Page images
PDF
EPUB

We give a brief account elsewhere of some of these dangerous measures of Romish aggression, which are being quietly and successfully urged through Parliament, whilst Protestants and their members, with a few noble and honourable exceptions, are asleep.

CONVENTS AND MONASTERIES.-The conventual and monastic question has got into a rather unfortunate position, and we cannot help thinking that Protestants are being somewhat jockeyed by their astute opponents in this matter. In the present state of political parties and political feeling in the House of Commons, little, we fear, is to be gained by mere committees or professed investigations. So far from this, very much is likely to be lost. This will probably now be the result of the Convents Committee, for which the Protestant members of Parliament so nobly fought, but which was first adroitly limited in its scope by Mr Gladstone, and from which afterwards the decided Protestants thought it their duty to retire. There is nothing for it now but to return to a bold appeal to the people, in favour of a periodical and searching inspection, by public authority, of all such Romish institutions, which are, in fact, secret prisons. This is what all the people understand, and an overwhelming majority will support. If such institutions are to be tolerated at all, either in the Roman or Anglican Church, there is enough of experience to prove that they are dangerous both to individuals, families, and the State, and that daylight should be sternly let in upon all their proceedings. Let Protestants, therefore, after their bold but unsuccessful attempt in another direction, revert to this demand as a minimum; and impartial men will admit that their position is perfectly fair, intelligible, and likely to lead to important results.

POPISH RIOTS IN AMERICA.-We hope the Americans are beginning to learn that they have a new enemy with which to struggle, of a very unscrupulous and formidable kind-a moral slavery even more degrading and dangerous than the physical slavery which they have recently subdued. We are glad to see the determination with which they are dealing with it. The idea that no one must speak or act in a free country without the consent of Romish priests—an idea to which our public authorities seem now prepared to yield-has not yet taken root in the free soil of America. We trust that the determined proceedings of our friends across the Atlantic in defence of civil and religious liberty, will not only secure their own rights, but arouse the Protestants of Britain from their indolent and shameful apathy.

THE

"BY THEIR FRUITS YE SHALL KNOW THEM."

HE Rev. Mr Bardsley, who has so successfully conducted Protestant classes for the London Protestant Educational Institute, appends to his report of the work of last session the following item, which will be gratifying to those who are interested in the great and important work of systematically educating the people in the principles of the Reformation. We would rejoice were many induced to aid in these much-needed efforts. Mr Bardsley says, "Could you mention the fact that one of the ladies who did not get a prize has written a story, suggested by our class,' Greenwich and its connection with the English Reformation,' which is about to be published as a volume by the Tract Society."

Another pleasing instance of "good fruit" was elicited at a recent

distribution of prizes in one of our provincial towns. A young clergyman on the platform was requested to move a vote of thanks. On rising to perform this duty, he took the opportunity of expressing himself very warmly in favour of Protestant classes for giving systematic instruction in regard to the vital principles of Protestantism. He then stated how much he owed to these classes, and that when prosecuting his studies in London a few years ago, he had attended one of the first of the classes of the Institute, and had gained a prize.

This testimony was the more valuable and gratifying because given voluntarily. If friends would only aid the Institute with means to establish such classes at the seats of our great English Universities, as well as over the whole kingdom, what great results might, by the blessing of God, be accomplished!

A

"BETTER THAN A PAINTED WINDOW."

N esteemed friend in Derby, who has taken a deep interest in the movement for the establishment of Protestant educational classes in England has favoured us with the following decision of the subscribers to the "Gell Memorial," in connection with the town and county of Derby. Our readers will heartily agree with this friend that prizes to Bible classes are indeed "Better than a painted window":"DERBY BIBLE PRIZES THE GELL MEMORIAL.

"At the General Meeting of subscribers, January 6, 1871, it was decided that the money subscribed (£380 15s. 6d.)* should constitute a 'Gell Trust' for encouraging the study of the Holy Scriptures in the town and county of Derby.

"Five trustees were appointed. The Vicars of St John's and of All Saints (Derby), and the Head Master of Trent College, ex officio, and two laymen of Derby, Rowland Smith, Esq., M.P., and W. Ogle, Esq., M.D., were selected.

"The trust-deed is to be drawn so as to permit the acceptance by the trustees of additional Bible prizes,' with distinctive names, under the same administration. The examinations will be conducted in accordance with the doctrines and principles of the Church of England as now by law established, although all persons, without distinction of religious belief, will be permitted to compete for the said 'prizes.'

"Communications may be addressed to any of the trustees. JAMES CHANCELLOR.

