The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-10-22 00:00:00

MR. BRINDLEY AND THE SOCIALISTS

About half-past one o'clock on Wednesday last, Mr. John
Brindley, the distinguished controversialist against socialism,
appeared at the Police-court, and, handing Mr. Rushton a
book containing the rules and regulations of a society esta-
blished by the socialists, denominated " The. Benefit Society
of Rational Religionists," asked whether an opportunity was
afforded to persons for obtaining money back from the soci-
ety in question, which professed to be enrolled under the act
of parliament for the establishment of general benefit clubs ?
He said that many persons had paid sums of money into it,
and that when they wanted assistance, in cases of sickness
or want, it appeared to him, after a perusal of the rules, that
they had no power of obtaining such assistance.

Kir. Rushton asked what Object the society professed to

have in view ?

Mr. Brindley said the parties called it a " benefit society,"
but he could see no definite pledge given by them of benefit.
Mr. Rushton said that if it was a benefit society it must
have been enrolled under act of parliament.
Mr. Brindley said that Mr. Tidd Pratt had signed the do-
cuments as being in accordance with the act of parliament.
Mr. Rushton said he observed a clause in one of the rules
whereby all disputes were referred to arbitration.
Mr. Ellis, magistrate's clerk, informed the court that there
was no dispute at present.
Mr. Brindley restated that his object at present was to
ascertain whether the money which had been subscribed
could be got back, and to see whether any benefit existed.
Mr. Rushton said that so far as he could make out the ob-
ject of the society from the rules, it appeared to he composed
of persons calling themselves " rational religionists, for the
purpose of getting contributions of capital, and forming a
common property.
Mr. Brindley said there was one rule which laid it down
that the parties subscribing were to have *assistance in cases
of sickness and want. There were a great many persons who
had contributed to the funds, and some of them largely,
during the last five or six years, but finding now that they
could claim no benefit, they were desirous of knowing whe-
ther they had any power to claim their money back. If the
question could be answered it might have the effect of pre-
' venting persons from joining a society of the kind. There
was one case in which two poor women, whose husbands had
contributed largely to the funds, were desirous of recovering,
if they could, some of the money, and he feared there were
many more similar cases. He believed that societies of the
kind were calculated to do a deal of mischief. Hundreds of
persons had subscribed in the present instance, and the fact
of parties having stated that the society had been formed
under an act of parliament had given some pretensions to
the thing.
Mr. Rushton said the objects of the society appeared to be
fully set forth in the ninth rule. One object was that of
universal charity. It professed to afford rational employment
and peaceable changes in life. The funds were to be raised
from time to time for mutual assistance, to afford education
to the members, and relief in cases of sickness or other na-
tural ailments. He asked whether any of the parties were
sick ? whether any natural contingencies bad arisen ? and
who were the officers of the society ? _ . .

Mr. Brindley said that Mr. Finch appeared to be the prin-
cipal officer, lie observed that if Mr. Rushton would keep
the book, look it over, and give an answer to the question,
he would be doing a great act of kindness to numbers of per-
sons who had subscribed.
Mr. Rushton promised to do so, but said that he could see
nothing, from the cursory view he had been able to take of
the book, which would give him jurisdiction in the matter,
Mr Brindley asked when he should wait on the court again?
Mr. Rushton replied the following day.
Mr. Brindley then retired.
[Nothing further took place yesterday, Mr. Brindley, for
some reason, did not appear in court. 3

COXIMITMENT.-Yesterday, at the police-court, an
abandoned woman, named Catherine Hughes, was com-
mitted for trial at the sessions for robbing a sailor of
£4 lOs. 6d., and pawning some of his clothes. The poor
fellow was imprisoned and tleoced by a gang of WOII3CII. The
pawnbroker, Kewley, of Marlbopoughtstrcet, was severely
seprimanded, and cautioned for taking it; the :clothes from
such a character.

