proceedings of the Board in the months of November and December, in that year, and it will there be seen that the leading members of the Board, not the Laity, were publicly engaged. in the discussion of spiritual con cerns. Look at the unprincipled and irreligious resolution passed through the exertions of a few acting dema gogues of this body on the 24th of the latter month, and it will be found that these men had the wicked folly to presume to repeal an article of Ca tholic faith.-The resolution hinted at, is that whereby the Board solemn ly disclaims the Catholic principle, that there is only ONE TRUE CHURCH, by unanimously declar

become a matter of serious discussion, whether a solemn decision of the Head of the Church, on a question of spiritual concernment, though it should issue from that authority, and be received by the bishops, shall not be resisted by laymen." Now, with all due deference to the acute abilities of the Irish Catholic Press, I really feel myself at a loss, after what has actually occurred, and been recorded in its columns, to find an excuse for the gross error into which it has fallen. Mr. Ryan is charged with the crime of accusing the LAITY of Ireland of assuming to themselves an authority to repeal an article of faith-and further, of associating the clergy with them in usurping the ex-ing that the sentiments contained in a clusive rights of the episcopacy. But by what species of logic this charge can be substantiated, from the words he has used, I am unable to conjecture. The preacher evidently alludes to the shamful and disgraceful proceedings of the Catholic Board at the latter end of the year 1813; proceedings which I should have been happy to have seen condemned by the Catholic Press with the same zeal and animation which it has mistakenly exercised in censuring the richly-merited reproaches of the preacher.That Mr. Ryan referred to the Board, and not to the Laity, is beyond dispute; because he adds, that the Catholic voice of Ireland rebuked the act which includes both clergy and Jaity. Neither does he allude to the clergy in saying that the spirit which still governs the acting members of the Board actually proceeds to usurp the exclusive rights of the episcopacy, because he expressly mentions laymen at the end of the sentence. Let the Press refer to its own columns at the period above stated, and it will find that the reverend preacher was perfectly borne out in his assertion that his audience had seen meetings composed of mere laymen, assuming an authority which the church cannot claim; an authority to repeal an article of faith."-Let it refer to the

speech delivered by the highly-talented Dr. Dromgole, in which he strongly defended this principle, were not the sentiments of the Board. This rene gade measure I strongly condemned in my Journal for January, 1814, and it drew forth, at the same time, the sarcastic contempt of the free Protest ant Press, which commiserated the forlorn state of the Catholic cause, when its managing advocates thought "it wise to BELIE their own creed! Conscious of the disgrace which this dastardly proceeding had entailed upon the body; an act, which, with all its follies and intrigues, the Eng lish Board cannot be charged with an attempt was made by some honour, able and irreproachable members to rescind the infamous resolution; cordingly another discussion took place on the 2d of March following, when the declaration was again con firmed by a majority of fifteen to twelye. Thus, after “ repeated deliberations," a few rash men had the dastardly and presumptuous" spirit to send forth to the world, as the solemn act of the body, which was supposed to be the organ of the Catholics of Ireland, a DISAVOWAL of an essential tenet of our faith. But the "the Catholic voice of Ireland, rebuked the act," The shameful conduct of the Board was viewed with

