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her Church does not recognize their heretical marriage, and that if he wishes to consider her his wife and his (expected) offspring legitimate, they must be married again by a Catholic priest. The disconsolate widower, it is conjectured, will follow her advice and example.--Western Times.-Roman Catholics in Lancashire.-Something like rebellion against the Pope and his representative Bishop Brown, V.A., appears to have broken out among certain Roman Catholics in Lancashire. At a recent Meeting in Clitheroe, which is alleged to have consisted of five hundred persons, great complaint was made of the Leighhouse Roman Catholic Chapel being closed by the bishop. The following is a noticeable part of the complaint against that Right Rev. functionary :"That having in his apparent determination to wrest from the old Catholic families and lay patrons the management of the temporalities of chapels, reduced this congregation to a lamentable and scandalous condition, in which their dead are deprived of not a part, but of all the masses for which they bargained with money, and the living, of every religious advantage. Bishop Brown persists in acting as if he were judge in his own cause, and treats with contempt all overtures and measures likely to lead to a fair adjustment; more especially by having refused to allow the Benedictine superior to have the chapel."-Morning Post. [Our contemporary does not seem at all inclined to sympathize with these petitioners in their rebellion against authority. But surely nothing can be worse than to rob the dead, especially when, by the robbery, souls may be kept in purgatory for an indefinite term.]-Britannia.

IRELAND.-Maynooth not yet satisfied. The sum of 30,000l. allocated for the repairs and extension of the college buildings at Maynooth, being far below the amount required according to the plans and estimates of the architect, Mr. Pugin, the Board applied for a suitable increase of the grant for the purpose. We understand that a reply has been received peremptorily refusing any increase whatAchill. During the last month we were visited at this settie

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ment by a Roman Catholic priest, who meditates the abandonment of Popery. He stated, that for six years he has never ascended the altar with a quiet conscience, having more than doubted the truth of transubstantiation. We believe that there are hundreds of priests in the same state of mind in the Church of Rome at this moment. According to the doctrines of that Church, a priest in this state is incapable of working the miracle transubstantiation, as the intention of the officiating priest is necessary to its performance; and, therefore, those persons who attend their mass are, on their own principle, giving the worship which is due to God, to a bit of flour and water.-Achill Herald. —Popery and Potato Rot.-We learn that the Romish priests in the Isles of Arran are turning the potato rot to the usual pecuniary account, as well as to the advancement of their superstitious mummeries. It seems that in order to stay the plague, a mass,which costs double the ordinary price, and is called "The Holy Ghost Mass," is performed throughout the villages. It is really disgusting to be obliged to record such blasphemies; yet these are Maynooth priests who thus act, and it is to propagate more Maynooth priests that PEEL has endowed their manufactory.-Dublin Warder. -Bible burning in Ireland.-The Armagh Guardian mentions that in that city, on the 30th Nov. a Roman Catholic held a sword over the head of his wife (a Protestant), and compelled her to kneel down and blow the fire till her Bible and Prayer-book were consumed. Assault of Papists on a Bible Society Agent.-On Saturday, Dec. 13, when a man named Timothy Crawley, agent to the Hibernian Bible Society, was returning from Roscrea to his residence in this town, he was attacked at Oxmantown Bridge, within a few yards of the Roman Catholic Chapel, by three ruffians, two of whom seized hold of him, while the third, with a knife cut the straps of two cases containing Bibles and religious books, that were around his body, and threw all into the river. The fellows then cut Crawley's hat, and rifled his pockets of twenty-five shillings and his account book. When going away they told

him he got that for being a jumper. Crawley was formerly a Roman Catholic, but now belongs to the Presbyterian Church. The police succeeded in finding several Bibles in the river. A man named Edwards has been arrested and fully committed.-King's County Chronicle.

COLONIAL.-South Australia.It is stated that a magnificent Popish cathedral is about to be built at Adelaide.

