The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-05-15 00:00:00

part, and on the other part, two bodies, one the government of
the country refusing that support, and tee other, the voluntary
dissenters urging the government to continue to refuse, and
premising. them for re(usine, their political support. (Cheers.)
Am I right ? (Right.) 'r he resolution-that I have been re-
quested to move is this, " that this meeting highly approves of
the exertions already made by the people of Scotland in fur-
therance of the assembly scheme; and the liberal contributions
they have given in its behalf, and resolve stfenously to support
this great enterprise." On the part of the Church of Scotland,
which occupies one side in this great pleading—which I believe
is a form of expression made use of in Scotland—l would say,
that her eriterprize, when compared with her doctrines, exhibits
to the eye of the world a splendid instance of Christian, scrip-
tural consistency. (Hear.) I will explain myself. In that
statement it is clearly put upon record, by stubborn facts, that
the exertions of voluntary churches, or even of an involuntary
endowed church, succeed with but a part of the population ; that
there remains a large part untouched, that ever must remain
untouched, if there be not a territorially divided, and an ade-
quately endowed ministry. Now, it may be argued, that there
must remain a large portion of the population untouched under
this dispensation, because the project of it is only to take the
people out of the Gentiles; and the doctrine of election is a
revealed truth of God. Sir, it is so; and the Church of Scot-
land holds it in the noble consistency of its scriptural revelation.
But the Church of Scotland equally holds, that it is not fur man
to take election in his own hands; and while the living God
himself reserves the prerogative of calling them, it belongs to
his professing children to go the whole length of calling the
ear, that all may be called though few be chosen; and, there-
fore, I say, that the exertions of the Church of Scotland aiming
at the whole population, compared with the doctrines of the
Church of Scotland, maintaining the doctrine of election, ex-
hibits to the eye of the world a splendid example of Christian
consistency. What then shall we say to those on the other side
of this pleading? Now, it is a very delicate thing for any
Christian man—and if possible, the delicacy is increased when
that man is a minister—to speak about the government in any
way but of approbation; because the scripture tells us, that
obedience to the powers that he, is a Christian duty, and un-
doubtedly, it is a duty with reference to the general ordinances
of government ; but it is equally undoubted, that with re-
ference to special measures which come in direct collision
with Christian duty, it becomes the duty of a Christian
to resist those measures, as clearly as it is his duty to
render obedience to the general ordinances of government it-
self.
The general ordinance of the government of Babylon was
respected by Daniel; but when the King of Babylon ordered
him not to pray, he simply violated the King's commandment,
that he might keep the commandment of God. The general
ordinance of government under Nero, was countenanced by
Paul; but hail Nero commanded Paul not to preach, he would
have disobeyed him to obey God. Now, if we can show in re-
ference to this measure, that the present government is opposing
a Christian duty, that it is clearly, and obviously from the word
of God, their duty to use their influence as a government for the
Christian instruction of a people, as a father to use his influence
for the Christian instruction efhis family, then, without arraign-
ing in the slightest degree the general ordinance of govern-
ment, but bowing to it with Christian obedience, we shall find
ourselves arranged in hostility against our present ministers on
this particular question. Sir, I would ask what sort of govern-
ment is that which compels the Christianity of the land to rise
into agitation against the measures of the government ? (Hear.)
lihave, therefore, no hesitation at all myself, while I highly
respect the ordinance of government, and would earnestly in-
culcate both publicly and privately obedience to the powers that
be, as a general duty—l say, I have no hesitation at all in rally-
ing myself among the agitators, whether in England, Scotland,
or Ireland, in opposition to such measures of the ministry as
oppose the plain written word of God. (Cheers.) Sir, this
being the case, and having by these few observations cleared
the way to what I believe to be a true, and important feature of
this case, I would ask again, what sort of position are we in as
Christians ? And how does it become us to be opposed to, while
placed under a government, which, while it refuses on the
one side to extend Christianity—established Christianity, ac-
knowledged to be according to the word of God, to the destitute
families teaming on the walls and altars of the Church of Scot-
land, does not scruple on the other hand to grant large sums
to what is proved not to be Christianity, to what is acknow-
ledged not to be Christianity by all the enlightened world, but
the great apostacy of Christianity. (Great cheering.) And,
Sir, what shall we say in this connexion concernito, the volun-
taries? Oh, how extraordinary is the conscience of some men !