66

fac

indignation and contempt by the peo- | Chronicle, after relating the conduct ple; its future proceedings were re- of the signing clergy in regard to the ceived with suspicion, the natural con- rescript, produces the humble and sequence of a dereliction of principle; respectful solicitation of these good and when the arm of power was rais- and deserving priests to their arched to overthrow it, the public saw it bishop, praying him to remonstrate fall unpitied and unnoticed.-So far, against the document. But what has then, the preacher is borne out by the this to do with the subject? This evidence of facts; there is now ano- evidence is completely foreign to the ther charge to notice, in which an question, and has no more connexion equal degree of misconception is per- with it than it has to the merits of the ceptible, as in that on which I have late charge imputed to Judge Day.been treating. This charge is ground- The censure of the reverend preacher ed on the following words used by was not levelled against the "few rash the preacher. "The distinguished men,' ," whoever they were, but against prelate, who has so long governed their ABETTORS, who presumed to this diocese, has been denounced by dictate to their bishops, and who des the abettors of a few rash men, who nounced him as a man ready to bepresume to dictate to their bishop tray the most sacred interests of reliregarding a subject on which they are gion, from the basest motives of corbound to learn of him; he has been ruption. That Archbishop Troy has denounced as a man ready to betray been so denounced by the Press, is as the most sacred interests of religion, notorious as the sun at noon-day; but and to betray them from motives of no one will have the hardihood to say, the basest corruption." These ob that a single individual among the servations of the preacher have been clergy of his diocese would attribute construed into an attack upon those such base motives to the venerable spirited clergymen who agreed to and prelate. It therefore could not be the signed the Bridge-street resolutions. clergy to whom Mr. Ryan alluded; -It is said, 66 no man can mistake, for they had neither calumniously deindeed, no man affects to mistake the nounced nor presumptuously dictated objects of this charge, or the persons to their bishop. Who, then, were particularly contemplated by the these rash men and their abettors?Words a few rash men!' It is Refer to the columns of the public known, in fact, that they were in- press, and it requires but a small share tended to apply to the Catholic priests of common sense and candour to disof Dublin in particular, and, of course, cern that the preacher meant not the to all the other priests of Ireland, Bridge-street clergymen, but the who did as they did.-Whether the blustering orators, the empty-headed preacher did or did not allude to the demagogues, who flourish away at Dublin clergy, (he has denied that he public meetings, and their abettors in did so,) the only crime that he can an uncandid and sarcastic press;be guilty of towards them, consists in "the partizans of a few whom prosterming their conduct rash, and sure-perity has corrupted; who live, (says y this is not of sufficient magnitude the preacher) in contemptuous neglect to justify the abusive invectives of those duties which the Catholic rewhich have been poured upon him by the Press. But no man, it is said, can mistake the objects of this charge. Indeed, I think that they have been most completely mistaken, by the idence which has been brought forFard to substantiate it. Now, what is this evidence. The Mercantile

ligion enjoins as necessary to the attainment of salvation; WHOSE TONGUES PROFESS A FAITH WHICH THEIR LIVES DISCLAIM." The preacher, by this description of their characters, having clearly shewn that it was to the unprincipled members of our communion that he pointed his censures,

is it not astonishing that such a mis- | reprehend the calumniators of hi

conception should be put upon his words, as to contend that the charge was made against the signing clergy? For myself, I should as soon have thought that the preacher alluded, in this passage of his sermon, to the con gregation of Propaganda, as to the meeting in Bridge-street chapel; and I cannot help expressing a considerable degree of amazement, that the clergy themselves should fall into this self-convicting mistake, by referring to the identical passage in their memorial to the bishop, as containing a censure upon their conduct. That the character of Dr. Troy has been unjustly traduced; that the motives which govern his public conduct, have been uncandidly canvassed, and uncharitably condemned, I feel perfectly satisfied; for I never can be led to believe that the divine, who, through a long and arduous ministry, has maintained a private character of unsullied hue, for the breath of calumny has never dared to soil it, would consent to barter the sacred rights of his religion for the most worthless of all reasons-worldly advantages.- -Besides, it is next to impossible that Dr. Troy can be guilty of such a dereliction of principle as the brawling demagogues for emancipation charge him with. In England he is known only to be hated, for his strong attachment to, and able defence of, the doctrines of the Catholic church, by the enemies of our divine faith; and is it likely that he, who has raised himself foes by the conscientious discharge of his duty, would, now the ebb of life will shortly oblige him to resign his stewardship into the hands of his divine Master, foolishly consent to sell his trust for a mess of potage, and consign himself to eternal perdition. The charge is too inconsistent, rash, and irreligious, to be entertained by any unprejudiced Catholic; yet such an one has been made against the venerable Archbishop, and it has been deemed a heinous crime by the Catholic Press for a Catholic Clergyman to

