The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-07-15 00:00:00

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JULY 15, 183 Q.

manner we refuse to hind ourselves to refrain from adding re-
ligious instruction with our historical lesson, w;iether we direct
the attention of out children to the Reformation or to the Revo-
lution. (Cheers.) If we he givir4.7 instruction iu Astronomy, or
in any of the Physical Sciences, iu any of their branches,
we refuse to pledge ourselves thit to combine religious instruction
and invite the children whilst they count the stars to behold the
glory of Ellin who created them—we refuse to deprive ourselves
of the book from which we may read to them concerning
our Lord Jesus Christ, that t• all things were made by him
and without him was nut anything made that was made."
(Loud cheering.) Nay, sir, if we be teaching the children
Arithmetic, we refuse to tie our hands ant: say we will not em-
ploy religious iustiuction, and endeavour, from the endless pro-
gression of numbers, to teach the young mind to endeavour to
grasp after the idea of eternity. (Enthusiastic applause.) Sir.
if religious instruction be disconnected from all these branches
of knowledge, by the exercise of authority, if the stress of every
day's instruction be in what is called general information and
the one, solitary, permitted hour, " after the school has closed," be
alone given to what can then he caught of religious instruction—
to sanction such a system is to sanction a hot bed for Atheism—
for Atheism. (Lout cheering.) Sir, knowledge without religion
is a curse to society instead of a blessing. ( Hear.) This is ac-
counted for by the fact, in which some of our modern philosophers
required to be instructed the fact of the fall of man. "By
the tree of transgression he acquired knowledge, the name given
to the symbol of his ruin." And while in that state of trans-
gression, without the sanctifying power of religious principles, to
cultivate, the man is cultivating poison—it is to cultivate an
evil weed—it is to cultivate an evil character whose powers are
turned away front his God—it is to assimilate hint to the devil.
Knowledge without religion is to imitate Beelzebub. What
Philosopher knows as much as the devil knows ? and he is the
rince of Darkness with all his knowledge. If man were turned
-towards his God and all that is good, then to urge him forward is
to better his condition, and then teach hint as much as you can
teach him; but if he be turned away from what is good to urge
hint forward in knowledge is to urge him farther away from
God. And, after all, the question does come to this, whether
Alan is a fallen creature or not? Our Philosophers of this day
Practically deny it; no wonder therefore they want selections from
the bible. Let me fortify these statements, then, with the lan-
guage of a high judicialcharacter—an ornament to the Bench
.r England. It was declared at the last Assizes of the county
of Leicester by the presiding judge, "that he certainly never
would discourage educating the lower classes of society, but he
Would boldly affirm, that if the education was not founded on a
moral and religious principle, instead of becoming a blessing to
the poor, it would, in the end, turn out a curse. To give a sound
education to the poor, moral and religious instruction must
accompany it—the receiver must be well made known, not only
the moral duties he has to perform, hut also the religious ones;
and, however a number of conscientious men may talk and
ailvocate the one without the other, still be would maintain the
design and the effect intended by education would be lost if not
adhered to. Education, without religious instruction, could not
control the strong passions of the human race, and he had only
!Rain to repeat that the various calendars thrOughout the circuit,
"ad plainly convinced him, that it would be far better to leave the
Poorer classes of the community in ignorance, than to educate them
without having for the groundwork our blessed and revealed reli-
-gicm• Teach men their
.religious and moral duties in this
world, and he had no hesitation in saying, that crime would not, in
the end, pp
aear so monstrous as he had witnessed in this circuit."
phis was addressed to the grand jury of the county of Leicester
"Y Lord Abinger. On this :mint, therefore, of the amount of
attention to be paid to religicnis instruction we are irreconcile-
ably at issue with the system which is proposed to be intro-
'luced into Liverpool; and we are here to day to invite you to
help us in a system the very reverse, in which we mingle religious
instruction with every thing. And though we do not put the bible
Into the hands of children all day long, we must never, at least,
?a without the power of mingling. the spirit of the bible in the
instruction of our children, and winding it around the know-
ledge, as well as the temper and conversation, of all our pupils.
