The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-11-29 00:00:00

WORKING MEN'S BRANCH OF THE
PROTESTANT REFORMATION
SOCIETY.

SOIREE LAST EVENING.

LIST evening a tea-party of the Working Men's Branch
of the Protestant Reformation Society, establishedunderthe
patronage of Mr. Alderman Edmund Molyneux, was held
at the society's rooms, Lower Beau-street. Upwards of
300 persons were present, the upper and lower rooms
being each filled during tea. The equipages and tables
being removed, the whole company collected in the lower
room, which was densely crowded. Various appropriate
decorations were suspended on the walls, and banners and
flags waved from the ceiling. The chair was occupied by
the "Rev. W. F. Taylor (Incumbent of St. John s), and
near him on the platform were the Rev. George L. Ireland
(curate of St. John s), the Rev. W. B. S. Matthias,
the Rev. S. B. Sutton, M.A., the Rev. V. M.
White, B.A. the Rev. T. Robinson, BA., Mr. W. Clarke,
Mr. T. Worrall: (missionary for the Reformation Society),
and other gentlemen.
The Rev. Outman, who was received with loud
applause, explained the object of the gathering, and that
the society in question was a branch of that British Re-
formation Society which throughout the length and breadth
of the land was .busily furthering the noble objects for
which it was founded. With a view to show the necessity
for the establishment of such auxiliaries, the speaker
glanced at the operations of the Roman Catholic Church
in our own country. Of late years Rome had put forth
the most extraordinary exertions to regain, if possible, her
long-lost ascendancy in this blest country ; but the Lord
grant that the ascendancy which she once had she might
never regain. (Loud cheers.) If she did regain
it, " heretical" Protestants knew what they might
expect. At present, there are 700 Romish chapels in
England-700 mass-houses ; where that which they called
a sacrifice was offered up, but which we's in reality the most
hideous abomination under the eye of heaven. (Cheers.)
There were eleven colleges, where priests were being
trained for the purpose of indoctrinating the masses of
our people in Rosaish idolatry. There were no less than
17 monasteries and 53 nunneries, into which tatter young
girls were entrapped at an early and unsuspecting age.
The speaker here expressed his opinion that no system of
nunnery inspection would answer the end in view for the
cunning of the priests and " reverendmothers" would still
defeat the ends ofjustice: The only remedy for the abuse' was
suppression by law. (Lora cheers.) Mr. Taylor quoterlfrom
the pastoral of the "Bishop of Southwark" several passages,
showing what lie considered the blasphemous character of
that document. He described the Bishop of Southwark
as a "spiritual Judas.' The passages chiefly dwelt upon
by the speaker were that which rBferred to the feast of the
Rosary—which festival Mr. Taylor declared was a Moorish
invention ; and that, where Catholics were directed to
repose their whole confidence upon the " all-powerful
intercession of our most blessed lady" the virgin
who was herself a poor sinner like the rest of us.
Christianity (the speaker continued) is essentially ag-
gressive. ; aggressive on the wide=spread domains of
darkness, ignorance,' and sin. Were it otherwise,
it would have been long since overcome and num-
bered amongst the things that were: This aggres-
sive character of Christianity may be defended on three
grounds,- not to enumerate more : first, the Saviour's
command, "Go ye into all the world mid. preach the
Gospel to• every creature ;" for what does this command
imply, but that an aggressive movement sbentid be made -
by the Church of Gal on the wastes of heathenism and
error ; that the light of the Gospel should be cast upon
the darkness of the moral world, and that the dungeons
and prisons of idolatrous Error, wherein Superstition held
her myriads captive in perpetual bondage, should be
assaulted, and. that the' Church of God should never con-
ceive her high and holy mission accomplished untilievery
obstacle were overcome, and, notwithstanding the opposi-
tion• of interested parties; the blessed proclamatiets of
redeeming mercy were poured into the ears of every son.
and daughter' of Adam. In this manner the Apostles
acted ; in despite of opposition and every species of perseenk.
tion, intolerant laws; popular -hum% the combined in
fluence of a despotic government, and an interested mid
designing priesthood, they preached the Gospel, in the
cities and in the fields, in the' market-places and in the*
highways, on the mountains, by the-sea shore, in the syna--
gogues, and in the temple. True; they were beaten,.
stoned, imprisoned, bound, " but the Word of God was
not bound," everything turned "rather unto the further-
ance of the Gospel ;" the cause of truth tt'iumphed ; though
they fell in the conflict, they conquered in their fall, and
with their dying arm they planted the standard of the
Cross on the battlements of the enemy, and' shouted vic-
tory. Again, philanthropy would urge us to beaggressive in
the cause of Christianity. The Gospel is the-only means pro-
vided for the salvation of fallen man : without the Gospel,
he-must live without God, withoutehrist, and without hope
in the world—uncheered by the beams- of that heavenly
truth, which alone can enlighten the mind; comfort . the
heart, and which brings every earthly blessing in its
train ; and, dying, he must descend to the. blackness of
darkness for ever. Now who, believing that the gospel
can bless for time and eternity, and that wit** it man
is lbst; body and soul, for ever,s--who, I say, on the mere
ground of common, universal philanthrope; could be
otherwise than aggressive ? Rut once morel:necessity
imposes upon us an ag,gressise movement : format is the
force of opposing influences, that, if not making head
against-opposition, religion will Abe gradually "dome back-
ward: The man who rests on his oars will speedily be
swept downwards by the current •of the river ; and the
Chriitianity which ceases to wage, by moral . means, an
aggressive warfare with all adverse influences, wilt soon
become retrogressive. So that aggression is abiJolntely
essential to the existence of Chriitianity ; for it- ceases to
be truly ChriStian otherwise. Now these principles I
would 'apply to Protestantism, for Protestantien is -not
a mere negation, as is generallY, stated, but ividentical
with . pure Christianity; for by Protestantism-4 mean
that system of religious truth which is set forth in the
Articles, Liturgy, and Homilies' of our National:Church.
The Refiirmation in the if tli • century was accom-
plished, tinder God, by aggressiie movements. Sold and
faithful men advanced with indomitable courage -against
the powers of darkness united under the papal authority,
they unfurled aloft the standtusinethe Cross, they kindled
on high the beacon light of pure primitive Chris-
tianity, and success crowned their exertions. Now, my,
brethren, as. the Reformation was won by aggressiVePro-
testant chriStiassity, so must the Reformation -Ile-main-
tained by the same ; as a matter of self-preservation, we
must-no longer act as too many ;16,, merely on thedefensive;
we must assault the enemy in her strongest citadel ; we
must unsheath the Sword of the Spirit, and flash its light-
ning into the, centre of her encampment ; we must aim at
the destruction of the enemies- of the truth by. =corn-
pli:shing.tbeir conversion, thus not only thinninpthe.ranks
of the enemy-but augmenting our own. This IS the true,
the only legitimate victory which we should seekto accom-
plish---a moral victory, a bloodless conquest, gained not by
might; norhyppNyer, but by the Spirit of the Lord:, (Cheers.) •
I, therefore, rejoice to preside at this tea party,lfeld for the
purpose of 'Strengthening our-hands and our hearts in this
good •cause„ I hail with joy the formation of a-" Working
Man's Branch" of that nobla. and faithful witness of the
truth, whose flag has ever braved triumphantly the battle
and the breeze, the " Britiish Reformation Society." I
augur well: for our country,_when I see our working men,
our mechanics, our carpenters,our smiths, our-shoemakers,
taking the initiativeu in this matter, and, as-in this case,
without-being ged by the Clergy, first firming them-
selves into a society homing for its object the pro-
motion-, of these glorious- principles, and: then coming
to the proper leaders of the people, the clergy of our be-
loved Church, thankful, if they can secureetheir co-opera-
tion. They determined, with God's blessing; that, whether
supported or not, they will nail the colours to the mast
head, and never take them down until victory crowns their
arms.- (Great applause) The rev. chairman alluded to the
persecutions which arebeing carried on all over the world,
by the priests of Rome against Protestants, dwelling at
length on the brutal And disgusting case which has recently
oceurredat Chelles, itt France, where the-corpse of a Pro-
testant farmer waidug out of the grave by the priests'
myrmidons, and dragged through the. mire of the streets.
Mr.- Joon BENmrr, the secretary, then read the fol-
l Awing REPORT.
At a public meeting, held in Ail-Saints' Sehool-room,
(the Rey. H. Marlen having very kindly granted the use.
of that building for the occasion), otithe 14th of September, .
of persons in the habit of attending the controversial ker.
tures and • Sunday out-door me,etin,gs conducted by Mr.
T. Worrell; the agent in this town to the British Refor-
mation Society, the following resolutions were unanimously:
adepted

