of Harrowden, Petre, Arundell of Wardour, Dormer, Stafford, Clifford of Chudleigh, Herries, Lovat, Trimleston, Louth, Ffrench, Howden, and Bellew. To these must be added the marquis of Bute, who apparently "seceded" after the sheets of the "Directory" were sent to press. It may be interesting to know that the list of Roman-catholic peers in 1769, just one hundred years ago, included only eight English and six Irish peers, viz., the duke of Norfolk, the earl of Shrewsbury, the lords Stourton, Petre, Dormer, Teynham, Langdale, and Arundell in the peerage of England; and viscounts Taafe, Molyneux, Fairfax, and Barnewell, aud lords Cahir and Baltimore. At the time when Roman-catholic emancipation was granted, now just forty years ago, the list stood as follows: The duke of Norfolk, the earl of Shrewsbury, lords Stourton, Petre, Arundell, Dormer, and Clifford, in England; the earls of Newburgh and Traquair, in Scotland; and the earls of Fingall and Kenmare, viscounts Gormanston, Taafe, and Southwell, and lords Trimleston and Ffrench. The Roman-catholic baronets number fifty-one. gressions of Rome are daily seen, and her increasing demands are heard on every side. No religion but that of popery; no toleration of any creed, or permission to any man to speak, write, or preach against the Roman faith. Passive obedience and non-resistance are demanded that is, submission to the pope's decrees and obedience to the papal laws; the canon law of Rome to be superior to the laws of the realm; in other words, the pope, as the vicar of Jesus Christ, to reign uncontrolled throughout this kingdom, and the queen's supremacy to be disavowed. A glance at the past operations of Romanism in this country will enable men to judge of the future" (Annual Address of the Protestant Alliance, 1869). It appears from the new "Roman Catholic Directory," published permissu superiorum, and under the sanction of archbishop Manning, that there are 30 peers of the three kingdoms and 50 baronets who profess the Roman-catholic faith, and also 38 members of the house of commons. There are now 13 Romish "dioceses," including the "archdiocese" of Westminster, all which, taken together, form the " province" of Westminster, with arch- SCOTLAND.-Proposed Papal Hierarchy.-"As bishop Manning at its head. Of his twelve subjects of queen Victoria, we protest against "suffragans" there remain only two, Dr. Ulla- the erection of the papal hierarchy in Scotland. thorne, of Birmingham, and Dr. Brown, of Despite all the apologies that may be offered for Menevia and Newport, who were among the it, and all the spiritual pretexts under which its hierarchy revived by Pius IX. under cardinal true character and design may be attempted to Wiseman in 1850. The other "suffragans" are be hidden, we unhesitatingly proclaim it to be Dr. Grant, of Southwark, Dr. Turner, of Sal- a government, set up in our free country, by a ford, Dr. Brown, of Shrewsbury, Dr. Roskell, foreign temporal monarch, for the purpose of of Nottingham, Dr. Goss, of Liverpool, Dr. controlling the inhabitants of Scotland, in both Vaughan, of Plymouth, the hon. Dr. Clifford, spirituals and temporals. We hold it to be an of Clifton, Dr. Amherst, of Northampton, Dr. insult to our queen, and, not less an attack upon Cornthwaite, of Beverley, and Dr. Chadwick, of the independence of our nation. And, even Hexham. During the past year there have granting that it may be as futile as the attempt been no less than 63 Romish priests ordained of the pretender in the middle of the last cenin England and Wales, 56 belonging to the re- tury, this neither lessens its essential treason gular and seven to the secular clergy. There nor palliates the criminality of its object. To are 19 Roman-catholic chaplains to the forces, teach, as Bellarmine and the council of Trent including three "on half-pay." The total of do teach, that the pope is the representative of Roman-catholic priests in England and Wales Peter in his 'temporal supremacy of Christen is given as 1,489; the number of churches, dom,' and that that supremacy extends to the chapels, and "mission-stations" as 1,122; the right of disposing of the temporal possessions monasteries, or convents of men, as 67; the of all Christians; to teach that the pope, by nunneries, or convents of women, as 214; and whose authority the hierarchy is set up, is the the colleges as 18 in all, including some pre- supreme sovereign of all realms, and that the paratory colleges," or, as we should term them, canon law, which the hierarchy is meant to in schools. Of the chapels in England and Wales troduce, is superior to the laws of all kings and no less than 640 are registered for marriages, states-to have these doctrines endorsed in and, therefore, the "Directory" says, "may be London by the head of all the papists of Eng regarded as parochial." The Roman-catholic land, Dr. Manning; to have them endorsed at church in Scotland, it appears from the same Rome by the head of all the papists of the world, authority, is presided over by four bishops, and Pius IX.; to have these doctrines preached by geographically divided, not into "dioceses" but, all priests, taught through the