The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1835-06-09 00:00:00

election of 18.30, were tories in heart and in deed ; the names
even of Mr. Thornely and Mr. Itathbone were unknown to
him. Mr. Win. Ewart, without solicitation, but with money
in his purse, came forward as a candidate for the representa-
tion of the borough, unasked and uncalled for, and, as it has
since proved, disqualified for the task. It is in vain for Mr.
Joseph Ewart to talk of cruel treatment and persecution to
his brother; the worst enemy his brother ever had was him-
self, and, as such, he must take the consequences.

In this letter I have endeavoured, openly, but unequivocally,
to express my opinions, and, leaving the same to your consi-
deration, I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
PLAIN TRUTH.

TRUTH versus POPERY.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

SIR,—A writer, under the inappropriate signature of a
"Protestant Layman," has "publicitated" an unmeaning and
shapeless mass of nonsence, impertinence, and vulgarity, in
two letters addressed to the Rev. H. APNeill, to which the
editor of the Journal refers, in a tone of triumph which ill
accords with the sneaking manner in which he withdrew from
the controversy which he provoked by his ridiculous com-
ments. Although the ground of attack is very conveniently
Shifted by this fresh antagonist, his flimsy effusions admit of
as easy and satisfactory an answer as the previous false alle-
gations of the editor himself.
These precious epistles are so fraught with vague charges
and empty declamation—so redolent of inconsecutiveness and
tautology, that it is a difficult matter to guess at the writer's
object, unless it be to spin out as long a yarn as possible, in
order to "lionise" in the obscure columns of the Ammo/.

It is really amusing to see with what an affectation of zeal
and enthusiasm this protestant layman takes up the cudgel on he-
half of the '" poor catholics," whilst those unrelenting bigots—the
protestants—are the especial objects of his merciless attacks.
Yes, the harmless, persecuted, defenceless, pious, enlightened,
amiable, passively obedient, martyrdom-seeking catholics, find
.in him an energetic apologist; whilst the bloody, intolerant,
superstitious, idolatrous, truculent protestants, are pursued with
ineffable Malignity. In what brilliant hues is the diameter of
the pope!, toe. worshippers depicted!. How perfect and imma-
culate de these maligned, history-belied catholics appear !
Poor innocents,? how it must cheer their hearts to receive this
consolatory unction fromibe hand of their generous foe ! How
awfully do the thunderbolts of this "modern Jove" descend
upon the heads of 'the. devoted protestants ! But, seriously, is
this gentleman (?) aware of the mischievous trick which the
printer? devil of the scandal foundry, in Castle-street, has played
him, in substituting protestant for popish layman?
But, banter apart, I shall proceed to notice and demolish
seriatim the accusations, consciously false positions, and inco-
herent remarks of this popish layman, intreating him to ex-
cuse me for having nick-named him in my " exordium."
The letters in the Journal "inferentially" declare that the
bnlk of St. Jude's congregation—the writer and a few bodies of
congenial kidney excepted—is composed of bigots, persecu-
tors, &c. He must deem them such, so far as their opinions
accord with Mr. M'Neill's. What intolerable vanity does this
critic display in fancying that he alone is capable of appre-
ciating the qualifications of a minister that has attracted such
universal notice! If he does not like faithful preaching, he
can easily wend his way to some of the mass-shops in town,
where, no doubt, he will be thrown into exstacies of delight at
the simplicity of the worship, and the superior intelligence of
the audience.

This popish layman charges Mr. M'Neill with intolerance,
excessive zeal, and self-righteousness. If declaiming against
popery—if attacking its heresies, mummery, superstition, ido-
latry, and persecution, renders a christian pastor ohnoxious to
such charges, what will the correspondent of the Journal say to
the following language, extracted from the new testament, and
prophetically applied to the church of Rome? The pope, in
his twofold character of secular and ecclesiastical prince, is
designated—"that man of sin"—" the son of perdition"—" who
opposeth himself above all that is called God, or that is wor-
shipped"—"so that he, as God, sitteth in the temple of God,
showing himself that he is God." Popery is termed "the mys-
tery of iniquity," and the pope "that wicked whom the Lord
shall Consume with the spirit of his, mouth, and shall destroy
with the brightness of his coming: even him, whose coming is
after the working of Satan, with all power and signs and lying
wonders, and with all deceiveableness of unrighteousness in them
that perish, because they received not the love of the truth, that
they might be saved. And for this cause God shall ;end them
strong delusion, that they should believe a lie; that they all
might be damned who believe not the truth, but bad pleasure in
unrighteousness."-2 Thess. 2. Of the game antichristian reli-
gion we have the following striking prophetic description—" In
the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed
to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in
hypocrisy; having their consciences seared with a hot iron;
forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats,
which God path created to be received with thanksgiving of
them which believe and know the truth."-1 Tim. 4. What a
vivid picture of popery do we find in Rev. 17, where she is
represented as "a woman sitting upon a scarlet coloured beast,
full of names of blasphemy"—" having a golden cup in her
hands full of abominations and filthiness of her idolatry"—"on
her forehead a name written, mystery, Babylon the great, the

