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being fully equal to many of a religious description held in that cele brated and extensive fabric. It is impossible that we can give the names of the whole of the clergy, or the higher classes of the laity, who were in attendance; but we have pleasure in supplying those of parties whom we were enabled to recognise, and which were as follow: The Lord Bishop of the Diocese; Hon. and Rev. Horace Powys, Rector of Warrington; Rev. Jonathan Brooks, Rector of Liverpool; Rev. Augustus Campbell, Rector of Liverpool; Rev. Robert Raikes, Chancellor of the Diocese; Rev. Dr. Calvert, Warden of Manchester; Rev. J. Slade, Vicar of Bolton; Rev. Dr. Whittaker, Vicar of Blackburn; Rev. Hugh Stowell, of Manchester; Rev. Hugh M'Neile, of Liverpool; Rev. James John Hornby, Rector of Winwick; Rev. Frank Hopwood, of Bewsey Hall; Rev. Thomas Vere Bayne, of Warrington; Rev. E. T. Alder, of Grappenhall; Rev. W. Hesketh, of Toxteth ; Rev. Thomas Lowe, of Warrington; Rev. Edward Jones, of Wigan; Rev. Henry Legh, of High Legh; Rev. Bertie Johnson, Rector of Lymm; Rev. Fielding Ould, of Liverpool; Rev. Richard Greenall, of Stretton; Rev. James Wright, of Latchford; Rev. Joseph Brindle, of Thelwall; Rev. Charles Dodgson, of Daresbury; Rev. George Heron, of Carrington; Rev. Thomas Byrth, Rector of Wallasey; Rev. Geoffrey Hornby, Rector of Bury; Rev. E. J. Warburton, Rector of Warburton; Rev. R. Tweddell, of Halton; Rev. P. S. Dale, of Hollins Green; Rev. T. G. Driffield, Vicar of Prescot; Rev. James Todd, of Warrington; Rev. F. Brandt, of Gawsworth; Rev. C. K. Prescott, Rector of Stockport; Rev. W. C. Cruttenden, of Macclesfield; Rev. H. W. M'Garth, of Manchester; Rev. Joseph Jones, of Newchurch; Rev. B. Powell, of Wigan; Rev. J. H. Gunning, Rector of Wigan; Rev. C. Birch, of Chorlton-upon-Medlock; Rev. G. B. Kidd, of Manchester; Rev. Thomas Blackburne, Rector of Prestwich; Rev. C. J. Bagshawe, of Salford; Rev. F. Barker, of Liverpool; Rev. R. Parkinson, Fellow of Manchester; Rev. E. Sibson, of Ashton; Rev. G. Richards, of Warrington; Rev. W. Jeff, of Farnworth; Rev. J. Thomas, of Burtonwood; Rev. G. Edwards, of Astley; Rev. Henry Fielding, of Manchester; Rev. - Carpenter, of Liverpool; Rev. John Hollist, of Manchester; Rev. J. Stuart, of Hale; Rev. D. Slyman, of Sankey; Rev. Alexander Watson, of Manchester; Rev. George Dugard, of Manchester; Rev. Oswald Serjeant, Fellow of Manchester; Rev. William Thursby, of Ormerod House, Burnley; Rev. W. Manby, of Overton, near Lancaster; Rev. R. C. Wilson, Vicar of Preston; Rev. W. Noble, of Lancaster; Rev. Robert Master, of Royle; Rev. G. Blackburne, of Church Minshull; Rev. W. Hornby, of St. Michael's; Rev. Wood, of Broughton; Rev. William Huntingdon, of Manchester; Rev. Samuel James Allen, of Burnley; Rev. J. S. Master, of Croston; Rev. R. Frost; Rev. J. Harden; Right Honourable Lord Stanley, M. P.; Right Hon. Lord Sandon, M. P.; Hon. Lord Lindsay, son of the Earl of Balcarras; Hon. R. B. Wilbraham, M. P.; John Wilson-Patten, Esq. M. P.; John Ireland Blackburne, Esq. M. P.: Thomas Greene, Esq. M. P.; William Bolling, Esq. M. P.; Peter Ainsworth, Esq. M. P.; William Tatton Egerton, Esq. M. P.; Sir

