DERBY AND DERBYSHIRE PROTESTANT ASSOCIATION. 77 the imperious and unjust commands; and especially their denouncing from the altar persons who left the Romish Church, calling upon their friends and relatives to forsake them, and their neighbours not to deal with them.] These things (he continued) proved, unequivocally, that Church of Rome was unchanged in every respect, and that the dearest ties were rent asunder if only the temporal and spiritual power of that Church could be increased, or even maintained. The general preaching of the priests in Ireland, he knew, was, to a large extent, confined to working up the bad passions of human nature-attacking and holding up to public odium those landlords who did not please them, and subserve their views and interests-and, in every possible manner, exciting the population. (Hear, hear.) The English public little knew, notwithstanding all that was said, the terrible state of things in Ireland produced by these causes. He (Mr. Foley) had for two years burned to testify against Rome before he did take that step, and dared not for fear of the personal consequences. He feared the Popish press-the malignity of those against whom he was about to bear witness- he feared for his life. He had known men specially marked out whose only offence-but this was the greatest in the eyes of the Church of Romewas, that they left her pale. Men who left that Church might not expire in the flames of martyrdom, but they forfeited the love of kindred, and the affection of friends in consequence; and many a man, in such circumstances, could hardly bear up against the monstrous tyranny which was immediately put in operation towards him. (Hear, hear.) If there was any class of men who deserved the sympathy of the Protestant public it was the converts from the Church of Rome. Mr. Foley concluded by strongly and eloquently impressing on Protestants the great responsibility which devolved upon them at the present moment, to come boldly forward and take their proper part in the coming struggle, and sat down much applauded, The Rev. THOMAS FELL seconded the Resolution. HENRY COX, Esq., moved, and T. P. BAINBRIGGE, Esq., seconded a vote of thanks to the Chairman. The doxology was then sung, and the Meeting separated. EVENING MEETING. There was a Meeting held in the Lecture Hall at seven o'clock in the evening, which was very numerously attended. Sir MATTHEW BLAKISTON presided, and commenced the business of the Meeting by calling upon the Rev. P. BROWNE, to offer up prayer. The Rev. E. LILLINGSTON, then, in a few remarks, moved the first Resolution; which was seconded by The Rev. D. FOLEY. He commenced his address by saying that he felt it a great privilege to be allowed to stand before them, to raise his voice against Popery. He stood there to defend the ancient religion of this country, and to oppose the new religion and to do so, he had had to make great sacrifices-in forfeiting the esteem of those whom he loved, including his own relatives. He did not appear there out of any want of charity to his Irish Roman Catholic brethren, but with a sincere desire for their spiritual welfare. The Rev. Gentleman then proceeded to urge on those present the necessity of bringing their children up in the true faith. In Ireland, the little children did some of the work of the Roman Catholic priests, and were employed by them to shout and throw stones at the people who were Protestants. After alluding to the spread of Romanism in this country and in Ireland, Mr. Foley went on to say, that it was not the duty of the clergy, but of the whole community, male and female, to assist in the good work now going on. There must be more sincerity in the Protestant people. (Loud cheers.) They would not find in Ireland a man who would do or say anything against his priest; men in false religions were always sincere, but, in true religion, they found a deal of insincerity amongst its members. (Cheers.) 78 DERBY AND DERBYSHIRE PROTESTANT ASSOCIATION. This There were, at the present time, there? After alluding to the covetthree thousand Roman Catholic ousness of the priests, and the means priests in Ireland, who were en- used to entrap the unwary, Mr. Foley deavouring all they could to prevent went on to say that heathenism was the circulation of the Word of God. not near so bad as the treachery of There were men in this country, too, the Church of Rome. The priests who were very little better; who of Ireland in 1847, tell us that the preached what was called Semi- Irish people are too ignorant to Romanism. (Cheers.) He was glad be taught the Word of God. Why to say that lately there had been then do they not teach them, ninety-six seceders from the Church instead of leaving it to the ima of Rome in Ireland; and in one dis- ges, the music, and the paintings to trict there had been 2,000 converts, do it? He would tell them an instance and in another 800. And what, he of the absurdity of the mass, and the would ask, was the cause of all this superstition of the Church of Rome. good? It was because of the uni- He was at a small fishing village on versal cry of the Protestants of the coast of Ireland. The poor fishIreland, "Down with it, down with ermen were desirous of having good it, even to the ground." (Loud luck in their next fishing excursion, cheers.) The Rev. Gentleman then so they sent for a Roman Catholic alluded to an important discussion bishop to come and celebrate mass in which he had held with his Roman the boats. The bishop came, but the Catholic brethren in Ireland, on question was, whose boat (there were transubstantiation; on which occa- about 400 joined together) should he sion, the subject was taken from first go into to perform a