and people. We may not see it in our time; but should we be spared to witness it, may we be interested in the mediation of our great High Priest! Then our faith will not fail. "To a member of the Committee of the Protestant Association." LITERARY NOTICES. England the Fortress of Christianity. By the Rev. GEORGE CROLY, LL.D. London. 20th thousand. 8vo. pp. 8. THIS is probably the most admirable Protestant tract that has ever issued from the press, the circulation of which has already been attended with very gratifying success. It compendiously sketches the history of England since the Reformation, and incontrovertibly proves by a simple appeal to history, that exactly in proportion as Popery or Protestantism influenced her rulers and directed her policy, did she rise or fall in the scale of nations. The following extract is a fair specimen. "Protestantism was first thoroughly established in England in the reign of Elizabeth. Mary had left a dilapidated kingdom; the nation worn out by disaster and debt; the national arms disgraced; nothing in vigour but Popery. Elizabeth, at twenty-five, found her first steps surrounded with the most extraordinary embarrassments; at home, the whole strength of a party, including the chief names of the kingdom, hostile to her succession and religion; in Scotland, a rival title, supported by France; in Ireland, a perpetual rebellion, inflamed by Rome; on the Continent, the force of Spain roused against her by the double stimulant of ambition and bigotry, at a time when Spain commanded almost the whole strength of Europe. "But the cause of Elizabeth was Protestantism: and in that Sign she conquered. She shivered the Spanish sword; she paralyzed the power of Rome; she gave freedom to the Dutch; she fought the battle of the French Protestants; every eye of religious suffering throughout Europe was fixed on this magnanimous woman. At home, she elevated the habits and the heart of her people. She even drained off the bitter waters of religious feud, and sowed in the vigorous soil, which they had so long made unwholesome, the seeds of every principle and institution that has since grown up into the strength of empire. But her great work was the establishment of Protestantism. Like the Jewish King, she found the Ark of God without a shelter; and she built for it the noblest temple in the world; she consecrated her country into its temple. "She died in the fulness of years and honour; the great Queen of Protestantism throughout the nations; in the memory of England her name and her reign alike immortal." Who would not lift up his heart in fervent prayer to the Almighty, after reading this, and entreat for our beloved Sovereign, that she may be delivered from her present ungodly advisers, and from all Popish influence, that the future historian may have as noble things to record of the reign of Victoria, as are here recorded of the lion-hearted Elizabeth. The Fifth of November; or, The Gunpowder Treason. By the Rev. THOS. LATHBURY, M.A. 12mo. pp. 24. A VERY appropriate tract for distribution on the anniversary of our merciful deliverance from the Satanic plot of the Papists. We cordially recommend it for the most extensive circulation on that memorable day-a day indeed much to be remembered before the Lord, and doubly so in these days of laxity and unchristian apathy, when we are threatened with the resuscitation of the arbitrary power of Popery in all its horrors. We hope sincerely that the Clergy of the Establishment and the Wesleyan Ministers will to a man admonish their flocks from their pulpits on that day. The Protestant Association have determined to commemorate the day with a sermon. The walls of every church in the land should echo on that day, with solemn and earnest appeals to the people, and affectionate warnings to watch and contend faithfully in defence of the great principles of pure and unadulterated Protestantism. CABINET. BISHOP BUTLER'S VIEW OF POPERY.-The value of our religious establishment ought to be very much heightened in our esteem by considering from what it is a security; I mean that great corruption of christianity— Popery, which is ever hard at work to bring us under its yoke. Whoever will consider the popish claims to the disposal of the whole earth as of divine right;-to dispense with the most sacred engagements ;-the claims to supreme, absolute authority in religion;-in short, the general claims which the canonists express by the words "plenitude of power;"-whoever, I say, will consider Popery as it is professed at Rome, may see that it is a manifest and open usurpation of all human and divine authority.— Sermon before the House of Lords, June 16th, 1747, on the day of the King's accession-Geo. 2nd. THE TRUE SPIRIT OF PROTESTANTISM.