We read in the olden time of persons who strained at a knat,
while they swallowed a camel. (Hear.) And here the con-
nexion between the Church of Scotland and the state is a knat,
that raises such voluntary straiuings; while the connexion of
another church with falsehood is a camel that iS swallowed most
sweetly. (Much cheering.)
The CHA IRM A N (interrupting.)—l beg to apologize---(hisses
and cheers)-1 merely beg to say, sir, 1 think you were not in
the room when 1 opened the meeting; and upon that occasion
I hoped that no topics of politics or discussion other than that
fur which the Meeting was called would occur. I think you
were not in the room when I stated it.
Mr. M`Neree continued.- I have now to decide the question
whether submission to the chair is to be carried to the extent
of refraining Irons the subject for which the meeting is convened.
(Hear, hear.) I believe, in the introduction of any question
irrelevant, there ought to be submission to the chairman. But
I confess, I think now I have been interrupted in going into
the very heart of the matter. (Loud cheering.) And therefore
I have just this decision to come to, either to go on and speak,
as I intend so long as I live, against Popery, or not at all.
(Cheers.) Sir, I never will, in public or private, get up under
conditions not to speak against Popery. (Some person cried
out "Question.") The question is this then—(a laugh)—are
we to have endowments for the Church of Scotland or nut; and
in discussing this question, I do say that theappearance is fright-
ul of a state of things like the present, in the enlightened age
Wit is called, of boasted liberalism, to see that awful apostacy
of the Church of Rome endowed with thousands out of the Bri-
tish purse, while a moderate endowment is refused to our sister
Church of Scotland. (Cheers.) And I say further, that we
have many who call themselves the elite' of the enlightened who
tell us that to be united to the state is a worse thing than to be
united to falsehood; because they tell us so not iu words but in
deeds. Here is a church avowed by themselves to be true, be-
cause they follow her doctrines. 'They fall foul of her because
she is united to the state. Here is another church allowed to
be false because they have left her; she asks for endowments,
and they stand by as meek as mice, and let her have thousands.
(Great cheering.) Now I say this, falsehood is the devil, who
is the father of lies, and I say they stand convicted of stating,
by their conduct, that to be united to the state is worse than to
be united to the Devil. (Cheers.) They won't allow the Church
of Scotland to have a farthing, whilst they endow Popery with
thousands. (Cheers.) The rev. gentlemen then proceeded at
some length to ask why did their voluntary friends want to stop
them from working when they would not work themselves.
They reminded him of the fable of the dog in the manger. No-
body hindered the from working themselves at a good thing
that was to be donm e, but they would neither so work, nor permit
the church to work by means of endowments. He contended
that voluntaryism flourished invariably the most under the sha-
dow of endowments. Look where they would they would find
no where such noble instances of voluntaryism as they would
find in the church of which he was an unworthy member. How
could they make their exertions bear on the subject; they could
give money to help them, which would give them a better claim
on the ministers. So far good. Let them get up a subscription
worthy of the town of Liverpool, and that was saying a great
deal. That would make a noise, and to use a phrase of his na-
tive land, ministers would begin to find "they were in the wrong
box," and on that point they were vulnerable. And most mar-
vellous it was that ministers only calculated on the quiet and
orderly and forbearing disposition of the majority of the people
of the land—that, dependent on the voice of the public they I
should be courting a section against the majority. It only
proved that they calculated on the quiet majority, and hoped
to gain the movement, the discontented and really intolerant
minority, who were not only wishing to get help for themselves
but to stop their work. The reason had been assigned; they
were afraid of their craft being in danger. They (tad chapel's
which were rather precarious property; there were debts on
these chapels, and the congregations were bad to keep together.