CHARGE OF Ass aur.T,—Mr. Anderson, Clerk of the Cole,.
brook Iron Company, appeared to answer a charge of assault,
to be preferred against him by Mr. Marcus, tobacconist, &.c.,
Church-street. The complainant said, that being employed
at thqpCnroniele office, he had occasion, on Friday week, to
go to/the Colebrook Company's office, to solicit for an ad-
vertisement for the Chronicle, which had appeared in some
of the other papers. Ile found the defendant there, and
asked for permission to insert it. The defendant said he had
given it for the Journal, and made a remark to the effect
that the Chronicle was not one of the best conducted papers
in the town. Complainant said that was no business of his
(defendant's).—Mr. Rushton : " Yes, but it was : he went
to solicit a favour, and he should not have used such an ex-

pression "-

—The complainant continued :—He (defendant)
said he would not give the advertisement, and complainant
remarked that the Journal was a Catholic paper. and had a
very different circulation from the Chronicle. Whereupon.
Mr. Anderson said, " What is that you say about the Ca-
tholics ?" and then going up to him, knocked off his hat,
which contained his papers, and struck him. I 4 cross-exa-
mination, complainant denied that he lead peen ordered to
leave the place, or that he had said he world stop there as
long as he pleased. The defendant had also accused him of
being drunk at the time, which he could prove was untrue,
by parties who had seen him just before and after the assault.
He had at first put the case into the hands of an attorney,
but did not prosecute it in that way, because he could not
find a witness who saw the assault, and had given his name,
and because he could not himself be heard as a witness in a
civil case. The same reason had caused the delay in bring-
ing it into that court. The defendant did nut order him out;
and he (complainant) heard all that was said. He admitted
tleta tothjej
hi le
a little dull of hearing. The defendant seid
that, when the complainant asked him fgt. the advertisement,
h
he had already given it to the Journni, and did
not wish it to appear so Qften in the same week. The coins
plainant then said, " Oh, you support the Catholics, do
you?" lie was told that that was no matter of his, and he
then threatened to strike him, (defendant,) putting himself
in an attitude of fighting. Defendant then told him to go
out, and he refused, asking him if he were a principal. The
reply was, that he had the management in the absence of his
employers. He then pushed him to get him out and a
scuffle ensued, in which his (complainant's) hat fell off. He
(complainant) also took up the mat that was at the door, and
endeavoured to strike him with it. He afterwards called on
Mr. Ross, who said that his statement altered the com-
plexion of the case. Mr. Rushton said that the better way
to conduct business was with civility—refraining from re-
marks that might give offence. It appeared that the com-
plainant bad not done so, but had- given considerable provo-
cation, and that the defendant had properly removed him
from the premises with no more force than was necessary roc
that purpose. The case was accordingly dismissed.

rNiNc4 OF G RgAT GEOIGE-STREET
CHAPEL.

This elegant and spacious place of worship, which
has just been erected on the site of the former chapel,
(destroyed by fire) was opened yesterday.
Before we proceed to detail the circumstances of the
opening, it may not be unacceptable to our readers if
we insert from the columns of a contemporary a de-
scription of the structure as an ornament to the town,
and point out the accommodation it afibrds

" The site is at the junction of two roads, Great George
and Nelson streets, forming an acute angle, for which the
former chapel, being a parallelogram, was obviously unsuit-
able. The present building is placed several yards backwards,
thereby giving space for-a circular vestibule of 23 feet clear
diameter fronting Great George-street; which, together with
the surrounding portico, renders its connexion with that
street, from which it takes its name, more appropriate.
" The whole of the front and two flanks arc executed in
freestone, commonly known as Park stone,' the durability
and tone of colour having been long established, being similar
to that used in the beautiful pile of the Exchange-buildings.
" The principal elevation consists of a portico of ten fluted
columns, of the Corinthian order, after the elegant example
of the Temple of Jupiter Stator. The height of the column,
including the plinth, base, and capital, is 33 feet, the shaft
being in one stone, a circumstance without precedent in this
country. The entire base of this front is approached by a
flight of eight steps, corresponding in outline with the portico,
and of stone from the Yorkshire quarries.
" The front wall, from which the portico stands out in bold
relief, is in channelled ashlar, with only three openings
therein, the centre of which forms the general entrance to
the whole chapel, the other two being for exit only. The
columns are surmounted by an entablature enriched with
carved modillions and dentiles, and the cymatium with lions'
heads. _ _ _ _ . .

" The circular portion of the portico roof is formed with
stone in radiating courses, having moulded ribs and termi-
nals. Above this is an appropriate continuation of the cir-
cular vestibule, the centre of which is enriched with a conti-
nuous perforated quillochi, to light the vestibule. Above
the cornice is a trussed springer tbr the dome, which is pa-
nelled and ribbed, and surmounted with a carved gilt lineal.
" The flanks of the building :are decorated with pilasters
(ten on each side), with continued plinth and base course
capitals, and enriched entablature, corresponding with the
front elevation, these sides being terminated with an attic.
Between the pilasters are lofty windows, with circular heads,