-The true spirit of Protestantism is no party, bitter, or hostile spirit. Firm in the strength of God, as is the rock, against all the raging waves of papal error and enmity, it is a spirit of real, hearty, and unfeigned love to all papists. It exposes, it protests against, it lifts up its voice with earnestness against that mystery of iniquity, because it endangers their souls as well as our own. Protestants were cheered in their sufferings unto death, in the hope that the eyes of their enemies might be opened, and thus they might be truly converted, as well as their brethren confirmed. We know not true Protestantism if, while we hate the soul-ruining delusion of Popery, we love not also our fellow creatures under the delusion of that wicked one, who comes with all deceivableness of unrighteousness -Bickersteth. INFLUENCE OF POPERY AND PROTESTANTISM.—I will not speak of the contrast which strikes the eye of every traveller, between the Catholic and Protestant cantons of Switzerland. I will not speak of the moral and industrious population of the United Provinces, or tell of their innumerable superiority in virtue and freedom, and all that makes for the superiority or well being of a nation, over the people of Spain, that land once of superstition and despotism-the land of their proud possessors, against whom they nobly revolted, and as nobly triumphed. The lesson may be learned by us nearer home. Literally he who runs may read it in Ireland; and that on a cursory glance, and in the course of a few days' rapid travelling. It is as potent as the light of day, that the same geography which marks off the distinction on the one hand, a land of industry and peace, with a population of thriving families, and on the other, a land teeming with all moral and political disorders a land of mendicity and midnight tumults; where violence is abroad in their streets and highways; and at home, in their wretched hovels, there are found, and most invariably, the filth and the squalid destitution of perhaps the worst conditioned peasantry in Europe. Let us have the names of the Popish and Protestant countries, and we could learn from the map, which is the region of grievous and general distress, of unequalled turbulence, and incessant agitation; and which the region of prosperous industry, of peaceful and orderly habits, and of decent respectable sufficiency, even down to the lowest labourers of the soil. The truth is open to us through many channels, and by various statistics, as the amount of crime and number of commitments in the province of Ulster, when compared with the rest of Ireland-the proportion of military required in these two great departments, to protect from outrage, and to maintain the authority of Government-the vagrancies that meet us every where in the one territory, and as comparatively rarely in the other. These all speak for themselves; and if our statesmen are afraid of the theological question, we ask them to take it up as a matter of policy, and tell us, in the name of all that is dear to Protestantism, whether it were better to have a nation of Papists or a nation of Protestants in that unhappy land. -Dr. Chalmers on Church Establishments, page 122. INTELLIGENCE. WE regret to notice that the Queen has been advised in the course of the present month to create another Popish peer-Mr. Stonor, now Baron Camoys. Mr. More O'Ferrall has been appointed Secretary of the Admiralty; Mr. Shiel, Vice-president of the Board of Trade; Mr. Wyse, one of the Lords of the Treasury-all these gentlemen also are Papists. Mr. Shiel has also been sworn in as a member of the Privy Council. AUXILIARY ASSOCIATIONS.-On the 30th of August, Mr. Eccleston visited Norwich, when an excellent special meeting was held in the Shire Hall, Sir Edward Stracey, Bart., in the chair, and the Norfolk and Norwich Protestant Association was united to our Society. This procedure has had an extraordinary effect on the Eastern Counties, and a great County Association for Suffolk is in progress of formation, which we expect to report in our next. The list of Vice-presidents for Norfolk is very distinguished: President. The Lord Wodehouse, Lord Lieutenant. The Marquis of Douro, M.P. Wm. Lyde Wiggett Chute, Esq. M.P. Sir J. H. Preston, Bart. Sir Edward Stracey, Bart. The Rev. Chancellor Yonge. The Rev. Dr. Proctor. Wm. J. Utten Browne, Esq. Secretary and Treasurer. Sept. 2nd, our Agent established a spirited Auxiliary at East Dereham, under the care of Mr. Hill, Mr. Drake, and Major Loftus, and on the 6th he formed another Branch at Yarmouth. From thence he proceeded to Ipswich and Bury, which, as we have already said, are about to become the centres of two important Associations for East and West Suffolk. The spirit in this part of the country is reported as most excellent, and we are happy to hold up its conduct as an example to surrounding counties. THE MONUMENT.-It is not generally known that the following words are inscribed in one continued line round the base of the pedestal of the Monument: "This pillar was set up in perpetual remembrance of the most dreadful burning of this Protestant city, begun and carried on by the treachery and malice of the Popish faction, in the beginning of September, in the year of our Lord 1666, in order to extirpate the Protestant religion, and the old English liberty, and to introduce Popery and slavery." YORK OPERATIVE PROTESTANT ASSOCIATION.