The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-10-28 00:00:00

of different
at education
all (Hear.)

ible to the taste or even the convictions
ptions of persons—we are thus to infer th
not to be given by our corporation at
I must beg permission to add, that
bole of the conclusion that is to be drawn I
ices. Hale circumstance of not being able to give religious

sible variety of form so that it, may.

irious classes of persons, is to prevent all
same is a reason why the legislature of
our country is not to enter into alliance with any
branch of the Christian church, and we ought, upon
this principle, to have no established church in this realm.
(Hear, hear.) The answer to that sentiment, in my judg-
ment, is, " the Church is in danger ;" and rather than suffer
such a sentiment to go forth, " the Church is in danger"
should be sounded louder than it ever did sound from one

education. the

shore ot Great Britain to the other. (Cheering.) Do I
think, for an instant, that the highly respectable gentle-
man to whom I have referred [Mr. G. D. Lawrencel had
any such idea as this in his mind ? No, he would rather cut
off his right hand (hear) ; but such in my opinion is the legiti-
mate inference from such arguments. (Hear.) What, then, is
the principle of an established church ? It is this—the go-
vernment of a country is supposed to have been brought to
entertain the firm and serious conviction that without reli-
gion, without the support and aid of religion, it is impossible
to secure obedience to the laws, and, by consequence, peace
and harmony in the community. They are to be supposed
to have come to the conviction that the truest and best
results, in the form of morality and peace, must issue
from the reception of the true religion of our Lord Jesus
Christ. (Hear, hear.) They must be supposed to have
taken into consideration the claims of all rival communities

(hear, hear), if so we may call them, which profess rightly to
expound the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ—their claims
both as to the:truths they teach and the agency which they
employ—and to have settled the question, and to have formed
a decision, to have come to a certain conclusion upon the
question which they believed to be the just representative
if the primitive church. (Hear, hear.) And with that, as
being the witness for the truth, as being the divinely ap-
minted messenger, employed and to he employed for this
=pose, they are supposed to have entered into a contract
:o afford all facilities for it to teach the truth in Christ, they
engaging to afford such instruction to the community, that is
to the people of the land. (Hear.) This is the principle of
an Established Church. (Hear.) The government are sup-
posed to have made up their minds which that community is
that holds the truth in the love of it, and which has the ac-
credited and divinely appointed agents to teach the truth, and
4o that they give the right hand of fellowship. (Hear,
hear.) Surely they are not to recede from the effects of
such a position because they cannot, in the case of faithful
dealing with the church with winch they have entered into
alliance—give other descriptons of religious instruction,
and teach other doctrines at variance with those they
teach through that agency. (Hear, hear.) I say again,
if the circumstance that education cannot be given in the
corporation schools in such a variety of forms as to suit
the taste of all descriptions of persons be a reason why
I no religious instruction should be given in the schools,
or why such schools should not exist, the inference
cannot stop there, but the principle extends to the rejection
of the established church. (Hear, hear.)—The rev. gentle-
man concluded by explaining to the Roman Catholics who
might be present the terms upon which they had been ad-
aitted, expressing at the same time his satisfaction at their

presence.
Mr. RIGBY then read the annual report, of which the fol-

lo wing is a copy

" REPORT

"On resigning their trust into the bands of their consti-
tuents, at the termination of another year, the committee of
the Liverpool Protestant Association feel that although
hindered by misapprehension in some quarters, and exposed
to obloquy and evil report in others, their labours have never-
theless been attended with many very beneficial results. The
controversy between the Church of Rome and the Church of
Christ is interminable ; as long as Rome is what she is, no
real Christian can have peace, or truce, or even parley with
her ; and in proportion as any national church manifests a
disposition to enter into a compromise with Rome, in the
same proportion does that church cease to present the
features of a Christian Church.
1r The experience of any man who is spiritually alive to
the' gtory of God, and the salvation of his fellow creatures,
must harmonize with that of:the Apostle at Athens, whose
spirit was stirred within him when he beheld, not only the
poor and ignorant, but the rich, the learned, the polished,
the philosophic men of that renowned city, bowing in sense-
less idolatry before images of gold, and silver, and stone,
engraven by art of man's device.
" Is it Christian, your committee would respectfully ask,
is it apostolical, to see thousands of our fellow-creatures
offending God and ruining themselves, without an effort on
our part to convert them from the error of their way, that
the Lord may be glorified? "God forbid !" is the answer
of every Protestant Christian. This is the great spring of

Protestant exertion : this is the great principle of Protestant
Association, which, moreover, has now for so long a time
been continually canvassed, and so triumphantly established,
that your committee cannot feel themselves otherwise than
in the path of strict duty, so long as they labour in the work
of exposing error and promoting truth.
"The result of your committee's experience leads them to
offer a suggestion, in addition to the usual operations of the
association, which they have embodied into the third resolu-
tion, whereby provision will be made for the maintenance of
four Scripture readers, under the control bf a clerical sub-
committee, to labour amongst the Romish population of this
town, and also to secure a monthly lecture in some of the
churches, on the points of doctrine on which the churches of
England and of Rome are at issue. From each of these,
properly conducted, there is reason to expect much good
would ensue. With such anticipations, built on past ex-
perience, your committee, looking back with humble grati-
tude, look forward also with dependent trust. At the com-
mencement of another year, they would animate each other
with the encouraging remembrance, that if God be for us,
who can he against us?

