Widnes Examiner. — 1882-05-20 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

PAUL'S, RUNCORN. On Sunday evening, the Rev. George Hack preached at St. Paul's Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Runcorn, to a large congregation. In concluding his discourse, he said it might truly be said that the whole country had received a terrible shock through the news of the cruel assassination which had occurred in Phcenix Park, Dublin. They could not find language strong enough to express their execration at the terrible murder. He was sure that he need not bespeak the prayers of that Christian congregation for the noble father, who, on the previous Thursday, followed to the grave a noble son, of whose abilities he was so justly proud. Neither need he bespeak their sympathies for the other relatives of Lord Cavendish, and of Mr. Burke, who had lost their lives by a most foul crime, which had caused so much sorrow and agony. Might he not also. say that night, that tide was a time when the Christian patriot should rise abovelhe political partisan, and when every Christian man and woman should, at the throne of grace, ask God to assist the Executive Government, who were now attempting, in the face of such terrible difficulties, to maintain law and order against the very demon spirit of lawlessness and crime? He knew of no politics in that pulpit ;—he had never adopted the course of bringing politics before a public congregation. Surely, however, he might say that the old man at the head of the Government, whatever might be their political feeling, had their sympathy and prayers that night. It was deeply to be regretted that upon the head ot Mr. Gladstone there should have come a sorrow so great, and upon his mind a difficulty se gigantic, now that he had passed the allotted span of human life. He was, therefore, sure they would be doing the right thing in saying, as a Christian congregation, " God bless the Prime Minister of England." But even amid the darkness there were some elements of encouragements. They could not but, be struck with the universality of the detestation which had been both felt and expressed with regard to this outrage. There had been manifested a great uprising of the British people, whose conscience had been outraged; and that people were saying to-day to all lawless men that the time had come when lawlessness must be a thing of the past, and assassination must no longer befoul our fair fame. He had felt proud to witness the tender sympathy which the country had shown for the families which had been bereaved. He had also been delighted with the judicial attitude of the British people, who whilst they were in favour of the acoption of sharp measures for the punishment of the criminals, were nevertheless, determined to continue in the work of trying to to remove every grievance of which Irish people might complain. We had no quarrel with the Irish nation, for we belonged to the same empire, and gripped hands as subjects of the same Queen. Their fervent prayer, therefore, was that out of this terrible evil there might come a great good, and out of this awful storm, a beautiful tranquility and calm. Surely all hearts would barn with love to Lady Frederick Cavendish, who, instead of breathing retaliation against the Irish people, was anxious that the policy which her husband went to Ireland to inaugurate, should be continued, saying that she should find it her dearest consolation if out of her great affliction should come blessing and prosperity for the Irish people. Might God bless our country, and bring to us peace and prosperity !