miracle. chapter of the First Epistle of Cor- caused such a dissension among them inthians. After explaining how the that they actually shed one another's discussion was carried on between blood to a great extent. Another them, he said he would take 100 case was that of a poor woman who poor Irish Scripture readers from the had been converted to the Protestant most ignorant part of Ireland, and faith; who, on dying, expressed a they should ascend any platform and wish to be laid by the side of her husargue the question with any bishop band, who was buried about 120 miles or priest between here and Rome. from where she died. Her wish was (Cheers.) He then dwelt on purga- carried into effect; and she was taken tory, which he said turned men from on the shoulders of six poor Protestant seeking the true fountain to a false men towards her native place. When and deluded hope. The Church of they arrived within thirty miles of Rome was thoroughly opposed to the the place, the priests and the Roman Holy Trinity. He would read them Catholic people got to hear of it, and an extract from a newspaper contain- annoyed the poor men very much ing the account of the death of Mr. until they arrived at the village. The O'Connell. It was written by his priest, however, refused to bury her physician. It stated that "Mr. by the side of her husband, or even O'Connell died at nine o'clock, and in the parish, and she was eventually was immediately in heaven." In interred on the sands of the sea-shore. another paragraph following, it said (Shame.) But here they were not that, after his death, "The Host was satisfied, for a mob congregated tobrought and placed in his room; the gether, and disinterred the body, priest put oil on his hands, and com- broke the coffin all to pieces, and menced chanting to the Virgin Mary. threw it into the sea, and was about Twenty-four masses were said over to serve the body the same, when a him, and masses on every altar in the party of the coast-guard service came country where he died, besides masses to the rescue, and it was at last rebeing offered up on every altar in interred in the sands, the mob being Ireland." Now (continued the Rev. kept at a distance by the point of the speaker) if Mr. O'Connell went into bayonet. (Cries of "Shame, shame.”) heaven at such a time, why all this [An Irishman here jumped up and pomp and parade and art to get him said it was all a lie, he came from NOTICES OF BOOKS. Clonmel, and there had been nothing of the sort since he had been alive. He was proceeding towards the platform, uttering abusive language, when he was stopped.] The Rev. Mr. Foley continued My friend is not likely to remember it in Clonmel, as it took place in Galway. (Cheers.) I can give him the name of the priest, and all the other parties concerned in it. (Cheers.) The Rev. Speaker, after narrating some other acts of the Irish priesthood, spoke of the awful nature of the confessional, particularly between man and wife, illustrating this by narrating a case which came under his own observation, where a poor woman, who was supposed to be dying, was persuaded by the priest not to see her husband, or have anything to do with him whatever, in consequence of his being a Protestant. The woman recovered, and is now a member of the true Church. Did this not show, then, the awful influence exercised by the priests of Rome? The Rev. Gentleman concluded an animated address, which took two hours in delivery, by declaring that the Church of Rome was a lying system, historically false, and that she spoke nothing but lies and hypocrisy. It was not in a spirit of hostility to his countrymen that he said it, but with a sincere desire for their spiritual welfare. (Loud cheers.) The Rev. H. STOWELL on rising to address the Meeting was received with loud cheers. JAMES LORD, Esq., followed in a brief but pointed speech, urging on those present the necessity and duty of returning Protestant Members to represent them. If they had Protestant Members they might then depend on Protestant measures being introduced. The other speakers were the Rev. R. CREWE, and the Rev. Mr. FELL. The Doxology was then sung, and the large Meeting broke up. MISCELLANEOUS. AN USEFUL HINT.-Pardon me, Sir, saying, that if you could find means to send a few numbers of your Magazine upon the continent, to places where there are regular English congregations, it might do much good. 79 Your Society and its publications are almost unknown. In France, in Switzerland, in Tuscany, in Germany, Malta, Gibraltar, &c., no opposition direct would be experienced. Work while it is called to-day, and the God of Battles be your might. CABINET. PRAYER AND EXERTION.-There are, those on the one hand, who have too much thought that prayer would supersede exertion; or on the other that effort would supply the place of prayer. But prayer and exertion should go together. Some one has observed, we should so pray as if all depended on prayer, and so labour as if it depended on exertion. TRIUMPH OF RELIGION. WHEN worldly comforts fleet away, Fast as the passing cloud; And all the dismal, dark array, Of woes unnumbered shroud The bosom that once filled with joy, Ne'er tasted sorrow's draught— Oh! will not such keen ills destroy The strongest, noblest heart? When friendship withers like the rose Plucked from its native bed; And cheering hope and soft repose Leave the wreck'd spirit dead! Oh! who could bear such potent grief, Or sink not 'neath its power, Did not religion yield relief, In that despairing hour? Did she not point her radiant hand, To heaven's tranquil sphereTell us of joys divinely grand, And ceaseless pleasures there. S. PHILLIPS DAY. Popery; its Character and its Crimes. By WILLIAM ELFE TAYLOR. With Fourteen Illustrations from MSS. and rare books. Pp. 348. London: Seeley and Co. POPERY seeks to attract by painting, poetry, and song; a far greater use might be made by Protestants of the engraver's skill than is usually the case, and many works descriptive of Popery would derive an additional attractiveness and usefulness from it. The above work is on other accounts calculated to do much good. INTELLIGENCE. LANCASTER.