The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-11-10 00:00:00

such a thing on the public. (Applause.) The writer.in the
Morning Chronicle, in the exuberance of his liberality,
says tHere the reverend gentleman read an extract
from the newspaper in his hand which advocated freedom of
thought and freedom of speech, and said that differences in
theological opinions were the only safeguard of such.] Who
are the men, what is the system that would aim to put an end
to freedom of thought and speech. (Cries of " Popery.")
Send that answer to the Morning Chronicle. (Laughter and
cheers.) You will be glad to hear that I have been favoured
with a letter containing a report by a legal gentleman, of pro-
ceedings in the court yesterday in London, when Mr. Cress-
well moved for a new trial in the matter Hearne a. Stowell.

Mr. Cresswell s first objection was on the ground of mis-
direction; that the judge had given a direction to the jury
which his lordship should not have given. Mr. Cressweli

alleged that the instructions given by the judge were wrong.
The question whether the inference of malice was proved
ought to have been left to the jury and not decided by the
judge. Lord Denman said that on this point they would see
the judges before they could come to any decision. Mr.
Cresswell then moved an arrest of judgment, on the ground
that the declaration did not alledge the application of any
matter which was necessarily libellous on the plaintiff; it
was merely a general attack on the Church of Rome. The
judge concurred in this view, and immediately granted a rule
on this point. My friend who writes, says to me :—" The
judge granted a rule in arrest of judgment, and as to the ap-
plication on the ground of misdirection by Baron Rolfe, he
must confer with him upon it before he would decide. To

the result of the application on both grounds I think we may
look forward with confidence." I may just add to this that
no one can be more anxious than Mr. Stowell to have the in-

vestigation reopened, that evidence may be adduced to prove
that penance on a large scale is submitted to and is made a
common practice with the Roman Catholics. With regard
to what has been already stated, the denial of these priests of
the imposition of degrading penances has already in the good
providence of God been overruled for a great blessing. I
was favoured with the sight of a letter from a poor man, who
is a Roman Catholic. The letter was addressed to Mr.

Stowell, and the man said that the circumstances of
the trial had made him unhappy, and he had not been
happy in his mind ever since, because penances of the
kind described had been imposed on him. (Hear, hear,
hear.) And then it was declared that there was no authority
for the priests of the Romish church to impose such penal-
ties. This had disturbed the man's mind, and he was not

