sailed and afflicted. If the Church of England should be assailed and baited by Popery, then let the Dissenters of England come manfully forward to her assistance. If the Dissenting body of England cared for the value of the truth of God, which in his heart he believed they did, let them join the Church in wielding the sword of truth against the common enemy. Let them wage a holy war-a war which Almighty God would look upon and bless. But it would, very likely, be said by some, "Oh, there is time enough yet; we need not yet unite and come boldly forward; we may rest upon our arms for the present; we will have our ammunition ready, our arms in order against we want them!" This would not do. The enemy was at the very gates of the constitution. The Jesuits were abroad, and for aught known to the contrary, there might be one in the very midst of the Assembly to-night, who would send an account of their proceedings to the Pope of Rome himself! The soldiers of the Vatican were spread over every realm of Europe, and were actively at work. Was this, then, a time for true Protestants to be silent? Was this a time for them to be inactive, when cold, lukewarm, and false Protestants were pretending to support the truth one day, and the next endeavouring to pull it down; when Popery was obtaining in the Houses of Parliament, and the Legislature suffered the Premier to carry such an abominable Bill as the Maynooth Act? Was this false position of the Premier-this double dealing with the truth of Christ, to be tolerated? Were Englishmen and Protestants to stand coldly by, and see their constitution frittered away piece by piece without making an effort to retain it? True it was they were surrounded by dangers; but they had the Lord on their side, and therefore nothing to fear. They might use the language of David, and say, "I will fear no evil: Thy rod and thy staff

they comfort me." The Rev. speaker concluded by an impressive appeal to the matrons in the assembly around him, urging upon them the importance of training up their children in the religion of Jesus and the Bible, by which they would help to raise up a powerful host, who would become “mighty as an army with banners," to the overthrow of Popery, Idolatry, and Superstition throughout the world. The Rev. Chairman then called upon Mr. E. Webster, the Secretary, to read the Report for the past year. The Report stated that since their last Annual Meeting sixty-seven new members had joined the Society; donations to the amount of 29. 10s. had been received, which had enabled the Committee to add 150 volumes of books to the library. The reading-room is open every Thursday evening, from eight till ten, and the table supplied with a number of newspapers and periodicals of a standard character. Lectures had been delivered to the Society during the past year, by the Rev. W. Currie, of Liverpool; Rev. J. Moran, Burton-onTrent; Rev. G. Harvey, of Winster; Rev. T. P. Blakeney, of Nottingham; Rev. J. Bull, of Birmingham; Rev. R. Macklin; and the Venerable the Archdeacon of Derby. The Report stated that the lectures had been followed by the most beneficial results. The Meeting was afterwards addressed by Dr. Bernays; Mr. Sowter, of Castle Donington; Mr. Hammond, of the Commercial School, Derby; the Rev. W. Cobb; the Rev. J. G. Howard; and the Rev. J. Moran. The Rev. T.P. Blakeney, and several other clergymen and friends who were expected to be present, were absent, from illness and other causes. Votes of thanks were given to Mr. Webster, the Secretary of the Society, for his exertions in its behalf; and to the Rev. R. Macklin, for his kindness in taking the chair. About ten o'clock the National Anthem was sung, and the Meeting shortly afterwards separated.

DUBLIN PROTESTANT ASSOCIATION AND REFORMATION SOCIETY.

THE Fifth Anniversary Meeting of this Association was held on Thursday, April 28, in Whitefriars' Hall. The attendance was both numerous and respectable.

