The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-02-15 00:00:00

CHURCH PASTORAL AID SOCIETY,

The anniversary meeting of the Liverpool Church
Pastoral Aid Society was held last night in the Collegiate
Institution, the Lord Bishop of Chester in the chair.
Amongst the clergy and laity on the platform we noticed
the Revs. Dr. M'Neile, F. Barker, F. Ouid, W. Rawson,
J. Jones, W. M`Naught, J. Lawrence, J. W. Lester, W.
M. Falloon, W. F. Taylor, G. Reade, C. Lawrence, W.
H. Wright, J. Bardslev, J. Ellison, J. Hughes, W.
Moore, J. Marland, R. Sayers, Power, T. L. Pain, J.
Nadin, T. 0. Powell, D. Anderson, W. Brewster. T. C.
Cowan, T. M. Lister, J. J. Butler, H. Jones, S. Sutton,
Messrs. T. D. Anderson, W Jones, H. J. Webster, J.
Grantham, A Hodgson, R. A. Payne.
The Right Rev. CHAIRMAN opened the proceedings in
an appropriate address, which we regret being unable to
publish at length, in consequence of the unusual demand
upon our space. His lordship observed that the society
was but one mode of carrying out the original design of
the Church on the first formation of the parochial system,
when the country was divided into parishes, which were
much smaller than they were at the present time, and
when the clergymen was able to visit all his people at
their private dwellings. At that time our parochial
system might he said to he in practice what it now was only
in theory. Since that time our population had rapidly in-
creased, and the consequence was, the clergymen were no
longer adequate to the increase. After referring to the
establishment of this society a few years ago by a few in-
fluential individuals of enlightened philanthropy, he
traced its progress, and after referring to the many
advantages it had been the means of conferring
upon the friends of the Church, he proceeded to
urge its claims to support upon a community like
Liverpool. He said they were thankful for what
Liverpool had already done, but he hoped they would not
take it amis if he said, which he did without unkindness,
that much more yet remained to be done. Mr. Naylor,
of this town, had set a noble example by placing at the
disposal of the Additional Curates' Society a sum of money
sufficient to maintain two curates. This was a noble act,
but let him say that he regarded it as a sort of challenge
to others to imitate so noble an example, and he believed,
from what he knew of Liverpool, that there were others
who were willing to imitate it. His Lordship then re-
ferred to the three rev. gentlemen who had come to the
meeting from the Parent Society, as a deputation. He was
sure they would receive those gentlemen as they always did
in that room, with a kind and hearty welcome, which was
due to gentlemen of such eminence in their sacred pro-
fession. (Cheers.) And when he added that Dr. M'Neile
would also take part in the proceedings—(loud cheers,) he
need not say more at present, but sit down.
The SECRETARY then read the Report, from which we
make the following extract, as more particularly referring
to the Society's operations in Liverpool :
"Your Committee are happy to perceive that in our
own immediate locality the position of the Society is also
steadily improving—new branches have been added to
those already formed ; a more general interest in their
successful working is evinced by many congregations ; the
number of subscribers and church collections is increased,
and a larger sum is annually returned to the Parent
Society.

" This is matter for thankfulness to the Author of all
good, and should encourage the friends of the Society in
their future exertions in its behalf.
" At the same time, the Committee cannot conceal
from themselves or the public the lamentable fact that
Liverpool still drawsJrom the Society a much larger sum
than it contributes to them, and consequently still con-
tinues a serious hindrance to its usefulness in other less
wealthy and influential localities.
" With this limitation, however, we have reason to be
thankful for the improvement which is evidently percep-
tible in every department of our local association.
" In illustration of this, we would specify a few details.
" Table showing progress during the last four years :
Sermons and
No. of Branches. Church Remitted to
Collections. Parent Society.

1850,
1851.
1852.
1853.