Bishop from the pulpit. O the times O the manners!-Having clearly, an I trust satisfactorily, shewn to my read ers the lamentably erroneous opinio which the public mind of Ireland h imbibed respecting the denounced pa sages of this sermon, through t means of the Press, I shall conclu with observing that the Catholic e tors would be much better employ in stemming the torrent of abuse whi their enemies are daily heaping up their ever-to-be-venerated Clergy, th in misrepresenting the actions of t lented individuals of that sacred orde To the liberty of the Press I am devoted friend; to its licentiousness I am a determined enemy. The one is essentially necessary to the suppor of a free constitution; the other neve can serve the cause of civil society on the contrary, it is equally permis cious to both religion and moralit To discuss the conduct of public po tical characters; to condemn the a tions of mercenary and selfish poli cians, and to expose the intrigues those who would barter their country rights for the sake of aggrandizi themselves; in short, to censure mee sures and not men, is a legitimate ject of the press, which ought tol exercised for the benefit of the pe ple. But to stigmatize and expose th private transactions of an individual because that individual may happen to differ in opinion, not as to principle but only as to method, is an abuse the press, which cannot be too stron ly condemned. Let then the Cathol editors confine themselves to matte purely temporal. The clergy are î vested with rights sufficient to prote their own independence. Let no therefore, the laity usurp a dictatio over the ecclesiastical authority; follow the example of their illustriou hierarchy, which has never interfere with the temporal privileges of th people. Let each authority be kep separate and independent of the other, as they were intended to be by out Divine Legislator; and let it be ob

b

red, that a democratical Veto, in the hands of the Press, will be far more fatal to the Catholic religion in these realms, than an aristocratical one would be in the possession of the Executive.

part, I would recommend a memorial somewhat more substantial than an address on a piece of parchment; for example, a beautifully ornamented crosier, or a valable piece of plate to decorate the episcopal chapel of the Midland district. And in order that the sentiments of the Catholics should be generally expressed, I would propose that the subscriptions towards the fund to be raised for this purpose, should be limited to any sum, not exceeding half-a-crown, nor less than one shilling. A list of the subscribers' names and places of abode to be neat

DR. MILNER. This great luminary and ornament of the Church is arrived England after an absence from this country of twelve months. The eminent virtues, of this learned divine, preceded the venerable prelate in his travels, and he was received at Rome with all the honours due to his exaltedly transcribed, and presented to the and great qualifications. The rescript good Bishop at the time he receives of M. Quarantotti is totally laid aside, the proposed token of gratitude for and was universally disapproved of, his exalted services. On the other as an unauthorised and indefensible hand, should the Right Rev. Prelate document. In another part of this condescend to gratify the wishes of the number will be found a letter from a Catholics of this kingdom, and perCorrespondent in Yorkshire, request- mit his likeness to be taken to be put ing me to open a subscription for a into the hands of the engraver, I portrait of this great character, in would suggest two different plates, to order to mark the high estimation in accommodate all classes of subscribers. which the truly-good Bishop is held Thus the faithful adherents of the true every sincere Catholic in the em-religion would possess the likeness of pire.-It has also been hinted to me, one of its most stout and able defendthat an Address to the Right Rev. Doc-ers, as a remembrance of his eminent for would be advisable, congratulat- virtues; and thus the venerable Bishop ing him on his great exertions in the would receive one of the most gratiCause of religion, the ardent zeal ex-fying compliments which the Catholics hibited by him for the purity of its could bestow, and it would be handed discipline, in his journey to Rome to down to his successors as a stimulus protest against the obnoxious pro- for them to imitate the same ardent, ceedings of the Catholic Board, and courageous, and disinterested conduct the detestable rescript approved of by in defence of the Catholic faith.Some of its members, and on the suc- That some respectable characters will cessful accomplishment of his mission take the subject in hand, I trust I and his happy return to his native shall be able to announce in my next country. That something should be number. For my own part, despising done to mark the high opinion which all party views, and having nothing the Catholic public entertain of the more at heart than to render every transcendent abilities of Dr. Milner, assistance to support and promote the as a divine, a statesman, a scholar, interests of the Catholic Church, by and a gentleman, but more particu- holding out for public admiration its larly for his indefatigable and unpa- brightest and most faithful ornaments, ralleled exertions to preserve to us whether of the Clergy or the Laity, untainted the honourable and unim- looking to the actions and not to the paired title of CATHOLIC, is beyond men, I shall feel myself bound to codispute, and the only thing to be de- operate in any measure which may cided on is, the manner in which it is tend to promote these desirable ends, to be carried into execution. For my and shall be ready to listen to any ORTHOD. JOUR. VOL. III.

