The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-10-26 00:00:00

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE TOXTETIT.PARK
PROTESTANT OPERATIVE ASSOCIATION.

The first annual meeting of the above branch of the Pro-
testant Operative Associatio❑ was held at the Music-hall,

on Friday evening

spacious room was crowded in

every part to excess. Shortly after seven o'clock, the Rev,
HuGil M'NEILE, president of the association, entered the

room, amid loud and vehement cheering, and took the chair.
He was surrounded by a number of clergymen, and many of
the most respectable of our fellow-townsenen.

The Rev. Mr. PARRY, at the request of the chairman,
having offered up a suitable prayer,
The CHAIRMAN proceeded to address the meeting. He
commenced with making some observations, and urging
many powerful arguments, in defence of the proceedings of
Protestant Associations generally. In reply to the charge
of using harsh and irritating language, the rev. gentleman

said that the charge of partiality and inconsistency might be

... . .
made good against their opponents and reprovers, who did
not condemn the harsh and irritating language used on the
other side. He then quoted a portion of the evangelical let-
ter addressed to the hierarchy of the Church of Rome by
Pope Leo XII., and dated the 3d May, 1824. In this letter

the indiscriminate use of the Bible is forbidden ; translations,
as such, are called perversions, and condemned ; and the
language, used is harsh and irritating. The rev. gentleman

theii read an extract from a letter addressed by the present
Pope, during the present year. The following is the part of
• • •

the chief iMportince:—` His firm opinion respecting mar-
riages contracted between Catholics and Protestants is also

sufficiently known, or he has ever declared such marriages
to be unlawful, and to lead to perdition ; partly on account
of the shamefid intermixture of creeds which they promote,
and partly of the imminent danger to which the Catholic
parent is exposed of being led to renounce his creed, as well
as of the bad education with which the children are threat-
ened." The chairman then proceeded to make some strong
remorks on the impropriety of mixed marriages, and then
went on to address the assembly nearly as follows :—" This

is what may be called our negative defence, or defence
by retort against the partiality, inconsistency, and injustice
of our liberal assailants. For why, I would ask, are we sin-
gled out for the distinguishing privilege of their abuse ?
Are we worse than idolators ? worse than deliberate denoun-

cers of the holy scriptures? worse than socialists, or char-
tists ? 0 yes. In the eyes of liberals we are infinitely worse

than any or all these. For these wield only human weapons,
but we wield the sword of the spirit, which is the word of
God. Here, then, we occupy a higher ground of defence.

We not only acknowledge, in'a careless, inoperative manner,
but we really and practically believe the great and glorious
truths announced in the hoiy scriptures, both in their bear-

ing upon human society in this world, find upon humUn

vaiion. in the world to-come. We believe that bowing to
images or pictures in divine worship is the idolatry against

which the anger of the Almighty is revealed from- heaven,
and that consepaztitTy it is dangerous to, and, if persevered

in, destructive of the souls of -men. We believe' that the

system of Romanism, in its claim of visible supremacy for its

visible head, is oppo'sed to the independence and peace, and
lacks only the power to be subversive of the very existence,

of our protestant government
and we love our countrymen.

Now, we love our country,
As we love our country we

earnestly desire to instruct the ignorant and remind the in-
formed upon the subject of papal usurpation and papal con-
spiracy ; that we may not in the exuberance of candour and
good-natured forbearance, lay ourselves open to the disas-
trous consequences of papal ,domination. And, as we love

. .
our countrymen, we earnestly desire to win them from the
deceivings of men which can neither sanctify here nor save
hereafter to the truth of God which can and does do both.

We know that it pleases God to work by huwen means.
_We

know that by the instrumentality of faithful professors three
hundred years ago our country was delivered from papal do-
mination, and our church from corrupt theology ; and we

• -
believe that these blessings can be retained only by means
similar to those by which they were originally procured. We

have unabated confidence in the use of such- Means, not be-

cause of the human instruments engaged, or likely to be en-
gaged in them ; but because of the promise of God himself

I.e bless them. We know that the Word of God is still quick
and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword. We

have. full confidence in the power of the glorious gospel to do

what it did of old, in the hearts of both rulers and people.
We do, indeed, claim, and we think we haves right to claim,

from those in authority, protection for inquirers,

Protection

from a system of persecution which renders concession from

Itomania-m, I will not say impossible, but certainly very im-

proble ; because it exposes the inquirer to the sufferings of a
martyr before he has had time to cultivate the principles of a
Christian. It behoves our government to look to this. Va-

rious schemes have been !imposed to meet the difficulty
presented by the state of Ireland, and proposed in vain.
Political coercion is vain, political conciliation is vain. A

national provision for the Romish priesthood is vain

concordat with the pope is vain. Islothlng can reach the
real seat of the disease, and give satisfactory and permanent
cure, except the progress of the reformation, except the con-
version of the Romish population. This is no chimera.