confessional, and into "districts." These are three in number- enjoined upon the conscience, by an authority the eastern, the western, and the northern. which, to the papist, is as God; to have a regul These "districts" number 201 clergy, who serve lar organization of functionaries and courts set 207 chapels and "mission-stations." Besides up in England and Scotland for carrying these these, there are in Scotland 18 convents for doctrines into effect, and to be told that this women and two colleges. The list of Roman- organization has the right of using temporal catholic peers of the three kingdoms is as follows: force, and that, meanwhile, it is restrained only The duke of Norfolk, the earls of Denbigh, Bu- by a superior power from using such force, but chan, Fingall, Granard, Kenmare, Orford, Dun- that, of course, it will use it at the first oppor raven, and Gainsborough; the countess of New-tunity-to do all this, we ask, what is it but to burgh; viscounts Gormanston, Taafe, and South- preach sedition ? what is it but to organize inwell; lords Beaumont, Camoys, Stourton, Yaux surrection? what is it but to make war upon 66 both queen and country-war to the extent of their ability meanwhile, and with the declared intent of carrying it to the utmost extremity hereafter ?" ("The Threatened Papal Hierarchy in Scotland"). berment of the empire. Q. Therefore, the repeal of any one provision is contrary to the powers of the present parliament, in your opinion? A. Clearly so, as an unconstitutional exercise of their power, if the provision is IRELAND. The United Church.-The funda- fundamental." The faith of treaties ought mental article of the treaty of union enacts: to be held sacred, and especially so by Eng. "That the churches of England and Ireland land; and such a treaty as that on which as now by law established be united into the union of Great Britain and Ireland one protestant episcopal church, to be called rests is not less sacred than any other. the United Church of England and Ire- The Sunday-schools.-"In the larger sphere land;' and that the doctrine, worship, dis- embraced by the operations of the Sundaycipline, and government of the said united school Society for Ireland, there were, in conchurch shall be and shall remain in full nexion with that society, on the 1st of January, force for ever as the same are now by law estab-1868, 2,499 schools, 195,823 scholars, and 18,070 lished for the church of England; and that the gratuitous teachers. Of the total number of continuance and preservation of the said united the scholars, 127,207 were reported to be reading church, as the Established Church of England the bible or testament, and 51,123 to be adults and Ireland, shall be deemed and taken to be above the age of fifteen years. It is also estian essential and fundamental part of the union." mated that 96,383 scholars were receiving inOn the 13th May, 1805, lord Ellenborough struction in week-day schools, leaving 99,440 (then lord chief justice of England) thus ex- attending Sunday-schools only. In the present pounded this article of the treaty in his place controversy respecting the church in Ireland, in the house of lords: "By the fifth article of frequent reference has been made to the stathe union, it is declared that the continuance tistics of the census of 1861; and unfriendly and preservation of the said united church, as and ungenerous opponents have even striven the Established Church of England and Ireland, to make them testify to the palpable untruth of shall be deemed and taken to be an essential the decadence of the protestant religion in this and fundamental part of the union. By funda- country. Attention, however, has been lately mental is meant, with reference to the subject-called to the testimony which, supplemented by matter, such an integral part of the compact the returns of the Sunday-school Society, they and union formed between the two kingdoms as truly bear to protestant life and vigour in this is absolutely necessary to the support and sus- most important department of Sunday-school taining of the whole fabric and superstructure instruction. The census of 1841 gave the whole of union raised and built thereupon, and such population of Ireland as 8,175,124; and, acas, being removed, would produce the ruin and cording to the returns of the Sunday-school overthrow of the political union founded upon Society last preceding that census, the number the article as its immediate basis." The right of schools in connexion with the society was hon. sir Joseph Napier, bart., was examined as 3,028; of teachers, 21,668; and of scholars, a witness, before a committee of the house of 230,679. According to the census of 1861, the commons, on the taxation of Ireland. The fol- entire population of this country amounted to lowing questions were put to him, and the an- 5,764,543; and, at the same time, the Sundayswers given, as they appear in their report: schools numbered 2,705; the teachers, 21,302; "Q. Was not the act of union founded upon and the scholars, 233,390. Thus, at the end of certain resolutions which had been passed the twenty years, the country had sustained a loss year before, both