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FOREIGN.-The Romish Population of Switzerland. The population of Switzerland at present amounts to 2,362,200 souls, of whom 936,000 are Papists, 1,433,000 Protestants, and 2,600 Jews. The population is distributed amongst the different cantons as follows, viz.:-Zurich has 1,100 Papists; Appenzell-Rhodes, exterior, 115; at Schauffhausen there are estimated 185 Papists, and rather more than 33,060 Protestant inhabitants; Basle-Ville there are 450 against 25,700 Protestants. In the Canton of Vaud there are 3,100 Papists out of a population of 200,000 souls; at Neufchâtel, 2,000 out of 63,000 inhabitants; at Glaris the number is 4,300 out of 31,600 souls; at Basle-Campagne, 6,300 out of 44,300 inhabitants. The Papists are more numerous at Geneva, where they are estimated at 19,700 out of a total population of 63,300 souls; Thurgovia includes 19,800 Papists, and 71,000 Protestants; Berne, 52,700 Papists, and 388,000 Protestants; Argovia, 85,000 Papists, and 109,800 Protestants. In all the other cantons the Popish population is in the majority. Whilst there is no longer any canton in which there are not domiciled some few Catholics, however insignificant in number, Uri, Schwyz, Unterwalden, Zug, Appenzell-Rhodes, interior, have no Protestant inhabitants whatever. The Valais has only about 90; Tessini, 210; Lucerne, 520 (against 133,000 Papists); Fribourg, 6000; Soleure, 6,100; and St. Gall, 65,800, and 106,000 Papists."-Times, Dec. 17.—Trent. "L'Univers announces that the city of Trent was preparing to celebrate, with great pomp, the third centenary of the assembling of the Council of Trent in the beginning of 1846. A Special Committee, charged

with regulating the ceremonial of the commemoration, had been appointed, and the Patriarch of Venice, the Cardinal Archbishop of Salzburg, (who expatriated the Zillerthalers,) the Prince Bishop of Goritz, and a number of German prelates had already promised to attend. The Pope, on his side, had granted a jubilee of six months on the occasion; the Bishop of Trent had caused the colossal crucifix, before which the Fathers of the Council signed the Acts, and the chapel of that Cathedral, in which it is deposited, to be magnificently decorated; and the inhabitants had erected, to the east of the Church of St. Mary Major, where the Council assembled, a monumental column, surmounted with the statue of the Mother of God, "ever victorious over all heresies." The first stone was laid on the 26th of October, and the monument inaugurated on the 13th of December. -Popish Mummeries and Delusion.-Night processions, as well as many other long discontinued usages, have been raked up from the chest of ages to dazzle the eyes of the faithful in the nineteenth century at Treves, the scene of the holy coat exhibition. They were commenced on the 18th of August last, and continued every Friday until the 6th of October. Not less than 4,000 persons, each carrying either a taper, a lantern, or a torch, and accompanied by a number of whiterobed maidens, bearing splendid banners of various sizes and devices, passed at half-past nine o'clock of that evening across the city market to the Bishop's Court. There a hymn was sung, and Bishop Arnoldi appeared on the balcony and dispensed his blessing to the people; a proof that these religious demonstrations, even supposing them not to have originated with the higher clergy, are at least secretly approved and encouraged by them. Nor are such fooleries confined to the south. M. de Olzewsky, a cavalry officer, now seventy-four years old, is at present engaged in making the pilgrimage to Rome on foot, in order to fulfil a pious vow.- -Statistics of the Jesuits.-The Frankfort Post Ampt Zeitung" and the "Rhenish Beobachter gave recently a statement,

