morals of which he has failed to mend. To resist Infallibility to him is the same as turning atheist; and whoever does not believe in Pio ranks with those who deny the existence of the higher powers, and is bringing perdition upon himself and his country. If I tell you that the Right Rev. Herr Ketteler is of those German bishops who combated Infallibility at the Council, you will be able to judge for yourself whether his latest production is more likely to benefit or injure the cause of his unerring master. But the most important event in this field is the lecture with which Dr Döllinger has just concluded his historical Collegium at Munich University. Altogether abandoning his former cautious stand-point, he aimed his last remarks, not against the individual acts of the present Pope, but against the Papacy as an institution. "The Papacy," he freely asserted, "is based upon an audacious falsification of Biblical history. A forgery in its very outset, it has during the long years of its existence exercised a pernicious influence upon Church and State alike." If this is the way he deals with the Pope, you can easily imagine how he lashes the Jesuits. "Their very breath," he exclaimed, "is more deadly than pestilence. To Germany especially they have proved a worse enemy than the Turk and the Hun. They plunged this country into the Thirty Years' War,' which destroyed two-thirds of its inhabitants, and left it weak and divided against itself for a couple of centuries. They involved the Hapsburgs in the suicidal policy which could not but end in their exclusion from Germany. They cheated Spain of her world-wide dominion, sacrificed Poland, and so utterly degraded the Gallican Church that the political humiliation of France became a mere question of time." To these censures was added the certain conviction that, freeing themselves from Pope and Loyola, the German Catholics would some day join their Protestant compatriots, and establish an undivided national Church extending from the borders of Russia to the confines of France. It will be easily understood that these lectures of the venerable professor have created a sensation. Independently, however, of the éclat attaching to what may be called the conversion of the distinguished veteran, his admissions have an eminently practical importance. One of the difficulties with which Old Catholicism has hitherto had to cope was the reserved attitude of its originator. As long as Döllinger only stood up against the latest commands of the Pope, he alienated the friends of religious reform as much by his extreme moderation, as he attracted them by the energy with which he exposed what he regarded as error. But now that he has taken up such a decided attitude and thrown the Pope overboard, one of the most palpable obstacles that stood in the way of Old Catholicism is removed, and a chance afforded of ulterior progress. To derive as much advantage as possible from this fortunate turn, the Old Catholic congregations will hold another Congress in the summer, which may be expected to use very different language about the Holy See from what we heard at Munich last year. This time the Congress will probably assemble at Cologne. If the deputies make it the aim of their debates to satisfy the religious yearnings of the people without attempting to pin them down to notions which few in this country really believe, the Congress may sow good seed, even though the harvest may be retarded by the fitful state of the atmosphere.

WH

NEW PAPAL MISSION TO AMERICA.

HEN the Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Lincoln, the attention of the Pope began to be turned to the negroes of the South; and at the grand Romish Council in Baltimore, it was resolved to make special efforts to secure this newly-liberated race for the Papal Church. Accordingly, under the direction of the Propaganda at Rome, a large number of young priests have been in process of training for this particular service. And now the first instalment of missionaries have come hither from England. "The delegation, comprising the Rev. C. Dowling, the Rev. J. Gore, and two others, was sent out from St Joseph's Missionary House, near London, by Archbishop Manning, under the special sanction of the Pope." The priests now sent are English, and it is said that the English Roman Catholics have been charged with this mission as a sort of reparation for the sin committed by Great Britain in originally forcing slavery upon her North American Colonies. The ceremonies attendant upon the departure of the first four from St Joseph's took place about the 1st of December, and are thus described by the Boston Journal :

"The students and visitors all assembled in the afternoon of a bright day, upon the 'Calvary' of the college grounds, and there, kneeling before the crucifix, they sang songs of praise and adoration. The archbishop then led the way to the chapel, where, attired in robes glittering with gold and silver, he delivered a glowing address, explaining the grandeur of the mission to the heathen of America.' Next came the administration of the 'Gospel vow,' after which the missioners, clad in black, with crimson sashes around their waists, were seated in front of the altar, and the venerable archbishop and all his accompanying priests kissed the feet of the newly ordained, and afterward tenderly embraced them on both cheeks. The four priests were sternly enjoined to labour only among the negroes, and to be turned aside from their purpose by no degree of persecution, by no obstacle, however great."

It is said that the Rev. Mr Dowling is to be chief director of the enterprise, and that a mission-house will be established somewhere in Maryland, as the base of their operations. Another delegation of eight is soon expected, to be followed by still larger numbers, as needed. Graduates of Romish theological seminaries in this country, will also be enlisted in the work. It is claimed that liberal provision has been made by the Church for the support of the mission, although it is expected to be largely self-sustaining.-Christian World.

-an

A MARTYR OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. SIR,-The following paragraph is from the Daily Telegraph of the 13th March :-" Mr William Murphy, the Anti-Papist lecturer,' whose addresses gave rise to serious riots in many parts of the country, died in Birmingham yesterday evening. Mr Murphy was seriously injured in the riots which took place on the occasion of his lectures in Whitehaven in April last, and to those injuries his death is attributed." Here is a startling example of the "persecuting spirit of Popery example that should rouse Protestants from their lethargy to set about at once demanding and defending their rights while they are yet within their reach. I hold that there was not in Mr Murphy's lectures anything of a necessarily inflammatory character. Neither was there anything which, if said of or against any other class of religionists than Papists, would have called forth or received anything but a verbal renunciation or refutation. But inasmuch as his statements with regard to Popery were correct and could not be refuted, her adherents had no ground for argument, nor so much as a foothold where they might stand to make a just defence.

The cause of Mr Murphy's death is to my mind a true example-a just illustration of the cowardly course always adopted by Popery.