easy on the subject. He lives in Manchester; and I have
good reason to hope it may issue in the enlightening of the
man's mind altogether. (Applause.) But, my friends, in
my anxiety to set this matter of misrepresentation simply
and fairly before you, and to show you that it is not the in-
dividuals but the principles we charge, and that we must
charge them with those principles so icing as they swear to
that creed, I have forgotten, that, 'instead of occupying your
time I should introduce to your notice the friends who have
consented to move the resolutions. I have only to thank
you, and to request that you will make a good, a Christian,
an English use of the information you receive on these occa-
sions—a Christian and an English use, that you may use
your information not for the elevation of pride over your
neighbours, or for taunting them with the want of what you
enjoy, but with all meekness and loving kindness, for the
purpose of elevating those who have not your advantages.
Do not be angry with any of your Roman Catholic brethren
because they do not immediately enter into your views. If
you had been educated as they have you would be as stubborn
as they are. They require to be told in kindness, over and
over again, of the principles laid down in the Scriptures, be-
fore they can receive them. You must reap here a little
and there a little, and may God over all grant them repent-
ance to the acknowledgment of his truth. (After calling on
the Secretary to read the report, the rev. gentleman sat down
amidst the most enthusiastic cheering.)
Mr. LEATHERBARROW, the secretary, here read the re-
port. It commenced by returning thanks to Almighty God
for the blessings which had attended the labours of the com-
mittee during the past twelve months, and it showed that
the efforts made to arouse the enthusiasm of the operatives
of Liverpool in favour of the Protestant institutions of the
land, had been signally successful ; in proof of which it
pointed to the interest excited whenever a public meeting
was called in aid of the society, and to the fact, that although
the Music-hall was considered quite large enough for such
purposes formerly, the spacious Amphitheatre was now
found too limited in its dimensions. It next went on to
state that the influence of this association was not confined
to Liverpool, but that similar combinations, in consequence
of its formation, had sprung up in several districts of the
metropolis, as well as in Manchester, Sheffield, Norwich,
Bristol, Wigan, and other places. It then stated that
monthly meetings of the association continued to be held,
and that they invariably attracted crowded audiences ; that
the branch association in connexion with St. Mark's Church,
formed last year, was working efficiently ; that two addi-
tional branches had been established during the last four
months—one in connexion with St. Simon's Church, and
the other in Toxteth-park—the latter of which bids fair to
rival the parent society in numbers and usefulness ; and that
a fourth branch was in contemplation for the Everton and
Kirkdale district, which would speedily be formed. After
referring to the valuable lecture delivered in August last, by
the Rev. T. D. Gregg, on the nature and results of Popery,
it stated that the library alluded to in last year's report had
been established, and promised to be a most valuable auxili-
ary ; but it infoi med the meeting that it only contained 230
volumes to supply its readers, many in number, when 1000
at least would be necessary to make this practically useful
branch as efficient as it was intended, and it hoped by a little
exertion this number would be easily procured. It then
stated that the tract committee, numbering between thirty-
five and forty members, vi as still in active operation, and
that they visited weekly between 1800 and 2000 families in
the most destitute parts of the town, through whose instru-
mentality many lukewarm churchmen had been induced to
attend public worship with more punctuality, and a stricter
observance of the Sabbath-day was manifested ; but it added
that their efficiency, as well as that of the library, was
cramped by a want of funds, its last five pounds being now
exhausted. The report concluded with an energetic call on
the operatives to persevere in their praiseworthy exertions,
until all classes of Englishmen expressed their determination
that to a foreign potentate they would never be slaves.
The Rev. BRABAZON ELLIS moved the adoption of the
report. He said—There never was a time, in the annals of
this country, in which popery was more strenuously en-
deavouring to gain an ascendancy, and yet she would not
meet the ministers of the church in fair and upright discus-
sion. Popery was now taken to the arms and caressed in
England—she stalked abroad again, threatening both the
altar and the throne, while the protestant voice was almost
hushed ..Lilt yvyioh int' iguc au' uutiticd the councils
of the nation, popish nunneries, and popish colleges were
rising in every corner of this once happy, because protestant,
land. (Great cheering.) He then stated some facts illustra-
tive of popery, which came to his knowledge during a ministry
of ten years in Ireland ; and, in commencing, he said that
Ireland was sunk in ignorance, superstition, poverty, and
oppression. He attributed all this to popery, and was pre-
pared to prove it. Before the National Board of Education
was established, popish schools were very rare. In the year
1836, he was a curate in the diocese of Tuam. Near it was a
station for penance, where he witnessed hundreds walking
on sharp granite stones, until the place was covered with
their blood ; and then he saw the priest pocketting their
money and departing, chuckling at his base merchandize of
souls, which was followed-by drinking and dancing. He
then stated that there was falsehood in the conversation of
their priests—falsehood in their press—falsehood in their
pulpits, and falsehood in the jury-box. He then referred to
the extraordinary evidence given by a priest in the late trial
of Hearne v. Stowell, and hoped that on the new trial they
would be able to prove to all England the true character of
