Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

INTELLIGENCE.

The Papal Bull.
The last month has been one of sin-

gular religious excitement, occasioned by a conflict between the Churches of Rome and England. The Romish Church has not unnaturally been looking with eager and hopeful eye on "the famous realm of England." Deceived by the unrestrained profession of Popish principles on the part of the University of Oxford, and by their gradual adoption by a large portion of the clergy, into the persuasion that "the impediments which principally stood in the way of the spread of Catholicity in England were daily being removed," Pius IX. took courage to carry into effect a measure long contemplated, and which he supposed would increase the zeal of English Roman Catholics, and hasten the tardy steps of those who, though Catholics in heart, still lingered in the pale of a schismatic Establishment. The time, he conceived, was come for the restoration to England of "the form of ordinary Episcopal Government," in lieu of that by Vicars Apostolic, which has been in force since the times of Innocent XI. On the 29th

day of September, accordingly, the Pope issued from St. Peter's Letters Apostolical, “under the seal of the Fisherman," restoring to England "the Hierarchy of ordinary Bishops," and constituting thirteen sees, with the several titles of Westminster (elevated to Metropolitan and Archiepiscopal dignity), Southwark, Hexham, Beverley, Liverpool, Salford, Shrewsbury, Minevia, Clifton, Plymouth, Nottingham, Birmingham and Northampton. By the exertions of the Archbishop of Westminster and his twelve suffragan Bishops, Pius IX. expressed his trust that God would grant to Catholicity in the most flourishing kingdom of England a fruitful and daily-increasing extension. This was a bold, but not very prudent step. The institution of an English Catholic Hierarchy must under any circumstances prove embarrassing and provoking to the Anglican clergy and their heads, who by their habitual recognition of the holy orders of the whole Catholic priesthood, cannot consistently treat their Romish competitors with contemptuous indifference, and meet them with a bold denial of their spiritual functions, as they are in the habit of doing with regard to the clergy of the Protestant

Dissenters. But, in addition to this, there was throughout the Letters Apostolical of the Pope a studied and insulting silence with regard to the Anglican Church. Except in the single uncomplimentary expression about the "Anglican schism in the 16th age," its existence was not recognized. There was sufficient craft in the selection of titles for the new Romish Hierarchs. With the exception of St. David's, no names are given which are already appropriated to Anglican Bishops, and in the excepted case the legal difficulty is evaded by adopting the ancient Roman name, Minevia. But the craft increased the insult and the Anglican annoyance. The title of our new Bishop of Manchester is not interfered with, but he may be jostled in the streets of the city of his diocese by the Bishop of Salford. Durham may still sound pleasantly in Protestant ears, but Hexham will be a word of evil omen. The Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol will now, to use the fashionable word, "ignore" the latter city, contaminated by the resi dence of the Bishop of Clifton. What a large measure of pity, too, is due to our Charles James of London! Cabined as he henceforth will be between the Archbishop of Westminster and the Bishop of Southwark, it is not surprising, meek though he be, that his temper should be in the prospect a little ruffled. But to be serious. Pius IX. has committed in this matter, what in the eyes of temporal statesmen is worse than a crime, a blunder. It is possible that he may not, in his distribution of Episcopal dignities in England, have infringed on the laws of the country; but it is certain that he has (as might have been foreseen by any intelligent observer acquainted with English history and English stubbornness) given a shock to that which is, after all, stronger than law itself, public opinion. The Pope's Bull may be adroitly softened by the able pleading of Cardinal Wiseman, and most excellent logic may be offered by Bishop Ullathorne and Dr. Newman, and many tolerable precedents may be quoted, drawn from the Irish Catholic Church, from English Colonial Bishoprics, and from the joint Episcopal appointment at Jerusalem; but it is all in vain. John Bull has no special respect for the present or any Pope of Rome, but he has a vehement respect and love for his

Queen, and is ready to pillory any man who affronts her, whether he wear the Chartist fustian, Anglican lawn sleeves or the Pontiff's pallium. He has read a little, too, of the history of his country, and has some recollections of Popish times and doings, which make him very angry to be told that England is to return to the Catholic faith. With singular indiscretion, the Pope has in his Bull reminded him of the time "when the King, James II., ascended the English throne, and when there seemed a prospect of happier times for the Catholic religion." Those happier times for the Catholic Church are in England associated with the legal butcherings of Judge Jeffries. In addition to all this, John Bull had for some time previously been looking with no sympathy, but with some distrust, at the new ceremonies and costume and style of preaching of a portion of the clergy. The ill-judged confidence expressed by the Pope and his agents that these Anglican pastors and their flocks were all but ready to join the Catholic communion, awoke in a moment the disgust and hatred of the people towards these Popish innovations. The consequence has been, and will still further be, a heavy blow to the Puseyite party in the Church of England. The clergy will be watched and checked by their congregations. Their assertion of clerical authority will be disputed, and the result will be again, as it has been in all previous struggles between the Church and the people, that the clergy will be worsted.

