The Potteries Examiner : — 1876-12-16 (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England)

GORDON AT SILVERDALE : ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING.  On 'Wednesday evening the Temperance Hall was crowded by a very respectable audience to listen to Mr. J. H. Gorlen's lecture—subject, "Facts respecting the Establishment, and the conclusions they suggest"— Mr. B. D. VIGGARS occupied the chair, and in a few brief remarks, introduced the lecturer. In doing so he i pointed out the importauce of the question under die. mission, and stated the conditions of discussion at the close thereof.—The LECTURER, who was received with applause, alluded to the chairman's remark as to the importance of the oinestion, and strongly showed how ridiculous it was in this day to clamour down public ! opinion, and not meet them with real arguments. He then proceeded with his lecture—a miserable attempt on the part of some halfdt.dozen Newcastle Churchmen at the commencement to create disorder, proving a most disappointing failure. The lecturer said the first ' fact was that according to the present relations of the Church and State of the country—Church and State were identical terms and things; that in any other sense in which the State was a church there was no Church of England. He then went on to prove this general statement by facts from different parts of the country, which were received with grest applause. There was no authority in the New Testament for such a contradiction of terms, and such an anomalous state of things as was presented by the State Church toelay. He contended that the Church would he none the less useful for being separated from the State. They did not ask for its abolition, but only that it should he handed over to such earliest Church friends as were pre. sent that evening. (Applau-e.) Another fact wait that in any sense in which there was any Church of England apart from its political establishment it was only one out of several Christian Churehes in the land, yet one was designated the Church of England, anti what would be considered impertinence in one church was as gross impertinence in the other. The Church of England had not a majority of tile population. (A. voice "Census.") "Non-census " said the lecturer, and proceeded. amid applause, to deal very trenchently w.th the remark. He said, according to a Parliamentary paper, 95 per cent. of the occupants of the gaols saiol they were members of the Church of England, but outside the workhouses and gaols Churchmen were not in a majority, and they ought not to profane language by calling her Church of Englan I. He only asked that, as citizens, they should be treated alike. The lecturer having read questions from a Church catechism for little boys and girls, declaring that dissent was wicked and heretical, be salt! no wonder that people could not behave themselves when they were taught such stuff as that. (Cheers thrice repeated.) Englishmen were not going to stand that. (idenewed cheers.) He then touched upon the death and burial rite, anti asked what right the one had to impose his minister and services upon the other 1 They asked for equal treatment and Aso. Into equality—they asked for no more, and would take no less. Another fact which he proceeded to explode was the fact that by the present state of things this one sect was in the ex-Insive enjoyment of edifices and emoluments which belonged to all. It was time this Chnrch went her own way, appointed her own clergy, revised her own liturgy., awl did her own work. (Ap. planes.) In closing he asked those talking nonsense to come up and talk sense. (Loud applause.)—A most exciting anol long continued discussion was then opened by a Mr. Wootactiorr, who wao tolol that Mr. Gladstone, in his pamphlet, said on certain coadi Uses the Church of England WiLS worth preserving, but with other coalitions there Was nothing for it but to proceed with disestablishment and disenolowinent—ln reply to another question, the LECTURER asked what right he had, as only one of the people, to dictate to the Savereign what religion she must he. People could not be made Protestant by making them say they were on. He was himself opposed to everything that Was contrary to human justice.—Mr. %Ultimo next took up the time of the meeting at great length, awl was shown that although Mr. Sneyol hal built KnuttonChnreh out of his own pocket, if it was now in the hands of the Church it belonged to St:4f,, and, therefore, to the country. He was also called upon to withdraw a remark which the lecturer said was an insalt, and severely tebakeol, therefor. Mr. Witold proceeded tort ad from manuscripts and tracts statistics of the good iloone by the Church for msny years past, and was informed that if the statements were facts, it only proved how well able the Church was to go her own way and support herself like other churches—(cheers)—but as matter of fact a large number of the kires heltpastioned, and proceeded to, show from State returns that they were not correct.— Mr. WiLDIO again occupied the platform for some time, aud ended by askiag, how they proved that Churchmen were proved to be not iu a majority, unless by a census or a show of hands.—The LECTURER Better still by a show of bodies in church. (Cheers.)— Mr. BRADE next appeared on the platform, but made little headway, as he was confined to questions, and amidst much dieorder several Churansn, including the Rev. O. Steele, made their way to the platform. Intlmatody Mr. LAWTON (member of the School Board) move-I" That this meeting believes that the connection of Church and State is injurious to both, and pledges itsoolf by all legitimate moans to endeavour to obtain its disestablishment and disendowment."—Mr. WILDIU again attempted a lengthy debate.—The motion was sec owlet by the R9V. B. BELL, who said be did so on strong gronnols, 98 there was scarcely church accounia dation for 600 in the village, whilst there was accommodation for 2,600 in their chapels. (Applause.)—Mr. Bums, after attempting a speech, mover! as an amendment—" That ties meeting baying heard the lecture of Mr. Gordon, and seeing that no forced payment was re. quired from anyoue,—(" Coventry '')—is of the opinion that disestablisliment slismelowinent would be a national evil and a great injustice."—Mr. F. AlOneur-14110, amitist groans, seconded the amendment.— Upon being put, the motion was carried with vociferous ch, ers thrice repeated, and for the amendment some 20 bands were held nit—On the motion of the Rev. R. Babb, semuided by Mr. G. T. PLATT, a vote of thanks was eurcieol with cheers to the lecturer, and a similar complinient was paid to the chairman.—The meeting was then oleclareol closed, but fierce and long the debate with the irate Churchmen lasted, both inside and oat. [dole the hall.  MU RDAR AND SUICIDE Al'