in the English and Irish houses of nearly two millions and a-half of inhabitants, of commons? A. The act of union was founded in a population somewhat exceeding eight milon a great international treaty, one of those lions. But at the end of the same disastrous great foundations which made it a fundamental period, while the Sunday-schools exhibited a law in its very nature and character. Q. Simi- slight decline of 323, and the teachers of 366, lar to Magna-charta, would you say? A. I the scholars numbered 2,711 more than they think, if I might say so, possibly greater, be- were at its commencement, when the whole pocause upsetting the act of union would involve pulation was so vastly greater Moreover, these dismembering the empire. I look upon it, from statistics are only those of the Sunday-school the peculiar nature of an incorporate union of Society for Ireland: but there were then, as that kind, that the weaker state would have no there are still, a number of other Sunday-schools protection if there was not in the very nature not in connexion with the society, but affording, of the union an essential protection growing out generally, the same kind of instruction. There of its fundamental character. There may be are no reliable returns from these schools, but matters of regulation afterwards affecting it to they are supposed, on sufficient grounds, to a certain extent; but I think all jurists treat a have amounted to about 530; and, if we assign law of that kind as in its very nature so funda- them teachers and scholars in the same propormental that, in fact, you can hardly contemplate tion as those of the society, they would contain Its subversion. Q. Then upsetting it would, in about 4,200 teachers and 45,000 scholars. Acfact, be a revolution, in your opinion? A. Yes; cepting the statement thus offered in the abit was twice debated in parliament, in 1834 and sence of certain information, we make up a in 1843; and I think that the impression of all general total for Ireland, in 1861, of 3,335 the ministers then was that the whole moral, Sunday-schools, 25,552 teachers, and 278,900 physical, and legislative power of the country scholars. Not unto us, O Lord, but unto thy should be called in aid, to prevent the dismem-name, give glory; for thy mercy and for thy truth's sake'"(Rev. A. Dawson). The Vo-ing "is considered in this country to be of the 16 luntary System, its Giant Grievance. The rev. D. O' Croly, parish priest, published a book in 1834, entitled an Essay on Religious and Political Finance," in which, with the view of advocating a state-provision for the Roman church in Ireland, pursuant to the wish of doctors Troy, Plunket, and Moylan, its leading bishops at the time, he gave details, not generally known before, respecting a priest's revenue as levied under "the voluntary system." I shall quote the more largely from this essay, as the book is now not to be had. And first, respecting baptism, he tells us that "scarcely any infant is at present baptized in the parish-house of worship. The general rule is to baptize at private houses, or at the priest's house or lodgings. One leading feature in the transaction, on the part of the priest, is to get in the customary offerings, and to swell, if possible, the amount. The father of the infant pays, as they say, for the baptism; the gossip-money is demanded of the sponsors, who sometimes amount to four in number and upwards, contrary to the canons of Trent, but not contrary to the pecuniary interests of the priest. This money is often demanded previous to the administration of the rite, and if not promptly paid scenes of abuse and recrimination frequently ensue. Children are sometimes sent away without baptism for lack of money; and women remain frequently without being churched (a great evil in their eyes), because the priest has not been satisfied respecting the baptismmoney. Intended sponsors are sometimes excluded when the gossip-money is not forthcoming, and others substituted by the priest his own servants, perhaps." Secondly, respecting penance, he informs us that "confession furnishes (the priest) the most steady and constant source of revenue. Twice a-year he collects confession-money under the denomination of Christmas and Easter offerings. ..... The priest selects one or two houses in every ploughland or neighbourhood, where he holds stations of confession; and it is required that the families all about should meet him, should make their confessions, receive the holy sacrament, and finally pay the customary dues. If increased dues are demanded, a thing of occasional occurrence, disagreeable and sometimes scandalous altercations ensue. Similar scenes occur when individuals attend and crave time for payment; while such as absent themgelves, unless they send the dues as an apology, are generally made the subject of public abuse and exposure." This, adds Mr. O'Croly, "transforms religious rites into merchantable commodities, which the priest prices, and turns to his own advantage in the best manner he can. He gives and he gets quid pro quo; and the common people do imagine that they pay their money in lieu of getting confession and