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founded on authentic records, respecting the present extent of the so-lately avowed restored Jesuit Order follows:-There are at this moment in Italy 150 houses of the Order of the Jesuits, containing nearly 4,000 persons; of whom 1,800 are priests. In France there are 56, containing 872 Jesuits; of whom 362 are priests. In Germany there are 88, of which 14 are situate in Bavaria, 21 in Austria, 3 in Wurtemberg, 7 in Baden, 2 in the two Hesses, 2 in Nassau, 5 in the province of Rhenish Prussia, 3 in Westphalia, 6 in Silesia, 3 in Saxony, 1 in Anhalt Köthen, and 5 in Hanover and the Free Cities. In the Grand Duchy of Posen there are 7, in East and West Prussia 5, in Pomerania 2, in Brandenburgh, 2, in Saxony 1. The total number of the Jesuits living in these houses is 1,000; of whom 400 are priests. In Spain there are 87 houses, containing 536 Jesuits; of whom 220 are priests; and in Portugal 8, containing 160 Jesuits; of whom 75 are priests.-The Jesuits at Malta.-A convent of Jesuits has recently been inaugurated at Civita Vecchia, in the island of Malta. On the occasion the Rev. Father Esmonde pronounced a discourse in Italian, in the course of which he thanked Queen Victoria for the great favour she had conferred on his Order, in suffering them to establish themselves at Malta. He added, that the Jesuits would evidence their gratitude to the Queen by labouring to promote the happiness of the isle, especially through the channal of education.. Syria.-M. Hiliani, Popish Archbishop of Damascus, arrived at Havre on the 28th ult., to solicit pecuniary assistance on behalf of the churches and faithful of his diocese. The Univers" publishes the first five lists of subscriptions, amounting to 7,140f. -Alexandria. - The English Protestant church is progressing very fast, but the works are likely soon to be stopped for want of funds. The amount

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already subscribed, including the 5001. given by Her Majesty's Government, will fall far short of the architect's estimate. Considering the great number of English Protestants who now pass through Egypt, a place of worship is essentially necessary, and it is hoped that those connected with India and the overland route will come forward liberally in aid of so desirable an object. Morning Paper. Dr. Wiseman and the French Bishops. -It is stated in "L'Univers," that Dr. Wiseman, Popish bishop in England, in the month of October last visited Paris, and that the principal object of his journey was to address a letter to the French bishops, in which, after alluding to the Protestant darkness which has long enveloped England, he says, "the Omnipotent has caused a ray of hope to shine upon us which dissipates the darkness of the future." He makes allusion to the recent perversions, and speaks of "old prejudices dying away," and " more affectionate sentiments expressed towards them" (Papists). These results he attributes to a spontaneous impulse of grace, and a providential succession of circumstances." He then alludes to the recent prayers in France for "the conversion of England," and expresses his hope to obtain from the bishops a public demand of prayers on the part of your priests, your religious communities, and the whole body of your faithful; and if, above all, we can obtain from each of the priests of your diocese an oblation of the adorable sacrifice in favour of our unhappy country." Several of the bishops have, in consequence, recommended throughout their dioceses, prayers for the conversion of England.

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JERUSALEM. We regret to record the melancholy intelligence that the Lord Bishop of Jerusalem departed this life, a short distance from Cairo, on his way to England, on the 26th of November.

LONDON:

PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE PROTESTANT ASSOCIATION, AT F. BAISLER'S PROTESTANT DEPOSITORY, 124, OXFORD-STREET; AT il, EXETER HALL; SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, & CO.; AND R. GROOMBRIDGE. Seven Shillings per Hundred, for Distribution.

Macintosh, Printer, Great New Street, London.

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"If they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."-Isaiah viii. 20.

No. 71.

FEBRUARY, 1846.

VOL. VII.

and her national greatness and use

SPEECH OF THE REV. HUGH fulness.
M'NEILE,

AT A RECENT MEETING OF THE LI-
VERPOOL PROTESTANT OPERATIVE
ASSOCIATION.

WE invite the attention of our
readers to the following con-
densed report of the wise, prac-
tical, and spirit-stirring speech of
the Rev. Hugh M'Neile, at a
recent Meeting in Liverpool :-

The Rev. Mr. CONNOR having offered a most impressive prayer,

The CHAIRMAN addressed the Meeting as follows:

Friends and fellow-labourers, I have much pleasure in presiding once more at your Annual Meeting, and giving you any encouragement in my power to persevere in your Christian exertions. The objects of your exertions are threefold.

