the actions. No, none but those who have man of the name of Wilson, who turns his been educated from infancy under its influ- thoughts to the study of the Bible, and so ence, and who have come out from the well leads him through many very natural scenes guarded fortress, can tell the towers there- which have all the interest of verisimiliof, and give as the warranty of his informa- tude. He takes opportunity to describe tion, that he pars magna fuit." Roman Catholic and Protestant sermonsto repeat discussions, conversations, &c. by means of which, evangelical truth is set in opposition to the cunning and clever system of the Church of Rome. In the end, Stafford became a decided Christian, an eminent supporter of Gospel truth; and as a reward for all his sufferings, he is united to a pious and amiable woman, to whom he had been long attached, and from whom he had been separated by their former difference in religion. There are two sorts of converts from the Church of Rome. One class, and we grieve to see it so much the larger portion, who, having seen the monstrous errors conuected with the faith in which they were reared, and possessed with deep indignation at the trammels that so long enveloped her-who cannot away with transubstantiation and image veneration and creature worship they have discovered error, but they have not fled to truth-tbey are become Protestants so far as protesting against priestcraft We know not any work where narrative and Popery. Alas, Romanism! how many is enlisted to serve the cause of truth, that secret scorners and open protesters of this we would sooner put into the hands of a sort, dost thou retain in, or have sent forth young Roman Catbolic, whose mind was from your bosom. We really pity such- opening on the dark night in which he and they claim our prayers that the spirit of il- his people are kept, than this. It is not lumination, the God of grace, would send written in a finished style to be sure, but forth his light and his truth,and afford them there are certainly many powerful descripbetter motives for action, and better sanc- tions in it, and much insight given into the tion for support, which can make all bright habits and characteristics of the middle as to the future, and all tolerable as to the classes of Roman Catholics. May we be present, and amidst persecution and con- allowed to say as a further recommendation tempt and misrepresentation, can give that of the work, that it is written by one who peace which the world cannot give, and, has supported himself by his own exertions blessed be God, cannot take away. The who has not sought for any pecuniary aid other class, and there are many composing it, are not merely content to come out of popery and embrace some other nominal form of profession that has neither influence over heart or conduct. These persons, and we believe the author of the Outcast is one of them, have come forth from error, are the monuments of Divine mercy, and are living, not under the law, but under grace, --have passed through much tribulation, and are ready, when the Lord pleaseth, to suffer more for his sake and in his service. The object of the story is to disclose the circumstances in which a convert from the Church of Rome is naturally placed; expressing in the first instance his contempt and indignation at the chains forged for his free spirit by the priest; bursting the meshes in which he was entangled, and thereby exciting the wrath of his clergyman, the anger of his family, and the reproaches of his neighbours: turned from his father's door, and departing without a parent's blessing; walking forth into a moral desart abhorred by all his former friends, under the sacerdotal ban; blackened, degraded, may we say satanified in the people's estimation; received with cold caution by Protestants-his motives suspected his actions watched-his conversation made a matter of suspicion, and with some a theme for ridicule and reproach, The author goes on to shew how his hero commenced nourishing in his breast that secret infidelity, which gave him no support in the hour of trouble and of trial. He brings him in contact with a pious young from Protestants-and who, in the legitimate way in which any other person may employ his talents, now seeks for public patronage. An Address to the Landlords of Ireland, on subjects connected with the Amelioration of the Lower Classes. By Mr. Martin Doyle. Curry and Co. Dublin; Hurst, Chance, & Co. London; and Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh. Mr. Martin is very free in his advice, and is as ready, as he is competent, to give it. He really understands the wants of the country; and as he has given good hints to small farmers and Irish cottagers, which if they would but take them and profit by them, their condition would be much bet ter, so now, he gives good hints to landlords, who verily do want mending in their modes and manners, as much, if not more than the poor themselves, Ireland has had many evils to contend with; the great evil of Popery, the consequent evils of ignorance and bad education-but with no greater evil has she struggled, than with the neglect of landholders, who, if we were to judge from the way in which they have treated their properties and their tenants, have acted more as the land tyrants than the land lords of the country. Mr. Doyle assigns as causes morally contributing to produce the miseries of the Irish peasantry and the poverty and want of capital which pervades the whole island, the following1. The want of providing sufficient employment. 