communion. So deeply, indeed, is this persuasion engraven on their minds that they consider themselves exempt from the obligation of payment unless they actually get absolution and the holy sacrament, i. e., value for their money." Lastly, respecting extreme unction, he says that anoint last importance; so much so that no misfortune is accounted greater than for a poor mortal to depart this life without its reception." He adds, that "this rite is often administered under most distressing circumstances-amid sickness, lamentation, destitution, and wantyet money is demanded in most cases, particu larly in the country; and instances occur of payment being demanded beforehand." The demand, he says, "is one of the fixed determinate dues," and "often, when the money is not to be had, bitter words take place in the very hearing and presence of the dying person.' Engiish Acts of Parliament: the Pope's Veto.-The "Tablet" (Romish paper) thus writes of acts of parliament: "The queen wills it: her lords will it: her commons will it. What does it want to complete the perfect fashion of a law? Nothing of solemnity, nothing of force, which the imperial sceptre of this kingdom can give is wanting to it. But the pope snuffs dis dainfully at it: an Italian priest will have none of it: it trenches upon his rights; and, there fore, commons, lords, queen, wax, parchment, and all, avail it very little. You may call it law if you please, you may note it on your roll, but before long you will have to repeal or alter it in order to secure the sanction of a foreign poten tate, without which it has not, in the end, the value of a tenpenny nail" ("Tablet," 1848). ROME.-A letter from Rome in the "Indé pendance Belge," describing the Christmas fes tivities, says, "Jesus Christ is not a popular hero at Rome. People do not illuminate in his honour as they do for the Madonna. His wor ship is not celebrated except by enlightened worshippers, who are very rare in this country; and the Son of God is hardly known to the ig norant_multitude".-Poisoning of the Conse crated Elements: Mr. Ffoulkes, a pervert from the English church, in a remarkable letter addressed to Dr. Manning, alludes to the unutterable horror of Romish priests being poisoned with the consecrated elements, with what they teach their benighted followers to be the real body and blood of our blessed Lord, and of the precautions taken amongst themselves in consequence. Mr. Ffoulkes says: "Is there any tale of irreverence towards the sacraments amongst Anglicans comparable with the horrors of poisoned chalices and poisoned hosts amongst ourselves (i.e., the papists) formerly, the extent of which is made patent to this day by the official precautions taken whenever the pope celebrates mass? I am quoting from a well-known directory of the ceremonies at Easter in Rome. Before the pope arrives they make proof of the bread and wine in this manner: the deacon takes one of the three hosts or wafers, which he has placed in a line on the plate, and hands it to the bishop sacristan. As soon as this last has received it, the cardinal deacon takes one of the two wafers which remain, and after he has felt the cup and the plate inside and outside, he consigns it to the bishop sacristan, who ought to eat it forthwith, as well as the first, with his face turned towards the pope. The third and last wafer is employed for the sacrifice. The cardinal takes the vessels of wine and water, and pours a little into a cup which the bishop sacristan presents to him, of which the latter ought immediately to drink the contents.' Such perversion of the sacrament to destroy life, as had to be guarded against in this way whenever the vicar of Christ officiated, is absolutely without parallel." SPAIN. Sunday and Holy Days' Occupations. -"It is from the craving for extraordinary excitement, I believe, that has arisen the practice in southern countries of disregarding the appointed day of rest, and setting great store by saints' and fair-days; coming at odd intervals, and bringing a variety of special pleasures for every particular season. Christmas and carnival, Easter and holy week, the Corpus Domini, harvest and vintage time, a hundred Madonnas and local saints, break through the monotony of existence. Whether it be a pure or corrupt religion, there is no denying that catholicism is a jolly religion.' Take, for instance, yesterday's solemnity (2nd February). It was Candlemas, or the purification of the virgin, a festival reserved, even under the provisions of the latest concordat, which vainly strove to do away with some of the hundred days in the year kept idle in Spain. Look at any of the morning papers, and you will find two rows of advertisements, close under each other, the upper one for 'cultes,' or religious shows; the lower, for 'espectaculos,' or theatrical performances. It is no irreverence to say that to Spaniards there is equal entertainment in both. Indeed, at Christmas and in passion-week, the exhibition in the churches and theatres are perfectly identical. There were yesterday in the morning high masses and taper processions at no less than seven of the churches dedicated to the virgin, and