We have looked with some curiosity to see how this movement has been regarded by the less tolerant of the Anglican party. Not without some feelings of disgust have we read those portions of the Bishop of London's charge which relate to this matter. In utter forgetfulness of the encouragement which five years ago he gave to the movement towards Romish innovations, he now speaks with severity of the secessions to Rome, of Romish errors, of Romanist tendencies, and the imitation of Romish ritual observances. But, instead of combatting the Church of Rome with the Protestant weapon of the right of private judgment, this wary Metropolitan contents himself with setting up the Church of England as superior to that of Rome, and conjures his clergy to eschew German theology and "the fatal heresy" of Rationalism, and to practise "a sedulous inculcation of the doctrines" of the Church, and "a

firm adherence to its Creeds and Liturgy and Articles." Sham Protestantism of this kind is not to be trusted in the encounter which we are on the eve of witnessing. It is not by substituting the Queen's supremacy for that of the Pontiff of Rome, and by playing off the Convocation of the Clergy against the Pope's assumed Infallibility, that Popish aggression is to be withstood. True Protestant principles (not doctrines) must be asserted and upheld, The sufficiency of Scripture for man's faith and salvation, and the right of private judgment, must be the banners under which the Protestants, if they desire a spiritual victory, must fight. Against these weapons the Church of Rome is powerless. The duty of the true Protestant is to resist spiritual aggression, whether Romish or Anglican, and to protect with equal solicitude his own religious liberty in practising free inquiry, and that of the Roman Catholic in conforming to the straitest ritualism. It may be that an immediate consequence of the blunder of the Pope will be an attempt to procure the re-enactment of the persecuting laws against English and Irish Catholics. Such an attempt in the 19th century must certainly fail. Happily, we have a Premier who, however he may resent an insult to his Sovereign, will never forget or violate the immutable and impartial principle of religious liberty, and a House of Commons who will not consent to undo the work of the last quarter of a century for the sake of achieving a temporary popularity. For ourselves, we think the fever has been suffered to reach a somewhat unreasonable height, and that many now under its influence will presently think so too. With a free press, popular institutions, and a population certainly growing in intelligence, we can well afford to smile at the utmost efforts of open Romanism to bring the mind of this country again under its sway.

Wakefield School and Congregational Anniversary.

The annual sermons on behalf of the Sunday-schools of the Westgate chapel, Wakefield, were preached by the Rev. James Martineau, of Liverpool, on Sunday, November 17th, and very handsome collections were made.

On Monday, Nov. 18th, was held the usual congregational meeting in the new rooms recently opened for the purposes both of Day and Sunday

schools. Members of the congregation and others, about 200 in number, including the West-Riding ministers and friends from Leeds, took tea together at half-past five; and immediately afterwards, Henry Briggs, Esq., of Overton, being voted to the chair, and the usual loyal sentiments having been given, Mr. Martineau, in acknowledgment of thanks for his services on the Sunday, adverted to the disputed question of National Education, and the plan of the late Lancashire, now National, Public School Association, expressing himself as personally favourable to the secular plan, but wholly adverse to the scheme for forcing it upon the unwilling acceptance of those whose voluntary zeal in their own denominations has been the means of extending education thus far.

The Rev. P. Cannon and Mr. See (the master of the Day school) then spoke on the state and prospects of the Sunday and Day schools respectively; and to Rev. W. Turner's proposal, the Rev. J. Kenrick responded on behalf of the Manchester New College, pointing the attention of the meeting to its fruits around them in that room in the majority of the ministers assembled on the occasion.

The Rev. C. Wicksteed next enlarged on the claims which the population of the West-Riding addressed to the Unitarian denomination on behalf of a Village Mission, and on sitting down proposed the Minister and Congregation of Westgate Chapel, Wakefield; to which Mr. H. Clarkson, as a trustee, and the Rev. E. Higginson, as minister, replied, the latter explaining the various congregational uses to which the new premises might shortly be applied.

