The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1854-04-11 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

MIS- a witness-of the cardinal's taking.the papers from Colonel Hankey'S-hands, and returning with them signed by the dying Pope a short time afterwards. It was a positive fact -that both the hands and arms of the Pope were supported whilst signing these papers which England demanded, and when they were signed, the old colonel remarked to the cardinal, " What do you think of the infallibility of your Church now ?" (Loud cheering.) The rev. doctor then referred in detail to-, the more immediate reasons which had induced him to leave the Church of Rome. When he returned from Malta, where he was stationed, he fires commenced the work of controversy, and lie then discovered on reading, that the so-called fathers of the Church of Rome—as he said iu the outset of his remarks— were in reality not Roman Catholics, Nit Protestants. Having read so much, and studied deeply, he saw nothing before him bat to leave her communion. In doing this, lie had to make great personal sacrifices. He had a-pension granted to him for life whilst he remained at Malta,..and a house and garden to live in. The speaker, after some further remarks, referred to his connexion with this town before he actually withdrew himself from the Church of Risme ;- and dwelt with much force on the persecuting spirit to which he was expotecl. When he resigned the situation beheld in connexion with St. Anthony's Roman Catholic Chapel in this town, they matt all know how he was treated. They might ascertain it by referring to the Standard, the Mail, or the Mercury. A deputation of Roman Catholics waitedupon the Popish -Bishop to prefer a charge against his moral character, but the bishop's answer was, " 'Aare not the slightest charge to makaagainst this man-" The bishop well knew, much as be was opposed to him, that he had no charge whatever against him. But, its addition to the persecution which he .had to submit to in this town at the time, it had recently been placarded in the West of England that be left Liverpool indebted to almost every tradesman in the place. Again, it had been- seated in Liverpool that lie was dead, and a copy of a newspaper, containing this announcement, Ms sent to all his. relations in' Ireland, accompanied by a communication that his death was a warniag to all apostates. (Cries of "Shame.") Well, three weeks ago a letter had been written by.. the so-called Catholic Bishop of Liverpool calling him an abandoned character ; but he could only new say to his Protestant friends, that, by God's grace, he had been en:tided to overcome every sort of persecution. (Tremendous cheering)), He had no wish at present to dwell further on the abominations of Popery ; but he could state things to them which would barrow up their feelings sufficient to make them pull down every Roman Catholic chapel in Liverpool. God, forbid, however, that he should have any such feeling., (Hear.) He was now a Protestant minister. He belonged to the Protestant Reformation Society, and he had only tn.asld that he had as great. a horror of Tractarianism and Puseyism as he bad of Popery itself. (Great cheering.). lii would tell them an aneodote respecting Puseyism. About the time he was admitted into the Protestant Church, he had an interview with Dr. Pusey, who advised him to continue to go to confession, es usual, and to receive absolution from one of his (Dr. Pusey's) friends. (Hear, hear, and.shame.). That_ was a proof that they had as much to fear, from tractarjanism as from actual popery. They might depend upon it, that if ever again he. felt disposed to confess his sins. to,man, rather than to his. God, he should once more resort to,St, Anthony's, in Liverpool, rather than to the votaries. of puseyism. He trusted in. God that he might be apared.to enjoy the privileges he now possessed as a Protestant, and, in conclusion, he earnestly. asked of them to give their support to the Protestant Reformation Society. Let them do what they could in its behalf. either by annual subscriptions or by taking collecting cards, and he fervently prayed for God's blessing on Their efforts. At the conclusion of his_ speech, the rev. doctor was greeted with loud and protracted cheering. A collection was then.mede, during which a hymn was-sung, and the proceedings closed shortly before eleven o'clock.  EX3CUTION.—On Saturday, William Thompson, who was found guilty at the late assizes of the wilful murder of Loran Beha, a travelling watchmaker and jeweller, was hanged on the dxop in front of Norwich Castle, Lsw