The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-11-29 00:00:00

WORKING MEN'S BRANCH OF THE
PROTESTANT REFORMATION
SOCIETY.

SOIREE LAST EVENING.

LAST evening a tea-party of the Working Men's Branch
of the Protestant Reformation Society, established under the
patronage of Mr. Alderman Edmund Molyneux, was held
at the society's rooms, Lower Beau-street. Upwards of
300 persons were present, the upper and lower rooms
being each filled during• tea. The equipages and tables
being removed, the whole company collected in the lower
room, which was densely crowded. Various appropriate
decorations were suspended on the walls, and banners and
flags waved from the ceiling. The chair was occupied by
the Rey. W. F. Taylor (Incumbent of St. John's), and
near him on the platform were the Rev. George L. Ireland
(curate of St. John's), the Rev. W. B. S. Matthias,
the Rev. S. B. Sutton, M.A., the Rev. V. M.
White, 8.A., the Rev. T. Robinson, 8.A., Mr. W. Clarke,
Mr. T. Worrell (missionary for the Reformation Society),
and other gentlemen.
The Rev. CHAIRMAN, who was received with loud
applause, explained the object of the gathering, and that
the society in question was a branch of that British Re-
formation Society which throughout the length and breadth
of the land was busily furthering the noble objects for
which it was founded. With a view to show the necessity
for the establishment of such auxiliaries, the speaker
glanced at the operations of the Roman Catholic Church
in our own country. Of late years Rome had put forth
the most extraordinary exertions to regain, if possible, her
long-lost ascendancy in this blest country; but the Lord
grant that the ascendancy which she once had she might
never regain. (Loud cheers.) If she did regain
it, " heretical" Protestants knew what they might
expect. At present, there are 700 Romish chapels in
England-700 mass-houses ; where that which they called
a sacrifice was offered up, but which was in reality the most
hideous abomination under the eye of heaven. (Cheers.)
There were eleven colleges, where priests were being
trained for the purpose of indoctrinating the masses of
our people in Romish idolatry. There were no less than
17 monasteries and 53 nunneries, into which latter young
girls were entrapped at an early and unsuspecting age.
The speaker here expressed his opinion that no system of
nunnery inspection would answer the end in view ; for the
cunning of the priests and " reverendmothers" would still
defeat the ends ofjustice. The only remedy for the abuse was
suppression by law. (Loud cheers.) Mi. Taylor quoted from
the pastoral of the "Bishop of Southwark" several passages,
showing what he considered the blasphemous character of
that document. He described the Bishop of Southwark
as a "spiritual Judas." The passages chiefly dwelt upon
by the speaker were that which referred to the feast of the
Rosary—which festival Mr. Taylor declared was a Moorish
invention ; and that, where Catholics were directed to
repose their whole confidence upon the " all-powerful
intercession of our most blessed lady" the virgin
who was herself a poor sinner like the rest of us.
Christianity (the speaker continued) is essentially ag-
gressive ; aggressive on the wide-spread domains of
darkness, ignorance, and sin. Were it otherwise,
it would have been long since overcome, and num-
bered amongst the things that were. This aggres-
sive character of Christianity may be defended on three
grounds, not to enumerate more : first, the Saviour's
command, "Go ye into all the world and preach the
Gospel to every creature ;" for what does this command
imply, but that an aggressive movement should be made
by the Church of God on the wastes of heathenism and
error ; that the light of the Gospel should be cast upon
the darkness of the moral world, and that the dungeons
and prisons of idolatrous Error, wherein Superstition held
her myriads captive in perpetual bondage, should be
assaulted, and that the Church of God should never con-
ceive her high and holy mission accomplished until every
obstacle were overcome, and, notwithstanding the opposi-
tion of interested parties, the blessed proclamation of
redeeming mercy were poured into the ears of every sett
and daughter of Adam. In this manner the Apostles
acted ; in despite of opposition and every species of persecu-
tion, intolerant laws, popular tumult, the combined in-
fluence of a despotic government, and an interested and
designing priesthood, they preached the Gospel, in the
cities and in the fields, in the market-places and in the
highways, on the mountains, by the sea shore, in the syna-
gogues, and in the temple. True, they were beaten,
stoned, imprisoned, bound, "but the Word of God was
not bound," everything turned "rather unto the further-
ance of the Gospel ;" the cause of truth triumphed ; though
they fell in the conflict, they conquered in their fall, and
with their dying arm they planted the standard of the
Cross on the battlements of the enony, and shouted-vic-
tory. Again, philanthropy would urgeus to beaggressive in
thecauseof Christianity. The Gospel is the only means pro-
vided for the salvation of fallen man : without the Gospel,
he mast live without God, without Christ, and without hope
in the world—uncheered hy the beams of that heavenly
truth, which alone can enlighten the mind, comfort the
heart, and which brings every earthly blessing in its
train ; and, dying, he must descend to the blackness of
darkness for ever. Now who, believing that the gospel
can bless for time and eternity, and that without it man
is lost, body and soul, for even—who, I say, on the mere
ground of common, universal philanthropy, could be
otherwise than aggressive? But once more; necessity
imposes upon us an aggressive movement : for such is the
force of opposing influences, that, if not making head
against opposition, religion will be gradetelly borne back-
ward. The man who rests on his oars will speedily be
swept downwards by the current of the river ; and the
Christianity which ceases to wage, by moral means, an
aggressive warfare with all. adverse influences, will soon
become retrogressive. So that aggression is absolutely
essential to the existence of Christianity ; fk it ceases to
be truly Christian otherwise. Now these principles I
would apply to Protestantism, for Protestantism is not
a mere negation, as is generally stated, but is identical
with pure Christianity; for by Protestantism I mean
that system of religious truth which is set forth in the ,
Articles, Liturgy, and Homilies of our National Church.
The Reformation in the nth' century was accom-
plished, under God, by aggressive movements. Bold and
faithful men advanced with indomitable courage against
the powers of darkness united under the papal authority,
they unfurled aloft the standard of the Cross; they kindled
on high the beacon light of pure priinitive Chris-
tianity, and success crowned their exertions. Now, my
brethren, as the Reformation was won by aggressive Pro-
testant christianity, so' must the Reformation be main-
tained by the same.; as a matter of self:preservation, we
must no longer act as too many do, merely on the defensive;
we must assault the enemy in her strongest citadel; we
must unsheath the Sword of the Spirit, and flash its light-
ning into the centre of her encampment; we must aim at
the destruction of the enemies of the- truth by accom-
plishing their conversion, thus not onl thinning the ranks
of the. enemy but augmenting our.own. This. is the true,
the only legitimate victory which we should seek to accom-
plish—a moral' victory, a bloodless conquest, gahied not by
might, nor bypower, but by the Spinlof the Lord. (Cheers.)
I, therefore, rejoice to preside at this tea party, held for the
purpose of strengthening our hands and; our hearts in this
good cause. I hail with joy the fiemation. of a " Working
Man's Branch" of that noble and faithful witness of the
truth, whose, flag has ever braved triumphantly the battle
the " British Reformation Society." I
augur
our country, when. I see. our working men,
and
the
w
breeze,
our mechanics, our carpenters, our smiths, our shoemakers,
taking the initiative in this matter, and, as in this case,
e ufor
without being urged by the Clergy, flea forming them-
selves into 'a society havin for its object the pro-
motion of these glorious principles, and then coming
to the proper leaders of the people, the clergy of our be-
loved Church, thankful if they can secure their co-opera-
tion. They determined, with God's blessing, that, whether
supported or not, they will nail the colours to the mast
head, and never take them down untitvietory crowns their
arms. (Great applause.) The rev. chairman alluded to the
persecutions which are being carried on all over the world,
by the priests of Rome against Protestants, dwelling at
length on the brutal and disgusting case which has recently
occurred at Chelles, in France, where the corpse of a Pro-
testant farmer was dug out of the grave by the priests'
myrmidons, and dragged through the nure of the streets.
Mr. Join( BENNETT'', the secretary, then read the fol-
lowing REPORT.
At a public meeting, held in All Saints' School-room
(the Rev. H. Marlen having very kindly granted the use
of that building for the occasion), on the 14th of September,
of persons in the habit of attending the controversial lec-
tures and Sunday out-door meetings conducted by Mr.
T. Worrell, the agent in this town to the British Refor-
mation Society, the following resolutions were unanimously
adopted

