Part 4

Gentlemen, I now appeal to you, if it is not evident from what I have advanced in the preceding pages, that the late crusade against Catholics, has been most unjust, and most cruel. If you will seriously, and coolly, and impartially consider what has been advanced, you must be convinced, that all your alarms, and those of many other Englishmen, are mere chimeras of your own imaginations. But if, to some of you, the above reasoning does not appear satisfactory, I am sure it will to every sensible and unbiased Englishman. Englishmen, indeed, like all other nations, have _their faults_, and _their perfections_. In times of general excitement, and of public panic, nothing is too absurd, for their credulity. In the hour of excitement, and of public panic, _pigmies_, appear _giants_ to them, and _mole-hills_, swell into _mountains_. Witness the late railway mania. This mania, spread like wildfire, through the higher, the middle, and even the lower classes, and threw the whole nation, into a fever of excitement. Before their excited imaginations, rose the golden dreams of their _six_, and _eight_, and _ten_ per cent., of railways, as the _best_ and _surest_ investment for their property, in short, as the easiest and most direct means, of turning their mole-hills of money into mountains of gold. _In vain_, were Englishmen warned, and cautioned by _sensible_, and _thinking_ persons, _against_ these _golden_ prospects of their excited imaginations. Convinced, they either _would not_, or _could not_ be. But lo! the mighty bubble burst, and then, to their loss, and sorrow, they both _saw_, and _acknowledged_ the _folly_ of their former excitement, of their _railway golden dreams_.

Again, I say, when Englishmen return to their _cooler_ moments, and _seriously_ reflect, on all the _late hubbub_, about _Pope's Bulls_, and _Guy Fawkes_, and _Gunpowder Plots_, and _Catholic Mummeries and Superstitions_, I feel confident, they will verify the words of Dr. Hughes, the Catholic Prelate of New York, who lately preached in London, on his way to Rome. "I am sure (says this distinguished Prelate,) that this great, and liberal nation, (England) _will_, after this _temporary_ excitement is _over_, _be ashamed_ of their _present_ conduct, and will be _astonished_, how they could _ever think_, of proposing any steps, which tended to _abridge_, the _liberty_ of _any_ portion, of their countrymen, and violate that freedom in religion, which _is their boast_. The (English) Ministry _cannot_ go _one_ step back, upon the track of _persecutions_, if they make but _one_ step, in _that_ direction, they will be _condemned_, by _every liberal_ minded man, and will be looked upon, with _contempt_ by the _rest_ of the nations of the _world_." (Dr. Hughes' Sermon. London, December 1st, 1850.)

Hence we find, that _most_, of the _great_ and _enlightened_ statesmen of _England_, always _boldly_, and _freely_, advocated the freedom, and liberties of the _Catholics_. _As long_, as we retain _any_ respect for genius, and discernment, for Parliamentary eloquence, and political wisdom, the names of Pitt, and of Fox, of Burke, and of Windham, of Canning, and of Peel, will stand _foremost_, in the _public_ estimation. These eminent statesmen, however they might _differ_ on _other_ subjects, concurred in supporting the _cause_ of the _Catholics_. _Their's_ was the conviction of _liberal_, and _enlightened_ minds, who forgot the distinctions of _party_, in their _zeal_, to serve the cause of _justice_, and of _freedom_. Yes, they _well knew_, that the _British_ Constitution, was _not_ a constitution of _restraints_, and _penalties_, that it was _framed_ to preserve the rights of _freemen_, that it was formed, for the _whole_, not for a _part_, and that it was destined, like the sun, to shed its benign influence _upon all_. And _hence_, they knew, that they could not _better_ consult its _prosperity_ and _stability_, than by fearlessly, and manfully battling, for _equal_ rights, and _equal_ justice _to all_.

Gentlemen, I must now beg leave to retire, as my presence is required, in a _more august_ assembly. You know, your address to the Magistrates for calling a meeting, &c., was _headed_ by certain Protestant Ministers, and you know also, that most of their fellow labourers in the vineyard, of the Protestant Church, have been most _active_, and _zealous_ in the _late_ crusade against the _Catholics_. Now, to pass over these reverend gentlemen with _silent_ contempt, would be, in my humble opinion, an act of great _incivility_, and _disrespect_ on _my_ part; and which, _they_ might perhaps consider, _a most extraordinary_, and _presumptuous movement_, on _my_ part; I beg leave, gentlemen, therefore, to adjourn to this _august_ assembly, and as I shall have to show these reverend gentlemen, what "an extraordinary and presumptuous movement," _their Protestant_ Church, has been making, _for a long time_, on the _pockets_, and on the _intellects_ of Englishmen, I shall be very glad, if you will accompany me, and see verified the poetical words of my two texts, annexed to my first _little_ address to you--

"I would you had been there to see How the light blazed up so gloriously."