2. The indulgence and inattention of a large portion of the Irish proprietary, their want of enterprise, and their neglect of the minute and personal superintendance of their estates. 3. Absenteeism, 4. The wholesale eviction of land oc. cupants on the expiration of their tenures, consequent, in a great measure, on the abolition of the forty shilling freehold system, which no longer subserves the political interests of the landlord. Mr. Martin, like all political economists, is more successful in assigning causes of evils, than in propounding adequate remedies. He, of course, advocates the investment of capital on the part of the landowners, as one great restorative; and amongst the different items of investment, goes pretty largely into the advantages of planting and draining; he gives many practical suggestions and instructions on these and other heads; and we really trust the day is arriving, when the proprietors of Ireland-either with their wills or against their will-shall seriously take to the improvement of the country, and then such a work as this one now before us, will be found a very useful manual of instruction. Mr. Martin Doyle as usual, not only writes profitably but pleasantly. The Daily Scripture Instructor, containg a List of Scriptures for every Day in the Year, with explanatory Notes and Brief Reflections. Religious Tract Society. London, 1831. A very neatly printed volume, affording the student, whose means or time are limited, the opportunity of studying a text of Scripture daily, with an explanatory and devotional comment. Doddridge, Henry, Scott, Caryl, Owen, and other orthodox divines, contribute the illustrations and reflections. The arms, offensive and defensive, of the press, no man in the present day can think so lightly of, as not to ponder on their use and abuse. That they have been employed by wicked and designing men, to create disaffection, excite agitation, and make the lower orders unsettled in their minds, and ready to adopt wild and undefined schemes of amelioration of their condition, there can be no doubt. It is, therefore, becoming in all good men, who desire the continuance of existing institutions, to employ the same weapons to counteract an evil which is rising into fearful magnitude every day. therefore rejoice to see such tracts as those now before us, put forth at a cheap rate; in which, through the medium of language suited to the comprehension of the people, and in that lively style to which they are so much attached, the true nature and bearings of the question which now agitates Ireland, is brought within the reach of their comprehension; and it is satisfactorily shown to them, that the poor will not be a whit the We richer or the happier by the repeal of the union, or the abolition of tithes. We think the tracts in question are well done; they are afforded cheap, and we wish that every landlord and clergyman in Ireland, were possessed of a large bundle of them, in order to distribute amongst the people. The Manners and Customs of the Jews, and other nations mentioned in the Bible. London, Published by the Religious Tract Society; 1831. Another publication for which the young and the uneducated reader have to thank the Religious Tract Society. We think it a most useful little compilation, containing all that is necessary for a general reader of the Scriptures, delivered in a pleasing and lively manner, illustrated by correct and well executed cuts, and interspersed with such just and awakening observations as must arrest and direct the attention of the reader. We recommend it most warmly to all heads of families and seminaries of education. Two Lectures on the Study of Anatomy and Phy siology, delivered at the opening of the Medical Session, 1830, in the Medical School, Aldergatestreet. By John Quain, M. D. London: 1830. Another form in which infidelity is manifesting itself is materialism; the Proteus influence of irreligion accommodating itself to all classes, has for the vulgar and illiterate, the obscene and ribbald joke, for the higher classes its metaphysics and romance, for the philosopher its deadening and degrading garb of materialism, which immersing every thing in mere matter, lets eternity and God, and morals and revelation, slip from the consideration. We rejoice to find really scientific men stand in the breach, and oppose this torrent of error, and mischief, and resulting misery; nor is our satisfaction diminished when we discover a countryman and fellow student is the advocate of all that is valuable and important. Dr. Quain, in his introductory lectures, applies his physiological researches to the great question of life and organization, and conclusively proves that the opinion which derives all the phenomena of living beings, and all the functions which they perform, as results, the necessary results of their organization," to be not less opposed to the soundest principle of philosophy than to the plain and obvious details of revelation. The lectures contain an interesting and valuable development of the principles of the important sciences in which Dr. Quain lectures with so much advantage to his hearers. The Sword of the Spirit, or the power of God's Word, exemplified in the