Afraid to "come to the light lest her deeds should be made manifest," by every means within her reach she tries to exterminate everything that would produce or increase light. Her efforts have ever been to shut out the light and destroy its disseminators. Hence she has ever tried to exclude the Bible and everything that would lead to scriptural knowledge. She seeks to shut the mouths of those who utter the truth, who declaim against her sins, who would set at liberty those whom she has bound, and warn those whom she seeks to enslave. Thus, in obedience to her rules-in accordance to her usage-when Mr Murphy spoke forth the words of truth, her bloodhounds were set to follow on his heels until they had hunted him to death.

Mr Murphy is, in my opinion, as much a martyr in the cause of Protestantism as any of the noble band of martyrs of the sixteenth century. The cause of his death is not a matter to be lightly regarded, seeing that it affects the personal liberty and safety of every Protestant. Personal liberty? Yes, liberty of speech, because through fear of bodily harm one is not allowed to utter the truth, and to warn others of what they believe to be injurious to themselves, subversive of the State and eventually also of liberty of action, because one is restricted in movement and location, seeing that in some places his life would be in jeopardy. This being so, surely it is high time that our Legislature took cognisance of the fact that a British subject, in Britain, has met with his death through the violence of a ruthless Popish mob, who imperil the lives of their fellow-subjects who dare to think and speak contrary to the ideas which they entertain.-Yours truly, A SUBSCRIBER.

SCOTTISH REFORMATION SOCIETY.

HE annual meeting of this society was held at Edinburgh, March

the Institute,

Professor Balfour, and subsequently Colonel Davidson, in the chair. Among others present were-Colonel Young, the Rev. Drs. Begg, Smith, and Goold; the Rev. Messrs Scott-Moncrieff, M‘Ewan, Balfour, Thomson (Richmond Street Church), J. Smellie, Archibald Smellie, W. Tasker, and A. S. Muir (Leith); Mr Leckie, Mr A. E. Macknight, advocate, Rev. W. K. Mitchell, Dr Colquhoun, J. G. Greig, Esq., John Dick, Esq., Alexander Church, Esq., &c.

After the proceedings had been opened with devotional exercises, conducted by the Rev. W. Tasker,

The Rev. G. Divorty, secretary of the society, submitted the annual report, from which the following is taken :

----

"The past year has been signally fruitful in great events, as bearing on the history of the Romish Church. On the one hand, there is much to be thankful for; but not a little, on the other, to awaken the gravest apprehensions. The late Vatican Council and its results will always be memorable. It assembled on the 8th December 1869, the anniversary of the day on which the dogma of the Immaculate Conception was promulgated fifteen years before; and on the 18th July, 1870, the personal infallibility of the Pope was elevated into a dogma-an article of faith not only to be publicly professed by Romanists, but to be sincerely believed in their hearts. This culmination of blasphemy became the turning-point which ushered in a dark series of humiliating disasters. The very jubilee of triumph at Rome was the knell of

Rome's defeat and sorrow; France, the chief remaining support of Rome, immediately went to war with Germany; and the issue is matter of history. On the 20th September, 1870, the Italians took possession of Rome; and this prepared the way for the transference thither of the capital of the kingdom of Italy from Florence. The transference of the Italian capital to Rome, whatever may be its future issues, is a remarkable event. The Pope is no longer a temporal Sovereign. But this fact must not be misunderstood, as if warranting the conclusion that the powers of Antichrist are crushed and broken, and that henceforth it is a decrepit and harmless thing. Popery, though shorn of every shred of temporal power, is the same as ever. Though it has ceased for the present to stand out as a visible unit among the sovereignties of the earth, it can diffuse itself as a subtle and baneful influence, poisoning the very springs of life, alike in Churches and States, and permeating with blight and blasting every department of the social system. The spiritual independence of the Pope remains unimpaired by the change. Among other sources of trouble which have lately arisen to the Romish Church is a schism in Bavaria, headed by Dr Döllinger and his party. This is one of the direct results of the infallibility dogma. Döllinger deals with that dogma, not only as a theologian, but he raises a question of State policy; for he declares that the doctrine is irreconcilable with his duty to his sovereign and his country. The question is not a new one. It was discussed in England after the Reformation. A similar schism has more recently been reported from Paris. It is as yet on a smaller scale than that in Bavaria, but may lead to important results. There are indications that in other parts of the Continent rulers are beginning to see that the Popish system is verily a burdensome stone, that its whole spirit and tendency are antagonistic to civil and religious liberty, and utterly subversive of national prosperity and peace. In the midst of these stirring events, and while their lessons and warnings are ringing over the whole earth, it is something worse than humbling to contemplate the state of things in our own land. Scotland once knew the bitterness of Papal tyranny, but by God's help she threw off the yoke. With a great sum she obtained her freedom. But the history of the past is becoming vague and dim, the lessons of the past are ceasing to be operative, and the danger grows every year more imminent that this freedom, by being held too lightly, may again be lost. For many years the whole tendency of British legislation has been to encourage and strengthen the cause of Popery. The committee have employed every legitimate means for resisting hostile measures, and have endeavoured to circulate information regarding them to public bodies throughout the country, with a view to similar action being taken by them. These measures included-the Ecclesiastical Titles Repeal Act, Glebe Loan Amendment Bill, Charitable Donations and Bequests Bill, Prison Ministers Bill, Irish Poor Removal Bill, and Deathbed Bequest Law of Scotland. In 1829, when the Emancipation Act was passed, there were no monasteries in Britain; that Act prohibited the existence of such institutions. But in the face of that prohibition there are now 70 monasteries. They exist in defiance of law, and along with 233 convents, claim exemption from all inspection and control on the part of the civil authorities. They have been rapidly acquiring a vast amount of property, and the law has been evaded in creating a trust for its tenure. Some time ago a motion was carried in