The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-02-28 00:00:00

REFORMATION SOCIETY.

Protestants and Fellow--townsmen,—A meeting convened
by the Mayor for this day (Friday), will be adjourned to the
Amphitheatre. Fait not to attend at the Amphitheatre at
twelve o'clock, and show by your numbers and your voices
that you will not permit her Majesty's government to unpro-
testantize and unchristianize this nation.
At the hour of meeting, it was easily perceptible that
the circular sent out by the Radical party had been effec-
tive in its object, and that a majority of those in the
Sessions-house were adverse to the purpose for which the
meeting had been called. The placard had also been at-
tended to by those to whom it was addressed, as the
Amphitheatre was completely filled, considerably to the
neglect of the place in which the meeting was originally
convened.

At twelve o'clock his worship the Mayer, attended by
the Town-clerk, entered the meeting and took the chair,
and was received with applause.
Amongst the gentlemen present we observed—Messrs.
William Rathbone, William, Earle, Thomas. Bolton, P. F.
Curry, Walter Macgregor, Mr. Raffles, barrister c David
Hodgson, Charles Robertson, Chris. Bushell, J. R. Jeffery,
Alderman Bold, Charles Horsfall, Charles Turner, George
Maxwell,— Heyworth, jun. H. J. Webster,. E. T. Hall,
Rev. W. Pollock, Rev. Dr. strNeile, J. R Aspinall, bar-
rister, Jas. Tyrer, Josias Booker, John rates, un., Adam
Hodgson, R. Shell, James Aikiny Mr. Bradley, Alderman.
Parker, Kr. Toulniin, &c.,
The MAYOR requested the. Town-clerk to read the re-
quisition, which he accordingly did; and, stated: that two
hundred names were appended-to it..
The-MATon said he considered• that when a requisition
was presented to the Mayor, by' a respectable portion of
theinhabitants it was his duty to. call a meetingof the
inhabitants if lie thought it was. not that which might be
considered detrimental to the interests of the town vend,
upon that ground, to take the chair, simply for the pur-
pose. of keeping order in the meeting, and to use his best
endeavour that all,those who wished- to address it might
receive and limes hearing fairly ant impartially. it was
not the Mayor's duty to take part in the discussion, but
simply to preside over, and to request or enforce -order.
(Hear, hear). Therefore, the same course which ha- had
pursued' on receiving a requisition to call a meeting on
the subject of decimal coinage, and in calling the town's
meeting; on juvenile delinquency, .had actuated him ,in
calling the present meeting, the requisition on behalf Of
which was more numerously signed than for either of the 1
other two. After these observations, of course, it would .1
be for those who had arranged to take part in the discus-
sion to at once proceed with the business for which:they
had been called together.
Mr. C. BusnELL said he was not going to takes.' any
part in the proceedings by way of making a speech,: -but
he wished to suggest to, the mayor,' that that was noirthe
meeting intended to be hejd by those who signed tlis• re-
quisition. Those who promoted the meeting were not of
opinion that the• public feeling.-which existed OR; this
question could be represented in a building like that, and
were aware that, on former occasions, an adjournment
had taken place to the Amphitheatre, the building-m(li-
narily used on those occasions, and which was at that mo-
ment quite full of people, supposing that an adjournment
would take place, and that the , meeting there had only
been summoned formally. Therefore he suggested. that
the mayor shesid kindly adjourn that meeting, which did
not represent in any degree the-feeling on the queation.—
(Cries of "Noo no," and " Yes, yes.")
Mr. W. RATanoNE protested against that. (Hear,
hear.) The • Sessions-house waa esteemed as the -Mayor's
room. The meeting had been called there, and ha:trusted
that no mayor of Liverpool would condescend to be dic-
tated to by a Protestant Association. (Laugitter 'and
applause.)
Mr. D. Iroussox rose and attempted to speak.
Mr. RAuwBONE continued': He would just say that
the placard:, summoning the meeting to the Amphitheatre
was in the name of the Protestant Associations and not
of the mayor. . _

Mr. D. HoroGsorr trustedAthe mayor would not be dic-
tated to—(uproar)—in the exercise of his discretion and
sound judgement. He was perfectly sure he would
take care-that the meeting -which he called sitould give a
large expression to the opinions of the town of Liverpool.
They knew the gentleman-who had risen up opposite—
they knew his zeal—they knew his party spirit. (A voice,
" Whore's yours ?") He did not deny that berms not em-
hued with Mr. Rathbone's• spirit—he was a Conservative in
his principles. (Cries of "'Question.") He should move, if
necessary, an adjourmeut, but he considerea that that was
the mayor's sole privilege, and that nobody had a right
to domore than offer an opinion.

Mr. W. EARLS, who was received with. applause and,
laughter, said,—Gentlemen, is this a meeting of the in..
habitants of Liverpool, or of the Protestant Association:?-
The fact is, sir, the • lines have been outwitted on this
occasion, (Loud laughter.) This is nothing but a party
movement, and the•Amphitheatre is packed, I dare say,
with eloquent men;. and there they are all " cooked," and
I hope you will let them remain. (Loud laughter.)
Mr. A. HODGSON hoped that, as had been expressed, by
the gentleman near him, the mayor would not be dictated
to by any party. (Hear, hear). He )91r one would not have
been a party to, ask the mayor to call any meeting to
carry any certain measure whatever. The question was
the repeal of certain oaths. There never had been in his
time any statesman (cries of " Question, question ;" " Vote,
vote"). Mr..liodgson said he was speaking strictly to the
question (uproar).
The 141 A on.—Allow Mr. A.. Hodgson, and. when he is
done I will say a word as to what I thing e the proper
course.