Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1868-09-11 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

LIBERAL TYRANNY—Mr P. Flynn. agent to the "Protestant Evangelical Mission," by handbills announced the delivery of five lectures in the Temperance Hall, Stockton, to take place during the present week. On Monday evening there was no audience, and on Tuesday evening he gave a lecture on " Miracles " to about 100 persons. The lecturer was energetic, and was listened to with earnest attention, comparing the miracles of the Bible with the supposed miracles of the Flemish Church, some of which were read from the Roman Catholic publications, and one bore the name of Dr. Cullen. On Wednesday the lecture was to he on "Puseyism." This lecture, however, did not take place, in consequence of one of those disgraceful scenes which, we are sorry to say, are becoming so common. A number of Irishmen assembled before the Tempel ante Hall, having bludgeons and stones in their pockets, who came for the purpose of creating a row. There were not less than 100 of these men, who were heard by the police to make free use of the names of certain persons upon whom they intended to exercise their power. A small audience was gathered in the hall before the time appointed for the lecture, among whom were several Liberals. Outside the hall, and among the Irishmen, were several active Liberals, who used their endeavours to excite them to acts of violence. One of them, who is well known, offered half a crown to any one who would go into the hall and begin a row. The police, seeing how matters stood, made a representation to the ayor that they apprehended a breach of the peace. His Worship thereupon sent to Mr Flynn to represent to him the impropriety of having a meeting, and requested him to postpone his lecture. At the same time the committee of the Temperance Hall stated to Mr Flynn that they should hold him responsible for any damage that might be done to the hall, and offered to return the money he had paid for the use of it. Under these circumstances he thought it best not to proceed with his lecture, and after a few words, stating the circumstances, he dismissed the audience. We have authority to state that Mr P. Flynn is a very respectable man. He was educated as a Roman Catholic priest, but has renounced his faith in that church, and is engaged as a missionary by the society before named. His coining to Stockton was as much unknown to the Conservatives as the Liberals. He is making a tour in the North on his mission, and has lectured in many large towns without molestation. His last lectures were delivered in the large Central Hall, Darlington, where he had large audiences, who were attentive listeners to what he had to say. The Protestant Evangelical Mission is composed alike of Churchmen and Dissenters, whose object is the dissemination of truth and the exposure of the unscriptural docrine of the Church of Rome. It remained for the illiberal Liberals of Stockton, among whom are many infidels, to try to gag the mouth of this energetic advocate of the truth. There could not be a greater act of tyranny practised by them. They have invited the Rev. Miller more than once to lecture against the Church of England; they have brought Pastor Gordon on the same mission; and Father Lavelle on the same errand. All these lectures were attended peaceably by Convervatives, but when any lecturer comes to advocate the cause of the Church they are opposed by the Liberals, who try to get up a row and drown the voice of truth ; and, in the present instance, try to suborn men to a breach of the peace, and do damage to persons and property. The judicious conduct of Mr P. Flynn, happily, prevented such an occurrence. If any breach of the peace hail occurred, and fatal consequences ensued, these instigators of riot would have made themselves liable to be tried for murder—and they are now amenable to the law.