Page images
PDF
EPUB

according to all appearance it will soon be increased. There are three others of the same kind in Turkey, at Constantinople, at Trébizonde, and Ada-Baza; all equally opposed by the Armenian priests, but in vain. On the first Sunday of September last, ten persons were admitted into the bosom of the Church at Constantinople.-L'Esperance, Jan. 7, 1847. PROTESTANTISM IN POLAND.— This country, which formerly contained so many Protestants, at the present time has only 200,000 in a population of 4,800,000, of which about 600,000 are Jews, and 100,000 members of the Greek Church. Of these Protestants, about a-third are Polish, and speak that language; the rest are composed of foreigners, who have settled in the country at various periods. There are fifty-two ministers, whose congregations are widely dispersed. In this number of ministers are included nine or ten missionaries who labour for the evangelization of the Jews. The city of Warsaw has two churches, the one Reformed, the other Lutheran. All the other (Protestant) churches belong to the Church called Evangelical, and are under the direction of a General Consistory, the members of which are resident at Warsaw, and have much influence with the Government, but are, for the most part, Neologian, and not very favourable to the progress of the Gospel. The Protestants of Poland are subjected to the hostility of the Romish population, continually excited against them by their priests, who say, that if the last revolution had succeeded, all the Protestants would have been exterminated.—Ibid.

PROTESTANT CHURCH AT FRIBOURG.-At the present moment, when the political movements which are rending Switzerland have drawn particular attention to Fribourg, our readers will learn with much interest that in that city of convents and

[ocr errors]

priests, where the reign of Jesuitism is so absolute, there exists a Protestant Church, which, under the present circumstances, ought to excite our strongest sympathies. The "Feuille Protestante Genevoise states, that the church of Fribourg was founded in 1836, and is in a flourishing state, under the care of a young and pious Bernois minister. Every Sunday, worship is celebrated, in the morning in German, and in the evening in the French language, both of which are well attended.Ibid., Jan. 21.

CANTON DE VAUD.-The (Infidel) Government of this country continues, whether directly or by its agents, to be animated by the most hostile spirit towards those who have acted according to their religious convictions. Mr. Cook, an English Wesleyan pastor, well known and respected in France and Switzerland, on the 22d of December last, received an order to quit the canton, although there was nothing in his conduct to justify such treatment. M. Bonnard, one of the dismissed ministers, has been deprived of the office of Professor, which he held in the College of Nyon. Two others of the dismissed pastors, because they refused to bear arms and take part in military exercises, have been condemned, the one to two, the other to eight days' imprisonment.—Ibid.

CALCUTTA.-The

Jesuits established at Calcutta have been recalled by order of their Superior, and have disinterred and taken with them the body of one of their Order. It is not known what will be done with the college they founded, and which remains closed. We know not what may be the motive of this measure, but one of the journals says, that they hope to acquire in this country (France) the absolute power which they are seeking to obtain elsewhere. -Ibid.

Macintosh, Printer, Great New Street, London.

PROTESTANT MAGAZINE.

APRIL, 1847.

ROMISH PROCESSIONS.-MORTMAIN LAWS.-BILLS OF LORD JOHN MANNERS AND MR. WATSON IN FAVOUR OF POPERY.

IN the April number of our Magazine for last year, we congratulated our readers on the defeat of a Bill brought in by Lord John Manners, for altering the mortmain laws, or the laws which regulate the disposition of real property for pious and charitable purposes. We assured them at the same time of the Noble Lord's intention to bring forward the matter again. He has done so; and we hope that the present Bill of the Noble Lord will meet with a fate similar to the last.

As regards Mr. Watson's Bill, that also was before the House last session, much in the same way as now it is.

