adore." Then, putting off his shoes he kisses the cross, kneeling three times ; the other clergy, and afterwards the laity also kiss the cross. In the meantime, the Reproaches are sung. Then is sung, "We adore Thy cross, O Lord, and praise and glorify Thy holy resurrection, for behold by the wood came joy into the whole world." Almost immediately after, the verse (B.B.) is said or sung. The verse (C.C.) from Hymns Ancient and Modern agrees with it :

(C.C.)

Faithful cross, above all other,
One and only noble Tree,
None in foliage, none in blossom,
None in fruit thy peer may be ;
Sweetest wood, and sweetest iron;
Sweetest weight is hung on thee.

(Hymns Anc. and Mod., Hymn 289, Ap.)

O faithful cross, thou stand'st alone, (B.B.)
None like thee in our woods is grown,
None can with thy rich growth compare,
Or leaves like thine, or flowerets bear.
Sweet wood, sweet nails, both sweet and
fair,

Sweet is the precious weight ye bear.

[(R. C. Missal. Service for Good Friday.)

Dr William Fulke, Master of Pembroke Hall, Cambridge, 1578, in his Defence of the Translation of the Holy Scriptures against the Papists, says, "As for the cross whereon Christ died, I see no cause why it should be worshipped, if it were to be had: but rather if it were to be worshipped, it should be served as the brazen serpent was. (2 Kings xviii. 4.) None of the apostles made any account of it.'

Rogers, chaplain to Archbishop Bancroft, complained that the Romanists out of preposterous devotion had appointed a service for the cross, and a feast for the spear and nails.

How far the language used in the above verse from Hymns Ancient and Modern," Faithful cross," "Sweetest Wood," "Sweetest iron," is calculated to lead to the restoration of Romish practices, each reader of this paper can decide. Dr Calf hill, Archdeacon of Colchester, 1569, in his reply to the Papist, Martial, says! Let the sign of the cross be cast out of the Church, and the cross itself be preached simply: lest, by suffering the sign of the cross to stand, the Son of God crucified be contemned; and we fall to worshipping of a cross material, which we shall prove to be damnable."

66

What do Hymns Ancient and Modern
say about the Virgin Mary?

Shall we not love thee, Mother dear,
Whom Jesus loves so well?
And in His temple, year by year,
Thy joy and glory tell?

And as He loves Thee, Mother dear,
We too will love thee well;
And in His temple, year by year,
Thy joy and glory tell.

(Hymn 376, Ap.)

What saith the Roman Catholic
Church about the Virgin Mary ?

Mother of Mercy, day by day,
My love of thee grows more and more.
For what did Jesus love on earth
One half so tenderly as thee?

All my senses, heart, affections,
Strive to send thy glory forth;
Spread abroad the sweet memorials
Of the Virgin's priceless worth.
Sing in songs of praise unending,
Sing the World's Majestic Queen;
Weary not, nor faint in telling
All the gifts she gives to men.

The Apostle Paul declares that "evil communications corrupt good manners." If congregations are taught to love the Virgin Mary as their Mother, and to promise that they will, year by year, sing her glory, is it not probable that they will, sooner or later, put her on a level with the Almighty God and Father of all, and ascribe to her the attributes of Deity? Now let us hear some further words of the same apostle: "Every one of us shall give account of himself to God." Let "no man put a stumbling-block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way." Rom. xiv. 12, 13.*

B. M. N.

Copies of the preceding paper, for the purpose of circulation, may be obtained at a cheap rate of G. Waters, printer, Cranbrook, Kent.

HYMNS FOR THE SAILORS.

MY DEAR SIR,- It was stated in the Guardian of the 10th of May, on the authority of the United Service Gazette, "that the Admiralty has directed that 'Hymns Ancient and Modern' shall in future be issued to her Majesty's ships, in lieu of the original Hymn Book."

In the Record of May 8th, it was stated, on the authority of the Broad Arrow, "that the Lords of the Admiralty have been pleased to direct that in future 'Hymns Ancient and Modern,' with the Appendix, shall be issued to her Majesty's ships, in lieu of the original Hymn Book." These statements have not, I believe, been contradicted.-Yours, sincerely, A READER.

POPERY AND PUBLISHERS.

YORK, March 1871.

SIR, Is not Jesuitism taking hold of our publishers? About five weeks ago, I ordered from my bookseller in York (a true Protestant, I believe certainly), for my first class, the Protestant Catechism, 4d., published by the Book Society. He could not get it. After some delay, I ordered Blakeney's Protestant Catechism, 4d., published by Paton & Ritchie, Edinburgh; Hamilton, 33 Paternoster Row; Hatchard, Piccadilly; Reformation Society, 17 Berners Street, &c.,-the same answer-none in town. Unless I hear from you soon, I shall order the Religious Tract Society Protestant Catechism, although it is simple Scripture texts, with no special information about Popery.

