PROTESTANT. No. LXXIII.-JANUARY, 1851. BRITISH REFORMATION SOCIETY. COTGRAVE. NOTTS. On Sunday morning, 1st December, the Rev. R. P. Blakeney preached in the parish church to an attentive congregation, when, with the kind permission of the venerable Archdeacon Browne-a long-tried standardbearer of truth-a collection was made in aid of the Reformation Society. RADCLIFFE-UPON-TRENT.-NOTTS. On Sunday evening, 1st December, the Rev. R. P. Blakeney preached to a very large congregation on the subject of the Papal Aggression. We are glad to find that the Rev. R. Burgess, the excellent vicar of the parish, has followed up the sermon by a meeting, which was crowded, and at which the Aggression was unanimously condemned. WORKSOP.-NOTTS. On Wednesday, 11th of December, an overflowing and intensely enthusiastic meeting took place in the Music Hall. The vicar of the parish, the Rev. Mr. Appleton in the chair. The Rev. R. P. Blakeney, and the Rev. W. Clementson, in compliance with a general wish on the part of the inhabitants, attended as a deputation. Speeches were delivered by ministers of various denominations, and a great demonstration of Protestant determination evinced. It will be remembered that this is the strong-hold of the Romish party in Notts, and that here a viva voce discussion took place last January between the Rev. R. P. Blakeney and the Rev. J. B. Naghten, R. C., Missionary Priest. CARLTON.-NOTTS. On the following evening the same deputation attended a large meeting in Carlton. The Rev. Mr. Smith, rector, in the chair. Sir Thomas Wallaston White, Bart., in moving a vote of thanks to the deputation, expressed himself with great decision in reference to the Aggression, and Robert Ramsden, Esq. in seconding the same, attributed that Aggression mainly to the Tractarian movement. NOTTINGHAM. On Monday evening, 16th, the Rev. R. P. Blakeney, having addressed an immense meeting in the Corn Exchange, at which the Rev. J. W. Brooks presided, and several ministers spoke, took the train for WORCESTER, where he met the Rev. Dr. Cumming, from London. Two meetings were held, one in the morning, at 12 o'clock, and the other in the evening at 7 o'clock, at both of which the Mayor presided. The following report of some of the speeches we extract from the Worcester Journal: Yesterday (Tuesday) morning an important and influential meeting of the inhabitants of this city, was held in the Guildhall, at twelve o'clock, in support of the British Society for Promoting the Principles of the Reformation. The meeting had been looked forward to with much interest, from the circumstance of the celebrated Dr. Cumming, of London, and the Rev. R. P. Blakeney, of Ison Green, near Nottingham, having been announced to attend as a deputation from the Society. The attendance was most numerous and highly respectable, the assembly room of the Guildhall being entirely filled. W. S. P. Hughes, Esq, the Mayor, presided, and among the company present were the Revds. Dr. Cumming, R. P. Blakeney, John Davies, D. Wheeler, B. Davies, W. Wright, J. Colville, Dr. Redford, and J. Walsh; H. Hill, M. Pierpoint, John Parker, H. Aldrich, J. M. Gutch, H. B. Tymbs, T. S. Lea, and W. H. Ricketts, Esqrs., &c. &c. The Mayor, having appropriately explained the object and intention of the present meeting, called upon the Rev. W. Wright to commence the proceedings with prayer. Pray er having been accordingly offered by that Rev. Gentleman, The Rev. John Davies, in some appropriate observations, expressed the great desire which he felt as a clergyman of the Church of England, to see the principles of toleration acted upon towards all, but his firm conviction that toleration was directly opposed to the principles of the Church of Rome-which sought not for equality only, but superiority-as was evidenced by its present attempt to assert supremacy over the Queen of England. He was glad to see that attempt scouted with indignation by the people of this country. The British Reformation Society, he said, was not of a political character; its objects were the diffusion throughout the length and breadth of the land of those pure scriptural doctrines and principles for the preservation of which their brave forefathers struggled even to the death, and which, being based upon the sure foundation of eternal truth, would long survive unhurt "Amid the war of elements, The wreck of matter, and the crush of worlds." He trusted that all denominations of Christians would unite in the spirit of charity, in support of their common Protestantism. While they acted kindly towards their Catholic fellow-countrymen, they yet should fearlessly oppose their errors. If all classes of Protestants would thus unite cordially together for the defence of their principles, their Church would soon shine forth "clear as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army with banners;" terrible, not by the sword of vengeance, but by "the sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God." Having been an Incumbent for thirty years in that city, he was most anxious on the present occasion to state his attachment to the glorious principles of the Reformation. After the deputation had spoken, the following speeches were delivered: -- The Rev. Dr. Redford, who was warmly cheered, said they must all feel great obligations to their excellent friend, Dr. Cumming, not simply for his address to them that morning, but also for his exertions in the metropolis in the Protestant cause. He had preferred and substantiated charges against the Romish Church such as never had been and never could be met and refuted. As regarded the other Rev. Gentleman who accompanied him (Mr. Blakeney), they were much indebted to him likewise, for the very learned and forcible manner in which he had introduced the subject to the meeting; and sure he was they all had felt, as he himself had, very much interested in the memorial to the Catholic Bishops and petition to the Pope, on the subject of the extension of civil and religious liberty to Protestants in Roman Catholic countries. He thought toleration should be reciprocal. No man had a right to ask him (Dr. Redford) to tolerate his opinions if he was not at the same time prepared to reciprocate favours. With reference to the recent act of the Pope in the appointments of Bishops, it had been said, "What harm had been done? Formerly the Catholics were governed by Vicars-Apostolic, and now by Bishops; it was only a change of names; they had no more power now than before." Now just let them (the audience suppose themselves living in a fortified town; an enemy approached and planted his guns all round, in position to batter down the walls; suppose in such case persons in the town were to say, Why what cause is there for 66 |