conversion of a Roman Catholic family. Dublin; Tims, 1829. This is a pleasing little tract, written in a simple and unaffected style, and free It contains nothing from sectarianism. wonderful; nothing striking; nothing artificial, and yet it must be interesting to all who love the Word of God, and who know its efficacy in giving "light unto the simple Most fervently do we wish that the Bible would thus find its way into every Roman Catholic family, and there produce the same effects! We do not despair; we may yet live to see this isle of fictitious saints transformed into a land of Bible readers: and, in order to aid in this desirable event, we would say to the friends of religion, after they have perused this little work, " go and do likewise." We understand, upon good authority, that the narrative is not only true in every particular, but that the subjects of it still continue sted fast in the profession of their faith, and have evinced, on many trying occasions, the sincerity of their attachment to Gospel truth. The Christian Minister; or practical hints for the conduct of a Young Clergyman. London; Ha milton and Adains. This much, we are fully persuaded of, that if the Protestant Clergy were more embued with the spirit of their office; thought more of their Master than themselves, and preached more earnestly, and longed more ardently for the conversion of immortal souls, there would be less gainsaying, less bickering and controversy, and a more abundant harvest to crown their labours. It is a matter of thankfulness, that amid all the error, agitation, eccentricity, and dissipation of the religious world, there are not a few faithful and able Ministers of the New Testament, who labour as those who must give account, and who desire to be able to do it with joy, and not with grief. We think their number would run no risk of decreasing, if every young Clergyman was to enter into the spirit of this little work; which is, indeed, a very simple, pious, and delightful manual of inwho has long felt and studied his " hints" struction, and apparently the work of one before he committed them to the public. We believe there never was a period, from the hour in which the Apostles walked out of Jerusalem, to obey their Lord's command, and "preach the Gospel LITERARY INTELLIGENCE. to all nations," down to the present day, in which all the graces of the Christian We are informed that the able author of were so peculiarly required to unite in the the Outline of History in the Cabi net Clergyman, as the critical and momentous times in which we live, and on which we are entering. A great moral change is passing upon the inhabitants of the earth. Christianity is sapping the foundations of superstition, idolatry, infidelity, and popery; but we know not what strange confusion may ensue, as their ruins come tumbling to the ground, or what time may elapse ere the rubbish be cleared away. Encyclopædia, has a work in the press on the subject of ancient mythology. Much may be expected from his industry and learning in clearing up the mists that still envelop that subject, important and interesting whether it be considered as the expression of the wants and wishes of man darkly feeling after God," or, as we are more inclined to consider it, the fragmentary relic of antecedent revelation. DOMESTIC RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. We have received the following interest ing Communication from a Correspondent : On Sunday last, January 30th, several Roman Catholic families of the Parish of Rahan, were excommunicated in Mallow Chapel, the Parish of Rahan not forming a distinct Parish in the Church of Rome, The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Michael Scannel, and in the usual manner, with bell, book, and candle, before a large congregation. The accused persons are remarkable for their good, industrious, and peaceable conduct in every respect; but they were guilty of persisting in sending their children to schools, denounced by their Priests, in which the Rhemish Testament is read; and thus, (as is usually the case,) whilst the profane and profligate were overlooked, these persons, be cause they happened to be in humble life, were held forth to public odium and execration. The most awful imprecations, curses, and threats had been repeatedly poured forth, both in public and in private, against them and others; the rites of the Church had been frequently withheld, and that even from the sick and dying; but on Sunday last, to complete the picture of this spiritual tyranny, Excommunication took place. On the preceding Sunday, number of names were read out, and those threatened with excommunication, who should not come in during the following week, and make an abject submission. On Saturday morning, a Monk, who has been stationed in the Parish for a considerable time past, was ordered to visit the houses of the delinquents, and urge them to obey the Church ere the thunderbolt of heaven should be hurled against them, and Mr. Scannell himself went out from Mallow, and remained in the house of a respectable Roman Catholic, with a view. it may be supposed, of giving greater facility and influence to the culprits coming in and giving satisfaction. After third and last Mass, therefore, ou Sunday last, the Priest being robed for the purpose, came forth before the congregation, and declared that, notwithstanding