popery. (Hear, hear.) He next contrasted the north with
the south and west of Ireland—the north being protestant,
and the other parts popish, and showed that the priests raised
money from the people by swindling devices—namely, by
selling the scapular, the " gospel,"- (a piece of paper folded
triangularly), which cost from thirteen pence to half-a crown,
and blessing fishermen's boats, in order that their net might
have a good take of fish. In proof that the priests oppress
the people, he said that in the west of Ireland they carried a
large horsewhip, which had a heavy thong, and on the end of
the handle a large piece of lead, or iron, and brass, which
they alternately applied to the backs and skulls of the men
and women. He related an amusing anecdote of an athletic
priest, named '` Father Pat," who upon one occasion applied
his leg and arm to one of his parishioners, and sent him spin-
ning across the road, and when the man remonstrated, the
anointed fellow said that " it was the admonition of the
church." He then detailed a speech delivered by Dr.
M`Hale, who told the people to throw scalding water on the
bible readers, and that all the protestants in the world were
the children of the devil. He related two or three other
anecdotes, illustrative of the sanguinary and despotic princi-
ples of the Romish church, and then Miowed that the govern-
men afforded no protection to the protestant population of
the country from the assaults and aggressions of their infu-
riated opponents. The rev. gentleman on resuming his seat
was much applauded.
Mr. WLAy, an operative, seconded the first resolution,
which was passed unanimously.
The Rev. FIELDING OULD was received with tremendous
applause. He said, meetings like these may be regarded as
a sort of parade or a field-day of a military detachment pre-
vious to and preparatory for a grand engagement. You
whom I address are the soldiers who fight in the ranks of
this army ; we who occupy this platform are non-commis-
sioned officers, who receive our instructions from the foun-
tain head of authority, while you, sir, (addressing the chair-
man) are the able and experienced commander, (applause,)
to whom we may look for guidance, and by whom we are in-
spired to persevere in this glorious war, while in dutiful subor-
dination to the great head of the church, who is the great
captain of our salvation, and in whose great army we have
been enlisted to fight the good fight. We have been reminded
by the respected operative who has so well, and forcibly, and
piously, which is far better still, addressed you, that this is
a war in which we are engaged. I ask you for what do
we contend ? It is simply for the faith once delivered to the
saints. I ask again, against whom do we contend? We con-
tend against all who deny or disfigure that faith. We are at
war with anti-christ, in whatever form he appears. Our enemy
is popery, and our antagonist " the man of sin." I was
rejoiced to hear from that same respected individual to whom
I have before:alluded ; I was rejoiced to hear him remind us
all that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal. Our
sword is one which has been tempered in the armoury of
heaven—the sword of the spirit which is the word of God.
Our shield is one which has also been given from on high ; it
is his especial gift ; and our helmet is the hope of salvation
for ourselves and for all, be they who they may, who will
hear the truth from our lips. Does any one here ask us why
it is we feel ourselves religiously and conscientiously bound
to wage war against popery. For him we have a ready an-
swer. Let us turn our eyes wherever we may, we see that
the principles of popery have overspread the earth with misery,
wretchedness, and crime. If we go to America we find the
Protestant provinces distinguished from the Popish ones
by intelligence and zeal. If we go into Switzerland,
the least observant readily can discover the Protestant
from the Romish cantons, the former by the superior
cleanliness, and the latter by the filth and wretchedness of
the poor. And if we go to Italy, Spain, or Portugal, where
Popery is to be seen at head quarters, what is the aspect ?
Why, there is the predominance of misery and vice. We
there see the poor people robbed of their time by a multitude
of holidays, whilst the Sabbath is almost systematically neg-
lected. The poor people robbed of their earnings for masses
and absolutions, and their homes invaded by a licentious
priesthood. When we go into that country which is dear to you
and to me, sir,—the country of our birth—what is the aspect
presented there ? You have had a fearful but a faithful
report of it brought forward for you this evening. In
the southern and western districts, where the people
are almost exclusively Roman Catholics, there is turbu-
lence and insubordination ; there is oppression and de-
gradation ; there is misery and wretchedness, which
they seek to uphold ; whilst in the northern provinces,
where the people are in a great proportion Protestant, the
very opposite results are to be seen. In Popish Tipperary
the gaols are crowded, whilst in Protestant Derry I may say,
for I attended the assizes there this very summer, and found
the office of judge and jailor sinecures, there
being literally'
hardly one prisoner for trial. (Applause.) But it is time
that I should read the resolution; it is very long and com-
prehensive. It is :
That it is the opinion of this meeting, that the tempo-
ral, political, and spiritual prosperity of this nation depends,
under God, upon the revival and maintenance of sound Pro-
testant principles ; that it is a Christian duty, as well as
'sound policy, to oppose the spread of popery by every lawful
means, to instruct all classes in their duty to their God,
their sovereign, and their country ; and that, as much power
is placed in the hands of the people, it is essential to our
welfare, both as a church and a nation, that we should have a
sound Protestant democracy, and that Protestant associa-
tions are admirably calculated, with the Divine blessing, to
accomplish these desirable objects."
This resolution tells us, in the first place, that the temporal,