1st. To keep and extend among the working-classes the true spirit of the Reformation, to which England is mainly indebted, under the Divine blessing, for her national character,

Secondly. By spiritual arguments and in a Christian spirit to convince those members of the Church of Rome with whom you may have communication, of the dangerous errors which they are taught to venerate as religious truths.

Thirdly. To resist, by every lawful effort, the national encroachment of Romanism as a system, opposed as it is to the best interests of civil liberty, as well as to the fundamental doctrines of true religion. These are your three objects. They are objects well worthy of a Christian and a patriot. In the first of them you have been eminently successful. For, whatever may be the state of things amongst other classes of the community, whatever defection there may be in some of our colleges, extending its poisonous influence into some of our pulpits, and into the families of some of our aristocracy and gentry, I do believe that at no period since the noble army of our British martyrs sealed their testimony with their blood, were the working classes of England more completely,

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more intelligently, and more resolutely opposed to Romanism, than they are at this day. (Loud cheers.) Their intelligence and determination on this point are such, that considering their numbers and the influence they now possess in the state, and, backed not by the hundreds in this room only, but by many thousands in all the large towns of the kingdom, I would send it as a message from this platform to all whom it may concern, candidates for Parliament, or candidates for Cabinets, that no Government under the

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can impose Romanism upon England. (Immense cheers.) Many. Romanizing steps have been taken, but they have not yet reached the point of imposing Romanism upon you. When the spring is squeezed tight enough for that, the recoil will astonish him that is at the top! And, as for our Church, -our beloved Church, whatever may be said against her at home or abroad, she has not her equal upon earth (cheers) for comprehension, combination, order, and activity, dignity and zeal, animated fervour and chastened gentleness, solidity of truth without any childish or frivolous fables, and elegance of diction without rudeness or vulgarity, as for our Church, whatever annoyance may be felt for a time, or may be occasioned by certain young gentlemen of architectural tastes or accomplishments, whatever pain may be experienced because of the defection from our pale of certain brethren whom we loved, and from whom we expected better things; still, I believe that all the Jesuits in England,-and they are not a few at present,-cannot succeed in Romanizing the Established Church. (Enthusiastic cheers.) would, however, take the liberty of adding, with all due respect to the Most Rev. and the Right Rev. Prelates of our Church, that if in trying times like these, they leave the defences of our Zion in the hands of the Protestant operatives, they are not adopting the course likely to secure in the sequel that well-balanced order, and that dignified moderation which we all prefer, though we might not be able to maintain it. If, through the difficulty or impossibility of agreeing among themselves, they refrain from

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"setting their house in order," and from removing disorderly servants, by whom is the house to be set in order? Peaceably, it seems impossible; and a different description of sweeping is what none of us would advocate. We are earnestly desirous therefore to see the right exercise of authority in the Church of God. Authority belongs to her officers, submission to her children; and I believe the officers of our Church do not calculate, as they might, upon the dutiful submission of her children, if their authority were exercised as based upon the Word of God.

With regard to your second object, I think the less that is said in public about your proceedings upon that point the better; but I would earnestly entreat you to practise kindness and gentleness in all your conversational controversies. I would entreat you, my friends, to beware of any hasty expressions of temper. Remember, in all your controversies with Romanists upon subjects of deep and vital importance, that the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God." Remember, that speaking face to face with them, they may mistake your honest indignation against their system for personal anger or ill-feeling against themselves. And therefore you should restrain your expressions even of honest indignation against their system in the hope of winning a fair hearing from them to what you have to say for your own. Example is a more powerful teacher than the best of precepts, and " a soft answer turneth away wrath.' I know and am willing to admit to you how difficult it is to be calm when the heart is engaged, when zeal inflames the tongue; but it is the prerogative of the real Christian, in whom the Spirit of God dwells, to combine discretion and selfrestraint with zeal. I speak to you then, as to persons engaged from day to day in controversy, amicably, with Roman Catholics, and I entreat you to have respect to their feelings, though you cannot respect the falsehoods they have been educated in; have respect to their feelings and use language which shall convey your own sentiments without wounding their feelings or causing you the loss of their attention. In the third branch of your

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