The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-04-11 00:00:00

knowledge of the Bible, he had no hesitation in saying
that if they brought a single Roman Catholic priest to
the platform that night, they would not have one single
verse stated correctly. (Hear, and applause.) There was
a tendency, at the present moment, in the Church of Rome
. to make the Bible the rule of faith for a Roman Catholic.
Now, be must let a cat out of the bag. (Laughter.) The
Pope had given a commission for the purchase of an
, accurate copy of the Scriptures •and the Rev. Mr. Ken-
' drick, Roman Catholic Bishop of Philadelphia, was just a
man cut out for the work. What had he done? He was
an excellent Greek and Latin scholar, and he had taken
up the work, and had issued an edition of the Bible as an
authority for the Roman Catholics of America. (Dr. Butler
showed the important and Protestant alterations which he
had made from the original Douay version, and continued:)
But it was, perhaps, as well that he should lay before them
what were the sentiments of Cardinal Wiseman as to the
Bible. In writing the book from which he (Dr. Butler) was
about to read them an extract, no doubt the Cardinal thought
that he was going to Rome, never again to return to this
country; for if he had imagined that he was to have come
back again to England, he would not have published such a
document as was contained in the following extract. The
speaker then read the following extract from a recently pub-
lished work of Cardinal Wiseman on the free circulation of
the Scriptures. Speaking of this country, the Cardinal said.
"Though the Scriptures may be here permitted, we do not
urge them on our people. We do not encourage them to read
them. We do not spread them to the utmost among them."
What did the Cardinal mean ? "Though the Scriptures may
be here permitted !" Diu he forget that the Scriptures were
the Word of Almighty God 1 That they were the property
of every man, woman, and child—that every descendant of
fallen Adam had a right to their unfettered perusal, and to
exercise his private judgment upon them just in the same
manner as every child of man had the privilege of breathing
the air of heaven ? (Loud cheers.) They mast, therefore,
protest against any cardinal, Roman Catholic bishop, or priest
who could make use of the impious and anti-Christian lan-
guage, "The Scriptures are here permitted to be read."
(Hear and cheers.) The Cardinal said, "Though the Scrip-
tures may be here permitted, we dolnot urge them on oar
people." Plain speaking this. "We do not encourage them
to read them." Very plain ! "We do not spread them to
the utmost amen; them." Why, was any Roman Catholic—
and he would appeal to such if they were present—encou-
raged to read them ? (Hear and cheers.) What was the
obvious effect of thus keeping back the Scriptures ? If they
took away from a man the revelation made to him by God,
they took away from that man all the reasons he had to know
God. Suppose ior a moment that we had no Bible, how
should we ever have known of the fall of Adam—of the atone-
ment—and of its acceptance for our sins on the part of our
Heavenly Father? The rev. doctor, in continuation, pro.
ceeded to rentte the position in which he was placed with re-
gard to the Bible, when he was a priest of the Roman Catholic
Church. He said his instructions were to this effect.. Ile
was to destroy every Protestant Bible and holy Protestant
work that he could lay his hands upon. Bronght up, as he
had been, in a colony, which was very superstitious and at-
tached to St. Peter's, he bad been, for a certain period in Wa
rne, devoted to the Church of Rome. Alter relating an anec-
dote in connexion with the death of a Protestant soldier in
the hospital of the place where the speaker was stationed,
and who bequeathed b) him (Dr. Butler) a religious tract,
entitled "The Sinner's-Friend," be remarked, that lie stored
up this tract, but did not read it for some time afterwards.
In course of time, he was, in the Providence of God, in the
greatest possible mental distress ; anti in afflictions such as
these, they all knew that the human heart would have re-
course to anything for relief. In this situation he
was first induced to take up this tract, and this was
the first time that he ever took up anything of a- Pro-
testant character to read, and, from the perusal of that
tract, he received great consolation. From a perusal of that
tract, he saw as clearly as the light of day, that the principles
of the Church of Rome were wrong and anti-Christian.