What has been done in England may (though under more
adverse circumstances) be done in Ireland. Let the influence
of the gospel have fair play. Let inquirers after truth have
temporal protection. At this moment there are many ready
to conform to our national church if they had assured pro-
tection for person and property. (Hear, hear.) What we
ask is, that the country should not be content with an imper-
fect reformation, and sit down satisfied that all has been
done upone this point in the united kingdom that can be
done ; but, on the contrary, that the reformation should be
pressed forward, from the same motives which actuated our
fathers in the sixteenth century, and by the same means

which they employed. The rev. gentleman next referred to
the pamphlet recently published by Lord Alvanley, which
he characterised as an insane production, and proceeded,

. .
at much length, to show that the gospel alone, when
faithfully preached, was the only remedy for the many ills
under which Ireland laboured. After having spoken for
nearly an hour, he resumed his seat amid enthusiastic bursts

of applause.
Mr. WILLIAMS, Secretary to the Association, then read

. .
the report of the committee for the past year.
The Rev. DAVID JAMES, Incumbent of St. Mary's, Kirk

dale, moved the first resolution, which proposed the adoption
of the report. That document commenced with stating the
object of the association, afterwards it proceeded to spew the
success which had, in some degree, attended upon the opera-
tions of this and similar associations throughout the country.
It next pointed out the various means to be used iii order to
attain the object in view, and lastly, the necessity of perse-
vering, despite all the calumny of enemies and apathy on the
part of professing friends. He looked upon Popery as a sys-
tem of conspiracy to invade the prerogatives of God and the
rights of man. There would be no difficulty in proving this
assertion. In the first place it was admitted that the Pope
was infallible, and the Church of Rome, under his direction,
unchangeable in its doctrines and discipline. Now, infalli-
bility belonged alone to Almighty God. (Hear.) It could
not be a characteristic of any creature ; it did not belong to
any being, whether angelic or human, because it was essential
to that nature which never changed. God had declared, " I,
the Lord, change not :" and with him "there is neither
variableness nor shadow of turning ;" but angels had changed,
and man had become an altered creature. The history of the
church of God recorded the fallibility of even renewed men,
inasmuch as the saints, who were most eminent for their
piety and their progress in holiness as a general rule, were
at different times betrayed into weakness and sin, which cir-
cumstances were recorded for our avoidance and instruction,
in order that we might depend upon the grace of God for
strength to do his will. If, therefore, the Pope claimed to
be infallible, seeing that all were fallible, from the instances
recorded of the most eminent, did he not in this respect claim
a prerogative that belonged to Almighty God, and to him
alone? (Loud cheers.) Also, in the authority that the
Pope claimed over the kings and princes of the earth, he
claimed a right which belonged to Almighty God alone,
inasmuch as God set up kings and put them down. (Cheers.)
" By him princes reign, and rulers decreejustice." (Cheers.)
The instances upon record of the pope's interference with the
rights of kings, deposing them when they opposed his will,
were a sufficient evidence that he had arrogated to himself
the right which in scripture was given to God alone, and
which, therefore. without criminality upon the part of man-
kind, could not be conceded to the Pope of Rome. The
priesthood of the papacy, too, usurped the prerogative of
Jesus Christ, in endeavouring to supersede the necessity of
believing in him as the author of eternal salvation. (Cheers.)
And when we came to speak of popery in connexion with• the
rights of men, we found it quite in keeping with his previous
description of it. It was a conspiracy to rob mankind of
their property, and privileges, and liberty. (Hear, bear.)
There was a time when, through the persuasion of the priests,
almest two-thirds of the whole property of this country had
pssspd away from the original proprietors into the hands of
the Romanists, and especially of the religious houses ; and
there had been instances even in our own neighbourhood,
where, through the persuasion of some persons, large estates
were bequeathed and devised to Romish priests, which the
lawful heirs thought unfair to themselves; and, though pro-