mother of harlots and abominations of the earth"—"drunk
with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs
of Jesus," &c. With these, and innumerable other passages,
equally forcible 'before him, how can Mr. do other-
wise, ..onsistesttly with his duty, than condemn that system of
impiety ani fatal delusion, which a protestant layman seeks to
uphold;? Can any stronger and more emphatically intokrant
language be ,adopted, than that afforded in the express words
of the sacred oracles with reference to popery? Heresies so
tiagrant—doctrines so repugnant to the simplest declarations
of the bible—so glaringly opposed to common sense—so sub-
versive of the happiness of mankind—practices, so completely
at variance with the plainest directions of the bible—as obtain

in the Oiiiich of Rome, cannot be denounced with too. much
vehemence. The only dangCr is lest we should treat popery
with culpable leniency. But, I may be answered, Mr. M'Neill

includes other sects, and other classes of characters in his
category of ilenunciation. True, and so does the bible. .Wit-
ness such expressions as the following—"gcneration of vipers"
—" lying prophets"—" filthy dreatners"—" an evil genera-
tion"—" scribes, pharisees, hypocrites"—" two-fold more the
Child of: fhe devil"—" thou whited sepulchre"—" thou art in
the gall of bitternesseand in the bond-.of iniquity," &c. &c.
Lot the, 2d and 3d chapters of St. Peter's 2d epistle, and the
epistle of St. Jude be taken as samples of the style of preaching
which ought to be adopted in these latter times; and compare
the sermons of Mr. M'Neill with these infallible exemplars.
Do they;not harmonise together? Yes, and that is preCisely
the reason why his character is impeached.
Why does this writer not attempt to overturn any of Mr.
M'Neill's positions, or rebut any of his arguments? Obvi-
ously beCause he cannot, irrefragably supported as they are by
the bible.
In what manner does he attempt to defend the catholics ?
By abusing the protestants ! This is almost as preposterons as
for a criminal to defend himself by railing at the judge or jury.
With all his pretended charity, this writer is a bigot of the
first water. It is evident that he would—if he had the power—
silence every faithful minister, or insist upon his politely ab-
staining from quoting one-half of the scriptures. It is plain
that he must sympathise with those who were present at the
stoning of Stephen—after whose similitude Mr. M'Neill is.
found "offending.
If this lityman be a protestant, is it not rather singular that
he sheuld select the medium of a popish newspaper to "pub-
licitate" his animadversions? CYMRO.

•
TsiE,ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.—Mr. Atkins, the indefatigable
colleetOr of lividg cutiosities, is gone on a special mission to
Loudon, for the purpose of inviting some illustrious strangers,
now in tovin, to partake of the hospitalities of his gardens. He
is expected to return in the course of the week, accompanied by
a male and female nylghou, and their young family, a cas-
sowary, some black swans, and several other birds and beasts.
The gardens are now in beautiful condition, and will, no doubt,
be visited by thousands in the evenings of these hot days, for
which: we have so king been waiting, as a delightful promenade,
independently of the great variety of animals which they con-
tain. The horn baud, conducted by Mr. Leonard, have com-
menced their performances. These will be found to be exceed-
ingly good, and, of course, add much to the recreation of the
visit-ors,
FATAL ACCIDENT AT RUNCORN.—As some boys were piny-
ing at "horses," by the canal at Runcorn, on Wednesday last,
one of them, named Williams, who bad a rope round his neck,
was throwndoWn by his companions, and, in consequence of
striking his head against a stone, received so severe a contu-
sion that he died soon after. An inquest was held on the body
on Saturday, when a verdict of Accidental Death was recorded.
A PooLre MEETING OF TIM INHABITANT 3 OF BURY.—

About a fortnight since, we had occasion to notice the removal
of destitute paupers, under the new poor laws, in shoals, to
Lancashire, under a persuasion that they might better their
circumstances by getting employment in the factories, but for
which, observed our correspondent, their original habits and
constitutions unfit them. These facts have caused a requisi-
tion to he signed at Bury, calling a public meeting, which will
be held in the Union-square, in that town, at half-past five
o'clock this evening, (Saturday, June 6,) to determine on the
propriety of petitioning parliament for the repeal of the "poor
law amendment act," and we do hope that other towns will
also take the-matter up.—Bolton Chronicle.
We recommend Mrs. Opie to publish a new edition of her
"Illustrations of Lying." Recent examples—among the radi-
cal me4ers—and in the radical press, might furnish her with
copious materials for an appendix. We advise her to get Mr.
O'Connell to write an introductory essay on the noble science
of -prevarication. A "Discourse" from Lord Brougham, ou
the "arl (J. giving one's self the lie direct," would complete the
work. _

A circumstance has occurred in the sporting circles, which
excites no inconsiderable interest at the present moment.
Colonel Loubers, of the French National Guard, formerly an
Agent de Change, has come over to this country to apply to the
turf club, to exclude from its members an English gentleman
who has flown from his engagements on the continent, to the
amount of £ll.OOO.