" They enter upon the duties of the coming ,year (for
duties are ours, events belong to God) in the spirit and with
the words of the psalmist, ' The Lord is my light and my
'salvation—whom shall I fear ? The Lord is the strength of
my life—of whom shall I be afraid ?' "

Mr. C. S. PARKER, the treasurer, next read a statement
of his accounts, from which it appeared, that after defraying
the current expenses, there was a balance against the associ-
ation of £B6 7s. 3d. _ _

Mr. JAMES PARKER moved the first resolution ; and he
commenced by observing that it would ill become him, sup-
ported as the Chairman was by many champions of the Pro-
testant cause, to occupy much of the time of the meeting by
any remarks of his own, but he could not propose the resolu-
tion he held in his hand without bearing his humble testi-
mony to the operation of the Liverpool Protestant Associa-
tion ; and he might be allowed to say that that association,
and its offspring (if he might be allowed the expression),
the Operative Protestant Association, had done more
than any other class of the community towards bring-
ing about those mighty changes the Chairman had referred
to. (Hear; hear, and loud cheers.) On that all-important
question—the school question—he gave credit to the Pro-
testant Association for arousing the feelings of the people ;
and be would mention a fact respecting the Operative Pro-
testant
Association highly creditable to them—that its mem-
bers, from their scanty earnings, had subscribed their pen-
nies per week in order that they might have a vote, to place
those men in the Council who would maintain Protestant
principles ; and he had no doubt but one hundred such votes
would be recorded at the ensuing election, when be had no
doubt the cause of truth would be as triumphant as it had
been on the last occasion. (Loud applause.) Before be
sat down, however, he begged to refer to a report which was
abroad, and which had been reiterated by the press, that
the reverend gentleman who sat before him (the Rev. H.
M'Neile) was the prime dictator to the Conservatives in the
Town-Council. (Hear and Cheers.) He begged to assure
them and the meeting that the reverend gentleman had no
more to do with his vote in the Council than had the Pope of
Rome. (Cheers and loud laughter.) But he trusted there
was not a conservative member of the Council who did not
act under a dictator; and he hesitated not to say for himself
he believed he could answer for the rest of the Conservative
members, that they acted under the dictatorship of their own
consciences. (Loud Cheers.) He begged to move that the
report which bad been read be adopted, printed, and circu-
lated under the sanction of the committee, and that the
committee and other officers be requested to continue their

services.
The Rev. HUGH M'NEILE rose to second the resolution
amid loud cheers. When silence was restored he spoke as
follows :—I rise, sir, to second the resolution which has just
been submitted to the meeting by the honourable councillor.
I am much obliged to him for his seasonable vindication. He
has said truly, sir, I have not dictated or attempted to dic-
tate to any one. But. sir, I have reasoned, and on the subject
of Scriptural Education I must be permitted to say, that I
have reasoned so conclusively, with so much instruction, and
interest, and effect upon a large class of the population of
this town, that those who have been compelled to feel the
effect, and unable to answer the arguments, are very naturally
desirous to use any means in their power, however unscru-
pulous, to damage the advocacy. (Hear, hear, and cheers.)
But, sir, it will not do. (Loud applause.) The intelligent
readers of this town compare the arguments on the one side
with the vituperation on the other. They act accordingly,
and I hope. they will continue to act accordingly. (Hear,
bear.) The honourable councillor alluded to a topic which
it bad not been my intention to touch. I did not design to
say anything about either the radical or the apostate portion
of the public press of this town, on the principle, quaintly
but very significantly expressed by a most reverend prelate
of our church to one of his clergy, who was falsely ac-
cused by some low, disreputable people—" Let them alone,"
he said, " you must stoop for the stone that you throw at
a cur." (Hear, hear, and laughter.) Sir, I would rather
allow the cur to escape than condescend to stoop for the
stone—(hear, hear, and continued laughter,)—although I
might, perhaps, find a polished one, and might be able,
from the sling of sincerity and truth, to make it take dis-
comfitinz effect among the host of the enemies of our
Israel. (Cheers.) I forbear, however, sir, because I have no
giant to aim at—but only petty men whose party cavillings
serve but to attest the influence they fear, and to elevate the
reputation which they envy. Sir, to return to our more ap-
propriate subject. I have much pleasure in being able at this
early stage of our proceedings to-day to plead in their sanc-
tion high episcopal authority. I do not allude to any of
those right reverend ornaments of the bench, who, in the
sixteenth century, protested against the corruptions of Home
with reformation and success, neither do I refer to any of their
worthy successors in the high office in the following century,
who went quietly to the Tower rather than submit to even
Royal dictation in opposition to the revealed will of the King
of Kings. Those all have indeed left us unequivocal
sanction, and being dead, encourage us in our course ; but I
refer to a living prelate, and I desire attention to the follow-
ing passage from the late Charge of the Bishop of London :
Let us not scruple to say of that 'church, [the Roman
church,] not for her condemnation, but in our own vindica-
tion and defence, and for a warning to those who are in dan-
ger of being deceived by her delusive attractions, that she is
in a state of schism, if not apostacy ; that she has forsaken
the true faith and defiled herself with superstition and
idolatry. And let us speak all the more plainly"—l like
that language. (Laughter and cheers.)—" Let us speak all
the more plainly, seeing that she again employs as her chosen
defenders and emissaries a society of men bound together by
a vow to uphold, by all methods and at all hazards, not
christianity, but popery, and who, in accordance with that
vow, have framed a society so hideous in its principles—so
mischievous in its effects—that it well deserves to he de-
scribed as having embodied the very ' mystery of iniquity.'
The Church of Rome has added to and defaced the aposio-
heal form of sound words'—has superseded the apostolical
succession--has mutilated and corrupted the apostolical re-
cord. The character of the church itself is not altered by
that of a few or many of its individual members, whose per-
sonal graces at once modify and recommend the principles
which they embrace. There is scarcely any error of doctrine,
however extravagant or fatal, which has not been held by
some persons of irreproachable conduct.—Against such
a church we are bound"—[Mr. Chairman, I beg you will
listen. It is not to me you are listening : it is the Bishop of
London.) (Cheers)—" Against such a church we are bound
continually to lift up the voice of solemn remonstrance, and,
far from being ashamed of the name of Protestant,"—[That
was a very hard blow]—(great cheers)—" and, far from being
ashamed of the name of Protestant, we ought to show that a
sincere and immoveable attachment to the Anglican Church
in its constitution, discipline, authority, privileges, and offices,
is perfectly compatible, or rather is itself a practical act of
protestation against the errors and corruptions of the Papal
Church; and surely the duty of so protesting is not to be
lost sight of at a time when that church is openly asserting
its pretensions amongst us, and affecting to look for the
speedy return of our reformed church into its maternal
bosom. Its errors are not less opposed to the Gospel of truth
and holiness now, than they were at the time of the &forma-

tion. The doctrine and practices, which rendered necessary
our separation from that church, are still retained by her,
unchanged, unmitigated, unqualified ; ncr arc the differences

between us in essential matters I
than they were in the times of CraDmer or
yr 110oper." (Cheers.) This is admirable. LA person in 01
of the side-boxes here cried out, " Pray, read on."] Pray
don't interrupt unseasonably : you'll get enough presently

(Cheers.) The warmest adi;oelites of protestant associations
and protestant meetings cannot desire more than this. In

point of fact, sir, all that we have been saying at these meet-
incrs has been in detailed proof of the conclusion now come
to by the Bishop of London. (Hear, hear.) " The doctrines
and practices which rendered necessary our separation from

the Church of Rome arc still retained by her unchanged, un-
mitigated, unqualified." (Great cheers.s Those doctrines are
opposed to scriptural Christianity in all its essential and
fundamental truths, Those practices, wherever the power

This is

existed, were subversive of all true civil government—all trua
enlightened toleration. So said our reforming prelates and
presbyters. So said our nobles in those days. So said
our gentlemen. So said our yeomen. So said our sove-
reign. And Rome, with her usurping bishop, was repudi-
ated in England. (Cheers.) The doctrines and practices
which rendered that great step necessary arc still retained by
her, although they have been solemnly denied. We have
proved this. We have entered into doctrine alter doctrina.
We have specified practice after practice, We have appealed
to her own accredited and unrescinded formularies. We have
collated the evidence, and we have demonstrated to the nation
at large that the papal ecclesiastics have been circulating, pri-
vately by authority, principles which they were publicly dis-
claiming on oath. (Hear, hear.) For so doing, we have, of
course, been assailed ; but you are witness, sir, and I wish
to multiply witnesses of the fact, that we have not been an-
swered. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) Hard names, indicative
of sore feelings, have been applied to us, but our charges
have not been disproved. It is easy to deny—it is easy to
to abuse; and those weapons of easy use have been in many
hands. The favourite assertion—that which bears most the
semblance of argument—has been, that the Roman Church
is altered with everything else in the march of improvement ;
that her archbishops and bishops, with the ,more intelligent
of her laymen, have denied before our parliament and nation
that those obnoxious principles against which our forefathers
protested, are held by them or their church, and that nothing
but wilful obstinacy in bigotry can induce any man to re-
iterate the charge against their church of maintaining those
principles or sanctioning those doctrines. (Hear.) Now,
this accusation of wilful obstinacy in bigotry sounds well
azainst men such as we are; and some of our reverend
brethren, who disapproved of our proceedings, felt them-
selves relieved from all duty of protesting against Rome,
and rather enjoyed the reputation of moderation and
charity in contrast with our evil report of intemperance
and bigotry. How the Bishop of London may fare in
their hands remains to be seen ; but certain it is that
his lordship has fully vindicated us, and broadly asserted
the very conclusion which legitimately follows from the pre-
mises we have supplied. (Hear, hear.) " The doctrines
and practices which rendered necessary our separation from
that church are still retained by her." What! in defiance
of the solemn declarations of the papal bishops ? So
says the Lord Bishop of London : " are retained by her."
But, surely they have undergone some modification, to give
some ground at least for the disclaimers. No : in the
judgment of the Bishop of London, at least, " they arc
retained, unchanged, unmitigated, unqualified." (Hear.)
Sir, this is a solemn position for these papal ecclesiastics to
find themselves in, fronted by such a man as the Lord Bishop
of London. They have sworn that those principles are not
retained. The Bishop of London, ex cathedra, surrounded
by his clergy, iii all the pomp and ceremony of his visitation,
says they are retained. (Loud cheers.) Hear him further :
" Nor are the differences between us, in essential matters,
less at the present moment than they were in the time of
Cranmer, or Jewell, or Taylor' .or Hooper." Sir, we did not
require any voucher to prove the truth of what we said. We
knew it was true or we would not have said it. (Hear.) But
we are sincerely thankful to have our conclusions ratified by
such authority, because we rejoice in the unfeigned respect
which Englishmen pay, and, we trust, ever will pay, to
superior rank and station, as well as to superior talents, and
all these are eminently combined in the present Bishop of
London ; and moreover, we are anxious that those rev. gen-
tlemen to whoml took he liberty of alluding just now, and
who recoiled from our agitation, may be Stirred up, to a
vigerous pefrormance of their duty as protesters by this ;
(hear, hear).—you did not wait to hear by what they were to
be stirred ap;—(laughter)—l would call it by this lthuriel
spec of tho Metropolitan. (Cheers.) Now you will perceive
from a slight indication of opposition in the meeting, and as you
might have guessed from the extent of the quotation, that I
did not read the entire of his lordship's charge. I did not,
indeed ; and I shall perhaps be told that in the same charge
he has expressed his decided disapprobation of public con-
troversial discussions. In this lam happy to have the sanc-
tion of his lordship's authority. (Hear.) I think that pub-
lic controversial discussions in these times are not likely to
serve the interests of truth ; and, therefore, I have discounten-
anced them, preferring the press, where the closeness of grave
argumentation can be accurately followed up, but the obser-
vation now before us does not apply to meetings like the
present, where there is no discussion, and where the argu-
ments being all on one side and previously thought of—for
I hold the man worse than a fool who stands up without
first thinking of what he is going to say ; and I would have
you, sir, and all my friends to know that I have thought
of what I have said and what I am going to say—(hear,
hear)—but I say the observation does not apply to such
meetings as the present, where the arguments being all one side
and previously thought of, may be given with the accuracy
of writing, and also with the warmth, energy, and animation
of speech. (Hear, hear.) But the statement which we have
made very often, and which I am very happy to find the
Bishop of London has made now, in order to be really valu-
able, ought to be practically influential. It ought to lead to
something. Sir, lam sure that there is no man in England
who would more sincerely than his lordship deprecate the
cold, barren, inoperative admissions of truth ; and, therefore,
I feel that he, and all who agree with him, will perceive the
impropriety of continuing to sanction a seminary wherein are
taught the principles and practices, " unchanged, unmiti-
gated, unqualified," which rendered our protest against
Rome indispensable. If those principles and those practices
were wrong then, surely it must be wrong now to continue to
sanction deliberate, systematic instruction in them. This
brings me to the practical point already touched upon by
yourself—l mean the College of Maynooth. I shall not at-
tempt to go into detail about any of the principles and prac-
tices taught in that college at present. I leave that in mere
competent hands; but I wish to offer a few observations on
the turning point of defence now made for the continuance
of Maynooth College. The arguments urged in defence of
that seminary are not derived from any intrinsic excellence
in the college itself, but from the fault of the institution.
We are told it was founded when Mr. Pitt was prime
minister, and that the grant has been continued under
every administration since. This is true, as a matter of
fact ; but it aupplies no sound ground of defence, and
for this simple, and, 1 think, very satisfactory reason—
that the principle here involved is one which no human
authority is competent to decide. (Hear, hear.) The force
of this remark will be seen more clearly in the light of con-
trast. The principle involved in this question differs
essentially from those modifications of our constitution
in secular details concerning which human authority may
properly conclude, and which may, and in many instances
ought to, be acquiesced in even by men who did not originally
approve of them. (Hear, hear.) For example, it is per-
fectly intelligible how it may be right, and wise, and
prudent, for the right honourable baronet, at present at
the head of her Majesty's government, to accept the Reform
Bill and govern upon it, because it is passed, although it may
have enacted many things of which be did not originally ap-
prove, and would have prevented, if possible. 1 can under-
stand, in every such case a fair calculation of comparative
degrees of evil, and a wise and enlightened decision, that it
is a lesser evil to abide by an existing institution, althougb in
many respects defective, than to disturb the public mind and
hazard a fresh issue by opening the questions. Such I con-
ceive to be the legitimate aspect in which all civil and secular
arrangements should be viewed by practical and judicious
men. (Hear, hear.) But the question involved in the Col-
lege of Maynooth is of a totally different character. It is
neither civil nor secular, though it becomes so in its inevit-
able effects ; but in itself it is strictly religious, and such I
must repeat as no human authority is or ever can be compe-
tent to close. I should rather say that no human authority is
properly competent to open it, because the revealed word of
the Divine Lawgiver has closed it. To bow down to an image
(a practice undeniably taught at Maynooth) is plainly and
peremptorily forbidden by Almighty God himself. To do it,
or to teach others to do it, is a sin ;—for sin is truly defined
to be a transgression of the law, Sin does not consist in
injury done to man, though it involves such injury : it con-
sists in disobedience to God. If, then, bowing to an image,
and teaching man so, be not a sin, theft is no sin, and adul-
tery is no sin, and false witness is no sin. What would be
thought of any class of men who would attempt to open these
questions which the divine law has closed; and found a semi-
nary, the inmates of which were to be taught themselves, and
instructed to teach others to steal, to commit adultery, and
to bear false witness? Would the matter be much improved
by an attempt to hide a perversion of morals behind a per-
version of language, calling theft community of goods, and
adultery reciprocity of affection, and false witness liberty
of speech ? And what would be thought of the human autho-
rity, legislative or executive, which countenanced such a
seminary, and supported it with public funds? (Cheers.)
And, where, I ask, is the real difference? Why should it be
thought right, and moderate, and charitable, and Christian,
to treat the second commandment in a way which would be
denounced as infamous and intolerable to treat the 7th, Bth,
or 9th commandment? Such partiality in dealing with the
tables of the divine law,.proves too plainly that no part of
it is regarded with reference to God's authority (for then it
would be all equally regarded), but only those parts which
bear upon man's convenience, property, and character. Thus,
the religious principle is wholly removed from the national
morality; and nothing higher than the arbitrary and partial
distinctions of human law can be consistently pleaded. Take
the instance of a judge who is known to practice, or to sanc-
tion the practice, or to defend the public encouragement and
support of the practice of bowing to images. How can such
a man, without a burning blush, refer to the name or law of
God, when achlressing a murderer in the dock? Might not
the culprit retort with frightful power—nay, nay, my lord,
confine your observations to human law; if you had any real
regard for the divine law, you would obey the second com-
mandment yourself, as you would have others to obey the
sixth ? It is difficult, sir, to conceive to what an alarming
extent the highest obligations of public morals are relaxed, by
the exhibition of a government sanctioning the continued
violation of any one of God's most .holy laws ! Human
power may, indeed, enforce its decisions, and disobedience
to God may be carried on with a high hand, because the
Almighty does not, for the present, interpose to vindicate
His own law. But, sir, this is the worm at the root of the
national ground ; and, although its withering influence be
mercifully delayed, it is eventually inevitable. Meanwhile the
question cannot be set at rest by any human enactment, in
opposition to the divine law; the agitation of it must con-
tinue while there remains upon the earth one bold, and
faithful, and consistentbeliever in revelation. (Hear, hear, and
cheers.) We may approve of the proceedings of a government
in things seculara—in things which human authority may com-
petently decide either way : we may coincide with the general
policy of a government, as it is our priviledge now to do
with her :Majesty's present ministers ; we may admire highly
the boldness and ability with which they have risen above the
temporary palliatives of class legislation, and combined the
arduous duties of national financial honesty and national
commercial relief: we may fell thankful for their wisdom
and moderation and success in the management of our ft),
reign relations in Europe and America, and we trust also in
Mia. All this we may do, and do heartily ; and yet in the
higher questions of national religion and national education
—when we see them supporting such institutions as Maynooth
College and the National Board in Ireland, and adopting
from their predecessors in office a very questionable educati-
onal principle in England—we may feel constrained to give
utterance to the expression, first. of our deep concern, and
then of our respectful but decided opposition. Our oppo-
sition may signify but little to them. Numerically consi-
dered is is indeed comparatively small, but the principle upon
on which it rests is of the highest order, and cannot be safe-
ly neglected by any British statesman. In whatever light,
however, it may appeal to them, it is to us, to our charac-
ters, and to our happiness, of paramount importance. We
would not willingly incur the guilt, before a higher tribunal,
of not opposing unscriptural proceedings, by whomsoever
conducted. But mark the difference. When we opposed
such proceedings a few years ago, it was accompanied with
the animating hope of a change of administration, feeling that
any change which the country would tolerate, must be for
the better. Now, on the contrary, we feel that any change
which the country would tolerate, must be for the worse ;
and we oppose these things, not in any hope or wish of any
change in the government, but in the hope that the govern-
ment may make some change in these particular measures.

It is, therefore, perfectly consistent, nay, I think, tree eon-
latency makes it absolutely indisrensable. tha, while .-
iticn its essential principle remains unchanged, the
aml manner of it should be changed altogether.
..y answer to the gibings for inconsistency, with
which we have been twitted because re will not speak of the
present government as we did of the last. And as to perso-
nal promotion to wealth or di city, which has been venomous-
ly insinuated as our secret motive of action, I answer first to
the slanderer, and then to you my friends and brethren. To
the slanderer, I say, by your perpetual recurrence to the
subject, you betray a hitter conviction that we deserve, and
an 'Ol-disguised fear that we rnav receive:, rrorootien. 'lO
you my friends and brethren, I say, we would rather deserve
promotion without receiving it, than receive it without de-
serving it. And as Clergymen of the Church of England,
pledged protestors against the "blasphemous fables and dan-
gerous deceits" of Rome, as our article eN presses it, we would
deem ourselves, and ought to be deemed by others, wholly unde-
serving of any encouragement of any kind. if we did not
endeavour to redeem our solemn pledge, by " giving all
faithful diligence to banish and drive away all erroneous and
false doctrines contrary to God's word." (Great cheers.)
Many topics press, especially our local education question,
but I remember that on the present occasion I am but a
pioneer opening the way for the main body which is now to
follow. I therefore conclude, cordially seconding the reso-
lution, The rev, gentleman resumed his seat amid loud ap-

plause.
The CHAIRMAY, before putting the resolution, begged
permission to correct an inadvertent error in his opening ad-
dress. He had spoken of the change of administration which
had taken place as having occurred since the last meeting of
the Association. This statement was not accurately correct.
A change of administration had taken place a short time be-
fore, but the present administration entered upon the prac-
ticalexercise of their duties subsequently to the month of Oc-
tober last year. (Hear, hear.) The resolution was then put
and carried unanimously.
The Rev. R. J. I‘I4GHEE then came forward, amidst most
enthusiastic cheering from all parts of the assembly, to move
the next resolution. The rev. gentleman spoke nearly as.
follows :—Mr. Chairman ; when I am permitted once more
to open my lips in this sacred cause, I feel that the first ex-
pression which should fall from them, upon a public plat-
form, should be that of thanksgiving to Almighty God for
his mercy in having restored to me the use of my voice; and
of prayer that through His grace I may be enabled to
use it this day in simplicity, in fidelity, and godly sincerity
for his glory, and for the good of my fellow men. (Hear,
hear.) I regret extremely that lam obliged, in the first in-
stance, to apologise to this meeting, and to request their
very kind and patient forbearance with me ; for I am suffer-
ing at this moment under that which persons who have felt
it will know , the meaning of when it is called " a splitting
headache," so that really I am scarcely able to collect WI
thoughts—(hear hear,)—and if it were not that I had ar-
ranged my documents, so as to produce evidence upon the
important subject for which we are convened before this
assembly, I should be obliged to give up speaking altogether.
(Hear.) But, I trust I may be able, at least, for a little
time, to bring before them evidence which I feel, and which
I know that they will feel, to be of vast importance ; and if
I am obliged to stop before I finish it, I trust they will for-
give me for having so imperfectly intruded upon them.
(Hear, bear.) I feel all that my reverend brother has said
with regard to the importance of thinking before we speak.
I have thought very carefully upon what I was to say ; but I
must say, that from the state of my bead, all that I had ar-
ranged, has completely vanished from my mind. lam quite
unable to commence as I intended. (Hear.) I intended to
have commenced with a brief review of the progress of
Protestant associations in this country : I had intended to
have expressed my deep regret, my deep grief, for the awful
apathy, the criminal neglect of Protestant duty, which I
mourn to say has been too lamentably exhibited in England.
(Hear, hear, hear.) I intended to have given some
reason for a resolution to which 1 myself' have come.
am tired of producing evidence of facts that ought to
convince the judgment, that ought to call forth the principle,
that ought to awaken the energy of every man who has
judgment, principle, or energy in the land. (Hear.) I am
tired of hearing resolutions passed affirmatory of the truth of
those statements, and then when.the excitement of the mo-
ment has passed away, seeing all subside like some dark,
cold, stagnant lake, over which a breeze had passed to sae
the surface of it for a moment. (Hear.) Therefore 1 am
determined, with tl:e blessing of God, that if I am able to
attend the meetings of Protestant Associations, I shall never
be a party to passing nueatory resolutions; I shall never
attend a Protestant Association unless there are resolutions
proposed to produce some certain practical results, and unless
there are men who are pledged, as Christian men, to carry
those resolutions out into effect. Then something will be
done for the cause of truth in England—(cheers) ; and there-
fore I took the liberty of writing in Christian fidelity to mY
brethren in Liverpool, when they did m 4 the honour to ask
me to attend this meeting, to tell them that I conceived that
such meetings as this were rather injurious than serviceable
to the cause of truth when they passed away without pro-
ducing any practical effects. (Hear, hear.) For, what must
the enemies of truth say, when they see such important
principles affirmed by the unanimous resolutions of such
meetings as this, and see that nothing at all of comparative
result is produced by such resolutions ? (Hear, hear.) I
therefore told my reverend brethren, that unless some of
them—l cared not how few or how many—would pledge
themselves to use their exertions to get up petitions through',
out this town and neighbourhood against the College of
Maynooth, I could not, although I was most anxious to assist
them, come to this meeting. (Hear, hear.) They did
the honour to feel the importance of the statement ; and
several of them further did me the honour to send to me a
pledge to this effect, which you will permit me to read :
" Liverpool, October 11, 1842.
" Rev. and Dear Brother,—We, the undersigned, having
considered the subject of your important and comprehensive
letter, do accept thankfully your conditional offer to attend
our annual meeting of the Liverpool Protestant Association,
on the 26th instant ; and in compliance with your proposa.l,
do hereby pledge ourselves to make the effort to get up pen'
tions to the imperial parliament, praying for enquiry into the
principles inculcated in the class-books and standards of the
Royal College of St. Patrick's, Maynooth. We are of
opinion that the evidence in support of point No. 6, in your
form of petition, might be brought forwagd with advantage.
by you at the meeting, unless you think some other point of
more importance, in which case we are ready to defer to your
preference, and remain, reverend and dear brother, your 'S in
the bonds of Christian fellowship and love."
I sent to my rev. brethren, I should say,
tio etitiOa.„,
or rather I should say I sent to them two petins,pwhich 1
had drawn out against the College of Maynooth, and which
I requested they would carefully consider. One of these
petitions is a petition from the Protestants, to investigate
Maynooth inconsequence of certain facts which arc alleged
as charges in that petition ; the other is a counter petition,
a petition drawn for Roman Catholics who may wish to sign
it—a petition drawn for liberals as they are called who maY
choose to sign it, who assert that these charges are all ea"
lumnious. (Hear, hear.) We demand inquiry because
these charges are true : they say they are fall. Then let