spiritual, and political intoreats of this nation principally fle,
panda under God, on the revival and maintenance of sound
Protestant principles. I ask, what are these principles ? It
would take some time to enumerate them in detail ; but in
a negative way, at least, they may be summed up into two.
The first is our protest against Popish heresy in doctrine,
as dishonouring to our God ; the second, our protest
against Popish persecution and practice, which are
pernicious and injurious to man. There, sir. are
sound Protestant principles. I say, sir, that Popery is a
persecuting system. In the nature of things it cannot
be otherwise. (Hear, hear, hear.) In order that Popery
may retain its slaves in subjection it must shut out
the light from them, and it must persecute all who seek to
introduce the light. You may just conceive, for example, a
man exhibiting a phantasmagoria. The whole success of the
show depends on the light being removed. Whenever light
is introduced, the illusion. vanishes and becomes obvious to

all. The priest is the spiritual showman. (Cheers.) He is
amusing his wretched dupes with poor delusions, and is
afraid of letting in the light—light issuing from the Sun of
Righteousness through the window of revelation; and when we
who would be faithful to our God and to his word seek to plant
this illuminating window in every popish house, we call forth
the persecuting spirit of the man of sin. You have had evi-
dence sufficient this night to show you the persecuting cha-
racter of popery as it manifests itself just now in Ireland ; and
yon will also recollect that that persecuting spirit seems to
have been evoked in Ireland, chiefly through the exertions
that have been made to let in the light of heaven on the dark
and benighted people. Let me now give you one evidence of
this, which deeply concerns yourselves, and will come home to
every heart. Ido not think that this short extract which I
am about to read has attracted that notice in this country
which it is deserving of. It is a very fearful evidence of
the persecuting spirit. Within the last month a speech was
addressed by Mr. O'Connell, at a meeting in Dublin, to his
brother repealers congregating in the Corn Exchange. [Mr.
Ould here read the extract referred to. It was to the effect

that if England were engaged in a war with France, the Irish
would not assist, and that if they attempted to coerce them,
there were 80,000 Irishmen in Manchester, 90,000 in Liver-
pool, and 200,000 in London, would stand up to defend
Ireland.] This is a tolerably broad and intelligent hint that
if England should show any disaffection to the popular move-
ment, Ireland will appeal to her self-expatriated sons to stir
up a little flame in those English towns in which they have
located themselves, and then let Manchester, Liverpool, and
Bristol look to themselves, their docks, their warehouses,
and their lives. But I call on you to join with me in la-
menting the fearful predominance of popery in this country,
forty years ago there were not more than thirty Roman Ca-
tholic chapels, now there were 570, attended by and minis-
tered in by 700 Romish ecclesiastics. Bear this fact in mind ;
hear also in mind the fact that systematic encouragement has
been given to popery of late by endowments of her priests
and bishops in. some of our colonies—by the endowment of
Maynooth, which is spreading disaffection among all classes
of Roman Catholics in Ireland. There is another fact,

that a large sum of money, £400,000 it is said, has been
sent from the continent to England to assist the Papists in
their struggle. I ask to whom are we to look—to whom are
we to look for support and encouragement ? Is it to men or
any set of men under the sun ? No ; It is to our principles,
our Bible, and our God. (Tremendous applause.) David
once said in his haste all men are liars. We have been too

long trusting in man. We have too long been depending on
the arm of flesh, while we should have rested on the living
God. We know from history that our country never has
flourished while the principles of Popery have been admitted