"That, in consequence of the very great success which
has attended the efforts of the agent in this town, especially
at the North end, and the general progress of the work of
reformation, it is deemed. advisable to form a branch,
society, to be designated the ' Liverpool Workings Men!a
13ran9h, Protestant Reformation Society,' having • for its
object the carrying out of the principles and ob.*ta.of the
parent society."
"-That a commodious building be procured for the put,
pose of having weekly lectures, that a libray. be formed,
and every practicable nieans adopted to furnish, the mem-
bers with information touching the principles.of the Church
of England, in contradistinction to those of the. Church of
Rome."

That every effort-be made to disseminate information
among the Roman,Catholics in this town, by the circula-
tion of tracts and other works on the Romish. controversy ;
by the diffusion,, in every possible way, of sound Pro-
testant knowledge ; and that all legitimate means be put
forth to induce-them to abandon that erroneous system."
" That, in order to carry out the object of the meeting,
every member shall contribute nab less than one penny
weekly, in consideration of which he is to be entitled to
attend the. lectures free, and any other privileges that
may arise in connection with the. society."
" That a committee be appointed to carry out the inten-.
tions of this meeting in such a manner as to the commit,.
tee may appear best."
"That the committee,
having taken the premises occu-
pied this' evening, and succeeded in enrolling nearly 300
members, deemed it requisite to convene those members
together on the 3rd day of November, in order to adopt
rules and appoint officers. At that meeting the following
rules were agreed upon :
" Rule 1. That the society shall be designated ' The
Working-men's Branch of the Protestant Reformation
Society. _

"Rule
2. That it shall consist of Patron, Vice-patrons,
President, Vice-presidents, Treasurer, Secretary, Commit-
tee, and Members.
Rule, 3. That all persons professing a belief in the Holy
Trinity, who shall subscribe one penny weekly, or shall
give a donation of five pounds, shall be members of the
society.
" Rule 4. That a committee of thirty members shall be
annually chosen to transact the general business of the
society, and that five constitute a quorum.
Rule 5. That an annual meeting of the society shall
be held. at such time and place as the committee may
determine, when a report of the past year's proceedings
shall be presented, with an audited statement of the
accounts. That Alderman E. Molyneux be patron ; vice-
patrons not yet appointed. That Mr. John Parsonage be
and Messrs. 'Worrall and Grindrod be vice-
That Mr. John Johnson be treasurer. That
Bennett be secretary. [Here follow the names
president,pol‘ fir retsi Johndiret vice-
presidents. sgentlemen of the committee.)
The Rev. S. B. SUTTON moved the first resolution, as
follows :
" That the promotion of the religions principles of the
Reformative is a duty incumbent 9n all whg belieye that