(Cheers.) The reverend doctor,. in continuation, related se-
veral circumstances, personal to himself, in proof of the anti-
scriptural and tyrannical spirit of the Church of Rome, and
then remarked that he now came to a most important period
in his life. When in Rome,-it came to his knowledge that in
reference to the appointment of the Roman Catholic Archbi-
shop of Malta, the Cadinats had promised to the Popish King
of Naples that the Pope would, not appoint any person Arch-
bishop except one recommended by the King. At the same-
time he discovered that at the very moment when this pro-
mise was made a document was also forwarded to the English
Ambassador at Florence, that no appointment would se
made except that recommended by the English Go-
vernment. He (Dr. Butler.) obtained possession of the
document forwarded to the King of Naples, as well as
the promise made to the Queen of Enland, through-
her Ambassador at Florence. They were sent to England,
and laid before the government, which led to a special
messenger, Colonel Hankey, being sent as the bearer of
despatches to the Court of Rome. He (Dr. But:er) accom-
panied the colonel in his interview-with the csrdinal at Rome,
and, in the cardinal's presence, the box containing the de-
spatches-was opened for the first time since leaving London..
The two documents, the one promising the appointment of
the Archbishop of Malta, on the nomination of the King
of Npleft, and the other promising the appointment on the
nomination of the English Government,.were both sub-
mitted to the cardinal, but be• was silent In reference for
both. Failing to reply, the colonel then said, "I am oraered
by my government to receive from you at this moment a.
paper signed by the present Pope, and in which he shall
pledge himself and his successors. that the choice of the
appointment of the bishop of Malta shall rest with my
government. If I do not get this paper. signed, lam in-
structed to withdraw our consul from Rome, to request alt
English residents to leave Rome, arid to-declare, on the part
of our government, tint she is resolutely determined to assert
her rights!' It was then that the cardinal broke silence, but his
reply was, that it could not be signed, as-thee Pope was very ill.
This was Pope Pius the Ninth. He said that the Pope had
received the holy sacrament, and was dying. "Oh," said
the old colonel, "dying or dead, you always profess to have-
a head in Rome, and I must have this paper signed." (Loud.
cheers...). He (Dr. Butler) MIS- a witness-of the cardinal's
taking.the papers from Colonel Hankey'S-hands, and return-
ing with them signed by the dying Pope a short time after-
wards. It was a positive fact -that both the hands and arms
of the Pope were supported whilst signing these papers which
England demanded, and when they were signed, the old
colonel remarked to the cardinal, " What do you think of the
infallibility of your Church now ?" (Loud cheering.) The
rev. doctor then referred in detail to-, the more immediate
reasons which had induced him to leave the Church of Rome.
When he returned from Malta, where he was stationed, he
fires commenced the work of controversy, and lie then
discovered on reading, that the so-called fathers of the
Church of Rome—as he said iu the outset of his remarks—
were in reality not Roman Catholics, Nit Protestants. Having
read so much, and studied deeply, he saw nothing before him
bat to leave her communion. In doing this, lie had to make
great personal sacrifices. He had a-pension granted to him
for life whilst he remained at Malta,..and a house and garden
to live in. The speaker, after some further remarks, referred
to his connexion with this town before he actually withdrew
himself from the Church of Risme ;- and dwelt with much
force on the persecuting spirit to which he was expotecl.
When he resigned the situation beheld in connexion with St.
Anthony's Roman Catholic Chapel in this town, they matt all
know how he was treated. They might ascertain it by
referring to the Standard, the Mail, or the Mercury. A
deputation of Roman Catholics waitedupon the Popish -Bishop
to prefer a charge against his moral character, but the bishop's
answer was, " 'Aare not the slightest charge to makaagainst
this man-" The bishop well knew, much as be was opposed
to him, that he had no charge whatever against him. But,
its addition to the persecution which he .had to submit to in
this town at the time, it had recently been placarded in the
West of England that be left Liverpool indebted to almost
every tradesman in the place. Again, it had been- seated in
Liverpool that lie was dead, and a copy of a newspaper, con-
taining this announcement, Ms sent to all his. relations in'
Ireland, accompanied by a communication that his death
was a warniag to all apostates. (Cries of "Shame.") Well,
three weeks ago a letter had been written by.. the so-called
Catholic Bishop of Liverpool calling him an abandoned cha-
racter ; but he could only new say to his Protestant friends,
that, by God's grace, he had been en:tided to overcome every
sort of persecution. (Tremendous cheering)), He had no
wish at present to dwell further on the abominations of
Popery ; but he could state things to them which would bar-
row up their feelings sufficient to make them pull down every
Roman Catholic chapel in Liverpool. God, forbid, however,
that he should have any such feeling., (Hear.) He was
now a Protestant minister. He belonged to the Protestant
Reformation Society, and he had only tn.asld that he had as
great. a horror of Tractarianism and Puseyism as he bad of
Popery itself. (Great cheering.). lii would tell them an
aneodote respecting Puseyism. About the time he was ad-
mitted into the Protestant Church, he had an interview with
Dr. Pusey, who advised him to continue to go to confession, es
usual, and to receive absolution from one of his (Dr. Pusey's)
friends. (Hear, hear, and.shame.). That_ was a proof that
they had as much to fear, from tractarjanism as from actual
popery. They might depend upon it, that if ever again he.
felt disposed to confess his sins. to,man, rather than to his.