to her councils. We have only to look to the reigns of our
Marys, our Charles's, or our James's to prove this, and we
know, on the other hand, by the history of our Elizabeths and
our Cromwells, that wherever the principles of Scriptural pro;
testantism have predominated, Ireland has triumphed over
every enemy—has crushed the domestic traitor, as well as the
foreign invader. This resolution speaks of the sound policy
of opposing Popery by every legal means. I would ask you
what is the distinguishing characteristic of Popery as exhi-
bited in modern times, as well as in all past periods of our
history for the last fifteen hundred years ? Ido firmly be-
lieve, that there could be no more correct mode of speaking
of it than by saying " Speaking lies and hypocrisy." I will
give you a clear illustration of this if you will lend me your
attention. As it is a fact which came under my own know-
ledge, lam a good authority on the point. About twelve
months ago it was my good fortnne to attend an educa-
tional meeting in the town of Shrewsbury. The chair
was occupied by a worthy baronet. In the course of my
address I quoted from a tract published by the Bristol
Protestant Association, entitled " Is there not a cause ? "
In this tract a great variety of statistical evidence was
brought forward to show the increase of popery, and the
encouragement given to it. Amongst other circumstances it
was stated that the East India Company had recently solicited
from the Pope a vicar apostolic and certain Jesuit priests for
the religious teaching of the Roman catholic subjects of the
crown under the East India Company. The article also stated
that letters had been received from the priests after their ar-
rival out. I read this extract from the tract ; when I had
done the hon. member for Shrewsbury, who was in the chair,
and who happened too at that time to be the chairman of the
East India Company immediately rose and said that he felt ;t
his duty to the meeting, to me, and to that respectable body a
which he was chairman, to say that there was not one word
of truth in the whole statement. He had been twenty-six
years a director of the company, and such a thing could not
have taken place without his consent, no application of the
sort had even been made. I thought thisvery extraordinary,
and I resolved to write to the Bristol operative society to as-
certain how it was, and on what authority they had put forth
a statement which had received such a contradiction. 1 hold
in my hand the answer. The secretary of the Bristol Associa-
tion tells ms in this letter he has conferred with the compiler
of that tract, and that he took, as his authority for the state-
ment in question, a work published in France, called the " An-
nals of the Propagation of the Faith," printed under the su-
perintendence of the authorities at Rome. [Mr. Ould here read
the extract from the work, which was the same effect as which
he had before stated about the priests being sent to the East.]
What are the lawful means of opposing this popery? The pulpit,
the platform, and the press ; by these all of you have already
heard faithful witnesses for the truth. lam persuaded, that
when the people of England are well educated in scriptural
truths, we shall bear such a testimony, and shall be able
to hold forth such a witness to the Roman Catholic population
as, under the divine blessing, will do more good than has been
accomplished for a century past. Our sermons from the
pulpit, testifying to the people the truth as it is in Christ
Jesus, contrasted, as that truth should be, with the abominable
errors by which it has been deformed ; our speeches from the
platforms, and tracts and other useful books which have is-
sued from the press, have drawn tears from the eyes of no
less a person than the Pope himself. I hold in my hand t;
proof of this. It is an encyclical letter of a very late period.
It is not often we have a letter from his holiness, and we
ought to listen to it with attention when we get one. It is
as follows :—[The rev. gentlemen here read the encyclical
letter of Pope Gregory the Sixteenth, addressed to all the
patriarchs, archbishops, and bishops of the Romish church.
This document is of too great length to admit of our in-
serting it in the present crowded state of our columns.]
The reading of this letter, and the running comments of the
rev. speaker, excited much amusement, and the remarks
were loudly cheered. Mr. Ould continued :—This resolution
says that we ought to instruct all classes in their duty to
God, their sovereign, and their country. I ask how is this
to be done ? I say it can only be done by means of scriptural
schools. It is the bounden duty of the state—a Protestant
and Christian state—to establish and support such schools ;
and if the state will not do so, it is the bounden duty of the
Christian people of the state to do it by their own voluntary
exertions. (Hear, hear.) I have lately been somewhat
alarmed to hear it stated from high authority, that " there may
be circumstances in which it may be the duty of a state, as a
state, to promote by its assistance even the diffusion of reli-
gious error, received by a large portion of the community:"
It is not said that it is the duty of churchmen to do so in
their individual capacity ; but the statement is this, that it
may be the duty of a state, as a state, to promote by its as-
sistance even the diffusion of religious error, shared by a
large portion of the commnnity. I ask you operative friends,
associated this evening, whether you agree with that ? (No,
no.) Is a state to have no conscience ? Is a man to have
