The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-09-18 00:00:00

D. D . ; 'R.

Townsend

Thos. Corser, G. E. Larden, T. Tadrninter, W. Williams,
I'. L. Claughton, C. G. Driflield, E. Girdlestone, W. ltiornhy,
R. Parkinson, J. Pedder, Alexander Walton, John Smith,

W. Fox, W. 11. Boulton, Archdeacon Austin, Jas. Hassali,
Robert Leicester, J. S. Coles, S. E. Wentworth, Richard
Appleton, Thomas Brancker, B. A. Marshall, Edward Mor-
gan, David James, Robert P. Crockett, Eccleston, Prescot ;
Edmund B. Chalmer, Gt. Crosby ; Richard Symes, Cleave

Yatton, Somerset ; W. Coombs, Prescot ; G. J. Driffield,
Fellow of Brasennose College, Oxford ; Arthur Rigg,

cipal of the Training Coll, ;,

Alex. Dallas, Rector of Wonston,

W. P. Halton, Rector of St. Bridget, Chester ; W. M`lver,
Secretary ; C. D. Wray, Vice-Dean of Manchester ; W.
Falloon, Smith, St. James's ; Nelson, T. France,

J. S. Wood. Jos. Baylee. R. Badnall, Halton, W. Raw-
son, J. E. Bate, S. P. Boutflower, J. M. Lynn,W. Hesketh,
J. H. Stafford, C. Wray, J. H. Macguire, Ellis Ashton, G.
Salt, Robt. Mayor, W. Badnall, Wavertree, Thos. Gardner,
St. Ann's, West Derby, T. Bold, E. Bickersteth, R. Wil-

hams, D. Anderson, J. May, W. Wannop, T. Eaton, H. W,
Bellaire, W. H. King, W. D. Long, C. K. Prescot, B. H
Berks, C. J. Hamilton, B. L. Witts, I. Wood, R. C. Clifton
D. Roberts, T. S. Grimshaw, Hesketh.
The CHAIRMAN.—It is one of the rules of the society wi
are met this day to support, that all the meetings of the Di.

ocesau Board shall be opened with prayer, according to th(
wish of the Lord Bishop of the diocese. I will, therefore

read one or two collects of our church, before we commence

our proceedings. Let us pray. (Prayer having been offered
by the rev. chairman, lie proceeded to address the meeting
as follows.) In opening the business of the present meeting,
I have, in the first instance, to express my regret that I am

called upon to fill the office which would have been so much
better filled by the Lord Bishop of the diocese. It so hap-
pens that his duties required his attendance, where he is now,
at Durham, which place he will not be able to leave till the
beginning of the ensuing month ; and he has desired me to
express his deep regret that any circumstances should have
prevented his attendance at a meeting in which his heart is
so deeply concerned. Ido not know that I can discharge
the duties of the situation I am called upon to fill this day,
in introducing the subject to your notice, better than by
stating, as concisely as I can, the circumstances that gave
rise to the institution upon the subject of which we are this
day met. It may be very well in the recollection and in the
knowledge of all of you, that the subject of the education of
the lower classes of society in this country—of the general
education of the country—is one which has attracted a deep
and lively interest among all ranks of the community. The
question now is no longer whether the great body of the
people shall he educated. That has been some time settled.
We may now say, they will be educated ; and the question
for us and for all reflecting persons in the country is how
they are to be educated—what direction is to be given to
that education ; for, according to the direction given to it,
it may be an instrument and an engine either of good or of
evil. It occurred to several gentlemen in London and the
neighbourhood, who felt a deep interest in education itself,
and more especially as it was connected with the established
church of the country, that some steps ought to be taken in
order to ensure to the established church that prominence
and lead in the rank of education which it has hitherto always

held. In consequence of this, I believe in the year 1838, a
communication was made by these gentlemen to the National
Society, in which they expressed to them •ery fully and freely
their opinions upon the subject. The National Society im-
mediately took the measure up ; and the result was, that a
committee was appointed, consisting of members of their
own board, of members from the different cathedral este;
blishinents of the country, and also of a certain number of
members of parliament, of whom I think one of the members
for this borough, Lord Sandon, and the honourable gentle-
man whom I see near me now, Mr. W. E. Gladstone, were
members. (Cheers.) They took great pains in deliberating
upon and well considering the subject ; and they pre-
sented to the National Society an address, a report of

