The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-02-09 00:00:00

doctrines. In sneaking on this point he was reminded of are -
mark of Lord Bacon's :—" We see Moses, when he beheld
an Egyptian contending with an Israelite, did not sly Why
strike ye ?' but drew his sword and smote the Egyptian ; but
when he saw the two Israelites contending he said " Ye are
brethren, why stoke e?" There were false slit e nents which were
Egyptians; they could have no fellowship with them; they had
nut patience to say " Why strike ye?" html drew the sword of -
the spirit Hoe slew them as falsehoods. But there were differ-
ences of opinion which were Israelites: against these they
raised no voice—they drew no sword; they said, " These are
differences of opinion, 'Why strike ye ?' " He (Kr. M.Neile)
would enter on the difficult task of giving an explanation to
this quotation from Lord Bacon. They met with a state-
ment which declared Jesus Christ to be mere man, inspired, in-
deed, to teach morals and to set a good example; but in his own
person nothing but man. It was an Egyptian; they had no
parley with it: our Prayer book condemned it, and they would
circulate our Prayer book. But he met with a brother, and one
said Meichisedech was the prince of the country ; Shen', or
some other venerable man to whom even the father of the faith-
fulliowed and paid tithes. Another said Melehisedech was the
eternal word of God, who appeared as captain of the Lord's
host to Joshua, and wrestled with Jacob, and taking on him the
'appearance of a man, came to the faithful, and received trom
him the tribute due to God's high priest. These were Israel-
itish brethren, and they said to thein, why strike ye." They
found a statement ascribing justifying merit to the works of
man, That was an Egyptian our Prayer books condemned
it. But there were brethren, one of whom said that his only
motive for leading a Christian life was, that the love of Christ
constrained him: he would hear of nothing else. Another
said he had a motive for a reward—that a cup .of cold water.
given to a disciple, was promised a reward, anti he scruples not •
to anticipate a reward. Now these were Israelites, " why strike
ye." Could they not allow the text which a brother approved
to go forth in a tract, and spread itself? Oh, "why strike ye."
Wear.) He contended that there was an united phalanx
endeavouring to foment this difference, and widen this
breach; let them disappoint these Egyptians, and show that
they were Israelites indeed. The connexion which the so-
ciety had in the education of the voting was most import-
ant; and their present position with regard to education
rendered it imperative in them so to occupy the ground as to
leave no pretence for the infliction on the country of a new
scheme of education which had been put forth with consummate
wisdom, as fat as the wisdom of this world was concerned. He
had been reading an account of this scheme by a friend, au
apologist, an eulogist of it, perhaps he might go further, by the
author of the bill itself, in an article in the Edinburgh Review.
With the permission of his Lordship he would set beture the
meeting a little of the machinery of this bill, in order to call the
attention of his respected rev. brethren to it. He thought they
would have themselves to blame if this scheme were ever in-
flicted on the country. If they thought it never could be suc-
cessful in its present nibbling attempts on the public mind, it ,
would gain a hold on the public mind which would render their
opposition useless when called for. It was premised that there
should be a central board to co-operate with different autho-
rities in the country to establish national schools, Where
there existed town councils, these were to be the local autho-
rities; where they did not exist, school committees were tube
appointed, chosen from .the mass of the inhabitants, and hav-
ing a right to vote at the Meetings governing the schools. The
right to vote was derived from a knowledge qualification; not
a qualification of rate-payers, or holders of land or property of
any other kind, but a knowledge qualification. The central
board was authorised to control all mechanics institutioes, and
all literary societies, whether corporations or not. It was
proposed that the names of the members should be enrolled with
the length of time they have been members; if a member of
one of these societies has been a member one year to receive a
certificate to that effect; if three years, to receive a three years'
certificate, and these qualifications gave a right to sit on the
school committee. The central hoard in London would merely
have a training school to. teach masters to send to the various
schools in the country. The writer said the central board would
have no power of forcing a school on any neighbourhood,but if
the local authorities refused to establish schools on their plan,
they were debarred all aid in the establishment of schools on
any other. Mr. M`Neile then ;contended that the masters so
trained would be superior to, and therefore supersede the old
masters, and create a demand, for them in the country, and of
necessity in their training on this system, all religious bias must
I be left out of the question, so that at best we should but have
schools where the intellect only was taught, while the moral
diameter and the religions principle of the children would be
I left.quite untouched. But the teachers might be the teachers
I, of infidelity. Thus the religious principles and murals of the
great mass of the population of the country would be placed
under the formation of the central board. The general
education had no reference to moral character. No man
was made a good husband by being a good chemist, a
gocld, brother by being made a good astronomer, kind to his
parents by being a good geographer, a lover of truth by a
knowledge of botany, chaste by a knowledge of phrenology,
or sober by being a good physiologist. It would not do; they
must teach him Christianity, they must teach him God's loving
Son, and teach him the prayer-book. This was what they
wanted in their schools more than general knowledge—know-
ledge which puffed ua the intellect and rendered a men only a
more clever instrument for the itinerant deuta or the se-
cret forger. (Lund applause.) He implored on his lordship,
and the heads of the church, to themselves bring forward a
ge-
neral measure of education, to stand forward as their leaders,
and unite them in advocating a measure, and not let them waste
their strength in making defensive objections to an adverse
measure.
Dr. FRECKLETON seconded the resolution, which was unani-
mously adopted.
Mr. SANDBACH proposed the next resolution, that the thanks
of the meeting be given to the officers of the society for their
services during the past year, and nominating the officers for
the year ensuing.
Mr. CHARLES PARKER had much pleasure in seconding the
resolution, which was unanimously adopted.
The Rev. Mr. HESKETH proposed the thanks of the meeting
to the Lord Bishop of the diocese, for his presence, and fur the
zeal which he had shoWn on behalf of the society, which was
seconded by Mr. Barker, and carried by acclamation.
The Right. Rev. PRELATE in returning thanks, urged the
necessity of enrolling as many laymen as possible in their,
ranks, to assist them in instigating parents to send their chil-
dren to the schools which existed, and to add to their funds.
None of the schools which existed were full. There was no
want of schools in the countrsc and if the .new system of educa-
tion was brought about, the achools would not fill without the
parents were urged to send their children, and the power of
doing this ur not, would be in the hands of the clergy. After a
short prayer from his lordship, the meeting broke up at three
o'clock.