"And then in naked majesty, With brow serene, and beaming placid light, Came truth."

FOOTNOTES:

[A] Lingard's Anglo-Saxon, vol. 1, p. 189, 190.

[B] Macaulay, tells us, that the number of Roman Catholics is not fewer than 150,000,000, and that it would be difficult to shew that all the other Christian sects united, amount, to 120,000,000. I quite agree with his words, "not fewer," and "it would be difficult to shew;" for upon an accurate calculation, it would be found that the Catholics amount nearer to 200,000,000, than to 150,000,000, and that all the other Christian sects, united into one body, are nearer 100,000,000, than 120,000,000. However, Macaulay's statement is quite sufficient to prove what we have cited it for, viz:--that the Roman Catholics are the greatest body of Christians, and therefore have the best title to the ancient and honourable name of Catholic.

[C] In the Apostle's Creed, _we all_ profess to believe in the _Holy Catholic_ Church. Now, if this is not _our_ Church, I would ask, what Church _is it_? Is it the collection of sects which have sprung from the Reformation? But, then, it would not be _Catholic_, for as they are the smaller number, they cannot claim universality. Is it the Theological hodge-podge, the farrago of all the religions, which believe in the Gospel? Then it cannot be _Holy_, for we should form the _principal_ part of it, and you know, the immaculate Church of England tells us, our doctrines are idolatrous. I really think, people had better leave us in the _quiet_ possession of our old inheritance, the honourable and ancient name of Catholic, and _then_ they would avoid the above ridiculous consequences.

[D] I have sometimes been asked, and the question has sometimes been slyly popped to me, and to others, by certain limbs of the law, if I was a _Jesuit_? I answer first, that I have not the honour to belong to that learned, and much calumniated body, the Jesuits. I answer secondly, I perfectly understood the _sly_ drift of these _questions_, and _inuendoes_. It was as good as to say, "Jesuitism is a strange compound of all kinds of tricks and quirks, and of mental reservations, and deceptions. Now this little spectacle fellow, is one of them, and therefore, he is up to all the Jesuitical trade, and is a perfect specimen of it. Nay, I believe, that he could slyly board us with his Jesuitical tricks, _even_ while we were looking on." Well, one good turn certainly deserves another. And now, I must as politely as I can, tell these limbs of the law, that if I am to judge of the law from the little, that I have really seen, and know about _them_, and that if Jesuitism be _really_, what they _imagine_ it is, and if the whole of England ever became Catholic, and then, from Catholicism jumped to Jesuitism, in this case, I certainly think that these limbs of the law, will not have to study, the celestial arts of Jesuitism, as pourtrayed in their own imagination; for they will be _already_, perfectly dubbed masters of Israel in that art, and they will certainly occupy distinguished places, in the various departments of _mental reservations_, pious frauds, and charitable tricks and quirks upon their neighbour's pockets. Really this reminds me of Paddy, who had just arrived from Ireland, and was _sneeringly_ asked by a _busy_ Englishman, what kind of a crop of Murphies, they had had in Ireland? Pat had a shillalah in his hand, he up with it, knocked down the Englishman, and said; "And sure your honour, we have had a very good crop of Murphies, and you may know it by the feel, for that is the stalk of one." Now, I hope these limbs of the law, will not be offended at me for taking up my spectacle shillalah, and just politely flooring them, for their _Jesuitical inuendoes_ and _mental reservations_ in my regard. I hope they will not be offended, at my defending myself, for their own profession will teach them, that every one is allowed fair play, whether he be a metamorphosed calumniated Jesuit, or a limb of the law in the body of a man's pocket. But far be it from me to adopt their extensive, and sweeping mode of argumentation, viz., the law of the land is a heap of deceptions, and tricks, now such a man is a lawyer, therefore he must be a sleight-of-hand gentleman in that art. Before I make this sweeping conclusion, I ought _first_, to examine seriously, and carefully, if the law _really is_, this strange compound of deceptions, and I ought then, to examine and really know, that this lawyer has really acted according to this deception, I ought to do this, before I condemn him personally, or open the flood-gates of condemnation on the whole respectable body of lawyers. This is the argumentation which reason and justice tell me I ought to adopt. Now just let these limbs of the law, adopt this line of argumentation with regard to Jesuitism and Jesuits, and then, they will be both limbs of the law, and limbs of fair play.