" It must not, however, be forgotten, that the grants
from the Society have also increased within the same
period ; they now amount to 28 in all, 18 being for clergy-
men and 10 for lay assistants, involving an annualexpense
to the Society of £2,240
" This all betokens evident progress, and proves that
our town is every year growing more sensible of the merits
of the Society, and more willing to co-operate with it in
its work."

After the reading of the report, Mr. JOHN GRANTHAM
read the collections made at the different Churches on
Sunday last, so far as they have been received, which are
as follow :

St. Alban's, £3 3s. ; All Saints, £ll Is. Bd. ; St.
Andrew's, £44 11s.; St. Augustine's, £29; St. Bartho-
lomew's, £l4 Ils. 6d.; St. Bride's, £B5 Is. 2d ; Christ
Church, £22 ss. • Christ Church, Everton, £l3 15s ;
St. Clement's, Windsor, £l5 15s. ; St. George's, Ever-
ton, £46 les. 9d. ; St. James's, Toxteth-park, £29 Bs. ;
St. Jude's, £26 ls. 10d. ' • St. Luke's, £ll lls. ; St.
Mark's, £5l 3s. ; St. Mary's, Bootle, £2l 8•3.; St.
Mary's Wavertree, £8 ss. ; St. Matthew's, Toxteth,
£6 17s. ; St. Paul's. £3 12s. ; St. Paul's, Prince's-park,
£ll5 2s. 6d.; St. Peter's, Everton, £2l 10s. 6d. ; St.
Saviour's, £56 4s. Id. ; Seaforth, £2l 4s. 2d. ; St. Si-
las's, £24; St. Stephen-the-Martyr, Crown-street, £8
4s. 3d; Sr. Thomas's, Park-lane, £lO ; St. Thomas's,
Toxteth, £8 Os. sd.
The Rev. EDW. AURIOL, Rector of St. Dunstan's,
London, gave an interesting but melancholy description
of the spiritual destitution which existed, particularly in
the metropolis, the population of which had increased
from 1841 to 1851 to an extent equal to the whole popu-
lation of Liverpool ; and yet during all this time there
had been little or no increase in the means of religious
instruction. Be gave some particulars of the scenes
which bad been witnessed by district visitors in some of
the lodging-houses, where great numbers were living
together in a state worse than that of many animals.
He went on to describe the comparison in many large
towns between the numbers of the population and the
facilities for indulging in vice, with the little means at
disposal for giving to these poor creatures the blessed
truths of the Gospel. Such a state of things was a cause
for national humiliation, and he trusted it would stimu-
late those whom he addressed to increased exertions in
behalf of the Pastoral Aid Society. He would now
turn to more encouraging facts ; and it was encour-
aging that, whereas 17 years since, their income was
only £7OOO it had now reached £34,000. It was also
encouraging that they had been enabled to make 921
grants, and further that they were now better enabled
than at any time to make grants for pastoral assistance.
In every case where grants were made they made it a con-
dition that the services of the church should be increased
in number, and it was encouraging to know that they had
been the means of adding 1252 services weekly to the
church, in addition to a great number of private classes.
He cited several instances of the good which had been effected
through personal visitations, and the fruits which had
resulted from the operations of the society, and called
upon those whom he addressed to give their best aid, and
above all their prayers, in order that the society might be
enabled to respond to the call for forty-three more grants,
which only the want of funds prevented them from making.
He concluded by moving that the report be adopted,
printed and circulated, and nominated the list of the com-
mittee for the ensuing year.

