The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-01-30 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD

in their efforts until the system which excluded the Bible
from the schools was banished from Ireland also.
(Cheers.) The worthy councillor concluded by moving
the following resolution :—That the principles of the
Established Church, if fully carried out, would be a com-
plete remedy for all the evils which at present afflict the
community.
Mr. BENTLEY seconded the motion.
The Rev. 'F. D. GREGG then rose to address the meet-
ing, and was received with loud cneers which continued
for some time; when silence was restored, he said, he
felt amazingly astonished, and he might say delighted, at
that magnitlicent assembly, and he felt it to be a very high
honour and a great privilege to be allowed to address
them. He trusted he came there to obtain a welcome
from the Protestants of Liverpool. (Loud cheers.) He
would be quite sorry to throw out any idea which was
contrary to that, did he not feel that he owed it to him-
self to do so. Occupying the position he did in the
sister country—standing as he did to the Protestants of
Dublin, he might say to the Protestants of Ireland, and
enjoying as he did the entire confidence of the whole of
the industrious classes of the Irish Protestants, and, he
trusted he might say, of the best of all classes, it would
grieve him very much indeed to see that there were any
difference between the operative Protestants of Liverpool,
and the operative Protestants of Dublin. He did not
know whether the gentlemen on the platform would allow
the letter he held in his hand to be read, which was con-
tained in a paper he had that morning received—indeed
he bad been requested not to notice the subject—but he
could not consent to that. He was always for doing
things opon and above board, and therefore he should
like the public to know the grounds on which that letter
was written, in order to ascertain whether they were well
founded, or as he believed them to be rotten. He en-
joyed the confidence of the Protestant operatives of Dub-
lin, the confidence of the Protestants of all Ireland, and
he did say that any insult or slight offered to him would
be regarded as nothing else than an insult or a slight to
the whole Protestants of Ireland. (Loud cheers.) The
The Rev, gentleman then read the advertisement from
the Mail of last Saturday, signed by three members of
the Operative Protestant Association, repudiating any
connection with inviting the Rev. gentleman to Liverpool.
sle did trust if there were any grounds for that letter,
that they would be plainly stated. He considered it a
letter calculated to give exceeding satisfaction to the pa-
pist party in Liverpool, and he could not avoid again say-
ing that if there were any ground for it, it should be
openly. plainly, and distinctly stated. It stated that they
had nothing to do with the getting up of the meeting by
Mr. Gregg's friends. Why all he could say was that if
those were his friends he was very proud of them,—
(checrs,)—and if the Protestant Operative Association
of Liverpool would set their hands and seals to that let-
ter. and repudiate all connection with him, he should
think much less of them than he had been in the habit of
doing. As for him his individual feelings had been before
the world as clear as noon day. He had been maintaining
the Protestant cause in Ireland, and with so much effect,
that, notwithstanding the discouragements of the times,
notwithstanding the spirit of compromise which was mani-
fested in places—notwithstanditigthe vast power which was
thrown into th hands of the Roman Catholic community,
he believed, a*it was very generally believed, that the
spirit of Protestantism was never so strong, never so ener-
getic, and never produced so many practical proofs of it
in Ireland as at this moment. (Loud cheers). He was
aware that in Ireland a very considerable number were
disposed to stand aloof from their proceedings, and the
reason was because they were disposed to place entire and
unlimited confidence to those at present in power, and he
plainly and decidedly stated that the party with which he
was connected, and he himself, were not prepared to do
any such thing. He found they had been established in Ire-
land,.by the Whigs when in power, a system of education
constructed with the express view of giving full play to the
teaching of Popery. The intention of the national system
of education was just that. The system which existed
previously was decidedly Scriptural. All the children who
came to the schools were obliged to read the Bible, with-
out notes or comment. God had promised to be with his
Word. and the effect was that the reading of the Bible
lessened the faith of the people in the dogmas of Popery.
The most cursory view of it spewed that Popery was con-
demned, and exhibited the necessity of relying solely on
the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. The priests saw this.
