The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-03-13 00:00:00

ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE LIVERPOOL
BRANCH OF TilE LONDON HIBERNIAN SOCIETY,

OrtFriday, at twelve o'clock, an adjourned meeting of the
friends of this society, was held at the Music-hall, Bold-street.
A number of the clergy of the town occupied the platform,
amongst whom, was the Rev. Dr. Cook, of Belfast. We regret
that the comparative importance of the meeting will not war-
rant us in giving inure than a brief abstract of his very brilliant
speech, which occupied upwards of two hours in the delivery.
About 3UU persons were assembled, a large portion of the audi-
ence consisting of ladies. The Rev. Dr. Ralph was called to
the chair.

The CHAIRMAN before opening the business of the meeting
requested the Rev. Mr. Knox to open the meeting with prayer.
'f he CHAIRMAN then said, for the information of many who
were present that day, it might be necessary to state, that the
meeting had been called owing to some mistake, about publish-
ing the former one, by which the attendance was exceedingly
thin. It gratified them to observe, that the attendance that day
was greatly increased, though they could not but still feel sur-
prised, that a society so excellent in its principles, and so catho-
lic in its spirit, should not unite a greater number of friends—
should not excite a greater degree of interest. They were all
aware, there was no want of sympathy in this country with the
distresses of the sister land, whether temporal or spiritual; for
their wants were made known to them through a variety of
channels, but, unfortunately, frequently not_ with the right
means. This society would lay the axe at the root of the tree
of the evils of Ireland, and would inculcate the doctrines, and
precepts of the scriptures amongst the people. The education
proposed to be given under the superintendence.of the society,
was not merely intellectual, for that eduCation would not re-
form the character of men ; nor was it a partial scriptural edu-
cation L-an education on which they could not leak for the
blessing of God. It took the whole scriptures, and thus con-
templated, first, the highest interests of the Irish, their spiritual
education, and through that it improved their temporal educa-
tion, and would elevate them in the scale of nations. And this
was not a matter of theory; it was a matter of tried experience.
If they would read the account of Scotland, by that celebrated
patriot Fletcher, in the year 1798, they would find that it pre-
sented just the peculiarities of Ireland at the present day. But
through the medium of its parish schools, Scotland had worked
the revolution in its social character, which now distinguished
it. It had been imagined, that by introducing the masters of
these schools, the same results would follow elsewhere;forgetful
that the principle, which was the cause, was scriptural educa-
tion. (Hear.), These schools were framed exclusively for
teaching the Bibleoind the fundamental principle of the edu-
cation given, was scriptural insthiction. They only wanted
this for Ireland. It was not a matter of theory ; it was a mat-
ter of experiment, that the Bib,le was the great 'neaps of mo-
ralizing mankind.
The Rev. Mr. KNOX, then read the report of the society.
The committee could not but regret, that more liberal contri;•
butions had not been made on behalf of the society. There
were many calls on the country; but still, an institution for the.
promotion of the glory of God, and the benefit of the people
of Ireland, by diffusing sound scriptural education through the
country, ought not to languish fur the want of pecuniary sup-
port, which it was in the power of the Christians of this country
to afford. They were confident, that if this society received the
support which it merited, it would do more to afford scriptural
education throughout Ireland than any other Christian society.
The number of children taught in the schools the last year was,
135,933, and the number of schools belonging to the society
2355. The masters of the schools were paid according to the
proficiency of the pupils, and not a fixed salary. The com-
mittee were quite satisfied, that the system pursued was the best
(hat could be devised for giving a scriptural education to the
risin,, generation.
The Rev. Mr. JAMES, the treasurer, read the statement of
occounts, from which it appeared, that the total receipts were,
£174 3s. Bd.; that £74 2s. 6d. bad been remitted to the parent
society, and that 1:100 Is. 2d. remained, the balance, in the
bank.
M r. H Ammon moved briefly, that the report, and statement
of accounts be received.