all he had said and done, but one had come is, who had submitted that morning; he then asked if any of them were present, and exhorted, that as many as were so, should immediately come forward and give themselves up to him; he paused for a little time, and receiving no answer, repeated, in a loud voice, the names of the offenders, explained the nature of excommunication; said that he had been empowered by his Bishop to inflict it, and, however painful the duty, he would do so on those unfortunate and incorrigible persons, who still persisted in so heretical" a practice as giving their children a good education, and the best and cheapest they were able to procare. The Priest then spoke to the following effect : "I am informed that some of those persons went to the Minister, during the week, about this affair, and were told by him that it was, in reality, nothing, and would be of no effect; but I tell that Minister that he must be very ignorant indeed of his own Ritual. and of the Articles of his own Church, if he does not value Excommunication, for it is one of the first of them; and I fearlessly say this, and you may tell him that I said so. I stand here before the Altar of God, whose Minister 1 am, and in order to preserve my flock from the contagion of Heresy, (for Heresy I must call it, to speak according to my conscience, though I might give it a more refined name,) must now proceed to excommunicate those obstinate persons, who have not complied with my wishes, and when cut off, they are deprived of the benefits of the most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the Communion of Saints, and other valuable Christian privileges. Ye have often heard of Bell, Book, and Candlelight? The bell was originally introduced into the Christian Church, for the purpose of assembling the people to divine service; but now, (here he took up the bell and tang it,) I use it for the purpose of separating those people from the flock of Christ, according to the power committed to me, This candle, which represents the lamp of faith that is kindled in the breast of Christians, I now, (he here put out the candle,) extinguish against those unhappy people, to shew that their faith is thus extinguished, that they are cut off, and are fallen from the light of faith. This book, (taking up the Missal.) which represents the Book of God spoken of by St. John, in the Revelations, and which is the Word of God himself, I now shut against those unfortunate persons, to shew that their names are thus blotted out from the Book of Life, and that they are no longer members of his Church. They now dont belong to us, they are cut off from our Sacraments instituted by Christ, and I tell you, have no more to say or do to them. The Minister will have a pretty handful of them on Sun. day next; I wish him luck with them; they may now go to church when they like, and then, (here he hesitated, evidently un certain what to say,) God speed them, if it be proper for me to say so. The Minisrer may now go to law if he likes, and the sooner the better-he may come off second best." And now. Mr. Editor, is this civil and religious liberty, so much talked of, and so much professediy valued in the present day? How inconsistent such conduct with true Religion and the spirit of our excellent Constitution! but how consistent with the principles and practice of the Roman Catholic Religion, from its first rise to the present day! The higher classes of that Church, in general, educate their children as they please; they oftentimes send them to Protestant Teachers, and even to Protestant Clergymen ; but is there not one to stand forth and advocate the cause and the rights of the poor, that they, as well as others, should freely enjoy the inestimable privileges and blessings of religious as well as civil liberty. Now, that Eman. cipation is granted, why do not the Roman Catholic gentry set limits to the acts of their Priesthood? how can they look with indifference upon such unreasonable and arbitrary proceedings? Before the Relief Bill passed, it was understood from many of them, that it was then their interest and duty to be united, so as to carry that important and much wished-for measure; but that when it should pass, they would act independently, and oblige their Clergy to acquiesce in whatever might be for the interests of the Country. Is it not well known, that whilst they, (the Priests,) would deprive the poorer classes of the advantages of a liberal and well regulated system of education, those schools which they substitute are, in general, but nominal; being even acknowledged by the people themselves, as inadequate to afford the benefits they so much need, and that education which would advance their tem poral interests ? Those persecuted and denounced people are now not even spoken to by most of their neighbours, who turn their backs upon them, will not sell to them, and the general belief is, that they are cursed in their thoughts, words, actions and persons. Such is the liberality of the present day, in one portion, at least, of the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland. The following are Documents relative te the foregoing. We, the undersigned Roman Catholic heads of families, in the Parish of Rahan, who were so cruelly and undeservedly Excommunicated in Mallow Chapel, before a large and respectable congregation, on Sunday, tho 30th of