If more pews were token mayhap the debt would get less; if the
pew-holders lessened the debts would increase. The voluntaries
of Glasgow did not like this of course ; no men would. But
why was this to follow? There were hundreds of thousands to
fill all the churches. Were they afraid that the endowed churches
would be more popular, that their ministers would visit the poor
more during the week, and preach better on Sundays? Why
should, they think that the endowed church in the next street
shoteld etnptv the voluntary church ; and it spoke wonders, that
they must think' that the enlightened well-educated quiet people
would prefer them. Why should they not prefer the chapels
equally with the other? They knew they would not; they knew
the people would prefer the churches, and therefore their oppo-
sition to the present scheme. He thought the clergy of the es-
tablished church had themselves to blame in some degree for
this refusal of the government. They hail felt it a sort of dese-
cration of the sabbath to preach any thing about politics, so
much so that it had passed into a proverb that " religion had
nothing to do with politics." He alleged that every clergyman,
whether in the church of Scotland or England, who had been
silent on this subject, had gone his part to promulgate that de-
structive dogma. They ought to bring religion connected with
every thing. It had to do with their bodies as well as their
souls. There was one duty between God and the individual,
and another between the individual and all his neighbours.
Who ever heard that there was no connexion between religion
and honesty? and yet it was the very same doctrine which bad
gone abroad about religion and politics. God was the God of
our ledgers as well as of our bibles; therefore religion was con-
nected with every thing. They had therefore been themselves
parties to the feeling that had grown up in the country, that re-
ligion had nothing to do with polities; and the result was re-
coiling upon their own heads. The rev. gentleman concluded
an eloquent address by calling upon the audience to come for-
ward and support the fund for the extension of the church in
Scotland.
The Rev. Mr M'Keezte of Wigan, proposed a vote of thanks
to the Chairman, which the Rev. Dr. ANDERSON seconded.
Dr. RALPH then pronounced the parting benediction, and the
meeting was dissolved.
The amount of the collection at the doors will be found in our
advertising columns.

The King's College has a balance over and above its expen
diture for the )ear of upwards of 122000, whilst the London
University is deficient in the year £lOOO.
CHURCH EXTENSION IN SCOTLAND.—We have been very
much gratified to learn that a donation of £lOO has been sent to
the treasurer of the church extension fund for Scotland, through
C. S. Parker, Esq.,. from a gentleman who, not wishing to give
his name, adopts the signature of G R., as ix response particu-
larly to the speech of his brother layman, David Maitland
M'Gill, Esq., of Rankeillor. In noticing this circumstance,
cannot avoid also mentioning the splendid liberality of our
townsman, John Gladstone, Esq., who, as his donation-in Lon-
don, builds and endows a church in his native place, Leith, the
cost of which, we hear, is 1;7000.

DESTR UCTIVE Fl RE.--On Saturday evening, about six o'clock,
a file broke out in the premises of Mr. Winder, cooper, Wood-
street North. The flames spread with extraordinary rapidity,
the buildings being entirely of wood, filled up with faggots, staves,
barrels of tar, bundles of hoops, and other highly ignitable ma-
terials, while the roof was of paper, prepared with a mixture of
tar and sugar, which took fire with the same facility as finder.
A man, who entered the building for the purpose of ascertaining
the seat of the fire, reports, that such was the fearful rapidity of
the flames, fanned by a brisk breeze, that they absolutely pur-
sued him, and it was with great difficulty that be escaped injury.
Intelligence having bee❑ carried to the Fire Police-Station, the
engines were- taken to the spot immedia►ely, and, under the
direction of Mr. Whitty and Hewitt, the superintendent, every
exertion was made to subdue the conflagration. It was impussis
ble, however, to make much impression upon a pile of dry wood,
which blazed like a glowing furnace. Serious apprehensions
were entertained, that the lire would communicate to the adjoin-
ing buildings, and this actually was, for a short period, the case
with one or two of those opposite. The various officers of the
fire-police were indetatigable in their exertions, and, happily,
the fire was prevented from spreading further. About nine
o'clock the flames began visibly to decrease, and, by ten, they
were totally overpowered, though the embers continued to burn
during the-wbole night and, for a great part of Sunday. The
premises and stock were fully insured. It will be remembered,
that another cooperage belonging to Mr. Winder was blunt
down, some time ago, iu PowiL,ll-street: