The Barrow Herald and Furness Advertiser. — 1883-11-10 (Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England)

VIII., Edward VI., Lady Jane Grey, Queen Mary, Cranmer, Ridley, Latimer, and Hooper, &c.: also with Queen Elizabeth and James I, leading up to a detailed description of Gunpowder Plot. In conclusion, he asked—Have the sufferings and sacrifices oT their forefathers, as recorded in history, taught them a lesson? Did they cherish that liberty and freedom which they.enjoyed, and which was bought at so great I a puke P. Would they, as Englishmen, ever forget their k Hooper, Ridley, and Latimer? Would they, as Scotch. men, erase from their memories those noble martyrs, Hamilton and Wishart ? or the trials of Knox? (Cries of "No.") Rad the sad scenes of '4l and '9B left laiting impressions on the loyal men of Ireland 1' (Hear, hear.) If so, let them keep a watchful eye on those who were responsible for our Government, and never let them support anyone who would "make arrangements with rebels." If they did support such they would lose all that had bean handed down to them, and that had made our c iuntry Great, glorious, free; First isle of the ocean, First gem of the sea. (Applause.) Mr. Waddington, cn being called upon by the Chairman, said he was proud to see so large a Protestant meeting in Barrow, and he hoped it would be the forerunner of many others (hear, hear). He thought it not only right, but their noun len duty to commemorate their great epochs in the history of their civil and religious freedom (cheers). Listening to Mr. MaiGough caused his mind to wander back and think of the great' deliverance of the Children of Israel from bondage ; and he asked, what were the commands given to the Israelites in reference thereto? Why, they were ordered to teach their children to remember their deliverances by great feasts and festivals, and by these means to hand down these glorious memories to their children's children, from generation to generation (loud applause). Surely then it was right that these "commemorations " of the deliverance of our country from a yoke quite as intolerable, front a slavery, even more degrading than that under which the Israelites groaned —it was right they should do this (hear, hear). There were some popular delusions on the subject of ProtiAtantism and the Reformation, which he thought it I was desirable to point out. Pure Christianity was not ' commenced at the Reformation, but by Christ and his I Apostles. The churches at Jerusalem, at Rome, and i at Antioch, and even in Britain, were founded by the I apostles and their immediate successors. They were I in spiritual union but independently governed by their I own overseers or bishops,until the magnificent splendour and wide extent of the old Roman Empire, enabled . the Roman Bishop—by a gradual, and insidious issue of colleens. decrees, bulls, and forged decretals, backed up by Rome's civil authority—to usurp almost supreme power over many churches, which ended in that mou•trons superwructure—the Papacy Apostolic. Christanity flourished in England, Ireland, and , Scotland, before Popery was born, (hear, hear.) The Reformation begun by. Wickliffe in England did not commence a new religion, but threw away the accretions and inventions of Ronie, and returned to the old church, the old and primitive creed. (applause.) But the mighty work was not consummated till over 100 years after Wickliffe's time, then there arose that mighty giant, Dr. Martin Luther, (loud cheers) to complete in central Europe the noble work for which Huss had suffered martydoom. He hoped a Luther commemoration would be held in Barrow, (cheers Our illustrious reformers like the apostles, we re men of humble station 'Luther first saw the light in a miner's cottage, Calvin was the grandson of a cooper in Picardy, Knox was the sou of a:plain Scotch bur gess, Zwingle was born in an Alpine shepherd's but. Melancthon was the son of an Armourer.' Men in , humble stations had often achieved greatness, and done noble deeds of which posterity was proud. Had they forgot the prentice boys of Perry? (no, no and cheers.) He was proud to see so much of the old spirit of 'No Surrender' still left in the Sons of Derry. The glorious deeds of whose forefathers had been immortalised by the master hand of Macaully. Derry determined not to allow league meetings to be held which Mr. Gladstone told us were followed by murder, robbery, and assassinations, (cheers.)—Mr. Finney then sang a song in memory of the late Lord Beac instield, the whole audience standing.—The Chairman after heartily thanking the trayholders, singers, and others, called for three cheers for the Queen, which were given with much enthesiasm.