They opposed the system and were determined to have
everything withdrawn which should lead from Popish er-
ror. A system was therefore introduced by the Whigs
which excluded the Bible,—that was condemned by Sir
Robert Peel and his party, and yet nevertheless that sys-
tem was now fastened up9en the mind of Ireland with the
support of their approbation. They had also continued
the grant to Maynooth, but that he did not so much com-
plain of,—every party had been committed with that, and
these must be a stronger manifestation of public feeling
before it could be done away with. They had done that
and they had studiously avoided committing themselves
to anything like Protestant principles. It was therefore
they stood upon principles irrespective of the Ministry-
They stood upon the Word of God,—they made that the
basis of their proceedings. He knew there were many
well-instructed men who refrained from opposing them on
the ground that it would be embarrassing the Ministry.
But lie said that if all conformed to their views it would
really relieve Sir Robert Peel from embarrassment ; if
there was a stronger manifestation of public feeling in
favour of Protestantism it would enable Sir Robert Peel
to appeal to the people, and to fall back on complete Pro-
testant measures. The Rev. Gentleman again referred to
the letter, and said if he considered it necessary he should,
at the next great Protestant Operative Meeting in Liver-
pool put it to the test, invited or not, whether they would
repudiate him. After allowing that it would have the
effect of playing the game of the Papists and Radicals he
apologized for occupying so much of their time on a sub-
ject purely personal to himself, and proceeded to more
general topics. He said the resolution conveyed the
most important proposition in the world,—it set out by
stating that the principles of the Established Church,
if fully carried out were a remedy for all the evils
which now affict the community. He entreated them for
God's sake, to fix their attention on that general senti-
ment, to examine into it, till they found it was well
pounded to powder upon its vast importance. The prin-
ciple of the Established Church if justly carried out
would remove all the evils of the community, and no
doubt they would. The principles of the Established
Church were the principles of the Bible, and what were
those principles—they were—" Thou shalt love the Lord
thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all
thy strength, and thy neighbour as thyself." Now what
but a disregard of this latter part of the precepte
waousnec_l
all the evils which now affict the community. He.
Fer-
randld depict the miseries resulting ,fr
ask those who had heard the able and talented
Law and the factory system whether
o such a state of the New Poor
things could exist if they loved their neighboursthem-
. Protestant as
Poor Law. The old
law passed in the reign of Queen Elizabeth,
m
selves
contemplated the relief of the poor. It found the
individual poor and in distress and it declared his poverty
Take for instance the New
simply
ought to be relieved without being accompanied by any
imprisonment, insult, and disparagement. The New
Poor Law acted upon the principle that poverty was a
crime, that the individual bad no right to relieve at all—
that he must come as a petitioner to the Poor House, that
he should be stripped of his apparel, arrayed in a prison
dress, seperated from his wife and children and impri-
soned. In fact he must not be treated as a human
being possessed of proper feelings, but treated as a horse.
or a mule, or a cow, just afforded shelter and food, and
that was all he ought to have. What did that arise from
but the not loving our neighbour as ourselves. Again,
take the case of the factory children, and in that case a
great deal of misery had been shown by Richd. Oastler
and Mr. Ferrand, arising out of a great deal of covetous-
ness, and did not the principles of the Church of England
condemn all such covetousness. Did it not inculcate the
rule that a man was not only to consult his own but also
another's welfare. Hence they would perceive that if the
principles of the Established Church were carried out,
they would remedy the evils under which the community
now labour. In the articles of the liturgy, and the homi-
lies of the Church were to be found the true interpreta-
tion of the Scriptures. There the principle was incul-
cated that the poor were entitled to proper consideration,
and the charge was so stringent that Richard Oastler,
when argning against the cruelty and rapacity of the
times had not to go to one single testimony beyond the
authority of the Church, and he boldly flung in the face of
the ministry the declaration that in neglecting the care of
the poor they were violating the principles of that Church
to which they had sworn adherence. He had dwelt upon
the practical precepts of the Church. but, oh, let him
dwell upon the grand and fundamental principles of that
Church. What placed it as the most beautiful in the
world ? What made it the glory of Mount Zion ? It was
this ; it made Jesus Christ the beginning and the end of
an its ordinances ; on him it builds every precept, on his
atonement it rests every hope, and it places, faith in him
as the grand panacea for every evil. But there was
another feature in the character of our church which he
thought it important on that occasion to dwell ;—it was
that of its being united with the state, and in that union
its greatest usefulness consisted. He asked if the church
were separated from the state, what hold would they have
upon statesmen for any single measure they adopted?