their opinions upon it. They considered that the best plan
would be to make useof the machinery which the established
church of the country presented to them, for the purpose of
forwarding the education of the great mass of the people.
They saw that that machine was ready for working. and it
only required an application of power to put it in motion.
(Cheers.) We had our ecclesiastical districts, our diocesan
and parochial divisions well filled with good and intelligent
persons who were aide to carry out any measure that it might
thought desirable to introduce. Their recommendation was
that these should be made use of for the benefit of the public
at large, and for furthering the progress of sound education
upon the principles of the established church. The objects
which they defined as being most desirable to accomplish
were three. The first was to provide a better class of teach-
ers by improving the education, the condition, and the pro-
spects of schoolmasters. They felt that it would be in vain
to go on with the progressive education of the people if they
did not endeavour to improve upon the intellectual attain-
ments, and the moral and religious principles of those who
had to carry that into effect. They felt also there had been
great difficulty experienced throughout the country of obtain-
ing tit and proper masters for the different schools at present
in action ; and one of their leading measures which they
thought ought to be adopted, was to provide training schools
in connexion with every diocese in the kingdom, where per-
sons should be fitly brought up and property instructed to
- undertake the office of schoolmasters in the country. A.
training school of that description has been established in our
own diocese. lam happy to say, as you will hear from those
gentlemen who will speak to the resolutions, it is going on
with great prospects of success ; that the demand already,
when a few months only has elasped since its establishment—
is seven or eight times greater than we could have means of
supplying if all those in the school were ready to go to their
situations. (Cheers.) The second object they had in view
was to ascertain and bring into notice such improvements in
the management of schools as might be with advantage intro-
duced into those in which the national system is followed.
Here again they observed that the mechanical part of instruc-
tion had certainly been brought to a state of great perfection
by the exertions of Dr. Bell, of Madras. There was no doubt,
that as far as mechanical system went, there could be little
improvement in that department ; but still it was felt there
was great room for improvement in other parts. This very
system was apt to teach too much by rote ; it did not furnish
ideas ; and we know that the valuable part of instruction to
the mind of the people is to furnish them with ideas ; and the
mechanical is now a secondary object—a means of carrying
it through into effect. It was thought desirable therefore
that any improvements which might be discovered where
they might be found, that there should be means
of carrying them into all the schools connected with the Na-
tional Society or the established church of the country ; and
it was considered an establishment in every diocese in the
country where that must be done, and a regular system of
instruction, not with an intention of wanton interference in
the management of schools, but with the express view of
carrying from one to another any improvement that might
be found would be the best mode of enlightening the whole
body, and of bringing the system of education under the
established church to something like perfection. The third
object was to offer to the middle class, upon moderate terms,
a useful general education based upon the religious principles
of the church. I think there is no one who hears me, who
will not agree with me in saying that this is a deficiency a
long time lamented. We have plenty of provision made by
our public schools for the education of the higher classes of
society. That lies entirely in the hands of the established
clergy. We have also a great provision made, though I
cannot say it is sufficient, for the lower classes. Individual
benevolence and individual exertion has planted in almost
every parish Or the country, a school for the education of the,
lower orders, Where the population has greatly increased,
that individual benevolence and individual exertion has not
upon all occasions been able to keep pace with it. It was
therefore desirable an united exertion should be made, that
the co-operation of all persons connected with the established
church who loved the Bible and revered their God, should
join together in this important work. The middle classes,
however, during the whole of the operations of this society,
has been the class of all others the most neglected. I believe
till lately, there has been no schools whatever under the
superintendence and management of the established church
of the country in which the middle classes of society might
be able to obtain such an education for their children as was
consonant with their wants. In London, the Bishop of Lon-
don has lately established what he calls commercial schools,
particularly adapted for that class of society. They have
been received very gratefully by that class ; and I believe
they are now doing a great deal of good. It was thought
therefore most desirable that that very class from which, be
it remembered, there are greater defections than from any
other in the country from the established church. And why
should we be Surprised at that, if the established church has
constantly neglected them ? There is no' class of society
among whom dissent prevails so generally as among the
middle classes, Surely, therefore, it was most important
that the established church of the country should take the
matter up, and in due time supply a deficiency which
had been so seriously felt. (Cheers.) These then were the
three objects which they had in view, and which in their ad-
dress they particularly pointed out to the National Society.
That society heartily agreed to co-operate with them in their
views. They consulted the bishops of the establishment,
and the consequence was that they determined upon a simul-
taneous movement throughout the country. The Archbishop
of Canterbury directed letters to the bishops of the several
' dioceses in the country, requesting them to call the attention
of the clergy and laity throughout their dioceses to the wants
declared so necessary to be supplied, and establish at once
throughout the kingdom diocesan boards of education, in
which these different objects should be attempted to be
; brought towards that development. The consequence was,
that the bishop of our own diocese called a meeting for the
L purpose. At that meeting there was only one opinion, that
the matter should be immediately commenced and carried
into effect. Early in last year, the first public meeting was
held in Warrington, and many of you here may perhaps re-
collect that meeting, for I believe many from this town were
present upon that occasion. It was a meeting that produced
considerable effect, and was felt to be gratifying to all those
who attended it and took an interest in the subject. (Cheers,)
It has been thought advisable that these meetings should be
held annually, as the annual report was in preparation ready
to come out, in different parts of the diocese, in order that
all might be acquainted with the circumstances connected
with the plan, and may each use their efforts when they feel
they are convinced of the necessity as far as they possibly
can, in giving aid to carry such desirable objects into effect.
It is that which has produced the present meeting. From
Warrington last year we have come now to Liverpool to the
first annual meeting, to lay before you—the friends of the
established church—in this great and populous town, the
exertions which we are making, and arsN willing to make in
this important cause, to request your aid in sanctioning and
in promoting it ; and from you we shall go to other parts of
the diocese as the years pass on. I believe I have now stated
to you every thing necessary to give you information as re-
• gards the origin of this society. It is not my business or
duty, in the situation I am in to-day, to touch upon those
subjects which the gentlemen have kindly promised to bring
forward the different resolutions will have to explain. (Hear.)
I shall therefore now call upon Mr. Powys, our excellent
secretary, and request him to read the report ; but before I
do that I must state to the meeting that letters have been re-
ceived from the following gentlemen, 'expressing their regret
at not being able to attend this meeting—it is unfortunate
that the meeting of the British Association for the Advance-
ment of Science, which commences at Glasgow this very day,