The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1851-12-09 00:00:00

CHURCH OF ENGLAND TRAINING ;SCHOOL

The thirteenth anniversary meeting of the Church of
England Training School, in Cornwallis-street, took place
on Friday evening. The school-room was very tastefully
decorated with evergreens and flags, with appropriate
devices. The platform also was handsomely ornamented,
and in front of it was placed a crown. A most respecta-
ble and numerous company were present, including many
ladies.

As soon as the tea things were removed, THOMAS LIT-
TLEDALE, Eq., the Mayor, took the chair, on the motion
of R. C. Gardner, E q., town-councillor. His worship
briefly expressed the gratification lie felt at occupying a
position which had been assumed by his predecessors,
and congratulated Mr. Clark, the secretary, upon the
success of his exertions in forwarding the interests of the
institution. The educational movement, which was now
progressing, naturally excited great inte est, for upon its
success depended the stability of these institutions. which
we all respected. It was essential that teachers who had the
young under their charge should be properly instructed
themselves. He was glad to see the efforts made in be-
half of instruction in this town, and it was a gratifying
fact that among other means there were 27 ragged schools.
These training schools were calculated to produce impor-
tant results, because, if such efforts were properly directed,
children would be so trained that they might become men
who would do honour to their country. (Applause.)
Mr. CLARK was then called upon to read the report,
but before doing so, he read letters from several distin-
guished individuals, expressing their approbation of the
objects of the institution, and regret at not being able to
be present at the meeting. Some of these letters spoke
very highly of the exertions of Mr. Clark to serve the
interests of the institution. Among these communica-
tions were letters from the Archbishop of Canterbury,
the Bishop of Chester, Chancellor Raikes, Archdeacon
Brooks, the Rev. Mr. Pellew, &c. Mr. Clark expressed
the satisfaction he knew the meeting would fed I at the pre-
sence of the champion of Protestantism. (This allusion to
the Rev. Dr. M'Neile was caught up by the meeting, and
much cheered.) He then read the report, which traced
the progress made by the schools during the year. Two
hundred and twenty-seven teachers had been sent to dif-
ferent places to carry out the system of the society. Two
of these had been sent to Australia. The most favourable
accounts had been received respecting the teachers, who
had no less than 14,000 children under their training.
Mr. Clark's statements were received with much cheering.
The Rev. Dr. M'NEILE then addressed the tneethg. He
commenced by saying that he was struck with the contrast
presented by a scene of which he had read, and that
which was now presented before him. At Florence, as
he had just read, the chief magistrate had sent people to
prison because Bibles had be,n found in their houses.
There, however, was the Chief Magistrate of the town of
Liverpool, who attended because he was anxious for the
support of an institution by means of which children were
taught to read the Bible from the earliest period. Dr.
M`Neile then spoke of the importance of cultivating the
minds of children at an early age. Not only was cultiva-
tion necessary, however, but eradication, for some im-
pressions ought to be removed. A Scriptural education
was therefore necessary. The system adopted at the
Training Schools was eminently Scriptural, and God
would bless those who followed it. The lessons to chil-
dren were from objects presented to the eye. Christ's
parables were lessons from objects. At the present mo-
ment it was peculiarly necessary to be watchful, as the
enemies of our Protestant religion were very numerous
and very subtle. He wished to put them upon their
guard against the emissaries of Rome, for he knew that in
some instances such emissaries had contrived to gain ad-
mission to families in the quality of governesses, tutors,
and companions, in which capacity they endeavoured se-
cretly to undermine the Protestant religion. He wished
to guard young ladies against being ensnared by servant-
women, who pretended to be Protestants, but who it was
discovered had Popish books in their boxes. Dr. M'Neile
concluded by again expressing his satisfaction at the suc-
cess of the institution, and the gratification he had felt at
having been present at the meeting. (The rev. gentleman
here retired amidst enthusiastic cheering.)
The Rev. Dr. HILLCOAT also briefly addressed the
meeting, and expressed the intense interest be felt in the
progress of such institutions as these.

In the course of the evening-several anthems were
sung, by the teachers in training, with very creditable
effect. The proceedings were terminated by singing
"God save the Queen," when the company retired, much
gratified with the satisfactory statements they had heard
respecting the institution.

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TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

The monthly meeting was held on Wednesday, the
mayor, Mr. Littledale, presidinz.

FINANCE COMMITTEE

The minutes of this committee comprised a recom-
mendation to grant the reversion of a chapel in Pleasant-
street to be used as schools in connexion with St. Philip's
Church, and a recommendation to accept the offer of the
Select Vestry for the improvement of Mount-pleasant.
Confirmed.