If it were separated from the state, instead of appealing
to its ordinances, or the Bible, on such questions as the
new poor law, they would refer them to a M'Culloch or
a Malthus, who would argue the very brain out of their
heads, and bandy syllogisms and sophistry until they did
not know whether they stood on their heads or their
heels. (Cheers, and laughter.) Then, when they told
him they did not understand his syllogisms and his
sophistry, but they appealed to the Scriptures, they would
be answered by the observation—" Oh ! that is all done
away with ; we have philosophy now for our ghide."
But consider the chuch as connected with the state, and
carrying out these principles which the Word of God
taught, and see what the result would be. Look at the
constitution of the church. It was episcopal. Its bishops
had the control of the whole clergy, and the Clergy could
direct, or move, to a great extent, the whole people. It
had been a favourite topic with him (Mr. Gregg) to ad-
vocate the amasing benefits which would come upon the
community by the full and perfect operation of the
Established Church ; but there were reformers springing
up, with their plans of reform, for the evils under which
the community labours, but in most of them, such as
vote by ballot, the extension of the suffrage, &c., they
would have the higher classes arrayed against them, and
This obj
they never could succeed with the influence the higher
classes possessed, and justly, against them. (Cheers.)
ect, however, and the object of those who
acted with him was to revive the old tor y party—that party
which based its principles on the articles, the liturgy, the
homilies, and the bible. (Cheers.) if they joined this
party, they might depend upon it, instead of having the
higher classes aga:nst them and closing their pockets,
they would find the contrary to be the case. They should
think that chimerical, for, if they looked at the Old
Testament history, they would find many instances of en-
couremement in the influence which the righteous kings of
Israel' exercised. He beseeched them then to stand for

the old English constitution. It was time enough to call
for a new one when they found the old one was not good,
but, first of all, they should see that the old one was
ot of
crhouurgehhlya
17
do rked-
state ,
ad which it h
not
been ad nott )roypeet been. r
iy c a
r r
eTdhoe
out,
union
r
if it was popery would not stand half a dozen years in Ire-
land. The rev. gentleman then drew a picture of what
England was during the reigns of popish monarchs, what
• she is now, contrasted her state with that of Ireland and
toht
eh efrr
epeoepxi
ps hr
ecsos
iuonnt rio ef so, p
nni do
nshowed
nt
oh
ta tb
ee veexne
ricn Ii s
e dr e
al asnd
it
was in England. This he illustrated by what had occur-
red at two recent meetings in Dublin, wherein, although
liberal Protestants were present, et popery was fostered,
encouraged, and supported, and Protestantism put down.
(A collection was then made to defray the necessary ex-
penses of the meeting.)
• After the collection, the Rev. T. D. GREGG again ad-
dressed the meeting at considerable length. He had, he
said, before endeavoured to impress upon them the evil
influence of popery, and the saving effects of Protestan-
tism as a system ; that the latter was consistent with
rational liberty, and the enjoyment of its privileges, and
I hat the former could not exist in the atmosphere of liberty.
He desired to address to them an exhortation to respect
and protect their own rights. For example, even in the
matter of public assemblies and the free dissemination of
truth, there was a spirit of intolerance in popery which
did not spring out of Protestantism. He and his friends
had, the other night, a glorious meeting in Dublin, to re-
ceive their friend, Mr. Ferrand (cheers), the first meet-
ing, he believed, that had been called through an English-
man, in Ireland, in an English cause. It was in the cause
of a worthy and respected Englishman, Mr. Oastler, and
he was glad to say, that they would be enabled to send
£5O (after all expenses were defrayed), collected at that
meeting, which, he thought, was, under the present cir-
cumstances in that country, no inconsiderable donation
towards the fund. (Loud cheers.) One individual only
had risen to oppose the object of the meeting, and had
endeavoured to cast a slur upon the character: of Mr.
Oastler: but they had patiently heard him out, and put
him down with a simple question without gagging him.
