The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-11-01 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OP THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

SIB,—In common with many of the well-disposed in-
-habitants of Liverpool, I have, for a considerable time,
hieard, with regret, rumours of the unpleasant state of
feeling existing between the divided, rather than the joint,
_incumbents of St. Michael's Church, in regard to matters
-.of doctrine and church polity. Being unwilling to believe
:that any disposition of uncharitableness could in reality
sexist between two ministers of Christ—men set aside for
-the purpose of inculcating, by precept and example, that
linmility of speech and demeanour—that love and charity
-of disposition, of which our blessed Lord Himself set so
-beautiful an example, and which while on earth He en-
forced, by the most pointed injunctions, not upon his dis-
ciples and immediate followers alone, but upon all
-Christians—l turned a deaf ear to the scandal, and set it

down as part of those evil workings by which the enemies
of the Church and the foes of true religion sought
to -begrime the fair and comely face of Christianity.
1 am sorrowfully disabused of this fallacious belief.
I)uring the past week society has rung with discus-
sion, and the public prints have teemed with conflicting
-versions of a transaction which, under the names of " Ex-
traordinary Scene in a Church," " Disgraceful Scene in St.
Ifichael's Church," " Scandalous Proceedings," &c., has
been flourished to the infinite scandal of the Church, and
MO small danger to the best interests of Christianity itself.
The versions professing to account for and to describe
'these discreditable proceedings, differ considerably from
each other, it is true, on trivial points, but they agree in
the main facts of the unseemly scenes which on Sunday
last were enacted in St. Michael's Church. I enter not
_into the details of alleged grievances, and make no account
of the personal bickerings and disagreements, which, it is
mow only too plain, have existed between the incum-
lbents,—embittering their own lives, ruining their chances
sof usefulness, and raising the banner of vindictiveness and
Tersonal hostility among the .different sections of their
llock,—but shall confine my view to the undenied facts of
the case, as these appear in all the versions published
in the local journals • for rumour, with her customary
(diligence and understood freedom, has given to the World
ifictures of the scenes, embellished with varying hues, and
',encumbered with conflicting attributes, according to the
_Aleanings of the respective narrators.
On the morning and afternoon of Sunday last it
Appears, to have been known that the Rev. Mr. Morrall
and another clergyman were to officiate in that church,
-whose views on some doctrinal points are not participated
In by many of the congregation. The assemblages con-
gregated on the occasion were, it seems, larger than
-arffmary, and so soon as the Rev. Mr. Morrall, in the
Jamming, had given out his text, and had uttered a few
--words of his sermon, a large body of the congregation
rose en mane and left the church ; a similar course of
-conduct being observed towards the Rev. Mr. Pughe in
the afternoon. Such is the literal history of the facts,
denuded of all embellishment ; and such a proceeding, I
liave little hesitation in saying, is fully worthy of the
--worst title which has been bestowed on it. Not one of all
-those who took part in this theatrical manner of markiis
his disapprobation of the doctrines he personally dislik
could be so ignorant as not to know that his individ
lact was, even if isolated, likely to disturb others in their
Adevotions ; but if it was in obedience to a preconcerted
scheme, as has been more than insinuated, words cannot
he found sufficiently condemnatory of that conduct which
-could thus render the temple of God the scene for unmask-
ing a gross and uncharitable conspiracy. In this latter
-point of view the proceedings assume an aspect of so
'hideous a character, that I shall not pursue this subject
-farther, contenting myself with recommending the insti-
gators of such scenes to a more attentive study of that
gospel whose maxims are peace, charity, and goodwill, than
appears hitherto to have regulated their conduct towards
-each other.

To both the clergy and laity of St. Michael's, as well as
-*of all other churches, I would humbly suggest a perusal
and practical application of the noble sentiments uttered
by Burke. " I wish," says that eminent statesman, "to see
^the established Church of England great and powerful ;
wish to see her foundations laid low and deep, that she
may crush the giant powers of rebellious darkness ; I
'would have her head raised up to that Heaven to which
*he conducts us. I would have her open wide her hospitable
.mates by a noble and liberal comprehension; but I would
have no breaches in her wall ; I would have her cherish all
-those who are within, and pity all those who are without ;
I would have her a common blessing to the world, an ex-
mple, if not an instructor, to those who have not the
happiness to belong to her. I would have her give a les-
- -won of peace to mankind, that a vexed and wandering
:generation might be taught to seek for repose and tolera-
-lion in the maternal bosom of Christian charity, and not
-in the harlot lap of infidelity and indifference."
I am, Sir, - A LOVER OF PEACE.

ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

'Six,—l shall feel greatly obliged if you will permit me
'to offer a few remarks upon the statement made by a cor-
zespondent on Tuesday last, respecting the painful scene
-witnessed at St. Michael's Church last Sunday week. The
"'triter says that I have preached two or three sermons at
;Et. Michael's, and always controversially. I have preached
ten sermons at St. Michael's, and in seven of these no allu-
sion was made either to the two parties in the church or
to the points of controversy between them ; in the other
three, there were a few remarks bearing upon two contro-
--rerted questions, preaching upon the words, " He bath an
unchangeable priesthood." I stated that the word priest
Is never applied to a minister of the Gospel in the New
Testament, and that our reformers had studiously excluded
the word altar from the prayer-book, though originally
found in the first prayer-book of King Edward. In a
second sermon, on the subject of the New Birth, I stated
that baptismal regeneration had long been a matter of
great controversy, but I conceived that the all-important
squestion was not so much as to when we were regenerated,
as to whether we had sufficient evidence that such a
change had taken place. On this occasion, I said the
iquestion of baptismal regeneration is one upon which the
best, wisest, and most learned men have differed in opinion
end that it would, therefore, ill become me to dogmatize
uponsuch a question. On a thirdoccasion, in replying to the
abjection urged by dissenters, that the strong language
employed by our Church in her burial and baptismal ser-
vices is not sanctioned by the Word of God, I merely said
that it appeared to me that all the services of our Church,
-without exception, were hypothetical, and that the words
in the baptismal services—no more than in any other—
were to be considered dogmatical and absolute. This is
the substance of all I have said in the whole ten sermons
that can be considered at all controversial.
I must now make my appeal to your readers, whether.
your correspondent was justified in making the unquali-
ted statement that I had preached two or three times,
lend always controversially. A fortnight before the Rev.
Pughe preached his first sermon at St. Michael's,
I had taken up the subject of justification by faith, and
:promised, at the close of my sermon, that I would take an
early opportunity of resuming it. This I had intended to
do the Sunday after Mr. Pughe's first appearance at St.
Michael's ; but, up to the present time, I have not doneiso.
Speaking upon this subject, Mr. Pughe said, " considering
the conduct of some of those who hold that justification
faith alone is the test of a standing or falling church,
3 think it would be far more correct to say, that justifica-
tion by works should be the test of a standing or falling
church." It was for the express purpose of avoiding con-
troversy with Mr. Pughe, that I have not yet resumed the
subject. I doubt not it will be gratifying to the public to
know, that a friendly arrangement has been entered into
'by the Revds. Henry Carpenter and Cyrus Morrall.—
Tours, &c., JOSEPH BARDSLEY.
P.S.—Since penning the above statement, the writer of
the account given in your paper has expressed to me his
great regret that my name should have been mentioned at
all in connexion with the proceedings at St. Michael's ;
lie has read my letter, and has kindly permitted me to ap-
pend this postscript, being satisfied with the explanation
it furnishes. J. B.

SAVINGS-BANK ArmumEs,—The law relating to these,
annuities has been altered by the 16th and 17th of
-Victoria, chap. 46, which came in force on the 10th of
lOctober. Annuities may now be contracted for at the
rational Debt-offices, any day between ten and three
°dock, without any fee being payable by the purchaser,
'o tY.may be purchased of the Commissioners for the
„fficeuml of the National Debt, through the agency, of
Ender7,,f savings-banks, who may charge for an annuity
a-he anl2
.a See of 55.., and for every £6 55., up to £3O 30s.
of a dae'rT.,e,s are immediate or deferred. The purchaser
after his deatlT°neY
Purchase life annuity can, if he think proper, have
returnable to him, if demanded; or,
mint of the age. )1.% representatives, provided no instal-
-23116 annuity wiZtY has been paid, or he can purchase
iut the purchase money being return-
sae. The tables
.4gratis) At the IsTati,,,s.s, li_eeessary forms can be °Willed
National Vebt-dfice old Jewry.