Nowthis naturally leads me in the second place to consider the
booki which it is proposed especially to introduce into this sys-
tem. On that subject the resolution of the education committee
is this:—" Resolved, that the books of the commissioners of
education in Ireland be adopted, and that they have a fair trial
Previous to the introduction of any other." I wish you to ob-
serve that—" previous to the introduction of any other." Now
°ll this subject there are several important considerations. The
first, sir. was very properly and happily adverted to by your-
lelf—the difference between the extracts we use, and these
extracts. And it was said—l hope the meeting will consider it,
the town be instructed, and the nation take notice of it—that
these extracts are used as a substitute for the bible, and ours
are not, but as stepping stones to it, as a co-adjutor. There is
great difference between a co-adjutor, and a substitute. A
little boy may be efficient as a co-adjutor to accomplish a man's
work, but if you put that boy as substitute, the man is ex-
cluded. So these extracts may be very useful as co-adjutors
1.0 the bible, but if you use them as a substitute, the bible work
is excluded. (Loud_ cheering.) Now, sir, this is one of the
Points on which some of our fellow townsmen are mistaken,
°ad / must take the liberty now to speak freely. (Cheers.) Is
the bible then to be excluded from these new schools? (Loud
tries of"
no, no.") I think you did not understand the question,
You thought the new schools we want to build, now 1 did not
mean that I mean the schools the corporation want to have
all their own way. Is the bible to be excluded from their
schools ? (Reiterated cries of " No, no.") Now, I will tell
You what was said about it last Wednesday. Dr. Carson said,
Ipoting from the report in the Mercury,) " As a member of
the council, and as a member of the education committee, he
Celt bound to say a few words. It was very generally reported
that the Bible lied been excluded from the system of education
adopted in these schools; this he denied; there was no exclu-
.ll,iou of the Bible from these schools—it was a false calumny
Laat had got abroad against the corrimittee to say that it
55." Mr. Councillor Rathbone said "it was false." He
rhea
did ins the honour to say " I might have known it was
false." " Gentlemen," said Mr. Rathbone, with great energy,
fit it false." Mr. Blackburne said " a plan was proposed, so
fated to meet the object in view, inasmuch as the protestant
mould not read the Douav version of the Bible, and the catho-
L,e would not read the authorized version." I take it for grant-
e that you know what is meant by uay version. " Could
besaid that the Bible was excluded f
romfo such schools? If the
elildren read these, they were reading the sacred volume in
those schools, and they were reading it in a way calculated to
"e a great deal of good, and quite as much as if the whole Bible
mere Put into their hands and they were only allowed to read a
selection." Now mark that. Could it be said that the Bible
i4as excluded from the schools seeing that the children had ex-
tracts of it read! I wish to ask —you sir; Whether the House of
Lords have rejected the Irish municipal bill or not? No: they
Passed a selection of it. (Immense cheering and clapping of
?ends.) It is very true they did not pass the whole bill, but it
equally true they passed a very important part of it. And
"ow, sir, I think I may be allowed to indulge in a few remarks
°a an imaginary debate; I have given some on a real debate.
Will suppose that Mr. Edward Cropper, in a mild tone, pro-
Posed a vote of censure against the House of Lords for reject-
,"ll4 the Irish municipal bill. Upon which, Dr. Carson said "it
1:;,„' very generally suppesed that there was a rejection of the
I,'", it was a false calumny which had gone abroad against the
eve
to say they had rejected it." (Great laughter.) Thee
e will suppose that Mr. Councillor Rathbone—and I desire
him with
time I may mention that entleman to-day to mention
ot with the utmost good humour; and kindness (cheers,)—we
ti;l.l suppose that he said " it was said that the House of Lords
key
the Irish municipal bill, no such thing, it is false ; the
kew• Hugh M'Neile might have heard— he might have known
it ,Was false. ( Roars of laughter and cheers.) Gentlemen,
stiftfofse!" (Tremendous clapping of hands.) Then we
too' suppose Mr. Blackburn saying " a plan was proposed
4. It admirably calculated to meet the desired object, in-
et,!attch as the House of Commons would not have the old
corporations, and the House of Lords would not construct
tie„wones; therefore, an admirable selection well calculated to
will?‘v exceeding light on the whole system was introduced, in
to Leh the House of Commons had their way, because the old
harlorations were abolished, and in which the House of Lords
their way, for the new corporations were not constructed.
siiieleht of laughter and tremendous clapping of hands.) Now,
eoctgentlemen pretend to say, that when the country have got
he a. admirable selections, they have nut got the bill ? Can it
rkt:4id that the lords have rejected the Irish municipal corpo-
ao_°tts' bill? (Continued laughter and cheers.) 1 here was
Ass honourable councillor, who contended that the bill
14_ a science, and that as the elementary parts of all sciences
ei.lre taught first, and as this lord's selection contained the
tiletneats, he thought it. highly proper; and it could not by any
jj„aus be said the bill was rejected." (Renewed cheering.)
1142_° Which another councillor said " he was much struck with
list arguments, arguments, but still plain common sense came to his as-
tl„,..nee, and he said the bill was rejected." (Loud cheers.)