Rev. J. H. Ryland spoke on the Memory of the Fathers of English Protes

tant Dissent, and, after pressing the application of its principles at the present moment, still further urged the claims of the neighbourhood on the descendants of Presbyterian forefathers. Rev. Thomas Johnstone, "a living link between the Present and the Past," next followed; and the Rev. J. Owen closed the addresses with the sentiment, The Union of all good Men for all good Purposes.

Thanks to the chair having been proposed by Rev. J. K. Montgomery, of Huddersfield, the evening concluded with a hymn.

The meeting was exceedingly well attended; and the beauty and excellence of the rooms, their situation, the munificence of the founder, D. Gaskell, Esq., and the taste and care bestowed on their completion and preparation for the occasion, were themes of universal admiration.

The next day they were the scene of the children's entertainment, when they were crowded by both schools, together with some of Mr. Gaskell's school at Horbury. After tea, amidst screams of delight, they witnessed the exhibitions of a magic lantern, kindly exhibited to them by Mr. Wm. Johnstone, and with variety of singing, and cheering for Mr. Gaskell and their other benefactors, an evening was spent of equal gratification and encouragement to young and old.

This gathering was made the occasion of still further deliberation on the part of the ministers on the effort now making among the West-Riding congregations for the establishment of a ministry for the villages, and from the liberal encouragement afforded, and still further expected, it was resolved to take measures for its realization without delay.

R.

OBITUARY.

Oct. 14, EBENEZER JOHNSTON, Esq., of Stamford Hill, Tottenham, in the 62nd year of his age. Beloved by his family, respected by a wide circle of acquaintance, and deeply interested in the education of the poor, he had much to live for; but he bowed meekly to the dispensation of Heaven, and died, as he had lived, calm and trustful.

Oct. 26, at Congleton, THOS. BROAD, Esq., in the 74th year of his age.

Oct. 27, in his 6th year, RICHARD WILLIAM, son of Mr. Richard ASPDEN, of Mosley Street, Manchester.

Oct. 31, at Whittington, near Chesterfield, Miss MARTHA WICKSTEED, aged 73 years.

Nov. 18, at the house of his brother, Richard Kershaw Lumb, Esq., Savile Green, Halifax, GEORGE KERSHAW, Esq., aged 57.

GENERAL INDEX.

Abbott's, Jacob, Histories for the Young, Birmingham schools, 578.

502.

Adelaide, Queen Dowager, 63.
Agapemonites, the, 486.

Aggregate meeting of Unitarians, 29.
Ainsworth, Mr., 302, 446, 495, 681.
Alcman, 655.
Almanacs, 48.

American Unitarian Biography, 480.
Amos, book of, 478.
Amyott's Home, the, 501.
Antitrinitarian Biography, 218, 262.
Archilochus, 655.

Armitage, Mr. Benjamin, 706.
Ashton, Mr. John, 451.
Ashton, Mrs. Samuel, 63.
Ashton, Mrs. Robert, 124.

Ashton, Mr. Thomas, 579.
Ashton, Rev. Joseph, 641.
Aspden, R. W., 772.

Aspland, memoir of Rev. R., 23, 88, 165.
Letters illustrative of, 661.

Aspland, Rev. R. Brook, 56, 91, 96, 97,
169, 174.

Assheton, John, 222.

Astley, Mr. Thomas, 708.

B. B., 209, 331.

B., J., 298.

Bishop, Miss, 256.

Bocher, Joan, 223, 358.

Bolton District Unitarian Association,
377, 700.

Bond of union, our, 17.
Bond, John, 196.
Boucher, Rev. John, 642.
Bowring, Dr., 232, 700.
British Banner, 309.

Broad, Thomas, Esq., 772.

Burnap's Lectures to Young Men, 502.
Discourses on Human Nature, 568.
Bury, Mrs., 451.

Bushnell's God in Christ, 672, 756.
Butler, Bishop, 606.
Buxton chapel, 512.

C., 80, 147, 237, 389, 439, 486, 560, 681,
727.

Calvin on English Service Book, 37. On
English Reformation, 660. Life and
Times of, 147.

Carmarthen College, 512.
Carpenter, Rev. P. P., 123.

Carpenter, Rev. Benjamin, 346, 419, 534,
607, 741.

Carter, Edward, Esq., 642.

Cellarius, Martin, 267.

Baker's Tone of the Factory System, Chalmers, Dr., Memoirs of, 65.

189.

Banbury chapel, 512, 576.

Baptist (General) Assembly, 448.

Barker, Mr. Thomas, 319.

Channing, Dr., 96, 239, 736.
Chappell, Rev. John, 375, 449.

Cheshire Presbyterian Association, 311.
Chester Unitarian congregation, 255.