The Rev. Mr. Bsvare rose to second the resolution. He
could' not refrain from bearing his testimony of support to a
society which soughato accomplish ends so great and so lasting
as did the Hibernian Society—which did not contemplate
merely the purification of moral abuses, but which sought to
elevate man not only in the scale of humanity, but also to pre-
pare him fur that world where human nature should be raised
to its highest pitch of perfection, and where all the saints were
perfect as our Father who is in heaven is perfect. It was gra-
tifying to observe the increase of the labours of the society. • In
1815, there were 11,000 scholars connected with the schools;
add in 1837 the number was increased to 135,933 scholars. As
the society had thus far successfully proceeded,- they should feel
stimulated to increased exertion; and they should pour out
their souls to God that he would open the windows of heaven
and pour ont his spirit of blessing on the country, that there
might be room enough to receive it. They knew the influence
of these schools on the minds of youth. The former generation
bad had their minds preoccupied by prejudice and their moral
qualities depraved by early habits of lukewarmness in seeking
after the truths of religion, or from, positive opposition to the
way of salvation. Whereas, they took the children and pre-
occupied that ground which was previously taken by prejudice,
in order to put them in possession of the knowledge of the truth,
whose value was unspeakable and whose results were everlast-
ing. Look again at experiment, and not resting their cause on
untried theory, they went to the poor of their sister country and
Communicated to them that instruction which should become,
through the influence of habit, a part of themselves. And,
though their exertions had hitherto not realised that success
which they might have desired, yet they must look forward and
anticipate the ultimate consequences of their present course.
Though they might not see the population disenthralling them-
selves from spiritual despotism—though they might not see
them coming out and being separate from an ungodly system,
yet they (night repose in the prospect that there• was nYuch of
leaven placed amongst the youth of Ireland, which should dis-
seminate itself amongst them; and, as their children rose' up,
it should extend yet wider, and the expansive principle of truth
and the spiritualizing principle of Christ's holy religion should
not only extend itself widely over the present but:permanently
and effectively over all future generations. (Hear.) He con-
cluded with seconding the resolution, which gas carried unani-
mously.
The Rev. FIELDING Outo rose to propose the next resolu-
tion, "'That this meeting hears with Much satisfaction and
thankfulness the progress which the London Hibernian Society
has made during the past years, being convinced that its
efforts, under the divine blessing, to promote the scriptural edu-
cation of individuals of all denominations in Ireland reads to
promote the peace and happiness of that country." When he
was invited tra.attend the meeting that (lay, it was urged upon
him, to induCethis compliance, that unless he and others of the
church did so the interests of the society were likely to suffer;
for the churchmen were likely to abstain hum attendance on
account of the connexion of the society with dissenters; and
also that dissenters, on account of its connexion with the church,
would do the seine. He therefore felt it his duty to attend, and
felt convinced that he was in his proper place, not because of
the connexions of the society, but because of its objects—its
glorious design of extending the knowledge which was life
eternal to the poor children of his native land, and because its
object was to promote the glory of God. The resolution which
he had been requested to move called for an expression of
thankfulness from the meeting for the progress that the society
had made during the past year. He might be allowed to go a
little further back and remind the meeting of what the society
had accomplished from the commencement of its labours in the
year 1806; and he was much mistaken if the mere announce-
ment of every individual item of the report of the society should
not be found to furnish an unanswerable argument to all there
for its support. It was a fact that this society had established
2,355 schools, which were at that time in full operation, and in
those schools were educated 135,933 children. It was also a
fact that there were 30,000 Roman catholic children receiving
scriptural education in those schools; and upwards of lb—very
nearly 17,0(X) children receiving Sabbath instruction under the
care of this society, that had no other opportunity of receiving
any instruction whatever. It was also a fact that the society
hail 9,000 adult scholars and 117 Irish-speaking individuals
under its-own care, who were taught, through the medium of
their own language, the way of salvation. It was also a fact
that the education of the children of these schools cost the so-
ciety only the small sum of 2s. 6d. each in the year. So that each
individual there that day who subscribed that amount would
be instrumental in providing scriptural education for one year
for one Irish child. There were features in the character of this
society which it was important to mention; it was that the teach-
ers were paid according to the proficiency made by the children.