It is not the quantity I want (six copies), but that I fear there is some under-current at work. I have thirty-five boarders; the first class-six in number-old enough to understand the merits of the subject to a certain extent.

I may say that for many years I have seen the Bulwark, and that at every opportunity I buy suitable books for boys on the Popish question. Partridge has published several very nice tales at 1s., and I was very sorry to be told that they had not a large sale.

Your Protestant classes are to me one of the most hopeful features of the present eventful times.

If you require an apology, it is my anxiety that Romanism and Ritualism may not get the upper hand.-I am, Sir, yours truly,

A SUBSCRIBER. P.S.-The London Protestant Society sent me two copies of the Catechism published by the Book Society, in the Row. If you CAN post me four I will remit the price in stamps.

I.

BILLS BEFORE PARLIAMENT AND OTHER MATTERS AFFECTING PROTESTANT INTERESTS.

TH:

HE Ecclesiastical Titles Bill, which proposes to repeal the Act of 1851, forbidding the assumption of territorial titles by Romanists. The second reading has passed, but it is hoped that the large minority will induce the House of Lords to throw out the bill. If it does become law, all the agitation of 1851 comes to nothing, and we shall have immediately the assumption of titles through which the provisions of the Canon Law will be enforced on the consciences of Roman

Catholics within the United Kingdom, with claims to precedency especially in Ireland. No doubt the Popish hierarchy will also establish itself in Scotland and assume the old titles, and with them the prerogatives which they held before the Reformation.

II. The Prison Ministers' Bill, which demands that Roman Catholic priests shall be appointed to every prison in the United Kingdom containing ten or more Roman Catholic prisoners, with salaries out of the public rates on a scale regulated by the number of such prisoners. It also contains powers to be lodged in the hands of the Secretary of State instead of the local magistrates, which will destroy one of the primary principles of the Constitution, that when local taxation is raised the rates should be expended by the local parties themselves. There is a strong feeling in the country against such a measure, and we rejoice to find that there is a combination in the House to resist it at every stage.

III. The Irish Poor Removal Bill, which proposes to destroy the law of settlement in reference to paupers in both England and Scotland; and that so soon as an Irish pauper sets his foot on either country he is from that moment to claim permanent relief for himself and his children, and to be educated in the principles of Romanism at the public expense. We hope that such a monstrous proposal will be successfully resisted.

IV. The question as to the impartial administration of the law in regard to lotteries in all parts of the kingdom, and the suppression of Roman Catholic lotteries. This question is to be brought on by Mr Charley, who delivered an excellent speech last session on the same subject, and which was subsequently published by the London Organisation of the Scottish Reformation Society. This species of illegal traffic has been suppressed in England and Scotland, but it is still rampant in Ireland. It is believed that in consequence of the truckling policy of the public authorities, and the appointment of a Romish PostmasterGeneral, great encouragement has been given to flood the country with packets of tickets by means of the Post Office, thus creating great temptations to gambling. [Mr Charley's motion has been since rejected.] V. The question as to how far Her Majesty's Government has committed the country in regard to both the spiritual and temporal independence of the Pope has yet to be discussed. We believe that, from correspondence respecting the affairs of Rome now before Parliament, the Government has seriously committed the country, and has taken such action as ought at once to be repudiated. If possible, this question will be brought before the House of Commons before the recess, in order to influence the policy of the Government while Parliament is not sitting. Perhaps we shall refer to this important matter in our next number.

VI. Mr Mackay, who was sentenced to imprisonment for three months, for circulating at his lectures against Romanism "The Confessional Unmasked," is still lying in prison. The three months have expired, but, as he refuses to ask or give bail, it is very likely he may lie in prison for twelve months longer unless something is done to get the sentence cancelled. We believe an application was made to the Home Secretary to receive a deputation on Mackay's behalf, but this was refused. This is very extraordinary, when we remember that deputations on behalf of Fenians and other treasonable persons have had an oppor

tunity of stating their case. Mr Newdegate has moved for the correspondence which has taken place with the Government; and we do sincerely trust that an agitation will be created in order to compel the Government to look at Mackay's case, and to revoke his most oppressive sentence.