2A

suggestions which may be made to- | ney, &c." When I read this, I

wards accomplishing the above purpose. WM. EUSEBIUS ANDREWS. London, May 24, 1815.

EVANS'S

SKETCH OF RELIGIONS.

For the Orthodox Journal.

gan to suspect, that the autho liberality had urged him on, in imit tion of his "great and good" prot type, M. Luther, to throw aside decalogue; if not, let him rememb that it contains this clause, "T shalt not bear false witness agai thy neighbour." In fact, the wh paragraph is a barefaced calum and any Catholic child, that und stands his catechism, will convi Mr. Evans of the truth of wha affirm.

In his article, The Reformati speaking of the middle ages, wh he contemptuously denominates "dark ages," (although the mo magnificent specimens of genius, an the most noble and useful invention of the human mind were effected di ring those ages) he says, that trat substantiation, worship (an imprope term, religious respect would be be ter,) of images, purgatory," &c.& were introduced during those ages. Mr. E. when he wrote this, really lieved what dropped from his can only parallel his ignorance in clesiastical knowledge, and the w ings of the fathers, to that of the p

pen

MR. EDITOR,-A few days ago, 1 accidentally met with this little volume, and naturally turned to that article in which I found myself most interested. I found what I expected. Instead of that effective candour and liberality of which the author makes so gorgeous and specious a display, I found little else but the most palpable ignorance, the most noxious calumnies and misrepresentations. The author seems to have viewed the Catholic religion in the same manner as a man with blare eyes views the sun through the lowerings of the storm. As the gross calumnies and misrepresentations of the doctrines of the Catholic church, which the author has thought proper to disseminate through the world, will tend, not only to revive the expiring embers of illiberality and ill-will towards Catholics in ge-litical champion of the day, Mr. Co neral, but also to deteriorate the com- bett, who, in "huge dismay," mon sense and accurate knowledge of lies breathless and weltering in his readers; especially, as brotherly gore, prostrate at your feet. love and candour seem to be the peIn his Sketch of Catholicity, riod of almost every sentence, I have E. has thrown aside his mask of liber ventured to make a few remarks, by ality, and the very first word he maker way of antidote, against the poison use of is an insult. Perhaps he doe of the serpent that lies concealed within not know, that it was a term of re this basket of artificial roses. With proach affixed to Catholics, by one what accuracy the author has sketched the most infamous and abandone the doctrine of other denominations, characters that are to be found in th themselves must be the judge; for annals of enthusiasm and impiety, this principle must be conceded, that Luther. But Mr. E. knew the charac every man must know what his own ter of his countrymen too well; an religious tenets are, full as well as his to destroy the sale of his book, by al neighbour. ways telling the truth, was not th Mr. Evans, in his Essay on En-end for which he wrote it. thusiasm and Superstition, page 68, says, There was a time when the building a church, &c. was deemed a sufficient atonement for sin, &c.; that the pardon of sins was offered for mo

Mr

He knew

that his countrymen would believe any thing about the Catholic Religion but truth; and, however willing Mr. E. was to affix the odious epithet "pa pist" to the Catholic name, he seems