plays and farces at as many theatres at four o'clock in the afternoon; late in the evening farces and plays again; the whole to wind up with masked balls at the Zarzuela and Novedades, where revellers would not go home till morning, their shrill shouts under my windows informing me that their day was ending just as mine was about to begin" (Madrid Correspondent of the "Times")." Tract Circulation: The distribution of the tracts, printed here at the expense of the Religious Tract Society, continues on a large scale, and serves greatly to awaken in wide circles inquiry after the things of God. It would be difficult to over-estimate the value of this means of drawing attention to the gospel of the Saviour. this date as many as 150,000 of tracts and small books like Andrew Dunn,' 'A Saviour for You,' &c., have passed from where I write into circulation. Every day also we despatch parcels to the provinces, availing of every opportunity through persons of our confidence, to whom the distribution can be entrusted. Yesterday a friend took a packet for Manilla. Today, whilst I write, in the midst of the elections, the business in the agrentamiento was for a moment suspended, whilst one of our distributors, entering to claim his vote, was relieved of his armful of tracts by president, magistrates, counsellors, and officers, all eagerly begging the favour of a 'protestant tract. He returned To apace to fill his wallet afresh for the same field. An hour before another good helper, going to his work as compositor, had sought entrance for his tracts among the guard on duty for the day at the home-office. The captain gave the word of command, the entire company was placed in line, and, with a few words in which their officer told them they were to read the books with attention, because they told of liberty and life, the hundred and thirteen men of the company received each one his tract, What is the Gospel? or, The best and surest Road.' Since this another company has sent to ask in like manner to be supplied.-The Press and Protestantism: In the meantime the priestly party show their estimation of the work going on by writing against it in the public press. The Liglo' of Sunday, Dec. 27, dedicated a leading article to the tract A Saviour for You,' which they styled a Christmas gift, which the people of Madrid had received to lighten a dull season, at the hands of the protestants. The article is conceived in the strongest vein of Mariolatry, the writer complaining that the whole tract points to Christ, whilst the 'Mother of God' is passed over in silence. The 'Regeneracion' of Dec. 31 has an absurd paragraph noticing the four tracts then issued, which they counsel good catholics to buy up and destroy. They say all publications are suspicious which cite largely the scriptures; that the productions in question are poisonous; and that all religious publications which lack the ' approbatur' of the ecclesiastical authorities, may be regarded as 'primâ facie' impious" (Evangelical Christendom). Since VENICE.-I have mentiened in a former letter the purchase by the Waldensian church of the palazzo Cavagnis for the evangelical congregation in Venice. This was rendered necessary, both by the difficulty of finding a suitable room of sufficient size to contain the people who as semble to hear the gospel preached, and also of retaining such a hall when once secured, on account of the influence which the priests bring to bear on Roman-catholic landlords. the purchase of this palazzo several alterations have been made in the building, so that now a fine hall has been fitted up, capable of holding 500 persons; and arrangements have also been made for accommodating 200 more if necessary. There is also sufficient room for the accommodation of the pastor, his assistant, the schoolmaster, and two assistant teachers. The church was opened for public worship at Christmas. The number of persons who attended was very large, and included representatives of the other evangelical churches in that city. On entering the church the pastor placed in the pulpit a copy of the holy scriptures, thereby intimating that from that place the bible and nothing but the bible should be the subject of teaching. After prayer and singing, signor Comba delivered a discourse on the text, Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." The services were then closed with the singing of a hymn and the benediction. Throughout the whole of the assembly the deepest attention and solemnity were manifested. In addition to the size of this congregation there are other most 66 selves for a lengthened period on the wing has been sufficiently evidenced on board of ships, upon the rigging of which moths have been known to settle, at a considerable distance from land. The plan of nature in creating these sylph-like inhabitants of the air is wonderful indeed. Who could even pre-suppose that so lively, delicate, and brilliant an insect as a but terfly, so airy in its habits and so fastidious in its food, should be derived from a crawling voracious worm? The butterfly, on issuing from its cocoon, is entirely formed: nothing of its prior state remains: its figure, its