THE

WILLIAM OGLE, Hon. Sec."

A SOLDIER'S EXPERIENCE OF POPERY.

:

HE following is an extract from a letter by a Scotch soldier:"If the thousands of people at home, professing the Reformed religion as we have it, could only travel and witness the services and displays, calling themselves religion, which are so systematically kept alive by the priesthood of poor popish lands, to the utter exclusion of Gospel truth, and consequent mental submission to the darkness of superstition, it would make even the most illiterate recoil with horror, and bless the liberty of the land which they enjoy, and which so conspicuously stands out as the bulwark of enlightened freedom."

The Gell Fund is still open.

THE IMPORTANCE OF LONDON AS A CENTRE OF
PROTESTANT EFFORT
(Continued from Page 50.)

CHAPTER IV. THE INFLUENCE OF ROME IN LONDON.

LONDON is probably the abode of about 130,000 Romanists of all classes of society, from the peer to the beggar. Thirty-three of this number are peers sitting in the House of Lords; thirty-three are members of the House of Commons; about 200 are secular priests; probably 150 are Jesuits. There are six Romanist baronets living in and around London, and numerous barristers and gentlemen of other professions, but there is reason to believe that the greater number are Irish. These 130,000 individuals, forming, as they do, a large proportion of the population of the metropolis, actuated by principles in almost every respect identical, yet diverse in their modes of operation, cannot fail to exercise a great influence over the state of the metropolis, in which is bound up the national interests. The increasing power of the priests has been noticed, and although that power is not so complete as the theory of the Roman Church would have it, yet every year it advances towards that Elysium which has been lately so ably presented to the British people by Garibaldi in his work, "The Rule of the Monk." This means that England, but particularly that part of the English population consisting of the London Romanists, is being every year more thoroughly subjected to the hierarchy of the Roman Church, whose every mission is guided by the Pope and his counsellors, the College of Cardinals at Rome. The effect of this state of affairs is, that the Romanists of England, being subject, pledged, and bound to a foreign spiritual and temporal prince, whose interests are in their nature essentially opposed to those of the British constitution, are employed to undermine and overturn the constitution, religion, and principles of the realm, and this particularly in the capital.

The greatest sphere for such proceedings presents itself in the highest department of the constitution-the Parliament. The influence through the Romanist Lords has been already noticed; that through the Commons next presents itself. It is to be borne in mind that there are probably 150 Jesuits who are adding their agency to that of the secular clergy in advancing the interests of Rome. Such may be exercised with reference to elections in removing those of the Romanists over whom they possess the more absolute control, viz., the poorer classes who live in the metropolis, to some of the Parliamentary boroughs, where their influence, because centralised, will be more powerfully exerted. This is not an extraordinary case, but is in perfect harmony with the actions of the Jesuits in past times. Should the influence of the Romanist body not be great enough to secure the return of one of their own Church, their support can be promised to those members who will promise to uphold their interests in Parliament. There can be little doubt that this course is pursued with considerable success by the Papists, and it is also of a piece with the former tactics of the Jesuits. Such members of Parliament, as will be seen in the next chap ter, would be the tools of the Jesuits, bound to promote Rome's interests, as they hold office at her hand.

The services of the Jesuits and secular clergy are supplemented by those of the ambassadors from the Romish countries of Europe who reside in the metropolis, and may themselves be Jesuits for aught that the English VOL. XXI. NO. CCXLIII.-SEPTEMBER 1871.

C

people know to the contrary. The influence which these when combined may exercise, it is of the highest importance should be understood and guarded against. Nor can it be better illustrated than by noticing the measures of the Jesuits for the overthrow of the Reformation in Poland. In the Appendix to the Report of the Rev. Abnish Brown's speech at the meeting of the clergy of the Archdeaconry of Northampton, the following facts are given, with a reference to Krasinski's "Poland" :-They (the Jesuits), plotted to have the national elections at cities where there were more Romanists than Protestants. They strove, and successfully, to make Stephan Battony a Romanist by holding out to him the prospect of the Romish votes before the news of his election to the throne by the Protestant party reached him. They raised lawsuits about the titles held by Protestants; forbade to the Romanists friendly intercourse with the Protestants; claimed the incomes given by law to the Protestant clergy; publicly protested against the decisions of the courts of law, and evaded compliance with them; got their tools into committees on ecclesiastical matters; persuaded the king to erect colleges and schools by his own charter, the laws of the constitution notwithstanding, and outbraved the punishments; stimulated mobs to destroy and pillage the Protestant churches. They especially assailed Protestant burial-grounds and processions; procured endowments for their colleges; "got hold of all education;" the Roman Catholic petty tribunals promulgated, and acted upon, orders of their own. "In fine, the wily Jesuits pervaded every corner of the kingdom, and had the care of the Government in all its departments." Although the Protestant rights were not repealed, yet “all availed not, for the Executive was openly or secretly in the hands of the Jesuits."