Philip de Malpas Grey Egerton, Bart., M. P.; Wilbraham Egerton, Esq. of Tatton Park; Sir Richard Brooke, Bart., of Norton Priory; Thomas Bright Crosse, Esq. of Shawe Hall; Edwin Corbett, Esq. of Darnhall; Shalcross Jacson, Esq. of Newton Bank; Thomas Lyon, Esq. of Appleton Hall; Thomas Parr, Esq. of Grappenhall Heyes; Samuel Staniforth, Esq. of Liverpool; Peter Greenall, Esq. of St. Helen's; Thomas Greenall, Esq. of Wilderspool; Gilbert Greenall, Esq. of Wilderspool; John Greenall, Esq. of Middleton House; James Heath Legh, Esq. of Belmont; William Hulton, Esq. of Hulton; William Ford Hulton, Esq. of Hulton; George Eaton, Esq. of the Pole; William Nicholson, Esq. of Thelwall Hall; William Kidd, Esq. of Farnworth; John Ryle, junr. Esq. of Henbury; William Kidd, jun. Esq. of Farnworth; William Hall, Esq. of Grappenhall House; Henry Brooke, Esq. of Norton Priory; Henry Stanton, Esq. of Greenfield; James Aspinall, Esq. of Liverpool; John Heyes, Esq. of Prescot; John Whitley, Esq. of Ashton; William Garnett, Esq. of Lark Hill, Salford; Robert Lomax, Esq. of Lomax Fold, Bolton; John Frederick Foster, Esq. of Manchester; John Clare, Esq. of Fairfield House; John Clare, junr. Esq. of Fairfield House; Joseph Wagstaff, Esq. of Warrington; Rowland Warburton, Esq. of Arley Hall; James Kendrick, Esq. M. D. of Warrington: J. H. Wanklyn, Esq. of Manchester; John Churton, Esq. M. D., of Warrington; John Turner, Esq. M. D., of Sankey; William Beamont, Esq. of Warrington; James Stanton, Esq. of Greenfield; Hardman Phillips, Esq. of Paddington; Robert Raikes, Esq. of Chester; Richard Harrison, Esq. of Warrington; Henry Charles Lacy, Esq. of Kenyon; Richard Orford, Esq. of Disley; Adam Hodgson, Esq. of Liverpool; Hugh Hornby Birley, Esq. of Manchester: John Smith Barry, Esq. of Marbury Hall; Thomas Hibbert, Esq. of Birtles ; George Cornwall Legh, Esq. of High Legh; Hon. Colin Lindsay, of Haigh Hall: Peter Brooke, Esq. of Mere Hall; Leigh, Esq. of Booths, Arthur Brooke, Esq. of Norton Priory; Michael Hughes, Esq. of Sherdley.

Letters expressing their great regret at being prevented from attend ing had been received from the Right Hon. Lord Francis Egerton, M. P.; the Right Hon. Lord Skelmersdale; Cresswell Cresswell, Esq. M. P.; George Martin, Esq. M. P.; Marquis of Cholmondeley; Richard Townley Parker, Esq. M. P.; Edmund Richmund Gale Braddyl, Esq. of Conishead Priory; W. Fielden, Esq. M. P.; J. Fielden, Esq. of Whitton House, near Blackburn; Thomas Clifton, Esq. of Lytham; all of whom expressed their approbation of the scheme, as stated in the prospectus, and their willingness to render assistance.

The business of the Meeting was postponed for a very short time in consequence of the later arrival than usual of the Liverpool, Manchester, and Preston Railway Trains, which it was known was to convey large numbers of friends to the Cause, and to bring some of the principal Speakers of the day.

THE LORD BISHOP OF THE DIOCESE having taken the chair soon after eleven o'clock, proceeded to address the meeting as follows:Our friends who are assembled on this occasion will, I am sure, agree with me that, we cannot begin rightly unless we begin by imploring the author and giver of every good gift," the God and Father of Light, that he will prevent us with his gracious favour, and further us in all our works with his continual help; that those things which are begun and intended for his honour and glory, the advancement of the kingdom of his blessed Son, may be sanctioned by that grace and wisdom which can alone bring them any beneficial effect towards his creatures, with whom we are concerned. In dependence on this gracious assistance, I will open the business of the day by a few remarks upon the object which has called us together. There have been many occasions since I have been placed in that situation which gives me the honour of addressing you to day, when I have met the clergy, the nobility, and the laity of the Diocese occasions of great importance and interest, and where I have always received that co-oporation without which nothing can be achieved. There are many whom I see around me in this room to whose co-operation and assistance I have been greatly obliged in another object of great and continuing importance, of an importance that we must not forget at the present moment, I mean that of providing accommodation in churches for the continually increasing population. (Cheers). I say, we must not forget that object even whilst we are engaged in another, for to what purpose should we educate the rising generation in the principles of the church, if, when they grow up, they have no churches, in which to exercise those principles; if they are not able to worship God according to those formularies which in their youth they learn to reverence and enjoy. But, however, the occasion upon which we meet to-day has somewhat of a peculiar character; we meet not only to supply a want, and there are many to supply, but we meet to maintain a principle-(hear, hear,)—a principle of the first importance, a principle that the young, who may be growing up in this country, should be educated in the religion of their country, that the national education should be in connexion with the national church, that it should be based upon that religion which is, and we have reason to thank God for it, the national religion; it is now, and may it ever so continue (cries of "Hear, hear,")-that religion which was established at the reformation, confirmed at the restoration, settled at the revolution, and handed down to us as part and parcel of the constitution of the land. (Hear.) This I conceive to be the principle for which we have met to-day.