The Rev. H. Hterro .'. :Rector of St.Paurs,Covent-garden,
London, seconded the motion. He considered their Society
the best which existed, for though charity ought not to end
at home, it certainly ought to begin there. The mover of
the resolution had given them some particulars of the
Society, but he would further say that their present num-
ber of grants Was 284 for additional clergymen, and 115
for lay agents. Of these 51 were to the diocese in which
they were assembled, 52 to Manchester, and 43 to Ripon.
This, however, was but a report of the quantity, but there
was equal reason to be satisfied with the quality. The
speaker then described what had been done in the parish
of St. Giles, London, where, out of a population of 15,000,
there were between 7000 and 8000 Romanists. The In-
cumbent had laboured uueaasingly with this class of his
parishioners, and he ( Mr. Hutton) had assisted him in a
course of controversial lectures, one of which he very
graphically described, and stated that the result was a very
fair attendance of these people, chiefly Irish labourers, at
an early Sunday service in the Irish language. He then gave
some extracts from the diary of a lay agent, descriptive of
various cases with which he had to deal, including a
Romanist family, to whom he had introdnced a knowledge
ofthe Scriptures; andalsoa female outcast,whom hehad been
the means of restoring as a penitent to her home. He
went on to describe the good effected by the society in
places where temporary aid was required for a population
sometimes called together for a temporary purpose, such
as mining and similar works. All these were reasons
why the society should receive that support which was
necessary to enable them to continue their exertions, and
he concluded by a forcible appeal in its behalf.
The resolution was put by the Right Rev. CHAIRMAN,
and carried unanimously.
The Rev. J. H. TITCOMB, of Cambridge, moved the
next resolution. He described the parish of Barnwell, of
which he was the incumbent, as containing 9,000 inha-
bitants. Of his parishioners, 73 were convicted criminals ;
89 suspected, though not yet convicted ; 107 abandoned
women; and there was one public-house for every ten
male adults. He then alluded to the exertions which
had been made to reform this evil through the as-
sistance rendered by the society, and attributed the
good which had been done to its operations. They
had reason to be thankful for the good which they
had been the means of doing, but far Liao;, remained to
be done, and this should stimulate them t, continue and
increase their exertions. He recommended the delivery
of popular lectures during the winter season, as a power-
-1 ful means of bringing together working men, and he also
suggested open air preaching during the summer season.
He detailed several instances of his own success in this
way, as during last summer he had several times preached
in the open air, and had reason to believe that the word
had found its way to those who would never have come to
church. He said he had a moveable iron pulpit which
the sexton conveyed in a wheelbarrow to the appointed
spot, he, the parson, following in his gown and bands, and
it was a pleasing fact that he had never been interrupted
or annoyed, but had generally met with marks of respect.
He concluded by moving the second resolution, whic b
affirmed the necessity of continued and increasing ex-
ertions.
The Rev. Dr. M'NEILE seconded the resolution in his
usual felicitous manner; but owing to the
late
period to
which the proceedings had been protracted,
fact. we
said areunathbalet
vr
to do more than briefly state the_
Heen described
England, at public meetings. .
Christian England ; but that nightas often
they had listened atos
details, which showed that, even in Christian England,
there were vast masses of heathenism, which required the
most active exertions to counteract them, Why was
this ? There was an enemy at work, and had been for
years endeavouring to undermine their Protestantism.
Plot after plot had been laid and defeated, and there was a
plot going on now. One after the other their agents re-
ported that their great enemy was Rome, and with Rome
the contest was being carried on, he trusted, with suc- i
cosh for she reports were of the most favourable cbarac-

ter. The reverend Doctor went on to describe the various
occasions in which Rome had shown her antagonism to
Christianity in England, and concluded by seconding the
resolution, which was carried unanimously; and thanks
having been voted to the Right Rev. Chairman by accli-
mation, the meeting shortly afterwards broke up.

CHAMBER OF

COMMERCE.

The first monthly meeting of the Council, since the an-
nual general meeting, was held vesterday. Francis Shand,
Esq., was elected president, Thomas Bouch, Esq., vice-
president, and Samuel Stitt, Esq., treasurer. The fol-
!ring committees were re-appointed, viz. : Communica-
tions and offices, customs, and postal—standing com-
mittees; commercial law and tribunals of com-
merce ; dock arrangements and export trade ; survey cer-
tificates ; and sound dues and Russia company—special
committees. .

vv
The resolution of the general meeting on the subject of
commercial law was referred to the special committee;
that on the subject of ships mortgages was also referred
to a special committee.