The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-01-16 00:00:00

LIVERPOOL PROTESTANT OPERATIVE
ASSOCIATION MEETING.

Yesterday evening, a numerous and respectable meet-
ing of the members of the Protestant Operative Asso
ciation and their friends was held in Christ Church
School-room, (St. Anne's Ward,) for the purpose of
furthering the cause of Protestantism, and of enrolling
the names of new members. Mr. Councillor James
Parker ably occupied the chair, and, after prayer being
offered up, addressed the assembly in a brief but effec-
tive manner. He expressed the cordiality with which
he joined in the cause, and appreciated the services of
the Protestant operatives : he knew, indeed, no difference
between them and the Protestant tradesmen of the
town. If they looked to the state of parties in Ireland—
whether Papists or Repealers—their sole object was to
overthrow the Church of England. If they looked to
the outbreaks in Wales, and to the agitation going on in
this country—all showed that the object was the same,
and that the time had arrived when they must buckle
on the armour of resistance. and manfully stand up for the
salvation of the empire. Never was there more need of
co-operation on their part. It rested with them (the
electors) who should go to the council, or to parliament.
They had certainly gained Scriptural education in the
Corporation Schools ; but they had not the security for
its continuance so fully as they might think. A motion
was on the books in the council with a view to subvert
that system, and he feared that some who called them-
selves conservatives might support it. So long, however,
as they remained trueto their principles and active in
their support, and so long as the ministers of their
church and other influential individuals continued to
rally around the standard of conservatism, they need not
fear for the result. He concluded by stating that the
object of the meeting was to disseminate so far as pos-
sible the principles of Protestantism—and through this
and other meetings in the several wards to refute the
calumnies, and put down the false and insidious doc-
trines of the Anti-Corn-Law League, who had recently
been active amongst them. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. WRATRAM rose to move a resolution as follows :
" That this meeting, firmly believing that Holy Scripture
enjoins, and the continuance of the national prosperity is
inseparably connected with, the maintenance of Protestant
ascendancy, cannot but consider that grants of public mo
ney, for the support of Popery, are alike dishonouring to
God and prejudicial to the safety of the state."
Mr.
Whatham, though in ill health, addressed the meeting in
a very spirited manner, urging that Protestant ascendancy
was, notwithstanding the epithets annexed to it by 91e!r
opponents, nothing more than the ascendancy of Christi-
anity. He lamented the concessions that had been made
to the demands of Popery, and showed, by reference to
the history of our country, that all our glories and advan-
tages had resulted from Protestantism—all our perils and
losses from the inroads of Popery. He adverted to the
signal defeats of the League in Toxteth, and announced
that they had since met with a third total discomfiture in
his ward—West Derby. Let, he said, other wards follow
the example. He bad no fear for the country while the
Protestant operatives stood to their posts; but he com-
plained that those above them in rank and circumstances
did not, like their worthy chairman and some others
around him, appear more amongst them on such occa-
sions. They would, he concluded, carry these meetings
into every ward of the town ; and when the day of battle
came, he trusted they would crowd to the hustings to
maintain those principles which were essential to the
prosperity of the kingdom, and which might be summed
up in the words " Protestant ascendancy." (Cheers.)
Mr. RADCLIFFE, in seconding the resolution, spoke
spoke at
considerable length on the various topics that it
showing the evils of Popery—its idolatry,its inconsis-
tency, its falsehood. They must, he said, protest against
it both as Christians and as patriots, for if it spread fur-
ther," the sun of England would set." The depression
of the country had been attributed by one party to the
corn laws, by another to the non-introduction of chartism,
and by a third to the non-prevalence of teetotalism. He,
however, felt assured that all the evils we laboured under
here, and more particularly in Ireland, resulted from our
tamperings with Popery, and that we should never have
the blessing of God upon us until its encroachments were
boldly resisted, in place of being encouraged as they unhap-
pily had been, even in parliament. He regretted that the
absence of two clergymen, who would have attended but
from imperative circumstances, had thrown the weight
of the meeting upon himself and Mr. Whatham, who
were not prepared to address them at such length, nor
desired to put themselves forward so prominently. (Loud
cheers.)

The Motion being unanimously carried, the Chairman
complimented the speakers, and told an amusing anecdote
of a recent interview at Rome between the Pope and an
ex-Alderman of the town, which excited much laughter.
Thanks being voted to the chairman, new members were
enrolled, and the meeting separated.