-A Protestant Lecture was given here on Monday evening, by James Lord, Esq., in the Music Hall. Simpson, Esq., of The Greaves, in the chair. On the platform were E. D. Salisbury, Esq., Rev. Bury, Rev. J. Dodson, Vicar of Cocherham, and several others. Proceedings having been commenced by prayer, the Chairman pointed out the importance of Protestants coming forward at this crisis to prevent any fresh concessions to Popery. Mr. Lord commenced by expressing the satisfaction he felt in perceiving the question had lost none of its interest since he was last amongst them. He believed it would be found generally to be the case, that when this question was taken up on principle it would have too strong a hold to be easily shaken off. ASHBOURNE. Two Meetings were held here on Tuesday morning and evening, the 15th June, on behalf of the Protestant Association. Sir Matthew Blakiston, Bart., presided on each occasion. The Meetings were addressed by Sir Digby Mackworth, Bart., Rev. Daniel Foley, Rev. Roseingrave Macklin, James Lord, Esq., Rev. J. C. Richards. The statements of the various speakers were listened to with much interest. READING.-A Meeting was held in the Town Hall, Reading, on Wednesday evening, the 23rd June; the Worshipful the Mayor in the chair; to form a Protestant Association for that borough. The Meeting was addressed by Revds. Trench, Goodhart, Dr. Cowan, and James Lord, Esq. ISLINGTON.-An address to Electors has recently been adopted by the Islington Protestant Institute, with a pledge for electors to take, promising not to vote in favour of those who will support Popery, or seek to impair the Protestant character of the constitution. WAKEFIELD.-Mr. Lord delivered a Lecture here to a crowded audience, Thursday, June 16. The Chief Constable took the chair at seven, and proceedings having been opened with prayer, Mr. Lord proceeded to bring forward facts as to the progress and nature of Popery. Very deep interest seemed to be taken in the proceedings. A vote of thanks having been moved and seconded the Meeting separated. We hope to see shortly an Association formed for Wakefield. MARYLEBONE.-A Protestant Committee has been formed with the view of securing the return of one or more sound Protestants at the approaching election. We hope they and all our friends will bear in mind that there is a great work to be done, and only a little time to do it in. CITY OF LONDON.-The requisition to Sir Robert Peel to stand for the City, does not appear to have succeeded. Efforts are being made to induce candidates to come forward on Protestant grounds, and electors to support them. A placard has been extensively posted, calling on them not to vote for any one who will support Popery. FINSBURY.-The voters of this borough have it in contemplation to secure, if possible, the return of two sound Protestants at the next election, in place of the present sitting Members. We wish heartily success to these and all similar movements, and trust that neither electors nor candidates will at this crisis neglect their duty. LONDON: PUBLISHED, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE PROTESTANT ASSOCIATION, Macintosh, Printer, Great New-street, London. "If they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."-Isaiah viii. 20. OR, FACTS FOR THE TIMES; THINGS TO THINK ON FOR ALL PEOPLE. BY SAMUEL PHILLIPS DAY, FORMERLY A RELIGIOUS OF THE ORDER OF THE PRESENTATION. (Continued from page 142.) I SHALL now allude to the league formed against Henry III. of France, which unhappily terminated in his assassination.* The Jesuits' College, at Paris, was the centre of this league, in which assassins were trained for the murder of the French emperors, and from whence they were sent (assuming various disguises, just as they may deem such necessary), in order to foment rebellion and disaffection among the subjects of the King. One of the most notorious of those miscreants was the Jesuit Sammier, who traversed Europe with the view of exciting hatred in the breasts of the Popish sovereigns against Henry, who was detested, solely for tolerating his Hugonot subjects within his dominion; and on which ground A work was written in justification of Henry's abdication, entitled, "De Justa Abdicatione Henrici Tertii." VOL. VIII. he was excommunicated by Pope Sixtus V., and subsequently assassinated by a monk named Jacques Clement (who was prepared for the act by a sort of consecration). After the perpetration of the horrid deed, solemn processions were made to the Church of the Jacobins, in thanksgiving for so signal a favour conferred on the Church; and the Pope (Sixtus which he declared this act of the V.) finally pronounced an oration, in monk "admirable and meritorious," observing that "he had attempted and completed a design, which he could never have done by human policy, but by the express ordinance and succour of God!" + The next deed of Popish persecution I shall mention is the murder of Henry IV. of France, successor to the former unhappy monarch. This emperor having apostatized from the 1693, and embraced the errors of Protestant faith on the 23d July, Romanism, it might be imagined that child of the Papacy. But no! His he, at least, would be the beloved change of principles availed him + Orat. Panegyric in Antichristo, I |