiently commodious, we have no hesitation in
stating that upwards of 3000 individuals would have assem-
bled, as more than that number of applications were made
for tickets. About half-past six o'clock on Thursday, the
deputation, attended by the neighbouring clergy, and several
gentlemen of the town and neighbourhood, took their station
on the platform. Amongst those present on the occasion we
observed—John Holt, Esq., Bispham Hall; John Lord, Esq.,
Ince Hall; R. Anderton, Esq. ; E. L. Dutton, Esq., Grap-
penhall; the Revs. B. Powell, J. Bromilow, C. Snape, W.
Gibbs, J. Price, W. Wright, J. Paley, J. Makenzie, &c.
&c.; and the deputation from the Parent Society, consisting
of the Rev. W. Keary, of Hull, and the Rev. Cumming,,
of London. John Holt, Esq , moved that the Rev. Benj.
Powell be requested to take the chair oo that important oc-
casion. The motion was seconded by J. Latham, Esq. The
Rev. Chairman observed, that as they were assembled to
uphold the religious principles of our glorious reformation,
and for the purpose of setting forward the salvation of their
fellow-creatures and the promoting of God's honour, it was
most fitting-that the divine blessing should be sought for their
proceedings. Thaliev. Walter Gibbs then offered up prayers
to Almighty God. The Rev. Chairman then said, -before he
addressed th'e meeting he pegged leave to read a letter from
Sir Robert Holt Leigh, Bart., which the committee of this
society bad received, in answer to their application to him to
take the chair that evening. -The letter expressed Sir Rola.
Holt Leigh's regret that he was prevented attending through
indisposition. The Rev. Chairman, the Rev. C. Snape, of
Blackburn, the Rev. W. Keary, and others, addressed the
meeting with much eloquence. The meeting concluded by
singing the doxology. The second meeting was even more
animating than that which took ptace on Tuesday; not only
was the room crowded to overflowing, but the area below o as
filled with respectable persons anxious to obtain admission,
and such was the excitement to hear the learned and eloquent
orators, that as much as 2s. 6d. was offered for a ticket of
admission.