The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-06-25 00:00:00

all we could do was to replenish the funds of the associa-
tion, so that they might be able to support the parties
who were engaged in spreading the Gospel in these Roman
Catholic countries, and allow them to proceed as they
would like to do. He would not prolong his address,
because there was present the secretary of the London
society ; and also another gentleman, who was the agent
of the society in France, and who was able to address
them in English. After those gentlemen had addressed
them he should call on the rector of Chelsea, who had
warmly thrown his sympathy into the Reformed Church
of France. (Cheers.)
Major THORPE' in the absence of the local secretary,
Mr. Jones, read the account of the society for the last
year, showing the amount collected in the town, which
was £lO3 18s. in all. Considering the position in which
all classes had been placed during the past year, he did
think it a handsome sum to have been collected in aid of
a foreign society. On the whole he considered that the
general subscriptions were increasing rather. than other-
wise. (Hear, hear.) He was glad to say that notwith-
standing the opposition that had been going on in France
and other countries during the last year, as referred to by
the chairman, the work of the society was going on in the
most satisfactory manner. He referred to the evangelical
society at Lyons, which was also going on in a most suc-
cessful manner, notwithstanding the opposition offered by
the Archbishop of Lyons and other authorities of the
Church of Rome. The evangelical society if Belgium was
next referred to, where he was glad to say that there was
not that opposition offered in France. In that country
every man was allowed to worship God as he liked, " none
daring to make him afraid." He next alluded to Lisbon,
and was glad to say that even in that dark spot of Roman-
ism, Portugal, there was great hope for the society since
the last time he had the honour of addressing them. He
alluded to the subscriptions to the society which had been
made by Portuguese and English merchants there. After
some further allusions to the operations of the society, the
speaker resumed his seat amidst loud cheering.
Pastor BOUCHER said he would have felt an unmixed
pleasure in addressing them had it not been for a remark
made by Major Thorpe as to his ability ; for he was not
aware that he possessed ability superior to other people.
He said that as a Frenchman, he thanked God he was in
that house, and took courage. He alluded to the case of
a clergyman of the Protestant Church now ministering in
France, who had been turned out of his house and home
for embracing Protestantism. He gave a sketch of the
persecution and oppression to which the Protestant Church
in France had been subjected for many years back, and
next proceeded to show how it had flourished in latter
years, in spite of all obstacles. He referred to the re-in-
stalment of the Pope being followed by his nuncio being
directed to promulgate to the people in France, through
the priesthood, that there was no salvation out of the
Church of Rome. That declaration shewed that the
Church of Rome was now what it ever had been ; but it
was gladdening to know, as he had had experience, that in
many parts of France those who had embraced Protes-
tantism had reason to feel in their own hearts that, believ-
ing as they did in the merits of a crucified Redeemer,
there was salvation for them although they were beyond
the pale of the Romish church. (Hear.) The speaker re-
cited some painful details of the oppressive manner in
which the authorities of the Church of Rome in France
carried out their object in promoting Popery, and con-
cluded an eloquent address, which was frequently ap-
plauded during its delivery, and at its close the speaker
was enthusiastically cheered.
A collection was here made in behalf of the objects of
the society, after which
The Rev. R. BURGESS, rector of Upper Chelsea, one of
the deputation from the society in London, addressed the
meeting. He alluded in eulogistic terms to the address
just delivered by the Pastor Boucher, and said if they
could raise up a number of ministers like him, he did not
despair of Protestantizing the whole population of France.
After referring to the reformed Evangelical Church of
France, which he said was older even than the reformed
Church of England, he pointed out the hardships and the
persecutions to which it had been subject under succes-
sive French governments, influenced by the priesthood.
In illustration of the oppression practised, under the in-
fluence of Popery, he stated a case of a party in a town
near the centre of France, who within the last few months
had been imprisoned, at the time having his Bible taken
from him. On his humble petition the Bible was restored
to him, on condition that he would not read to his fellow-
prisoners. Now, they could scarcely believe, perhaps,
that such a system as this could be carried on in a neigh-
ing country where such talented men as they had just
heard came from. And yet it was so; and all this was to
be attributed to the powerful influence which was being
exercised at Rome all over the continental states. Mr.
B. detailed at considerable length the course pursued on
the continent by the Roman Catholic Church, with a view
of showing the influence it had over its followers by the
prevention of the free exercise of thought and opinion.
After referring in detail to the religious state of Italy,
showing how deeply rooted Romanism was in that coun-
try generally, he said that Piedmont was a cheering ex-
ception. Protestantism had taken a firm hold of that dis-
trict during the time of the Pope's absence, when Bibles
were circulated, and if the Pope did not succeed in arrest-
ing the spread of Protestant principles there,-which he
was attempting to do, he (Mr. Burgess) did not despair
of seeing Piedmont, strange as it might appear, being in-
strumental in Protestantizing Italy. (Hear, hear.) After
some further explanatory statements he concluded by
making a powerful appeal on behalf of the objects of the
society. _ _ _

After the usual vote of thanks to the chairman, the
meeting broke up soon after ten o'clock.