-The second Lecture to this valuable society was delivered in the Merchants' Hall, Fossgate, on Wednesday Evening, Sept. 11th, by the Rev. E. H. Abney, whose very able and powerful address was followed by one of considerable talent by the Rev. Thomas Myers. At the conclusion of the meeting the President, the Rev. Edward Bellerby, stated, that it was intended that another lecture should be delivered in the course of a few weeks, and after that the Rev. Mr. Everett would likewise deliver a lecture. Throughout the entire proceedings the large Hall was crowded by a respectable audience, and all retired highly delighted with the learning, eloquence, and christian zeal displayed by the two clergymen who addressed the meeting. We understand, that since the lecture was delivered about 100 members have been added to the Association. POPERY AND FREE TRADE-We understand that the Lords of the Treasury have issued their warrant, directing the Officers of the Liverpool Custom House to deliver, duty free, (by the Italy from Leghorn,) seven cases of manufactured marble for the Roman Catholic Chapel lately erected at Birkenhead.—Times, Sept. 7th, 1839. PUBLIC SALARIES TO PAPISTS. 1 Sir Michael O'Loghlen, Master of the Rolls a year. £ 5500 .... 2500 5000 3500 3000 2 Mr. Fitzsimon, (his Son-in-law,) Clerk of the Hanaper ....... 7 Mr. More O'Ferrall, Secretary to the Admiralty 18 Mr. P. Costello, Clerk of the Rules of Queen's Bench 800 THE PROCESSION OF CORPUS CHRISTI IN THE PORT OF SPAIN.-You would no doubt feel astonished if you were here on the great feast of Corpus Christi. All that was noble in Church and State contributed to make the religious ceremony grand and imposing. The Governor, Judges, Secretary of State, the Attorney and Solicitor-generals, the honorable the Council of Government, the illustrious the Assembly of Cabida, with all the other authorities, civil and military, attended the High Mass, and walked according to their ranks after the venerable bishop, the Right Rev. Dr. McDonnell, who carried the most blessed sacrament under a canopy-the like of which I never before witnessed, and which was borne by the first men in the island. The church has three aisles, as in your cathedral in Marlborough-street, but much larger in every respect. There was a chair of state at the epistle side of the altar for the Governor, nearly opposite the Bishop's throne, which is far superior to that in the Castle of Dublin, then followed the seats for the other authorities, according to their dignity or rank, the entire 74th regiment was divided into two lines, with officers from top to bottom of the side aisles-all in full uniform, and under arms. When the bell rang to announce the elevation, the entire regiment presented a royal salute, which had a most astonishing effect, but the discharge of artillery which took place outside at the same moment, shook the very pillars of the church. All the artillery in the island was present, and arranged in a grove of trees, which runs nearly half a mile down the middle of one of the principal streets, and this street is headed by the church something the way in which Trinity College faces Dame-street. Along this street, under the shelter, there were a number of altars erected, at each of which the bishop gave a benediction. The procession was headed by the band of the 74th, after which was a splendid choir, and a band of amateurs of the first ladies and gentlemen in the island, who performed on various musical instruments in the church. The soldiers moved in slow time at each side of the procession, to keep off the pressure of the crowd. The order of the procession was as follows. Firstly-the different friendly societies, with the banners on which was printed a representation of their patron saint; secondly, after these followed the different confraternities; thirdly, proceeded an association of the first men in the island, and the brothers of the most blessed sacrament; furthly, the female religious societies, and after them the nuns and their scholars; fifthly, the collegians with their superiors; sixthly, all the catholic clergy of the Port of Spain; seventhly, the catholic bishop under a most magnificent canopy, followed by his excellency the governor, the judges, council of state, Cabido, military and naval officers, &c. The streets were literally paved with roses, and the balcony of every house as we passed showered down Eau de Cologne in such abundance, that it would seem as if it rained a peculiar dew from heaven on the occasion: it is not exaggerating to say, that more than half a ton of wax tapers was burned here on that day in the open streets. SOCINIAN MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT.-We are sorry to observe it stated that Mr. Gregg, the newly elected member for Manchester, is a Socinian. |