We might have met to determine, that so far as in us lies, all with whom we are concerned should be educated, and that the pious wish of one of our sovereigns should be carried into execution, that every child in his Kingdom should be able to read the Bible. We might have met for this very important object, that the young of this country shall not only have the power of reading, but be educated in the truths of Revelation. That would have been an important object; and it would only be fulfilling the obligations, which all who enjoy the blessing of Revelation

are bound to observe. But that alone is not our object; our object goes further; it is that the young shall be educated in the truths of the Bible according to the principles embodied in the creeds, and articles, and formularies of our National Church.

This is the object which gives our meeting to-day its peculiar character, and we have great reason to insist upon it as an important object, but at the same time, not as a new principle-for, in truth, we are but returning to the original principle, as laid down in the canons of our church; they are founded on this principle, and to that we are returning; not as originally, by a compulsory enactment, but we come to that voluntary determination which two hundred years ago was rendered necessary by ecclesiastical law.

And why are we thus employed and interested? Let me be allowed to say, not from any feeling of hostility towards others, not from any bigotry or blind attachment-though we have our attachments, and they are attachments of which we are not ashamed-(hear, hear) but it is from a higher principle, it is from conviction that education, if it is to be of real value, if it is not to lose that alone which can give it real value, must be based upon religion, and it cannot be based upon religion unless it is based upon religion drawn out and earried into practice upon a settled and defined principle; not upon those general views which might belong, as it were, to natural religion; but upon a settled and established system which is the only way, as we have found by experience, that religious truths can be inculcated at all with any real effect.

And here we are not altogether without sound grounds to go upon. It is very easy to talk of instructing persons in religion upon a general principle in which there shall be nothing to differ from. All this is very easy and plausible in theory; but what is it when carried out into practice. There has been an attempt to carry it into practice. I hold in my hand what will give you the best proof of the assertion I have ventured to make. According to the principle of the London University, religion is to be taught upon those general principles in which it is supposed all Christians can join. It has been determined by those who manage that University, that there shall be a voluntary theological examination. But when this was to be carried into practice it was necessary to lay down rules according to which it should be conducted, and of course it was necessary that those rules should be according to the principle of the institution, which is that of offending no body, and agreeing with every one. I find that, by one of these rules, each examiner has the power of putting a veto upon any question, (laughter) and the next rule will bring the proof to which I allude. "No question shall be put to any candidate bearing upon any doctrinal point disputed between Christian and Christian, and no question shall be so put as to require an expression of religious belief on the part of any candidate." Now, if we put this in practice, it will be very clear, as far as religion is concerned, there is but one truth in which the child could be instructed. I do not think you can go beyond the first verse of Genesis" In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth,"—

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(hear.) Beyond that I do not know anything that would bear the test thus established. You could not enter upon the great subject of redemption,-for that, unhappily, is a subject disputed "between Christian and Christian." You could not speak of sanctification through the Holy Spirit, for this would be to enter into the mysteries of the Trinitarians. But some will say, that the chief business of early edu cation is to teach the great principles of morality. Can you teach moraliry, without entering upon the source of immorality? of that lying, and thieving, and evil speaking, which is incidental to youth? If we refer them to the evil of their nature, this is a point disputed between Christians. There are those who will ascribe it, not to a corrupt heart, but to the unhappy circumstances in which those young persons have been placed. Therefore I venture to say that it would be impossible to teach either religion or morality, those things which it is the great object of education to teach unless you have those settled principles to go upon which can alone reach the heart. In point of real effect, religion without peculiarities is religion without force, because it is religion without truth.

It is on these principles and views then, that we are met today; not indeed to undertake that which is now to be undertaken for the first time but to unite the Laity in that which has been the great object of the Clergy for a long time past, and which is carried on by them up to the present moment with unremitting exertion. Certainly, when I look back at what has been done in this Diocese in the way of education, I cannot look upon education as an object which we are now beginning to promote. I believe that not less than £20,000, aye, more, have been spent in Liverpool alone, in providing schools for the young under the superintendence of the clergy during the last three years; and I am sure that in the diocese at large, and particularly in this county, not less than from £60,000 to £70,000 at the very least have been expended, not in maintaining schools, but in building school-rooms alone. Therefore what we are anxious to do is not a beginning, but a carrying out of the principle with a fresh accession of force, and a fresh determination that that force shall only be checked when we find nothing left to act upon. There is room for improvement and extension, and perhaps to the end we shall have to acknowledge that, but when I look around and see that this extensive Diocese, has sent its members who are come to support the cause from the most distant parts, I cannot but admit we have begun this day, und the most auspicious circumstances. a work which we trust will be a blessing to future generations. Having thus ventured to enter upon the general principles upon which we meet, I will now leave it to the particular resolutions which will be laid before you to express in detail the object we have in view; and in those resolutions you will find embodied and declared the principles of which I have only attempted to give you a sketch. His lordship then st down amidst an expression of great applause.