Each of these Bills is in favour of Popery; each, though brought in by Protestants, tending partly to pull down and demolish Protestant securities, to build up the strongholds of Popery, and prepare the way for once again subjecting the wealth, the feelings, the minds of Englishmen, to the inquisitorial sway and the galling dominion of Italian intrigue and Papal usurpation. Mr. Watson's Bill, if it pass at all into a law, will pass only in a very modified way. A change has taken place for the better in the popular tone of feeling as concerns Popery. Protestants begin to see that the cry of Roman Catholics that they are persecuted, is a false one; that it has been raised for the worst of purposes; and under its friendly shelter, Rome has been gradually making advances, by which she is now seeking to overawe the British Cabinet, to intimidate Protestants, and secure a controlling power in the State. We have often set forth the grounds on which we oppose Popery, and the feelings and spirit in which such opposition should be carried on. We oppose it,

1. Because it is opposed to the revealed will of God, as contained in his written Word.

2. Because it is opposed to those civil privileges, and that national independence and prosperity, which have so long and so signally blessed our country.

If we betray our cause by surrendering the first of these principles, we may look in vain for good to result to us from the second. Those who honour God, he will honour, individually— nationally. Those who would derogate from his power and attributes, or place human policy and worldly interests before his glory, will find-oh! may it not be seen too late,-that they have alienated from them the blessing of Him, without whom all human efforts are comparatively worthless. New Series, No. 15.

VOL. IX.-April, 1847.

We, as a Christian people, have too much sought our own glory; and have even fondly imagined we could secure national peace, by attempting to unite with a system directly opposed to his Word. Hence we have been all but vanquished by a foe whom we despised, and our laws and institutions seem crumbling into dust before the anile superstitions of the Church of Rome.

We would remind our readers, that the laws hereby intended to be repealed, were not framed with the view of persecuting Roman Catholics on account of their religion, as suggested by the title of this Bill of Mr. Watson, but to protect the empire from the intrigues of those who, under pretence of religion, sought to overturn, as they are now seeking to do, the Protestant institutions of the empire.

The present Bill differs from that introduced last year. It does not propose to allow Roman Catholic Archbishops, &c., to assume the titles of Protestant Archbishops, &c., in England. If, however, it pass, even as now brought in, it will not only repeal the Act of Supremacy, it will legalize Romish processions in our streets-the establishment of Jesuit and monastic orders.

These processions, whether of the host, or in honour of some saint of Rome, being once made lawful, those who interrupt by too strong an expression of horror and dislike at the idolatrous ceremonies, may be accused, and, for anything we know, convicted of disturbing the peace, especially when Rome shall be at once the accuser, the witness, and the judge.

And thus Protestants will be compelled to witness these idolatrous ceremonies; and when excited at beholding such outrages upon the common sense and faculties of perception which God himself has given-such violation of scriptural principles-such departures from primitive Christianity-such dangerous and soul-destroying errors openly put forward, and blazoned in the face of day, shall attempt to offer any obstruction, they will find that the arm of the law is paralyzed, that it may have power to punish, but has none to protect them in abating so great a nuisance.

Will not the Right Reverend Bishop of London, who has so often endeavoured to prevent the homage of Great Britain being rendered to the idolatrous ceremonies in India, will he not call upon the clergy? Will he not himself powerfully interfere to arouse every feeling of true religion into active, prayerful, practical operation against such efforts to inundate this land of missions with the idolatrous practices of the Church of Rome?

Let Protestants who feel bound to obey the laws and powers that be, take care that those laws be good, or they will find themselves ere long entrapped; and what many regard as the cobweb power of Popery, of too formidable a kind for them to escape from it.

A slight consideration of the provisions of these Bills will convince any impartial investigator that the real object is not

to remove any practical grievance affecting the conscience of Roman Catholics, but to give them a legal right to insult the feelings, and do violence to the conscientious and religious scruples of Protestants.

Our friends will find that Rome has got further on the road to ascendancy than many of them think for. On the subject of Lord John Manners' Bill we were recently favoured with some very important suggestions from one who has had opportunity of hearing and seeing something of the practical workings of Popery abroad. The following is the communication referred to:

"Dear Sir,—It is with the deepest regret and anxiety I find that Lord John Manners has obtained leave to bring in his Bill for the alteration of the Mortmain Laws. I have been professionally informed that one of the most painful offices that lawyers are called upon to perform is the drawing up of wills for the dying, whom disease has rendered incapable of so serious a duty. Can no Member be induced to demand that a Committee be appointed to examine medical men and lawyers as to the state of men's minds in general previous to death, and that a report be made upon it in the House, and that the reading of Lord J. Manners' Bill be deferred until such statistic information be obtained as shall better qualify the Members to decide on so momentous a question.