The Blackburn Standard announces that John Fowden
Hindle, Esq.. of Woolfold Park, near that town, sill be
High Sheriff of this county for the present year, al-
though his appointment is not yet gazetted.
TURN-OUT OF COLLIERS—ST. HELENS.—The long-
expected turn-out of the colliers at St. Helens and the
neighbourhood boa at length taken place, for a higher
rate of wages than that which they have hitherto been in
the habit of receiving. The strike took place on Thursday
last, when the hands of several of the collieries left off
work, in consequence of the masters refusing to give
them an advance of one penny per ton. Hitherto, how-
ever, the turn-out has not been very extensive, as many
of the masters have acceded to the demands of the men,
while others refuse them. Amongst those who have ac-
ceded to the advance are Messrs. Bourne and Robinson,
Greenough, Bromelow, Johnson, of Parr. and Yates, of
Prescot. The latter gentleman is on such good terms
with his clip,* th.-e he treate.l tho..a tv as supper on satur- ,
day evening. The men allege that, although they work
from ten to twelve hours per day, they do not on an average
get above thirteen shillings per week, after the deductions
from the wages for drawers, powder, &c.; and, as the
employers have lately raised the price of coal about ls. ad.
per ton to the public, they think they can well afford out
of that sum to advance their wages one penny per ton,
which would increase their wages about half-a-crown per
week. Should this strike be of long duration, it will
cause great inconvenience to the men, as out of their
small earnings they cannot have laid much by to serve them
in time of need. Independent of that, there can be little
or no doubt that, in proportion as the various stocks of
coal vanish, the proprietors will charge still higher for the
remainder to the public.

Miss WELLER'S CONCERT.—We have much pleasure
in announcing that Miss Christiana Weller's Grand
Soiree Musicale will take place at the Royal Assembly
Rooms, Great George-street, to-morrow evening, when
she will give Piano-forte Recitals from the first works
of the classical and the modern schools of composition ;
and will also perform with her sister Miss Anna De.
lancey Weller, Thalberg's celebrated Norma Duet, for
two pianofortes, (as played by the author and herself in
Dublin with great applause,) introducing also a Grand
National Fantasia of her own composition. The services
of the celebrated Mrs. H. Chatfield, (from the Nobility's
Concerts, London,) are engaged for the vocal department ;
and Miss Whitnall and Mr. Ryalls, both deservedly
favourites, will also appear ; conductor Mr. H. F. Al-
dridge, leader of the Philharmonic Concerts. On those
of the musical world who have heard Miss Weller, we feel
assured, we need urge no invitation to attend : they will avail
themselves of the occasion to enjoy another genuine treat.
But we are somewhat at a loss how to address those who
are strangers to her powers; for though
far beneath her worth
Were all the praises that we can bestow,"
we feel a delicacy in expressing our own convictions, in
adequate terms, well knowing that her modesty is only
equalled by her merits. Suffice it therefore to say, that
this young, amiable, and accomplished lady has, within
the short period of her public career, created a strong,
and, we may add, a delightful sensation wherever she has
appeared ; and the high opinion entertained of her talents
as a pianist, by Thalberg and other eminent masters and
connoiseurs, is a sufficient guarantee of her extraordinary
genius and attainments. We have not had the pleasure
of hearing Miss D. Weller, but we are informed that she,
too, will be hailed as a brilliant rising star in the world of
music. A numerous and fashionable attendance is fully
anticipated at the soiree.

WEST DERBY UNION W ORKHOUSE SCHOOLS.-011
Tuesday, the 2nd inst., the half-yearly examination of the
children educated at the West Derby Union Workhouse
took place, in the presence of the Guardians. The
schools are divided into three departments, viz., Boys,
Girls, and infanta, and the progress made by the pupils
of each school was highly creditable to their several in-
structors, and afforded the greatest satisfaction to the
Guardians. After the children were examined by their
respective teachers in the various branches of a sound and
useful education, they were questioned as to their know-
ledge of the scriptures, by the Rev. Thomas Dwyer, the
chaplain, whose zeal and attention to the temporal and
spiritual welfare of all the inmates of the workhouse—but
particularly the " lambs " of his flock, is deserving of the
highest commendation. The chairman of the Union,
John Sheppard, Esq., afterwards interrogated the chil-
dren, generally, on the gospel of St. John, with which a
great number appeared fully conversant. The result of
the whole examination showed such a proficiency in the
attainments of these poor children, as would put to the
blush the majority of " children of a larger growth"
Many of the children are orphans, but some have parents
in the house, these were allowed to be present at the ex-
amination, and it was truly affecting to witness the anxiety
evinced by such parents in the gratifying proof of the
care and attention which had been bestowed upon their
helpless and destitute offspring • one of the children, a
girl about ten years of age, delivered a most affecting
address to the Guardians, expressive of the gratitude of
herself and fellow scholars, for the home and education
provided for them, in which she acknowledged not only
the attention and patience of the chaplain, the school-
master, and schoolmistress, but also the affectionate care
and kindness bestowed upon them by Mr. and Mrs.
Lythgoe, the master and matron of the House, in whom
she said the orphan had found a " father and mother,—
the language, the tone and manner of the little represen-
tative were simple and unaffected, yet firm and intelligent,
—and many tears were found trickling down the cheeks of
those unaccustomed to weep. At the conclusion of the
examination, the chairman addressed the children in a
very appropriate, affectionate, and encouraging manner,
urging upon them the obligation of a continuanee of good
conduct in return for the many privileges with which they
were blessed, and contrasting their happy and improving
condition with that of thousands of other children who
were destitute of the comforts and advantages which they
enjoyed. The chairman also complimented the teachers
on the result of their efforts, and expressed the gratifica-
' tion felt by the Guardians in the care and attention be-
stowed upon the children, by their excellent master and
matron, as exhibited in the healthful, cleanly, and happy
appearance of such children. After the examination was
concluded a subscription was wade by the Guardians,
with the proceeds of which the children were regaled with
plum cake, &a.