No teacher received any portion of his salary until a very par-
ticular inspection of each school had taken place—an inspection
not only taken under the supervision of the inspector of the
society, but of the visitors ; and it was only after the satisfac-
tory -progress of each child had been demonstrated, that the
seholl-master received any portion of his salary. Another re-
mar able tait was, that the society required the scriptures to
'be committed to memory; and one delightful instance was re-
corded of a Roman Catholic girl, who repeated 't.3 chapters of
the scriptures by heart to obtain a copy of the word of God.
Having alluded to the operations of this society, he should be
excused if he made an observation, which he knew would be
called for, on the unhappy difference of opinion between this
society and the Sunday School society for Ireland. It was
avowed that the Sunday schools established by this society were
found to interfere with the Sunday schools established, by the
Sunday School Society. That difference had been completely
removed, and this society established no schools, in any parish,
where it found any schools in operation. This society:was also
totally distinct from the Irish society. The =lrish .society
laboured exclusively with the Irish speaking population, which
scarcely exceeded two millions, whilst this society almost exclu-
sively confined itself to those of the population who spoke En-
glish. The resolution affirmed that the tendency of this so-
ciety was to promote the peace and happiness of the country.
He believed that just in proportion as any individual was made
acquainted with the word of God, his own peace was promoted;
Ind if this were true of individuals, it must lie true of families,
Wf nations, and of empires. The Laid Lieutenant of one
County in Ireland had made a statement in his place in parlia-
ment that 670 taut filers had been committed in one county in 3
years, the greater portion of which were committed with impu-
nity. And if it were a fact that there was the smallest possible
quantity of scriptural education given in that county, and if it
were a fact on the other hand, that in the noithern counties of
the province of Ulster, where scriptural education did •prevail,
that comparatively little crime prevailed, he thought they had a
right to come to the conclusion that the stein orscriptural
education did tend andwas calculated to procure the peace and
happiness of the country. Attempts were made to establish a
system of education not founded on scripture. 'A gentleman
had made a speech at the Mechanics' Inttitution on this sub-
ject, which had been printed in the form of a pamphlet; and
how did this gentleman speak? Ile said, " we have all one final
object; happiness in a higher and better world." And then be
said, " In our Father's house there are many mansions, but not
less are there many roads by whioh those mansions may be
reached." (Expressions of horror.) This was a speech which
was delivered to a very large audience, and was received with
loud cheers—that while there were many mansions in heaven,
there were many roads by which those mansions could be
trheaactled
every
Thatwan might
jhtust the
go
tohpearivnecipnhle issoowunglt to be
wiayas stitewialih
lsbeaslicer,ll.,
hut which frequently led every man to hell his own way. The
iscripturesthe
way,
said a sy,
andr he w lt there
v(as bu)ewt e w
hions
endeavours is ‘• le
toi eLordl enter
sytis anotherChr
is a thief and a robber." The orator of whom he spoke went on
to say "the human heart is elevated by relocation." Unhappy
insist be the state of that country where the human heart is only
elevated by education. Did the works of the French revolution
exhibit this. Did Rousseau, or Voltaire, tiothieducated men,
exhibit any elevation of the heart by education ? lie glieved
to say that principles such as those contended for in the publi-
cation which he held in his hand were very prevalent at the
present day. A great number of individuals front whom it
would be least expected, were found to contend that the best
thing that could be for this country. would be the establishment
of forced schools by secular rates, and that no altar should be
erected in those schools but what should lie erected to "the un-
known God." This society being for the diffusion
of the word
of God, and for Isis glory; he could not see on what principle
they could stand aloof or withhold their sup Fort from such an
institution. They might be opposed by great difficulties in their
undertaking, but if they were determined to succeed they were
sure to do so. •
The Rev. J. NEVILLE HORTON TIIONIAS rose ti) second the
resolution. He could not understaud how they could look coldly