The Potteries Examiner : — 1874-03-28 (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England)

THE NEW MAYOR AND CORPORATION OF STOKE-ON-TRENT AT ST. PETER'S CHURCH. On Sunday the members of the new corporation, &c-ep m p a ni ed the Mayor (Mr. Henry) to church. The mom. ben met in the Town Hall. The volunteem assembled for parade under the command of Captain Cooper. The fire brigade in uniform, as also the police force, miss. lured m full force, and the volunteers, police, and fire. men officiated as a kind of guard of honour to the Mayor and Town Council. The volunteer band headed the procession to church. The prayers were intoned by the Rev. R. Baughey, and the lessons were read by the Rev. W. Walters, and the Rev. J. Birmingham. The Rev, Sir Lovelace T. Starner, Bart., RD., preached from the 11th chapter of Proverb, and the 11th cures— By the blessing of the upright, the city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked." The hon. baronet preached sit excellent sermon, in the course of which he sail it too often happened that there was for. getfulness or disregard of the nation's dependence upon God, and of how a nation's rise or de. ohne depended to a great degree upon recog. nition of and obedience to God, or the contrary Referring to the presence of the Town Council, Sir Lovelace mid that all present were doubtless interested in the welfare and prosperity of the town, and they desired to see it increase as much as possible in wealth and influence. These consid,rations had led to the &lop. tion in the town of a form of local government which was regarded as preferable to all others, not merely beCause of its dignity and importance, but because it had been proved to be superior in the preservation of order and contentment amongst the people, and the premotion of social improvements. It was well, however, that his friends of the Town Council should feel that the most appi coed system of local government was not, of itself, imffirient to ensure the welfare of the town and neiglsbourh.od. Unless men honoured God, de. parted from sin end inclined to virtue, there eould be no substantial advancement or happiness anywhere. Let them remember that God was looking down upon them. There woe no use in attempting to deny that there was a very large amount of carelessness as to religions things, irreligion and sin in their midst. A considerable portion of the poi nation were living in utter neglect of God. There were others, who were Christian in name, but as unlike Christ as it was possible to be. Further, he said how many there were who never thought of entering a place of worship, or to seek that close communion with Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. Then again what a sin drunkenness Was, and how common, with its trnitinl re. cults of degradation and wretchedness cruelty to wives seems children, sees of violence, man-slaying. and murders. It was not too much to call drunkenness "The plague spot of that town," as it was of the nation at large. If they could get rid of drunkenness, blessings of all kinds would come, homes of squalor and want and pauperism would well nigh disappear, and there would be removed one of the greatest hindrances to the success of the Christian ministers' mission. He would appeal to the new local authority of the town to do all that by in their power to abate the evil of drankenaem. • .  fle'appealed to the Council to use all lawful means to reduce the number of licensed houses for the sale of drink, knowing as they did what a sore evil intoxication was. Now that all the contest was over, he hoped that all an if., would be hushed, and all disappointment and exultation set aside. It was the duty of the new authority to work together, not from any selfinterested motives, but for the good of all, and for the general benefit of tho town. Ho hoped they would seek for wiedum from on high, and he prayed that the Holy Spirit might guide them in right judgement in all things.  _ ed wor ot • bj re. hat .rmato oo: ighw .nry 6C or '1 nt. .mrai • axle • eons ommiti 1 mo ler *P t. ere bin • at wl endered, vagan, .nla r r .be je4 Harr He ey 11 ct lIKATL peetinl t ected eSel rt, ti r. • a b/ .tir 9.51 eprobatMn, .0 a ~.eo .09,e -190 I ern, .re .w . th . vita • VIC NI * Sp r IL chairma ilea= , Woo' ey titie