•
and surrounded with moulded architraves, eighteen in num-
ber, and by which means the spacious interior is abundantly
lighted.
" The extreme length of the building, including the por-
tico, is 127 feet, and the breadth 66 feet. There is pew ac-
commodations for 1,750 persons, besides children's galleries.
" The entrance to the ground-floor is through corridors,
leading from the vestibule right and left.
" The principal portion of the pews are curved on the plan,
and each seat rises above. the other as they retreat from the

pulpit. They are arranged throughout so that the whole
congregation may face the minister. The aisles leading to
the raised seals are inclined planes.
- " The pulpit is of elabOrate design, and, together with the
staircase, is executed in Dantzic oak.
" The organ is one of the largest in town, and has been
executed by Mr. Hill, of London, the builder of the organs
in York Minster and Birmingham Town-hall. The design
of the case is of playful composition, and much enriched.
The corner towers are composed of Corinthian columns, with
gilt pipes between ; and the centre tower is three parts of a
circle, composed of gilt pipes 15 feet high, under a richly-
carved canopy. The height of the organ is 26 feet, and the
extreme breadth 21 feet.

"The entrance. to the gallery is from the vestibule by a
handsome double staircase, of stone, geometrically con-
structed. There is a gallery round the vestibule, under
which is placed a monument, of chaste design, opposite the
entrance door,in memory of the revered Spencer. The ves-
tibule ceiling is domed and enriched with sunk moulded
coffers.

"The ceiling of the chapel is divided into panels, which
are double sunk, moulded and enriched, and bounded by an
enriched quillochi, perforated for ventilation.
"The centre of the ceiling is circular, deeply sunk, the
sides of which are composed of open ornamental stucco work,
for ventillation ; round the edge of this sinking is a continued
fret on the face of the ceiling ; the centre flower is in bold
relief, from which is to be suspended a handsome chande-
lier, by which the whole of the gallery and the middle por-
tion of the ground floor will be lighted, when required for
evening service. The windows are finished with enriched
archivolts springing from an enriched continued impost.
"The ground-floor, underneath the galleries, is lighted with
eighteen massive wall-brackets, one to every pier between
the windows, and one each over the doors leading to the
children's staircases, at the back of the chapel, together
with three double pendents under the deep gallery in front,
all o similar pattern, and made to the architect's design, each
bracket supporting a triple light, issuing from a sprig, and
the whole being richly gilt. The intended chandelier, now
being executed, will be nine feet in diameter, and contain a
hundred lights. This mode of lighting the chapel has been
adopted that the reciprocal view of the minister and congre-
gation may not be intercepted. The whole of the' seats in
the ground-floor and galleries are handsomely furnished with
crimson moreen cushions, to secure completeness and uni-
formity.

" The basement contains two spacious school-rooms and a
lecture-room, to accommodate 450 persons, for weekly ser-
vices; also, a library and vestry, with other minor apart-
ments. The vestries for the minister and deacons are com-
prised in a wing to the building, at the rear of the chapel-
yard, which presents a front of four lonic columns supporting
a plain entablature, the only relic of the former structure.
The chapel-yard is enclosed with handsome iron palisades, of
chaste design, and four entrance gates, the pillars of which
form pedestals for lamps ; which, together with the footpath
from Great George to Nelson-street, correspond in outline
with the circular flight of steps."
. .

The services connected with the opening commenced with a
preparatory prayer meeting at seven o'clock in the morning.
Divine service was performed in the chapel in the forenoon,
commencing with the singing of the Hundreth Psalm, after
which the Scriptures were read by the Rev. Dr. Raffles, the
minister, in an impressive tone and with a most commanding
manner. The chapters selected were the 100th and 132nd
Psalm, the Gth and part of the 7th chapter of the 2d Book of
Chronicles—all having reference to the building of the tem-
ple. After this the Doctor offered almost appropriate prayer,
dedicatory of the building to the worship of Almighty God.
The sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. Fletcher, of Step-
ney, London, from the 9th verse of the 2d chapter of the
Prophet Haggai—" The glory of this latter house shall be
greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts ; and in
this place will I give peace, saith the Lord oflhosts." From
this passage the Doctor delivered an excellent practical
sermon.
After service a dinner was provided in the Sehool-room,
underneath the Chapel. A considerable number of ladies
and gentlemen sat down, and several addresses were delivered
by ministers and others.
At three o'clock in the afternoon, divine service was again
performed, the sermon being preached by the Rev. John
Kelly, minister of Crescent Chapel. Another service took
place in the evening, at which the Rev. James Parsons, of
York, delivered a very eloquent sermon.