"When we reflect upon the number of diseases which entirely incapacitate the mind before they destroy life, and how much sickness in general enfeebles the powers of thought, it does not seem to me too much to ask of reasonable men, desirous of just conclusions, Why should this nation be about to legalize that which is morally unjust, and which the experience of other countries already sufficiently condemns? The plea is, 'for charitable purposes,' but the individual acts consequent upon such alteration of the law, would too frequently be acts of selfishness and fraud.* 'Three months' is too short a time previous to dissolution to ensure that charities, such as those alluded to, are not the result of superstitious terror, or the desire of human applause, to be purchased at another's sacrifice; and the beneficence which curtails the means and comforts of our natural heirs, taking from them what should have been the fruit of our own self-denial, must ever be too questionable to be classed among the acts of upright charity.

"You may remember that I told you I was credibly informed that in Naples, the Order of Jesuits alone collected in five years 800,0007, viz., 5,000,000 ducats; and when we observe that Lord John Manners's Bill is proposed simultaneously with Mr. Wat

* This Bill is intended (sec. 1) to repeal 9 Geo. II. c. 36; to empower (s. 2) persons to give property generally for religious and charitable purposes; (s. 3) to provide that will or deed of land, for religious or charitable uses, may be made three months before the death of the testatoror grantor.

son's Bill for the Removal of all Roman Catholic Disabilities, involving, therefore, the admission of the Jesuits, the influence at work and the ends in view are at once obvious."

***

We subjoin a communication from an eminent medical practitioner, whose views we have heard, on several points, confirmed by others, as to the propriety of allowing persons to make wills. in favour of strangers, or for public or religious communities, to the exclusion of their heirs or relations, within a short period previous to their death.

"Now, the propriety or impropriety of such wills being considered valid, must depend, first, on the condition of mind of the testator; second, the influence used to procure the execution of such testament. To judge of the first, it may be useful to consider, if the diseases which prove fatal can be arranged in classes, which are characterized by peculiar symptoms, and if such diseases affect the brain, and thus disorder the mental faculties. I consider that inflammations, fevers, and disorders of the digestive system, constitute a large portion of the diseases which prove destructive to life. In inflammation of an important organ, you have acceleration of pulse and severe pain, with disturbance of brain. In fever of an aggravated type, you have invariably great excitement of the brain, delirium (frequently of a low muttering kind), with comparatively calm and tranquil intervals; and in both these cases, I, as a medical man, would never witness a will made in favour of the parties mentioned, to the injury or deprivation of the family. When disorders of the digestive system are of long standing, or occur in persons of a melancholy temperament, or with a predisposition to cerebral congestion, the patient is, pro tempore, insane,-is, in my opinion, in an unfit state to dispose of his or her property by will, often, even, to settle his or her pecuniary affairs; and as all persons labouring under hypochondriasis, or whose mental faculties are for a time disturbed, have to submit to more or less restraint, and this has to be sanctioned, and frequently exercised by the relatives, it is manifest that the displeasure of the invalid will be excited against such parties; and I have frequently seen patients who, to a strange professional gentleman or a clergyman, would manifest no marked symptoms beyond what is vulgarly denominated nervousness,' and yet be, in my opinion, incapable of making a proper will. There are, also, a large class of patients who are excessively exposed to improper, undue, (and, at present unlawful) influence, who might easily be induced or compelled to sign a will, and yet be unacquainted with its contents, and unaware of the consequences."

Instead of such a Bill becoming law, we should like to see some Honourable Member move for leave to bring in a Bill to prevent the abuses which we fear already exist with regard to the disposition of personal property, by the last wills of those who, from sickness or superstition, are placed almost like children in the hands of their ghostly advisers.

« PreviousContinue »