The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-05-19 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL giIANnARD.

nals, against the existence of which Englishmen
have in all times been the foremost to lift up their
voice. Yet we find not a step taken, or a word
uttered, against that bill. We give the following
description of it from the Church and State Gazette :
" If the Charitable Trusts Bill should bring within its
reach the great societies which regulate_the church--such

as the Society for Propagation of Christian Knowledge,
the Church Building Society, the National Society,
&c., all of which receive legacies on trust—it will become
an instrument of overwhelming power. The commis-
sioners will have more power over England than the Poor
Law Commissioners. A bill for the compelling the

v• v••• •••••+•+•........ •
publication of •,
charities may do good ; but, unless
its powers are most accurately defined, the commis-
sioners will have a terrible rule over church mat-
ters; and, through them, the administration of the day.
The authority of the Poor-Law Commissioners does not
extend beyond England ; but it may be that the authority

le,. am',

herever

reach. Surely this is a power that ought to be vested in
parliament only. If the practice of establishing cinninis-
sions—that is, perpetual commissions—is to be extended,
the real power of the empire will be drawn to theta, and
through them, to the existing Ministry, who may, at their
pleasure, create or dissolve, and pay and influence, all
such bodies."

Why do not Englishmen bestir themselves to pre-
vent the passing of such a Bill ? One would ima-
gine that the mere facts here stated, independent of
its operation-upon local charities, would be sufficient
to raise a torrent of opposition against it. But,
alas, we seem to have fallen into the " slough of des-
pond." We seem waiting for some measure, which
is to upset the powers of human patience.

TESTIMONIAL OF ESTEEM TO THE REV,
CHARLES MARSHALL,
OF ST. THOMAS'S CHURCH, TOXTETH-PARK.

On Tuesday evening last, a meeting of a majority of
the Sunday-school teachers connected with the above
church was held in Toxteth Hall, Mill-street, (Mr.
Hunton in the chair,) for the purpose of presenting the
above-named rev. gentleman with a mark of their appro-
bation on his relinquishing the curacy of St. Thomas's,
after a memorial having been unanimously signed by the
congregation to appoint him to the vacant incumbency.
Not having been successful, he retired from the scene of
his labours in the park, where be has been engaged for
the last eighteen months, with the good wishes of thou-
sands of the poor, towards whom he has acted, in spiritual
and temporal matters, in the most Christian-like and be-
coming manner

The testimonial consists of a handsome silver ink-stand,
in the centre of which is a wafer-stand, richly surmounted
with the "figure of Innocence sitting under a tree," and
on each side two superbly glass inkstands on a beautifully
elevated tray, on feet and raised edges, on which is the
following inscription :—" Presented to the Rev. Charles
Marshall by the teachers of St. Thomas's Church Schools.
May 12th, 1846." The reverend gentleman has also been
presented with numerous valuable presents from indivi-
dual members of the coneregation.
The Rev. Gentleman delivered a very feeling and ani-
mated address on the occasion, in the course of which he
urged all his hearers to persevere in the maintenance of
those great Protestant principles which it had been his
dut; to instil into them, and which it should be his pride
and pleasure to continue to defend throughout the re-
mainder of his earthly career.

After the followini. hymn (selected by a committee of
the teachers for the occasion) had been sung, the meeting
separated, taking farewell of their beloved and much•
respected pastor :-
1_ I Thou messenger of Christ, His sovereign voice obey ;

The Master whom thou serv'st will needful strength besto
Depending on His promised aid, with sacred courage go.
Mountains shall sink to plains, and hell in vain oppose :
The cause is God's and will prevail, in spite of all thy foes