"That, in consequence of the very great success which
has attended the efforts of the agent in this town, especially
at the North eml, and the general progress of the work of
reformation, it is deemed advisable to form a branch
society, to be designated the ' Liverpool Working. Men's
Branch Protestant Reformation Society,' having for its
object tho carrying out of the principles and objects of the
parent society."
" That a commodious building be procured for the pur-
pose of having weekly lectures, that a libray be formed,
and every practicable means adopted to furnish the mem-
bers with information touching the principles of the Church
of England, in contradistinction to those of the Church of
Rome."

" That every effort be made to disseminate information
among the Roman Catholics in this town, by the circula-
tion of tracts and other works on the Romish controversy ;
by the diffusion, in every, possible way, of sound Pro-
testant knowledge ; and that all legitimate means be put
forth to induce them to abandon that erroneous system."
" That, in order to carry out the object of the meeting,
every member shall contribute not less than one penny
weekly, in consideration of which he is to be entitled to
attend the lectures free, and any other privileges that
may arise in connection with the society."
" That a committee be appointed to carry out the inten-
tions of this meeting in such a manner as to the commit-
tee may appear best:"

" Tliat the committee, having taken the premises occu-
pied this evening, and succeeded in enrolling nearly 300
members, deemed it requisite to convene those members
together on the 3rd day of November, in order to adopt
rules and appoint officers. At that meeting the following
rules were agreed upon :
" Rule 1. That the society shall be designated The
Working-men's Branch of the Protestant Reformation
Society.'
" Rule 2. That it shall consist of Patron, Vice-patrons,
President, Vice-presidents, Treasurer, Secretary, Commit-
tee, and Members.
" Rule 3. That all persons professing a belief in the Holy
Trinity, who shall subscribe one penny weekly, or shall
society. pounds, shall be members of the
cvoemmittee of thirty members shall be
transact the general business of the
annually
g society,N‘eßaudonation
Rule
chosena
n 4 That
a t f five
that a
five v e constitute a quorum.
6, Rule 5. That an annual meeting of the society shall
be held at such time and place as the committee may
determine, when a report of the past year's proceedings
shall be presented, with an audited statement of the
accounts. That Alderman E. Molyneux be patron ; vice-
patrons not yet appointed. That Mr. John Parsonage be
president, and Messrs. Worrall and Grindrod be vice-
presidents. That Mr. John Johnson be treasurer. That
Mr. John Bennett be secretary. [Here follow the names
of thirty gentlemen of the committee.l
The Rev. S. B. SUTTON moved the first resolution, as
follows :--
"That the promotion of the religious principles of the
Reformation is It duty iuCumbeut 911 011 believe that