[E] But some one will perhaps inquire, does the Protestant Church consider _your_ Catholic Ministers _really_ ordained? I reply she does, for were any Catholic Priest to go over to the Protestant Church, she would not ordain him. And why? Because the Protestant Church got her ordinations (if she has any) from us, and to question _our_ ordination, would be to strike at the foundation of _her own_.

[F] "Catholicity, which has been this night, the subject of so much abuse, has been the belief of the most extensive, and enlightened nations in Europe, and of the most illustrious characters, that ever did honour to the name of man."--(Speech of Lord Hutchinson in the House of Lords, May 10th, 1805.)

[G] The following are the words of Mr. Cobbett, a protestant, writer respecting the introduction of the Protestant religion into these realms. "The Queen (Elizabeth) reigned for forty five years, and these forty-five years, were spent in deeds of such cruelty, as the world had never heard of, or read of before; and all for the purpose of compelling her people, to submit to this established (Protestant) Church. With regard to the cruelties of this monster, in woman's shape, her butcherings, her rippings up, her tearing out of the bowels of her subjects, her torments of every description, in which she was always cordially supported, by the lawgiving makers of the (Protestant) prayer book, I must refer the reader, to my history of the Protestant reformation; suffice it to say (here), that in these forty-five years, which were employed in the establishing of this Church, there were more cruelty, more bloodshed, more suffering, than ever were witnessed in the world, in any other country in a like period of time." (Cobbett's Legacy to Parsons, p. 38.)

AN ADDRESS

TO THE

CLERGYMEN OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND.

"A marvellous project, (is) i'faith, and a merry jest withal!"

MOST REVEREND GENTLEMEN,

You cannot be _surprised_, that I have _not_ taken my text from the _Scripture_, for many of you tell the people, that we _Catholic_ Clergymen wish to conceal from the people that sacred volume. To have, therefore, taken my text from the _Scripture_ for the _sake_ of the _people_, would be like falsifying your words, and to have quoted it for your instructions, would have been most presumptuous on my part, as every one knows you are masters of Israel, both in word and deed, in the knowledge of that sacred volume. Had I, therefore, been so presumptuous as to have quoted Scripture for _your_ information, you might have perhaps addressed me in the words of the Poet--

"Ye Popish blockheads, mitred Cambridge cries, Begone; I and my friends alone are wise, Rich with the spoils of Babylon, 'tis fit That _we_ should claim monopoly of wit."

Well, among the great diffusion of biblical knowledge, which has been so _gloriously_ spread among the people by your Scriptural Church, as by Law established, I happened one day _fortunately_ to hear, that you Reverends often told the people, that there was a golden and heavenly rule in the Scriptures, viz.:--_that they were never to do unto others, what they would not wish others to do unto them_. Now we cannot for a moment suppose, that like spiritual guide-posts, _you_ would wish to inculcate this golden rule to _others_, and not follow it _yourselves_. Well then, you have been _lately_ trying to arouse the indignation of the people, by informing them in the most _dignified_ manner, that the Pope of Rome has just made a most "extraordinary, and presumptuous movement" on the Protestants of England. Now what shall we say, if it turn out, that you and _your Reverend_ Protestant ancestors, have for a long time been making a "most extraordinary, and presumptuous movement" on the _pockets_, and on the _intellects_ of Englishmen?

Let us then proceed to examine _coolly_, and _calmly_, the above points. I will endeavour, most Reverend Gentlemen, to discuss these points with as much temper, and forbearance as I possibly can. But, you must remember, that _you_ and many of _your_ Reverend body, have been endeavouring to convict, _without ceremony_, the _numerous_ and _respectable_ Catholic body of England, of the crimes of wishing to extend their _popish spiritual_ and _temporal_ domination over the Protestants of England. For this purpose, your zealous and Reverend body have, with pious industry, raked together the filth of ancient controversy, and poured it _without mercy_ on the heads of Catholics, and on that Church, of which it is my pride to be a minister. Now, Reverend Gentlemen, _you_, who deal so copiously in hard words, certainly ought not to complain, if you should happen sometimes, to meet with them in return. If _you_ demand respect from _others_, you ought certainly to respect a _more numerous body_ of Christians, (I mean the Catholic Christian world,) who have no reason to think themselves, your inferiors in talent, learning, or judgment. Well then, let us now proceed to the discussion of the above two points.