a conscience in his individual capacity, and when he
becomes a member of government, is he to lose that con-
science? Is he to do in his official character what he ought
not to do in his private character? In the 13th chapter of.
Romans we are told that the civil magistrate is to be re-
gelded by the subjects as " a minister of God ;" and if so. I
ask what are the circumstances under which it ever can be the
duty of him who is to be iegarded as a minister of God, to
execute his will—to promote the diffusion of religious error,
no matter by whom professed? When a large portion of the
community entertain religious errors, the duty of a statesman
is said to be to instruct those men in religious errors. Now,
suppose the same doctrine is held with regard to political
error. Suppose revolutionary opinions maintained by
large portion of the people of our country. When the
chartists exhibited symptoms of insubordination altogether
inconsistent with tha maintenance of civil government, what
was the conduct of the government? Did they think it ne-
cessary, because they were asserted by a large portion of the
people, not to discourage them ? And is error in politics leSs
injurious and displeasing in the sight of God than religious
error? When men hold the principles of rebellion against
God, surely, as Christian legislators, they should tell
them of their error. I plead not fox' coercion or persecu-
tion, but that man should be told the error he bolds is ruinous
to his soul, and that he be exhorted to flee from the wrath to
come. Look at Daniel—how did he act ? Did he think it
necessary to have no conscience as a statesman, when, at the
hazard of his life, he was told not to pray to the Lord Jeho-
vah. Although he den of lions gaped to devour him, Daniel
threw open the windows of his chamber, which looked tos
wards Jerusalem, and poured forth his prayer, let him oppose or
persecute who will. We need have no higher an example for our
legislators in modern times. Why must religious error then
be taught ? Because, forsooth, that those individuals holding
this error should be conciliated. Now I ask you, pro-
testants of Liverpool, if you think popery can be con-
ciliated. (No, no.) Do you think it ought to be conci-
liated ? (No, no.) Just let me show you an illustration of
the utter impossibility of conciliating popery. A few months
ago a Dublin popish journal thus speaks :—" England de-
serves but little forbearance at our hands. Many battles wO.
fought for her; many brave Irish hearts have bled in her de-
fence, and what return has she made for all ? Oppression,
insult, and persecution !" Thus you see in vain has May-
nooth been endowed ; in vain has the fatal door of 1829 been
opened ; in vain has emancipation been conferred. Ireland
asserts that she has only received oppression and insult. But
I pass on to the last clause of the resolution, which says that
the safety of the church and nation requires the raising up of
a sound Protestant democracy. This is the great object of
the Protestant Association—to raise a sound Protestant de-
mocracy. The Protestant Association of Liverpool has nOt,
been backward in accomplishing this object, The glory al
our country is not in the battles she has won; it is not it)
what her navies have accomplished at the Nile, Trafalgar,
and Camperdown, but her glory is in her Protestantism, l'(4
merely what is called conservative Protestantism, but series
tural Protestantism. (Cheers.) I hope that the touching
appeal for help which has been made this evening' will not be
made in vain. I shall feel most happy in contributing to the
funds of this association, and 1 do hope that when the collec-
tion is made there is not an individual present who has sanc-
tioned the sentiments uttered, who will fail to give of the
means which God has blessed them with, to enable these
men to persevere in their labours and to increase their
library.
The CHAIRMAN said before putting the resoletiols, h(3
must give Mr. Ould a lesson. He (Mr. Ould) had been
telling them about " an ingenious device" of the priests
about the East India Company, and he would advise Mr.
Ould not to say so much about the increase of Catholic
swat,
and, He (the chairman) did not believe half that was s,
and, perhaps some of thesedays the Catholics would be quoting
Mr. 0. as an authority about the increase of their doctrines.
Mr. BRINDLEY seconded the motion proposed by Mrs
Ould. He was happy in taking part in the proceedings (1'
the evening, and in all meetings having for their object the
removal of error. He considered that the Papists were en-
deavouring at that period to throw dust in the eyes of the
people, and it was the duty of all to endeavour to prevent
them. He related some anecdotes illustrative of the dorm-
nation of the Irish priesthood, and was loudly applaudq.
The CHAIRMAN then remarked on a statement inaslo at
some meeting by a man, wile said, that because his wife w;;
a Catholic and he a Protestant, Mr, M'Neile had advises)
him to turn her off. He need not inform the meeting that
there was not a word of truth in it.
A collection was then made.
The Rev. MICHAEL CROTTY, incumbent of Hazelgrove,
Cheshire, on rising to move the next resolution, said,—We
cannot conceal from ourselves the melancholy truth, that
we live in times big with great and portentous events : siges
and prognostics are multiplying around us, which it would
:
not be wise or prudent to overlook or despise. We cannot,
sir, conceal from ourselves the sad reality, that we are now
placed in one of those perilous situations by which the Dialsc