them demand inquiry to vindicate them from tlitse chargeS.
Jiear, hear, hear.) I sent these petitions to my rev, brettl •
ren, and I told them if they would be so good as to specify
any particular item in that petition which they chose, I wool
prove it to this meeting—l would undertake to prove tha,:
item whatever it might be. (Cheers.) They have selected,
as you have heard, one of those items, which I shall in doe
time proceed to prove; but before that may I request Y°,1,1,
will permit my dear and rev. brother, Mr. Nolan, '
read the petition?
Mr. NOLAN then read the petition, of which the following
is a copy : f,
" PROTESTANT PETITION TO INVESTIGATE MAYNOOTII.
" To the. Knights Burgesses in the Commons' House °l,l
Parliament assembled—The Petition of the undersigrie'
Protestants of
" Humbly Slieweth,— of
" 1. That Petitioners view with very deep regret that a and
money is annually granted by parliament to maintain lye
College of Maynooth in Ireland, for the education of 0
priests of the church of Rome.
"2. That Petitioners consider it inconsistent with the
d
duty of a Christian state to maintain a college for the eenicsaii
tioreof men in principles which both the Sovereign anuns.,
the members of the legislature, not being themselves, e-,
pists, have sworn that they believe to be idolatrous aria
perstitious,
"3. That it is inconsistent with the duty which the 5
owes to the due preservation of public faith, the adminilqrt/
tion of justice, and the compacts which bind s 0
. lea
together, to educate men at the public expense in princiPA,
which teach them to explain away or dispense with all 7,1
obligations of oaths, whenever the utility of the church a
other causes require it. of
"4. That it is inconsistent with the due protectionlo
civil and religious liberty in this country, to maintain B,_t:te
public expense a college in which the students are taugPlia
believe and to teach, that all their fellow-subjects, b_ceit,b
Protestants, and all baptized persons not in communion :40
the Papacy, are nevertheless to be considered as the rigniers
subjects of the church of Rome, and as heretics and reil/oser
from the Pope's government; arid that he has a rightsieel
them as a general has over deserters from his army, to
them to submit to him when it is in his power to do 0. of
" 5. That it is inconsistent with the due maintenaneerty
the acts of settlement, and the protection of the Prop „ as
both civil and ecclesiastical in Ireland, to educate Wetpticli
Romish priests, who are trained by their bishops Weieered
that all the estates held by Protestants are to be coosi`ored
by the people as plunder, and that they ought to be rest are
to their original possessors, or their heirs, and that theY
not protected by any law or prescription.
" 6. That it is inconsistent with the preservation ofetree,
allegiance to our Sovereign to maintain a college f°r,eign,
eating men as priests who are taught that their Sove'Dtbc”
being a Protestant, is a heretic and a rebel against the.°,.
tpo
rity of the Pope, and that the Pope can dispense Witt*eigto
oaths of allegiance of the subjects of an heretical soler.. en'
arid that he can either directly or indirectly subvert (3',,Ttw
dermine heretical governments, whenever a fitting opPv
nity presents itself for so doing. e yell'
" 7. That it is inconsistent with the dictates of till ices,
gion and morality, as it regards Roman Catholics their? suds
to support a college in which the students are trained 1704
principles as these, and this, for the purpose of ineses are
, them into the people in the confessional, where ttwAtera
likewise trained to make the most obscene subjects 111Freli'
of strict investigation and inquiry, under the cloak of
gion, with all Roman Catholic females, opening ther plosf
door for seduction and profligacy to priests, and for them/to,
cruel oppression and tyranny over women and Pr their of
thus making the whole population slaves to he
hood even from their mother's womb. ,deotlf
" 8. That such principles as these haVe been eonAutrocto'
stated in public meetings, and in various books an",he sYri
to be inculcated in the College of Maynootb, both lasea '
tern of theology which the archbishops and the bi°S'oro
the church of Rome pledged themselves to the ProP° the
to teach in that college at the time of its erection, anckl:oo4
system which is now actually taught in the class-boot, iso,
standards on moral and dogmatic theology, on can
and on the sacred Scriptures, in that college. e sea
ng., d
~ 9. That it has been stated at many public weed
toote
in many publications, that the same principles are tee wbiO1:1
too, by the Papal bishops, in that code of theologY_es, so.
constitutes the standard of" instruction for their that
in a code of Papal laws, added, under their sanction,2'rsie;
theology in 1832, as clearly appears from their owanv_ sg
cial statutes, their own directories, and the questio 7e'sts 1_
in those directories appointed for examination of Pr.l tbos,c
their secret diocesan conferences, in which they per
priests to direct the consciences of the people;
en trues
tioners most humbly submit that if these statememb,:e vise
they are quite sufficient to account for the crimes, Lmeletiool
ries, the insubordination of the Roman Catholic OoP",,,fieeo
and the organised system of secret sedition,
to that body of her Majesty's subjects in Ireland.
our 00;
" 10. That Petitioners therefore humbly Pr.aYst?;atiog ad
nourable House to investigate the facts, by Inbctjo 115°4
inquiry into the class-books and standards of instrue fee,
in Maynooth ; into the provincial statutes of
which Is eo"
bishops in the province of Leinster, where this ces ac
situated ; into the standard of the diocesan conferee „.50.
pointed in those statutes by the bishops for their 11% per_
which they train them to direct' the consciences ot t.r4%;
pie ; into the code of laws added to that standard i_u_eer
and into the questions of their conferences, as tbeV,ll,7bic?_
their own directories for the last ' eleven years ; Posited n,
Petitioners are informed, and believe, are now del, Petitioners
the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge; and r_e,.." etnPlas
believe that parliament will thus discover nnootootltu,,Ybautefiq
godthe, ewhgricahnttfhroeimr .risadyolnevt_.yant,
o_,
gthreouanddosptfioornwoir
sdomraewimn
for protecting the Queen's government, the Yrix7:. fro!
Ireland, and the Protestant institutions of thee 1r50,000
the machinations of the Papacy, and her MaitY rope.
Catholic subjects from the temporal tyranny of the
" And Petitioners will ever, &c."