fessing allegiance to the pope of Rome, and attachment to
the Romish creed, they Came forward to try the validity of the
wills, in order to rescue, if posssible, from the grasp of a
grasping priesthpod, their own rights and their own property.
Again : it was necessary to pensider that the work which, we
had to do in the present day differed from that which the
reformers had to do. It was the province and work of the
reformers to introduce truth, and to establish liberty of con-
science in this country ; it devolved upon us, in the present
day, to retain possession of what they brought in, and to see
that we did not allow that truth and liberty of conscience
to be surrendered, at any cost, or by any means, into the
hands of those who would never restore the precious
trust. (Hear hear.) The reformers themselves had to
rub off, as it were, the incrustation of many centuries from
the creed which was contained in the Word of God ; whilst
it was our duty, in the present day, to keep up the polish,
that truth might shine in all its lustre and brightness, en-
lightening the children of men. It was the work of the re-
formers to open the well of salvation, that its streams might
flow to quench spiritual darkness; it was our province and
our privilege to keep that well open still, and see that no
enemy's hand should be permitted to fill them up, and make
them dry throughotit the land. Let them, therefore, perse-
vere, as they were exhorted to do in the report just read.
(Hear, hear.) The rev. gentleman then went on to recom-
mend the repeal of the emancipation bill, urging that the
only mode of procuring that object was by circulating Scrip-
tural truth among the people. He next considered Lord
Alvanley's proposal to have the Popish priests paid by the
state, examined it in some of its details, and sheaved that it
could not for a moment be contemplated, unless we neglect-
ed the instructions given to us in the Scriptures. The rev.
gentleman concluded a most eloquent speech,. of an hour and
twenty minutes long, by strongly recommending the employ-
ment of preachers in conneetion with the established church,
to instruct the common people of Ireland in their moral and
religious duties through the medium of the native language,
as the best and surest means of eradicating Popery from that
country. He sat down, amidst loud cheers, proposing the
resolution.
The Rey. Mr. PARRY, in seconding the resolution, related
a variety of instances of the idolatrous and juggling practises
of 'the Church of Rome, and declared his opinion that the
evils under which Ireland laboured were owing to Popery,
and that the only cure for them was the dissemination of
Scriptural truth. (Cheers.)
The resolution was then carried.
The next resolution was moved by Mr. ASTIBROOK, and
seconded by Mr. ROBERT MACLEAY. Both speakers
strongly called upon the Protestant slectors of the two Tox-
teth wards to do their duty on the Ist of November, by
returning conservative members to the Common Council.
The Rev. T. NOLAN moved the next resolution in a short
t
address, observing that owing to the late hour to which the
proceedings had been protracted, he should not detain the
meeting with many observations, but that he should take
frequent opportunities of visitin the members of the asso-
ciation in their weekly and monthly meetings.
M. ALEXANDER Swell, jun. said he had attended as a
member of the association to second the resolution just pro-
posed by his reverend friend Mr. Nolan—a gentleman whom
he rejoiced to find among us. In fact he congratulated his
neighbours in Toxteth-park upon having two such clergymen
near them as Mr. Parry and Mr. Nolan. It augured well
for the good of society in the neighbourhood, and he trusted
many beneficial effects would result from their ministrations.
(Cheers.) It was unnecessary for him to avow himself a'
Protestant, or to say that he most sincerely and conscien-
tiously admired our Protestant church and her doctrines, and
that he would always endeavour to uphold them in any power
or authority with which he might be invested. (Cheers.)
After the resolution proposed by Mr. Ashbrook, and se-
conded by Mr. Macleay, it might perhaps be considered that
he should take some notice of the education question as it
affected the corporation schools. He thought, however, it
was not advisable that individual opinions should be ex-
pressed upon this subject. It would be better that all should
join in a common acknowledgement of the necessity of re-
turning to the old system, so far as regarded the introduction
of the Bible and of Protestant education there. What the