VII. There is another matter at present before the House of Commons which needs careful watching. There is a Bill entitled " 'Promissory Oaths Bill," which proposes to deal with no fewer than 103 Acts of Parliament relating to oaths, one-half of which have reference less or more to the bulwarks which were erected from time to time by our forefathers to protect the Protestantism of the throne and the constitution. We trust our legislators will narrowly examine this Bill in order to see that no Act of Parliament is repealed by which any of the few safeguards which still remain shall be taken away.

THE SOLICITOR-GENERAL AND POPERY.

HE following curious interlude took place in the examination of the claimant in the Tichbourne case:

THE

"Can't you say whether you went to a clergyman time after time to complain of your mother's conduct? I consider it shameful conduct of the clergyman to tell you of it.

"Was anything done in consequence of the complaint? I believe I got out of them. You seem to be very intelligent because your brother

is a Jesuit.

"The Solicitor-General-I can answer for my sins, but not for his. I wish it to be understood, however, that I have the highest regard and veneration for my brother.

"The Lord Chief-Justice-If the witness persists in saying these things the jury will judge of them. It will not help him though he apologises for them afterwards. I had not the least notice of what he said till I heard it from the shorthand writer.

"Mr Sergeant Ballantine-I shall protect the witness as far as regards my professional duty, but I entirely disapprove of such an expression, and if any apology from me can be of any use to my learned friend, I shall be glad to make it.

"The Solicitor-General-Don't let any one suppose I consider it an insult, though it was meant as such."

ROMISH LIBERTY.

HE unreasoning arrogance of the Roman claims, and the absolute identity of all the terms in the Romish syllogism of doctrine, have rarely been put in so few and pointed words, or in so innocent a way, as in the subjoined statement of the New York Tablet, professedly disclosing the secret of unanimity concerning the temporal power :

"There is no difference of opinion among Catholics on this subject, for we do not allow any difference on such questions. The decrees of the Church forbid it. Whoever maintains contrary opinions cannot be a Catholic. This may be arbitrary, and is so. Truth is arbitrary, and this is truth. No Catholic can maintain an opinion opposed to the temporal power of the Pope."

ROMANISM AND THE PARLIAMENT.

To a git and liberties of the country, nothing can be

O a careful observer of passing events, and one who takes the least

more painful than to observe both parties in the State pandering to the progress of the Romish system in our land. This is being done in such a variety of ways, and the demands of what our ancestors called the "Romish horse-leech" are becoming so incessant and insatiable, that if an arrest is not speedily laid on the present system of unlimited concession, the constitution of the country will be entirely undermined. Take a few illustrations of this.

Mr Charley lately called the attention of the House of Commons to the extent to which Romish lotteries are being winked at by the public authorities in Ireland, whilst they have been sternly put down in Scotland and nearly extinguished in England. The history of this matter is instructive. Popery has always been a great patron of gambling for professedly religious purposes; and the revenue of the Pope himself is to some considerable extent made up from this source. Formerly the British Government also derived some portion of its revenues from lotteries. The effect of these lotteries, however, was found to be so demoralising to the general community that the system was abolished. Lotteries were specially sanctioned still in the case of art unions, although Sir Robert Peel objected to this exception to an important rule. A committee of the House of Commons, so lately as 1866, whilst not recommending the complete abolition of this exception, stated in their report that "the tendency of art unions has been to foster the love of chance and speculation rather than to encourage high art. While the influence of art unions in improving the public taste appears to have been very slight, the moral effects of some of them have been proved by the concurrent testimony of many witnesses to be very bad." Take one other link in the chain of facts. In 1845 "private prosecutions" against the conductors of lotteries were abolished, and the matter was left entirely in the hands of the responsible advisers and law officers of the Crown.

Now, one would have supposed that what the State itself had repudiated as an immoral and corrupting means of raising the public revenue, would not have been tolerated on the part of any private individuals. But here comes out the favouritism manifested towards the Church of Rome. She has no scruple in raising money by means of lotteries, for her favourite maxim is that "the end sanctifies the means." Accordingly she began some time ago in Scotland and England to carry on a system of lotteries with great energy and success. In Scotland she is understood to have bought a considerable estate with the proceeds of one lottery, and it is believed that she has secured in the same way large sums in England. The public attention, however, from various. quarters, but chiefly, as the Home Secretary admits in the late discussion, by the Scottish Reformation Society, was strongly turned towards the evil in Great Britain, and the result has been that lotteries have been almost entirely put down there. But now comes Ireland, the

petted child of the empire and the great hotbed of Romanism; and here the Government not only hesitates to act, but directly defends the Popish lotteries, as if the people of that unhappy country, in addition to VOL. XXI. NO. CCXLII.-AUGUST 1871.

B