Most Reverend Gentlemen, in a book (but _mind_ not the _Scripture_) called the _extraordinary_ Black Book, published in London in the year 1831, by Effingham Wilson, Royal Exchange, I find the following statement of the income of the Church of England as by Law established. Of course, I am aware, that certain changes have been made by Government (since the publication of the above book) as to the amount of individual incomes, but the _aggregate_ sum is still absorbed by the Protestant Church, as by Law established. Well then, in the above-mentioned, extraordinary Black Book, I find the various incomes of the Church of England there stated, and would you believe it! they form a sum of money, TO THE TUNE _of nine millions, four hundred and fifty-two thousands, five hundred and sixty-five pounds per annum_.

Now let us see, how well the Bishops, and Archbishops of the Reformation, have thriven on the above _spiritual_ food. The following is an extract from the probate duty returns, and of course, must be _real_ testimony as to the _worth_ of these _poor in spirit_ children, when they awoke "in that undiscovered country, from whose bourne no traveller returns."

EXTRACT FROM PROBATE OF WILLS.

L Stopford, Bishop of Cork, left his family 25,000 Percy, Bishop of Dromore 40,000 Cleaver, Bishop of Ferns 50,000 Bernard, Bishop of Limerick 60,000 Knox, Bishop of Killaloe 100,000 Fowler, Archbishop of Dublin 150,000 Beresford, Archbishop of Tuam 250,000 Porter, Bishop of Clogher 250,000 Hawkins, Bishop of Raphoe 250,000 Agur, Archbishop of Cashel 400,000 Bishop Warburton 500,000

Now just add up the above items, and then, you will see that these _Protestant_ Bishops and Archbishops, _after_ maintaining themselves, their wives and families, left _behind_ them, according to the probate duty returns, _no less than the enormous sum of two millions and seventy-five thousand pounds sterling_. Really, when these _mammon-godly_ souls entered the gates of heaven, with all these paraphernalia of gold, how amazed must the celestial inmates have been! They would wonder whence these _golden_ spirits came, but of this they would be convinced, that they must have come from the land of the _living_, and had certainly _piously_ reformed the words of the Scripture, "Blessed are the poor in spirit," and really verified the words of my text, "What a _marvellous_ project is faith, and a _merry_ jest withal!"

So far, Reverend Gentlemen, I think the people will begin to conclude, that your Reverend body has, for some time, been making a most "extraordinary and presumptuous movement" on the _pockets_ of Englishmen, and would to heaven! I could stop here. But I must _now_ show the people of England, that _your Protestant_ Church as by Law established, is receiving more money by _four hundred and fifty-three thousands, five hundred and sixty-five pounds_, than all the other Christian churches in the _whole_ world. The above _extraordinary_ Black Book, gives a scale of the _comparative_ expenses of the Church of _England_, and of all the other _Christian_ churches in the _whole_ world. Now by this scale, it is shown that the _total_ income of all the Christian churches in the various parts of the world, is eight millions nine hundred and ninety-nine thousand pounds; and the above scale shows, that the income of the Church of _England_, is nine millions, four hundred and fifty-two thousands, five hundred and sixty-five pounds. Now, if you will just place the _smaller_ of these under the _larger_ number, and subtract the one from the other, you will see that the _income_ of the Protestant Church _in England_, exceeds the total income of _all_ the other _Christian_ churches in the whole world, by _four hundred and fifty-three thousands, five hundred and sixty-five pounds_. Oh, mighty England! thou boastest, _and justly_, that thy majestic fleet rides on the waves, the triumphant mistress of the seas; and thou mayest also _as truly_, but not _so justly_, boast, that thy _Scriptural_ Church, as by Law _established_, rides triumphant on the _golden_ waves of _mammon_, and that she is _really mistress_ of the world, _in point of mammon_; she is _truly_ the _grand_ and _golden_ emporium of _clerical_ incomes. Oh, how justly may the ministers of this Church, address her, as their golden calf, in these words of the Scripture, "Where _thou_ goest, _I_ will go; and where _thou_ lodgest, _I_ will lodge; and _thy_ people shall be _my_ people." (Ruth i. 16.) "Yea! and we will kill the fatted calf, and slay the rams, and make _merry_." (Prov. v. 9.)