exact plan ta,be proposed might be, he did not at present
know; but he should be happy to join with his brother con-
servative members, if he were returned again to the Town-
council, (and he thought they would be enabled to do a great
deal,) in putting things in a proper position. (Cheers.)
The CET AIRM N said, before he put the motion the meeting
would excuse him if he detained them with a few observations
with regard to the school question. It was an old acquaint-
ance of his. He wanted to put the meeting upon their guard
against any hesitation that might be caused in their minds
by the reiterated statements at present made in the press of
this town, that it was from the first a falsehood that the Bible
was excluded from the Corporation Schools. (Hear.) It
was repeated over and over again—that it was from the first
a falsehood ; and the writers in some of the press he alluded
to, imitating the laconic wit of a member of the council, who
should be nameless, but who was very facetious in days that
are gone by, and who did not take the trouble of using a
word of two syllables when he charged their humble servant
with falsehood (hear)—reiterated the charge that he (Mr.
M`Neile) told a lie, and that he knew it to be a lie when he
said the Bible was excluded from the schools. (Hear, bear.)
He wanted to skew the meeting where the blame lay. He
knew the Irish plan ; he had studied it carefully ; he knew it
was modelled for the purpose of putting the Bible out of the
way, in order that Roman Catholics might be introduced.
(Hear.) The Bible was out of the Irish plan. (Hear, hear.)
He knew the resolution of the council here, that the Irish
plan be adopted, and no other books used. That was their
printed resolution ; but it seemed they did not act upon their
own resolution. The brought the Bibles into the schools,
although they resolved it should not be in ; they had not the
honesty to reverse the resolution before the town, and it
stood still uncancelled. (Hear, hear.) Practically they had
deviated from it; and they therefore said, if the clergy would
go to the schools they would find the Bible there. (A Voice
—Under the table.) Not exactly under the table—(hear,
hear)—but they had brought it into the schools against their
own recorded resolution. (Hear.) If they had had the
honesty to rescind the resolution, then the clergy might have
gone to the schools; but whilst the resolution stood, it ex-
cluded the honest Protestant, Christian minister from them.
(Hear, hear.) They could not sanction the principle main-
tained in such a resolution. (Hear.) He had observed that
the conservative press had not re-argued the question of late,
whilst the radical press had re-asserted the falsehood. Some
one might come to them and say it was a lie that the Bible
was not in the schools, and that none of the conservative
papers had regarded the question, as they knew the assertion
was a lie. This might be said to them before the voting
came on the Ist of November,—(hear,)—but every one pre-
sent must tell their neighbours what were the facts. It
would be ..a good plan, lie thought, to have the resolution of
the council introducing the Irish system reprinted in the-
Standard of Tuesday, which said that rio other book should
be used. The reverend gentlema❑ continued his observa-
tions on this subject, and said, the plan lie would recommend
to be followed, in the event of any change, would be to place
the schools upon the same principle, as to religious teaching,
as the Collegiate Institution.
The resolution was then carried.

The Doxology was then sung, and the meeting separated a
few minutes before eleven o'clock, the proceedings having
occupied nearly four hours.

THE FRANKLIN PRINTING PRESS

It is with no ordinary pleasure that we inform our readers
of the arrival among us of one of the most interesting relics
we have in our country. We refer to the identical printing
press at which Dr. Benjamin Franklin worked, while a
journeyman, in London, in the years 1725-26, it being on its
way to America, to be deposited in the Philosophical Society
at Philadelphia, of which Dr. Franklin was the founder and
the first president, and which is now under the management
of that philosopher's friend, John Vaughan, Esq., brother of
Wm. Vaughan, Esq., of No. 70, Fenchurch-street, London.

As our readers will, doubtless, feel some interest in the
history of this relic, we will trace it from Dr. Franklin's own
mention of it in the 2d yolume, page 68, of his life by his
grandson, William Temple Franklin, Esq., published by
Colburn, London, 1818. He there speaks of his " working
at press in the office of Mr. Watt's, near Lincoln's-lnn-
Fields," where he continued during the rest of his stay in
London after leaving Palmer's.
In volume 2, page 297, the reader will see that the dress
was removed to the office of Messrs. Cox and Bailie, of Great
Queen-street, Lincoln's-inn-fields, who purchased it with
other printing materials, from the office in which Dr. Frank-
lin had worked as a compositor and pressman. Mr. Cox was
informed by three pressmen who worked in Mr. Watt's
office, that they were present at the time when Dr. Franklin
came to see his old press during his visit to England after
the peace, and heard him say, (pointing to this relic) that he
had worked many hours at that very press, and he advised
those who were then at work there to be industrious and at-
tentive as he had been, and that like him they would succeed.
The names of these three pressmen were - Vizekelly, Ed-
ward Norgrove, and Samuel Hine, all of whom, we believe,
are now dead. Norgrove was working the press when Dr.
Franklin made this remark, and Mr. Cox, to whom he and
his companions repeated it, is now living, and has certified
to it.