The platform, which presented an improved appearance, having been re-constructed, and on which was placed a handsome chair, the gift of the Wesleyan Orange Lodge, was oc cupied by a number of clergymen and gentlemen, among whom were Revds. H. S. Owen, Richard Budd, Richard Verschoyle, F. Trench, H. B. Macartney, Alexander Miller, William Magee, J. B. Owen, W. R. Stacke,

Syte, A. Nicholls, P. Henry, Brett, John Benson, J. C. M'Causland, Robert Kingsmore, Usher, -Shields, Elwood, Hill Wilson, H. Siddiard, J. Potterton, Mark Caldwell, Charles Archdall, Richard Maunsell, Thomas Maguire, William Simpson, D. A. Percy, W. W. Sillito, Francis Irwin, John Mulloy, Richard George, Edwin Thomas, Francis Thomas, H. R. Halahan, Hugh E.

VOL. VII.

Prior, T. D. Gregg, John Light, Dawson D. Heather, and D. Creighton; Sir Edmund Waller, Bart.; Messrs. Wilcox, Gwynne, Gerrard, Briscoe, Hewson, Parker; Drs. Richey, M'Leod, and Hyndman; Captain O'Hara; Messrs. Grattan, Fry, A. B., Thomas H. Thompson, W. F. Taylor, &c., &c. Shortly after twelve o'clock, the chair was taken by The Very Rev. the Dean of Ardagh.

The Meeting was opened with prayer.

The CHAIRMAN said, he had observed the proceedings of that Association for the last five years, and he could say, with respect to that period of time, that his heart had been with their hearts. He had long wished for an opportunity of addressing them. The Protestantism of England was of a twofold nature-political and religious. The former was comprehended in this proposition-the supreme head of the Church of England is the King of England, and the Bishop of Rome has no authority within the realms of that country. Religious Protestantism was, justification by faith alone. So long as

G

these two parts of their faith unitedly existed in England she enjoyed prosperity. The moment they ceased to co-exist a period of domestic discontent and misery commenced. Now, there had been a revival of Protestantism within the last sixty or seventy years, but it was a revival exclusively of religious Protestantism. The latter was in the ascendant, but political Protestantism had been kept down; and he maintained that all the evils which had come on the country within the last thirty or forty years were attributable to that circumstance. The Bishop of Rome had now jurisdiction in their corporations in their registries and elections-in the National Board of Education (hear, hear)—in the Poor-law Boards in the Houses of Commons and Lords; for not a Bill could pass through either which was disagreeable to the Church of Rome-in their own Church; for it was a well-known fact that no Member of the body would be provided for by the Government who did not send in his adhesion to the abominable system of national education-and jurisdiction over the Throne; for the Pope of Rome now shared with the Queen of England a power which, according to the Constitution of the empire, belonged exclusively to Her Majesty-namely, that of conferring dignities on subjects. (Applause.) The Very Rev. Dean denounced the endowment of the College of Maynooth as a national sin, and concluded by saying that he should be extremely happy to render that Association any assistance in his power whenever he was in Dublin. (Hear, hear.)

W. C. ESPY, Esq., then read a Report, which detailed the proceedings of the Association during the past year, and also a financial statement.

The Rev. JOHN MOLLOY moved that the Report and statement of accounts be adopted, printed, and placed at the disposal of the Committee.

The Rev. T. MAGUIRE seconded the Resolution. In doing so, he bore testimony to the willingness of the people of Ireland to receive the Scriptures, and observed that it appeared

to him that that Association had begun to make the dignitaries of the Church of Rome tremble. The statement made by that astonishing man

for he was a man of great mindJohn M'Hale, in his letter which appeared in the "Mail," of the 2d of March, had presented the public with the facts that the Bible was making inroads on Catholicity, and that he feared the consequences. (Hear, hear.)

The Resolution was passed unanimously.

The Rev. J. B. OWEN, an English clergyman, moved the second Resolution:- "That it is a paramount duty of all Protestant Irishmen to labour for the promotion of the welfare of their country, and the best interests, both for time and eternity, of their countrymen. That we are convinced that these never can be secured so long as Popery prevails in Ireland, and that hence it is incumbent upon Irish Protestants to give their best exertions in a Christian way to eradicate from their country that false and erroneous system."