Barling, Mr., on Stowell's "Office of the Chillingworth, 198, 227, 494.

Spirit," 178.

Barrett, Rev. John, 422.

Barrett, Rev. Joseph, 579.

Bath, succession of ministers at, 417.
Baxter, Richard, 10, 228.
Bayley, Rev. James, 379.
Beard, Dr., Biblical Atlas, 51. Library
of Christian Literature, 121, 184. Let-
ters on the Bible, 370, 637. Biblical
Primer, 371. Hindrances to the
Lord's Table, 501. Testimonial to,
641.

Beard, Rev. Charles, 192, 235.

Beeston on the Temporalities of the Es-
tablished Church, 243.
Bennett, Mrs., 708.

Benson, Rev. Christopher, 736.
Best, Paul, 229.

Beth, lines by, 36, 79, 146, 469, 497.

Bible, the, 15, 370.

Biblical Review, 117.

Bicknell, Mrs., 256.

Billingsley, Mr. John, 608.

Birkhead, Rev. Joseph, 428.

Chinese language and people, 232, 700.
Christian Reformer, the, 64, 173, 449.
Christian Sabbath, 569.

Church of England and the present age,
598.

Churches, British, and People, 257.
Churchianity, 740.

Clarkson's Life of Penn, 283.
Cleator, services at, 127, 641. School
at, 509.

Coad, John, narrative of, 113.
Coates, Mrs., obituary of, 124.
Coates, Rev. S., of Mansfield, 421, 422.
Committee of Council on Education, 698.
Condition of the people, 103.
Congregational Year-Book, 115.

Court of Chancery and religious liberty,
486.

Cranbrook, James, 191.
Crellius, 196.

Crime, sources of, 321.

Cromwell's, Dr., Thanksgiving Sermon,
117.

Cromwell, Oliver, death of, 231.

[blocks in formation]

Dukinfield Sunday-school, jubilee of, Hewes, John, 614.

385, 443.

Dyer's Life of John Calvin, 147.

Dyer, Mr. George, 89.

Eclectic Review, 121, 253, 363.

Education Bill, 244.

Education in Liverpool, 639.
Egypt, Ancient, 709.
Elliott, Ebenezer, 79, 737.

Emerson's Representative Men, 305.
Enfield, Mrs., 63.

English Presbyterian Union, 97.
Erasmus, 27.

Evangelical Magazine, 365.
Evil for the sake of good, 548.
Excursions in Italy, 201, 470.

Falkland, Lord, 195, 227.

Fearon, Mr. H. B., 96.

Fletcher, Miss, 451.

[blocks in formation]

Immortality, 438.

In Memoriam, Tennyson's, 439.

Forster's, W. E., Vindication of Penn, Invalid, lines by an, 298.

[blocks in formation]

T., review of Lewis on Authority, 43.
Life of Dr. Chalmers, 65. On Wil-
liam Penn, 283. On Newman's Phases
of Faith, 453. Mr. Wicksteed's Ser-
mon, 667.

Gaskell, Mr. and Mrs. W. R., 579, 642.
Gee Cross, Unitarian church at, 235.
Gifford, Admiral, 63.

Gloucester, ordination at, 60.
Grecian popular songs, 656.
Greenhow, Mrs., 192, 318.
Gregory VII., 3.

Grote's History of Greece, 581.
Grotius, 196.

Gurney, Rev. William, 379.

H., E. H., 103, 129, 257.
Habakkuk, book of, 597.
Hacon, Mr., 172.

Hale, Sir Matthew, 304.

Ireland, Gleanings from the West of, 766.
Irving's Life of Mahomet, 237.
Italy, excursions in, 201.

James's Protestant Nonconformity, 570.
Jenkins, Mr. John, 256.
Joel, prophecy of, 144.
Johnston, Miss, 319.
Johnston, E., Esq., 772.
Jolliffe, Rev. James, 613.
Joshua, book of, 214.

Journey from Naples to England, 624.

K.'s review of Stephens' Ecclesiastical
Biography, 1. Grote's History of
Greece, 581.

Kell, Rev. E., 181, 404. Thanksgiving
Sermon, 117.

Kendall, S., an ejected minister, 420.
Kenrick's Ancient Egypt under the Pha-
raohs, 709.

Kershaw, George, Esq., 772.
Kingsford, Mr. S., 63.

Kitto's Scripture Lands, 769.
Kleon, 586.

Know thyself, 78.
Knowledge, progress of, 146.

L., 109, 236, 299, 342, 433.

« AnteriorContinuar »