It was not so at popish meetings. (Cheers ) The putting
of a man down by clamour was most unworthy. He had
himself attended a meeting convened by the Lord Mayor,
at which he had been so treated. He had complained of
the violence he had met with in a memorial to the Lord
Lieut., and if need were he would complain to the Gov-
ernment. Protestant citizens had a right to attend meet-
ings so convened, and he should found his complaint on
not being allowed to exercise his rights. No meeting
ought to put down a speaker by force, or to crush the
expression of public sentiment. (Cheers.) If there were
a majority at the meetirb, they were in the right to gain
the day, by a show of hands, but not to prevent others
from freely expressing their opinions. With regard to
popery, it was in truth, a mind-undermining, a soul-en-
slaving, and a liberty-opposing system. (Cheers. Was
there, he would ask. no deliverance from it for Ireland?
(Yes.) He himself was banded against it, and his protes-
tant friends were banded to eradicate it out of Ireland.
He had attended the meeting alluded to, the other day,
in the knowledge that he might fall a sacrifice to his ar-
dour in the cause ; but, he said to himself, Englishmen
have fallen in the same cause ; they have endured even
the fire itself, in its behalf, and their blood had become the
seed from which sprung religion and truth. (Cheers.) It
was this sacrifice that gave the Englishman a home, and
all the privileges he enjoyed ; and until Irishmen submit-
ted to an equal sacrifice, his country would remain in her
Present state of prostration. He went to that meeting in
the premeditation that he might lose his life ; but what
was the loss of one life to the eternal salvation of thousands.
(Loud cheers.) Jesus had himself become a sacrifice, and
our church would never have been established without the
testimony of martyred churchman to be her foundation.
O'Connell was at the first of these meetings, and through-
out hillooed the hounds on to their prey, with a view to
quench the voice of truth. Were they to remain for ever
thus fettered? No! The principles embodied in the
resolution, if fully carried out, would for ever eradicate
popery in Ireland. (Cheers.) Had popery died, when
it was rampant, with all the concession; made to it?
No : the devil never died ! (Cheers, and !laughter.) It
was put out: it was thrust out. Cromwell (as he was
just reminded by a by-stander) had found the people
snuffing after the flesh•pots of the monks ,• and he col-
lected their mock tears, the wires with which they worked
their puppets, and their relics. He showed them to the
people, and said, " these are their idols." They trampled
upon them, and repudiated both their priests and their
idolatry. The parliament was then more careful of the
morals and religion of the people than now. They circu-
lated controversial sermons—and what else were the ex-
cellent homilies of the Church of England ? They also
published Fox's Book of Martyrs ; and popery was thrust
out of England by the exposure of its errors, its ab-
surdities, and its enslaving doctrines. (Cheers.) He
believed the Catholics themselves were ripe for a change,
and would snap the chains that bound them on the first
favourable apportunity. They did not now even resort to
arguments in their controversies. They merely looked
to the concessions made to them, in evil hour, and urged
from them that their religion was getting up and not re-
trograding. Let, then, the country at large have scriptural
education ; let them (the Protestants) withdraw the
Maynooth grant, and all the support to catholic chaplains
in workhouses and elsewhere, and popery would soon
sink. What they (the Protestants) declared was, that the
mass was a blasphemous deceit, and could they do any-
thing, therefore, more foul than support it in any shape ?
(Cheers.) Was it not, he would ask them, most foul.)
(Yes ! and great cheering.) lie rejoiced in the enthu-
siasm, for the moment an assent was given nationally to
such a proposition, such a corruption could not stand.
If anything were more forbidden in scripture than another,
it was surely idolatry. When they trampled the com-
mandments of God under foot by supporting it, to His
dishonour, He would withdraw His goodness to them,
in their bread, and in the blessing of their homes,
and their firesides. If they obeyed his precepts,
every enemy would be vanquished, and they would
enjoy every comfort that man could enjoy on earth. He
here quoted what had been said by the Warder. Were
the y to extinguish the light of reason and of science, to
go back to the darkness of ignorannce and superstition.