The Secretary called on the Rev. Frederick Trench, of Cloughjordan, to second the Resolution.

The Rev. Mr. GREGG said he had to inform them that Mr. Trench

would be found to differ from them not inconsiderably, and to animadvert with something like severity on some of their proceedings. Upon this understanding, Mr. Trench having requested to be allowed to speak there, he (Mr. Gregg) told him that it had been always their practice to allow every objection to be made, provided he allowed them a reply. He therefore entreated that they would be so kind as to lend him (Mr. Trench) their best attention.

The Rev. F. F. TRENCH, of Cloughjordan. I hope there is not a person in this house that has a more heartfelt admiration of Mr. Gregg than I have, and I recollect that one of the sentiments he expressed on one occasion was, that when he felt himself called upon to do so, he would express his opinions in the face of persons who differed from him even to the extreme. (Hear.) He said, he would not be afraid to go into some

town where there were as many devils as slates on the roofs of houses. (Laughter.) Now, I feel that I am here in the midst of honest men, and surrounded by a vast number of Christian brethren; I have no doubt about that; and though I do decline paying compliments, yet there may be a call for it on some occasions, and I do say I honour Mr. Gregg, I feel respect for his zeal and boldness, I differ very materially from him, and I am sorry to say with you, as to the means whereby our great object is to be accomplished. There is a circumstance mentioned in the GovernorGeneral of India's late despatch concerning the late victory, that suggests what I mean. One of the Sikh princes was killed in battle, and his friends came and asked permission to take away his dead body. Orders were given to allow his dead body to be taken away, because, said the General, he honoured him for the bold decisive character he showed, that he was ready to perish in battle rather than yield. I know Mr. Gregg for that character of boldness, and I feel that it is the privilege of every Protestant to let every person act as they think right, provided they do nothing that violates law. I came here distinctly on the invitation of Mr. Gregg, and he has promised me that I shall have a fair hearing, and I do not ask you not to express your disapprobation to anything I may say that you may consider not right-I ask you to give me a fair hearing. Mr. Gregg put the Resolutions into my hand, and he asked me to move an amendment to any of them. When I looked over the Resolutions, I found that the second Resolution was one that I could most cordially support; and as it is always more agreeable to support than to differ, I feel great pleasure, indeed, in seconding this Resolution. [The Rev. Gentleman then read the Resolution, as proposed by the Rev. Mr. Owen.] I should feel myself unworthy to stand here if I would willingly yield to any individual in giving my assent to that proposition; and I feel that nothing will do good to the peace of this country that deserves the name of good, till they have embraced the

glorious Gospel of the blessed God, the doctrine of justification by faith only, and till they have received holiness as consisting in conformity to the mind and character of our blessed Lord, instead of thinking, as many do, that it consists in external forms and ceremonies (hear, hear); and therefore I do most cordially second this Resolution, and say that no true happiness, no true religion, can be enjoyed in this country till that which we believe to be false religion is eradicated from it. The question is, how is this to be brought about? That is the only difference between us. (Hear.) Now, my dear brethren, what has led me to be here to-day is this: the day before yesterday I was attending one of the clerical meetings, and the question proposed was, Is it right for Christian friends

Mr. GREGG rose to order. What passed in these Meetings is perfectly confidential, and I entreat that that feeling which we must all bear to the will of the clergy, may be respected, and that what was said there may not be referred to. I am sure that the clergy are distinctly aware that no mention is to be made of their private conversation in public.