44-rever, oratory got the getter of common sense, and a large
t'"ritv (45 to 61 determined that the House of Lords had
.
101 elected the Irish municipal bill. (Continued cheering-)
kt.°„uld not forget to say, in reference to the real debate, what
re,
wraorsfait put to them. (Cheers.) Mr. Horsfall spoke in a
Mole i°rds what none of those who spoke after him at consider-
to ength, thought it worth their while or found it convenient
ata;PlY to. It was this—" It must be shown to be unobjection-
itao,:e all before they allowed it to supersede what they did
Put, to be unobjectionable, by displacing the Bible for the
thaCt()P of introducing a selection front it. He apprehended
This "is was a point which had not been sufficiently attended to.
in thitelection, if placed in the schools to supersede the Bible
tletoe way now proposed. (General cries of No, no.')
aright say No, no,' but if they looked to the resolu-
eat ,5Y would find that the Bible was never used till the school
Here dosed, consequently it was not used in the school."—l
• lin&we.!lhat this argument of Mr. Horsfall's has not yet been
tt ; there was, however, no lack of wit. I wish to be
Is the" d humour whilst speaking on this subject. " Brevity
ho„
,soul of wit." What could be more witty or more brief
lergeoawbPut an end to the argument by a monosyllable. A dis-
tehe„ite monosyllable. it is true; however it was short—it was
jut--;-it was easily remembered—it was worthy the espe-
otAreetion of the reporters—it was sure to be circulated.
hells,otwithanding all these advantages, I Could not for my
lean Part regretting that a man of wit, and wisdom, ;Anil
ip th_n.it—that a man of such unbounded liberality that while,
9t E'utTnest sincerity of Socinianism, he deems the Church
1.4 thegtand an idolatrous worshipper, does, nevertheless,
'Op tk_ Unbounded charity that reigns within his bosom, work
tetus..."e Church as if he were himself one of tier idolatrous
(greato cheering)—l could not help regretting that that
itrndet.....t% se powers of public speaking are evidently of a high
at man whose powers of oratory are capable of the ease,
toll% streußtb,
totad ra idit of an eagle's flight, should have
eseended showthe lytare—the harmless !pills of the fret-
-1 Parcu •
t„.‘voilid pits (Very prolonged and enthusiastic applause.)
sity, not hays any one go away with the, I was going
p:I and c eimpression but I don't like the word—
it
is goneraway
with an will. excuse me—(cheers)—let no
an erroneous impression—that is abetter word,
ci?oltlot so vehement or so vulgar—(immense cheering)—that I
thlittPis redopthhiato
;nalildwlivs-spo en councillor to "the fretful porcu-
tlee,ering); what I said!'" guilty of such bad taste (suppressed
11ia.," whose or at o r sowarse h iws
tthh a
tthle regretted
ot hf a
at
ntb ae
at
ggieen,
s-
‘lelFt` should have condescended to show the bare and harmless
spoke 4 of the fretful porcupine. (Astounding cheers.) I never
11 a Sentence in all my Dneein a better humour;—l entertain
hati,3,ioßle feeling of dissatisfaction aeainst that honourable
1'1.4 h `"?r; any more than if he had 'never opened his lips.
gist,:lw. sir, with regard to theseijabtotomk.s themselves; in their
and in their working, and
'l%lB or more consequence now. Mr. Blackburn
I come to
haw 'YstemT was proposed originallyy Mr, Secretary
said. that,
ecretary Stanley,
tik krord Stanley. under flu! ministry of
call its • The princillle of that system,
which he was at the
tlae • . h
aulinguis ed member.
?tter from Mr.
ions which ex-
°biects, were developed in aver
.ited to the Duke of Leinster. Tljdaisseensl
and it was
'hte,s,l° Ireland were looked on with great regret,'
might be
lhi"lthe'!„llighly advisable to devise some 'means edue t. h .
rroupkt,ae children of Protestant and Catholic parents -a -Y
th^„,"' tozether in order that the' dissensions which prevailed
"tt linha '
th_eud to, country iniaht be mitiga.ted,_and_ultimately put
4tkith. ogether. I have no question hut Mr. Blackbu
hve that thiS was an adequate statement of the case. andi"'
k• no
111 litPstion hut that that gentleman. with his intellieriae!
wish e glad 'receivefurther •
t„ . to inforwation on the subject.
utform hirn''of certain facts which existed, in Ireland
'l'd to the perind he begins with wtben Mr. St snley, how
var. 8 lanlev was chief 'secretary: Previons to that period,
• •
tk bf Iginus societias had been urging forward the good
scriptural education with great ea rneetneis and zeal.