No, (said he,) the man who did so was a traitor to
his God and his country, and his proper treatment
was to lop off his head. (Repeated cheering.) He
He would that that shout weri beard throughout
the length and breadth of the latrid, for it would
show their enemies the irresistible force of pub-
lic opinion. A course might be taken that would
do away with popery in Ireland. (Hear.) If the
Protestants would but all act on principle, and t. be
united, they would hear no more talk of the repeal of
the union. (Cheers.) The two countrieo had but to
unite in an indisoluble bond of truth, and if England and
Ireland were 80 united they might defy the world. All
was to be attained by scriptural law, and Protestant legis-
lation. All their wants and miseries arose from that
principle not being carried out. Were it carried out sel-
fishness and covetousness would be rooted out. They
wanted not novelty or revolution : all that was needed
was a return to the constitutional principles of their fore-
fathers. This was what Mr. Oastler contended for.
(Cheers.) It would heal all their wrongs, for the grand
point was scriptural legislation. But how were they to
obtain that, seeing they had papists in parliament ? What
was to be done ? (Cries of Repeal the Emancipation
Act," and tremendous cheers.) He really thought from
the enthusiasm shown, that the object was already ac.
complished. The rev. gentleman then related a conversa-
tion he had with a popish alderman who happened to be
his own tenant, and adduced from it, that if the Catho-
lics were pushed and reasoned with, they would them-
selves admit that they had no right to sit in parliament in
this country. The grand duty of parliament was to ele-
vate the public by morality and truth. After several other
Powerful remarks, he concluded by impressing upon the
meeting the necessity of having the constitution fully car-
ried out. Then would God's blessing again fall upon the
empire • then would England again become the envy of
surrounding nations, and the glory of the world. (The
rev. speaker sat down amidst prolonged, and enthusiastic
cheering.)

Mr. Divms, a Protestant operative from Dublin, then
addressed the meeting with great spirit and effect, alluding
to William 111., and hailing the kindred spirit which he
found amongst the English Protestants. He was warmly
received.

THE CHAIRMAN put the motion, which was unani
mously carried.

_ -
Mr. WILKINSON moved the thanks of the meeting to
the Rev. Mr. Gregg for his visit, and his excellent ad-
dress, which was seconded by Mr. Irvine, and carried by
acclamation.
The Rev. Mr. Gregg returned thanks in feeling terms ;
but we are precluded from want of space from entering
.into further details.
Thanks were voted to the Chairman, who returned his
acknowledgments, reminding the meeting of the Soiree
of'this eVening, and the Doxology being sung, the im-
mense asiemblage quietly dispersed.

POPULATION OF LANCASHIRE.—It is not generally
known that Lancashire has become the most populous
county in the kingdom, such however is the fact ; and
Middlesex which a short time since stood at the head, in
point of numbers, is now only rated third.
MORALS AND EDUCATION.—Under this head, the first
number of The Municipal and Poor Law Gazette and
Local Functionary, published on Saturday last, says that
the number of people married in the three years ending
Midsummer 1841 were 367,849, and that of those 112,405
males and 180,260 females, making a total of 301,665
signed the marriage registry with marks. We do not be-
lieve that'the statement affords a fair index of the educa-
tion of the parties to whom it refers, for we have known
many instances of parties who could write well having
been so overpowered with trepidation at the time of per-
fecting the Register of the Marriage Ceremony, that they
have been glad to get over the effort required of them by
making a mark, when, under other circumstances they
would have been able to write beautiful signatures.

LORD WELLESLEY.—Lord Wellesley was a perfect
specimen of the Irish gentleman of the old school; with
a beautiful form, and of the most polished manners and
exquisitely refined taste; thoroughly master of his own
language, and of the highest classic attainments ; abound-
ing in pathos, rich in anecdote, and sparkling with wit ;
quickly perceptive, and yet deeply reflective ; of high
comprehensive resolves; prompt, vigorous, and effective
in action; quickly discriminating character, and well
adapting instruments for the purposes designed; yielding
confidence most fully, and, with the power that alone be-
longs to genius, pouring into his subordinates the spirit
and energy of a large, vigorous, and well-stored mind ;
kindly considerate to inferiors ; gay, animated, instructive
with equals ; deferential, but proud, to superiors ; ardently
attached to constitutional liberty ; conscious of the re-
sponsibility of political power; despising wealth; embued
with pure patriotism ; and, when full of years and honours,
descending into the grave, breathing forth his dying
thoughts for the welfare and perpetuity of the United
British Empire.—Nonigonsery Martin's Ireland.