The Rev. Mr. TRENCH.-Well, as this Resolution has been put into my hands, I would wish to speak a few words to it. It alludes to every Christian way in which we can eradicate Popery from the country. Now, my dear brethren, we feel we have but one object in view, and the kindness that I have experienced from you makes me feel that I will experience more of your kindness. I would just wish you to be well-informed on every subject. We all know that ignorance, in the Roman Catholic Church, is called "the mother of devotion," but general information and knowledge is a great help to Protestantism, and therefore I am sure you would wish to be well informed as to a matter of fact relative to every institution that is connected with the progress of truth in this country. Now, I wish to mention a fact with respect to an eminent person in the Church of Ireland, and who, I should suppose, would be the best informed of any I could name respecting the National

Education Board. Two years ago, I was asked to meet that individual and have conversation with him respecting matters of fact as to the National Board. (Cries of name.) I will name him. It is the present Bishop of Cashel. I met him two years ago, and he said to me, "Mr. Trench, do you mean to say that you can have a national school, and Roman Catholic children in that school, and that you can prevent the priest from coming in to teach the Roman Catholic children?" I said, "My Lord, I mean to say that I can; and I have four national schools in my parish (hisses), and I would not allow a Roman Catholic priest to enter one of them to teach a single Roman Catholic." (Cries of hear, and no, no.) His Lordship said he never knew that before. He knows it now; and I would wish you to consider whether we might not obtain the friends of the Education Board to establish schools where the priests would not be allowed to enter to teach error, rather than, by refusing it, to leave it all in their own hands; and that is one of the ways in which I think the welfare of this country might be promoted. The Reverend Gentleman concluded by seconding the Resolution.

A Gentleman on the platform said, Might I permitted to ask Mr. Trench, where are his Protestant teachers ?

The Rev. Mr. TRENCH.-One of my masters is ill of fever, and the other is teaching at the school, I hope, at this present moment. The Protestant mistresses, too, I hope, are teaching at the school at this mo

ment.

In answer to the same Gentleman's question. Did you employ a Popish master lately? he said, he did not. He afterwards explained, and said, I found in my parish a Roman Catholic school, with a Roman Catholic master, and I found sixteen Protestant children going to this Catholic school. I proposed to this man that he should come with his scholars, and himself, and his sixteen Protestant children, and leave all his Popish books behind him, and act as a monitor.

The Rev. T. D. GREGG rose to re

ply, amidst loud and long-continued cheering. He said, Mr. Chairman, and my Protestant friends, I shall take Mr. Trench's last subject first, lest I should forget it. (Addressing Mr. Trench.) Sir, you have informed us that you allow no Roman Catholic priest to teach your Roman Catholic children Roman Catholic error. Permit me to say, that I, as an individual, and I fancy I speak the minds of the Protestants of Dublin, give you very little thanks for the admission. (Cheers.) Sir, do you teach them Protestant truth?

Rev. Mr. TRENCH.-I do.

Rev. T. D. GREGG.-Do you announce to them that the Pope is Antichrist, and that the Popish religion is the apostasy?

Rev. Mr. TRENCH.-No. (Hisses.) Rev. Mr. GREGG. -Do you tell them that the sacrifices of masses are blasphemous fables and dangerous deceits; and do you honestly tell the priests that that is your object?

Rev. Mr. TRENCH.-No, I do not. (Hisses.)

Rev. T. D. GREGG.-Sir, God does not want Roman Catholics to be swindled into the truth. He does not give us any command, to scheme for Roman Catholic converts. (Applause.) He has committed to us the words of the everlasting Gospel, and he denounces as a traitor to himself the man that flinches from its utterance, "in season and out of season," in its length, in its breadth, and in its fulness. (Great cheers.) My Christian friends, if there be a vital error, or to use more correct language, a mortal error, it is to believe, or hold, or teach the people that the mere absence of what is wrong, constitutes Christian rectitude. We stand up to war against the world, the flesh, and the devil, and we must not be satisfied if they are neutral with respect to us, we must denounce, oppose, overcome them. Therefore, I am, may I ask, are you? for the uncompromising assertion of Protestant truth at all times, and at all seasons. (Cheers.) And I am for pronouncing that man, in fact, a traitor, who flinches from the occupation of that position. (Hear, hear.) Sir, I laugh

to

and

scorn the principle that would