The press was purchased, in 1835, of Messrs Cox and
Baylie, by Messrs. Harrild and Sons, of No. 10 and 11.
Great Distaff-lane, Friday-street, London, who have re-
tained it until within a few weeks since, when they yielded to
the solicitations of an American gentleman, now in this
country, to part with it, refusing, however, any personal re-
muneration, but simply with the understanding, that a dona-
tion shall be made to the Printers' Pension Society, of Lon-
don, (of which they are members,) an institution distinguished
alike for the extent, impartiality, and efficacy of its charity,
which goes to support the aged and infirm of the profession.
Of this disinterested and noble conduct, on the part of
Messrs. Harrild and Sons, we cannot speak too highly, nor
need we more than allude to it, convinced that it carries with
it, in their breasts, its own reward, and will be alike remem-
bered and honoured by all who know the fact.
The press has now come into the possession of John B.
Murray, Esq. of New York, the American gentleman
referred to, who has determined to delay it here for a few
days, prior to its leaving the country for ever, for the pur-
pose of giving those who wish an opportunity of seeing it.
It has been deposited at the Medical Institution, Mount
Pleasant, the council-chamber of that body having been
politely tendered to Mr. Murray for the purpose, and it can
be seen daily, during this week, between the hours of twelve
A. M., and four p. m., excepting on Saturday, when it will
remain open until nine P. M. Admission to see it can only
be had by tickets, each ticket admitting a party, which can
be obtained (gratis, of course) on application to Mr. Moore,
surgeon, No. 23, Great George-street, any morning before
eleven o'clock.

We would add, that the present owner of the Franklin
Press, desiring to carry out the charitable views of the above-
named members of the Printers' Pension Society, will cause
a box to be placed near the press, for the reception of such
contributions as visiters feel inclined to make towards that
charitable and highly-meritorious institution.

The Marquis of Waterford won the hurdle race at the Tra-
more races, ou Monday, with his br h Manilla, beating four
others. The horsemansnip of the noble Marquis was the
theme of admiration.

THE MURDER AT RINGMER.—Two other persons have
been taken into custody, as participators in this tragical
occurence, and it is expected, from several expressions which
have dropped from them, that they will make some important
disclosures respecting the murder.
On Monday last the Rev. John Cahill, Roman Catholic
curate of Borris, was held to bail by order of the Attorney-
General, to stand his trial at the next assizes, on a charge of
having headed a mob on the 28th of June last, and with for-
cibly carrying away certain freeholders. the tenants of the
Earl of Conrtown and Lord Downes, while on their way to
Carlow. _ _

DEPARTURE OF THE GREAT WESTERN, Bristol, Oct. 23.
—The Great Western steamer left Kingroad this day, imme-
diately after the receipt of the northern mail, on her last
voyage for New York this season. She intends calling at
Halifax. She has taken with her a very full cargo of wool-
lens and other manufa*ctured goods, and has 128 passengers,
among whom is Mr. Stevenson, the American minister to
this country.

Mr. William Peel, third son of the Right. Hon. Sir R.
Peel, Bart., who served in the Princess Charlotte under
Admiral Sir Robert Stopford, during the settlement of the
affairs on the Syrian coast as midshipman, is about to go to
China in the Cambrian, Captain Chads, C. B.
His Excellency Sir Stratford Canning, G.C.8., as Am-
bassador to the Sublime Ottoman Porte, embarks on Satur-
day next, or early in the ensuing week, for Constantinople,
to assume his diplomatic duties. Lady S. Canning and
family do not accompany his excellency, her ladyship intend-
tng to defer her departure until February or March.
On Tuesday last the Derbyshire hills were covered with
snow. There we.s also a considerable fall of snow at Leeds
on Thursday last. The mountain at Clayton, and the hills
around Thornton and Denholme, near Bradford, were on
Tuesday morning covered with snow. On the same day the
" cloud-cap't " summit of Holme-Muss, and the various
hill tops in the neighbourhood of Holmfirth, were also
completely covered over with snow.—Leeds Intelligencer.