Such are almost precisely the measures adopted in Britain for overthrowing the Reformation and its fruits. In London they are specially exemplified. Rome has fixed upon London in order to secure her twentyfive members of Parliament. The bishops claim the territorial titles of the English Church. Not only have they publicly protested against the decisions of the Courts of Law, but have termed the decrees of the Parliament "lies," and refused obedience to them, and outbraved, not the punishments, for none have been administered, but the consequences in the offended feelings of a few earnest Protestants. They have their tools in the committees for ecclesiastical matters, as their numerous salaried chaplaincies fully attest. They have procured the erection of a college, which was endowed by the Government, and they have schools endowed by Act of Parliament; and they do most especially incite to assaults on Protestant meetings and processions. Instance the assault on Mr Murphy not long ago. This is her means of intimidating; and her agents in positions of civil authority are always willing to respond to the challenge by imprisoning such Protestant lecturers, lest they should raise a disturbance of the peace* Although there is no evidence amounting to legal certainty

"See Glimpse at the Great Secret Society." "Were these proceedings not in accordance with the doings of the Jesuits in former times, yet they might justly be held responsible for the state of affairs, as by the brief of 1850, justly described as the act of Papal aggression upon England, the whole authority of the Papacy, as regards the Church of Rome in this country, was delegated permanently to the propaganda, which is merely a department of the order of the Jesuits."

that the Jesuits have the care of, or even place in, the Government, yet many there are who have little doubt on this head. One thing, however, is publicly known that Mr Monsell and Sir Colman O'Loghlen, who are both Papists, are members of the present Ministry. And do not the actors in all these parts exercise any influence towards the overthrow of the Reformation? It may be replied: The Reformation was overthrown in Poland by the Jesuits. The same machinations are seen in the metropolis, and will, unless the Almighty be merciful to our nation, be followed by the same effects as they were on the Continent. Add to all this the experience of the Jesuits and ambassadors, as to how the Canon Law may be introduced into the country; as to where the weak parts in the English Law are, and how the Canon Law may be insinuated through these, and the frequently occurring opportunities possessed by the Romish ambassadors, who, during their residence in the metropolis, are in constant communication with the dignitaries of their Church, of influencing the Government for the promotion of Rome's interests; and the almost countless ramifications of such policy seem to baffle detection, whilst its progress seems to defy arrest.

The influence of the Romanists in the municipal corporations of the metropolis is also very extensive. Possessing, as they do, full right to a participation in the government of the city, their influence in the Court of Aldermen is as proportionately great as that of the Protestants. This is evinced by the numerous salaried chaplaincies in our prisons. At the Poor-Law Board their influence is also great. This Board, whose powers extend over such an important province, consists of two members-the President and the Secretary. The Secretary is at present a Papist, and the interests of Rome are certainly not neglected.

The

The social influences which Rome exercises are multifarious. Roman Archbishop heads the force. Time was when the then Archbishop of Westminster, Dr Wiseman, asserted that the Romish body had little or no social standing, and when their opinions in political or social matters were of little or no weight. Now, however, the principles of the Romish party are tenderly cared for, and the Metropolitan is considered by many a person of position and influence. He gives evening parties, to which any one who is accompanied by a priest is made welcome. Such seems to many who know nothing of the Roman Church or system a highly desirable state of affairs. Should a young man go to such an entertainment, there can be little doubt that his fate is sealed. There is reason to believe that Dr Manning's social influence is very great. If report may be credited, his powers of perverting people are very considerable. But be that as it may,-when the spirit and character of his sermons, lectures, and essays, which have been presented through the press to the metropolitan public-when all these are considered, there is reason to believe that he exercises a social influence very powerful indeed in the province over which he immediately presides.

Add to this the social influence of the Jesuits and secular priests. The former, although "they have been expelled nearly forty times from different nations of the world, Romish as well as Protestant, because the stability of thrones and the freedom of nations are found incompatible with their stay; and although, in 1829, the Parliament passed a law which necessitated, if complied with, the gradual decrease of the order within this country, the Jesuits have an establishment called the Jesuit

« PreviousContinue »