January last, who were there held forth to public odium and execration, and who, since that event, have experienced much persecution, and a great want of sympathy and kind feeling, even from our nearest neighbours and former friends, do hereby most solemnly and willingly certify that the Religion of our children has never been interfered with in the slightest degree at those Schools denounced by our Clergy, and on account of which we have been often cursed and shut out from many of the services and rites of our Church; that we have perfect confidence in them, and that the improvement and conduct of our children are such as to give us great satisfaction, and make us thankful, and resolved to persevere, We also declare that the education which our children are receiving, is greatly superior to that which is adopted at the Schools established by our Priests, or at those which come within the reach of persons in our class of life; that it is not our wish to change our Religion, (which we were never asked to do,) but it is our desire to give our children such an education as will advance them in life, and make them respectable members of society; nor do we perceive any just reason why we should be deprived of that liberty which the Roman Catholic gentry enjoy; who educate their children as they please, and oftentimes send them to Protestant Teachers, and even to Protestant Clergymen. John Farrell, John Barry, Thomas Healy, Richard Barry, Michael Croneen, Edmund Dineen. I, the Roman Catholic Master of the Knockananig School, in the Parish of Rahan, do hereby certify, that since my appointment, (and before it, as far as I know and believe,) there never has been the least interference in the Religion of the Roman Catholic children at the School ; that I have not a Protestant child in attendance; that I do not consider the system of education which I pursue therein, inconsistent with my principles as a Roman Catholic; that I regularly attend Mass, though I do not enjoy several of the rites of my Church; that I have never been asked to change my Religion, and that when about to be appointed by my late patron, I placed in his hands, certificates, (obtained at the time, and which I never have forfeited,) of my good character and conduct, signed by Fifty Roman Catholics of the neighbourhood, who know me and my principles well, and some of whom I instructed myself when I had a school on my own account in this Parish, several years ago. I also declare, that were it not for the continued interference of my Clergy, my school-room could not hold the children who would attend, and that with the full confidence and approbation of their parents. Laurence Curtin, Master.* We, the Protestant Master and Mistress of the Rahan Parochial Schools, do hereby certify, that since our respective appoint. ments, (and before, as far as we believe,) there has not been the least interference in those Schools with the Religion of the Roman Catholic children; that the greatest good faith has been preserved, and that, were it not for the constant interference of the Roman Catholic Clergy, now as well as since their first establishment, our School-rooms could not contain the numbers who would attend, so great is the public confidence in every respect, and acknowledged approbation of the system therein pursued. We would also observe, that several young persons instructed in these Schools, are now in respectable situations, and that the favourable testimony of visitors, Roman Catholic as well as Protestant, together with the great number of Roman Catholic children who have received instruction within each year, since their first establishment, are the best proof of the high estimation in which these Schools are held. John Price, Master. Alicia Cane, School Mistress. UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE. College Examinations.—On Tuesday, the 15th, being commencement day, the fol lowing Degrees were conferred: DOCTOR OF DIVINITY.-Rev. Joseph Turner, and the Rev. Henry Newland. Bachelor of DIVINITY.-Rev. Joseph Turner. DOCTOR OF LAWS.-John Gumley and Mountifort Longfield, F.T.C.D. DOCTOR OF MEDICINE,- Edward Jones. BACHELOR OF MEDICINE.- John Maharg, Christopher Askene, Patrick Cullinan. Henry Orr, Matthew Geoghegan William Neville. MASTER OF ARTS.-Christopher Askene John Edward Brennan, Rev. John Wil liam Thomas Lee, Rev. John Lewis Moore, F.T.C.D. Francis Doyne Dwyer Henry Orr, Rev. Thomas Masou, Rev. H E. Prior, Rev. Thomas Nevill Burgoyne Rev. Jackson Smyth, Hon. and Rev. Ro bert Plunket, Rev. Charles Irving, Rev James Stewart Blacker, Roland Reynolds Hon, and Rev. William Plunket, and Rev John Browne. At the same time 210 students were ad mitted to the Degree of Bachelors of Arts The Vice Chancellor's Prizes for the bes compositions" on the accession of his Ma jesty," were adjudged to Sir Hardy, Hamil ton (Hugh) Sir Waugh, and Sir Stanford The Bachelor's Gold Medals for profi ciency in the Greek language, were give to Sir Cronyn and Sir Power. The Gold Medals granted to the commen cing Class were obtained by Thoms M Neece, for Science, and John Willian Smith for Classics. Subscrptions and donations in favour of these victims of arbitrary excommunica tion will be most thankfully received by the Rev. George E. Cotter, Vicar of Rahan Rockforrest, Mallow; by the Rev. A. B. Baldwin, Mallow; and by the publishers the Christian Examiner. |