habits, all, in a word, is so changed that it can no longer be recognized. The butterfly is agility itself, and grace personified. It appears to disdain the earth, and, in its magnificent robe, to seek the skies, while it is sustained with nectar, like the fabled deities of old. Issuing from its dark cradle, it seems to rejoice in its new-born ex istence, to court the sun-beam, or delight in recognizing the groves or fields where its labo rious infancy had been passed. Its life is now a scene of perpetual enjoyment. It wanders from flower to flower, continually in pursuit of the pleasure of novelty and change" (Griffith's Cuvier). encouraging features. Although the greater part of the people are poor, yet they are now beginning to exhibit that liberality and brotherly feeling which always accompanies the reception of the gospel. They now systematically support, as far as they are able, their very poor and sick, through a committee which has been formed for that purpose. Subscriptions have been made by them for funeral, sacramental, and other purposes; and they have now under taken to defray the general expenses connected with the services in their church. The young men connected with the congregation have formed themselves into a society, under the direction of their pastor, for self-improvement. SICILY.-Catania. The congregation at Catania, since the death of the lamented Gregori, has been chiefly under the charge of signor Bellecci, who, humanly speaking, was the originator of this church, assisted occasionally by the rev. Mr. Kay, of Palermo. For a considerable time this congregation has been most anxious to have a regular pastor stationed among them. In this wish signor Bellecci most cordially joined; and, as the field was most promising, signor Malan has been removed from Pietra Marazzi (near Alexandria) and appointed pastor. The news received from him is very encouraging. He has succeeded in organizing schools and the various machinery connected with a regular congregation. The public mee- A PLEA FOR ADULT CLASSES IN OUR RURAL ings are very numerously attended, and he has begun to hold meetings in private houses, where the timid, and especially the women, come, under the pretext of visiting the neighbours. A Sunday-school has been formed, and numbers twenty-one children. "It is very pleasing," he DEAR Sir,-As a constant reader of your maga says, "when I am questioning the children, to zine (in which you give such interesting reports hear the parents giving the answers in a per-scribe the efforts for good in large towns), will of home missions, which, however, chiefly de fectly-audible voice." THE WHITE BUTTERFLY*. H. S. "WHILST calling to remembrance the unusual number of white butterflies in the warm dry summer of last year, reflection was naturally awakened to the fact of such delicately-formed creatures having been so wondrously preserved during many months of variable weather, throughout their several changes, from the tiny egg to the perfect lively insect, which everywhere was seen to abound in happy life. Such, it is evident, could have been only through the universal supervision of One, equally their and our Creator, of whom the inspired psalmist has with so much truth observed that his mercy is over all his works." In so remarkable a manner did these pretty fluttering insects abound that they almost appeared in spangled showers to descend on the gay pasture beneath my window. And, as many of their number probably came from afar, acute must have been in them the sense of smelling, through which they were attracted by the fragrance of flowers, whose nectaries furnished their favourite food. The capability of insects of this description to maintain them ་ * Pieris brassica, the cabbage-butterfly. DISTRICTSt. TO THE EDITOR OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND you allow me to address a very short letter to you, in which I would attempt to interest your readers in adult classes in rural districts? Though I have been obliged, by circum stances, to relinquish at present the class of no change of opinion as to the plan being most young women I used to instruct, yet it is from desirable. Every lady, arranging such a class, would find that local peculiarities would make many modifications necessary; but still, in a few words, I will state the plan I followed for some years with my own class. Daughters of yeomen, farmers, tradesmen, and many other girls, used to constitute this class, most coming from considerable distances. I held the class on a Saturday afternoon, in the laundry of my father's house; and, after our pro ceedings were over, an upper servant presided at a social tea; before which meal I took my leave, after first arranging our next meeting for, from different reasons, we could not meet every week, and therefore assembled together every three weeks or every month. religious instruction, and to make it as interest My object in forming this class was to give ing as I could to my young women. I opened * The convolvulus sphinx moth lighted on board the Lord Raglan when about five miles off Tynemouth. + We willingly give insertion to a letter we have lately received.-ED. |