God, he should once more resort to,St, Anthony's, in Liver-
pool, rather than to the votaries. of puseyism. He trusted in.
God that he might be apared.to enjoy the privileges he now
possessed as a Protestant, and, in conclusion, he earnestly.
asked of them to give their support to the Protestant
Reformation Society. Let them do what they could in its
behalf. either by annual subscriptions or by taking collect-
ing cards, and he fervently prayed for God's blessing on Their
efforts. At the conclusion of his_ speech, the rev. doctor was
greeted with loud and protracted cheering.
A collection was then.mede, during which a hymn was-sung,
and the proceedings closed shortly before eleven o'clock.

EX3CUTION.—On Saturday, William Thompson, who
was found guilty at the late assizes of the wilful murder of
Loran Beha, a travelling watchmaker and jeweller, was
hanged on the dxop in front of Norwich Castle,
Lsw BIZEIXERS.—As a sheriff's-officer of Rosshire was
recently proceeding to serve summonses on two farmers,
he was met by a, large crowd of men and women, who
stripped hiai almost naked, burned the summonses, and
turned hint out of the parish. It is said that the magis-
trates are-determined to maintain the law,_ and the mob
to resist it.

THE OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE ROWING-MAZCII took
place ou. Saturday, at Putney. When thasigual was given
for the boats to go on, the Oxonians started with terrific
effects. At once they shot ahead of the Cantabs, but
shortly after the Cantabs nearly got ahead of them. The
Oxford gentlemen were on the Middlesex side, and the
Cambridge gentlemen on the Surrey side. As they started
it was the almost universal impression that both handled
their oars with precision and effect. After an exciting
struggle, amidst the cheers of their supporters, Oxford
won easily. The distance was about four miles and a.half,
which they performed in about seventeen minutes. One
of the Cantabs fainted.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL Covnr.—On Friday, Adolphus
Harrison, alias Feistel, thirty-two, described as an agent,
and Alexander Desaux, sixty-three, baker, were tried for
misdemeanour, in having unlawfully conspired together to
procure the defilement of a young Belgian girl, named
Alice Leroy. The judge ordered Harrison to be impri-
soned and kept to hard labour for two years. The other
prisoner, Desaux, was then placed at the bar, and he
pleaded guilty to the same count. He was ordered to enter
into a recognizance of £lOO to appear and receive judg-
ment when called upon to do so, and he was advised to
leave this country, which he stated it was his intention to
do at once.
THE STEIRE OF THE NORTH-COUNTRY SEAMEN has
been completely abandoned. The Sunderland seamen gave
up on Monday, the North Shields men on Tuesday, and
the South Shields men went to their vessels on Wednesday.
A considerable fleet of collier vessels of a light draught of
water left the Tyne on Wednesday for London.
Loss OF THE PETREL STEAMER.—The screw-steamer
Petrel, trading between Hull and Rotterdam, had made a
good voyage, having left Hull on Wednesday week, and
was within 30 or 40 miles of Rotterdam, when she went
ashore on the Hinder. The weather was quite moderate
at the time, and the passengers and crew were got off in
safety. Shortly after the accident it came on to blow,
which naturally contributed to the injury of the ship, even
if she had not been beyond hope from the first. Captain
that Dawson,
he
e passed
st e
dh e
thee greirwelhoinchSarulvaedy,oanndThfoeusdandyihreatpotrthes
greater part of the cargo had been got out. There was no
possible chance but that she will go to pieces.
A Lem MAKER—On Saturday, at the Marlborough-
street Police-court, a member of parliament was fined £2
for being drunk, and for having assaulted a police constable.
THE COURT continues in town, but, according to pre.
sent arrangements, her Majesty and the Royal Family will
arrive at Windsor Castle, for their usual Easter sojourn,
on Thursday next. Her Majesty will hold a drawing-room
at St. James's Palace, on Thursday, the 27th instant, and
a levee on Wednesday, the 3d of May.
THE MUSICAL FESTIVAL at Exeter-hall, en Wednesday
evening, for the benefit of the widows and children of the
workmen killed by the accident at the Crystal-palace, was
very successful,