Miscellaneous. A DIALOGUE ON MAYNOOTH COLLEGE. PETER SURFACE. WHY do you petition Parliament against the annual grant to Maynooth College? JOHN SEARCH.-Because I am a Protestant. I protest against Popery as an erroneous system of theology; and I do not like, when I can help it, to support what I believe and know to be wrong. P. S.-The grant, in amount, is but trifling; one would think you might gladly give it for the sake of peace. J. S.-The Roman Catholics are rich enough. Look to all their chapels, and colleges, and convents, and cathedrals, the number of their priests, bishops, vicars apostolic, &c. &c. Why, I suppose they have spent, in Great Britain, her possessions and dependencies alone, a few millions of money in the course of the last quarter or half century. I should like to know where all the money comes from. P. S.-If they are at so great expense, they must want larger funds. Your argument makes against you. J. S.-How so?-are we obliged to contribute to our own ruin? If they have money enough to lavish the thousands they do in endeavouring to supplas the faith of this country, surely there is no reason why, on the ground of charity or expediency, we should be called upon to support them. And I object to it on principle. But then you say, do it for the sake of peace. This is building upon very hollow ground, and adopting false and unsound principles of action. What peace, wl.at union, can exist between truth and error? True wisdom is "first pure, then peaceable." James iii. 17. You are putting clamour in the place of principle; and yielding to violence, what neither justice, nor reason, nor humanity, require; and if we are to go on after that rate, we may give up every thing;-they have only, like fractious children, or well-dissembling mendicants, to clamour after it, and we must give it, to keep them quiet. But how does the argument make in any way against me? P. S.-Why, because you say that their funds are inadequate, and yet propose to diminish them! J. S.-Yes, because they are doing mischief with them. Our church is doing all the good she can, and wants more funds; and I say that if we cannot get money to support her, and to extend her sphere of usefulness, we ought not to make grants to support the Romish church, and assist her in destroy. ing our own. How much does the Pope give towards the support of the only Protestant place of worship in Rome? P. S.-Nothing; that I ever heard of. Why should he? J. S. And why should we give to Maynooth? You may depend upon this: the Pope gives nothing at all to support Protestantism in Rome, nor would he permit of anything being given for its support in England if he could with a good grace prevent it. P. S.-Then you would give nothing at at all to propagate Popery. J. S.-Nothing at all. Why don't the Roman Catholics, like other sects in this country, support and educate their own ministers? If the truth hath made us free (John viii. 32), why should we give falsehood to others and make them slaves? Am I not a responsible being? Is it not my duty to seek for the truth, to hold fast the truth when found, and to promote amongst others a knowledge of the same truth? You, I know, agree with me in all this, for you also boast of the name of Protestant. P. S.-Assuredly I do. J. S.-How then can we turn our backs upon Protestantism? How can we renounce or betray the truth? How can you persuade me to be such a recreant? P. S.-Well, I am half of your turn of mind. But what is there of so bad a nature in Maynooth? J. S.-I should object to supporting any Popish institution, for I believe Popery to be a system of counterfeit Christianity. Many blindly and ignorantly adopt it, as ignorant people sometimes mistake the false coin for the true. They may both glitter; but all is not gold that glitters, and when tried by the true standard, the counterfeit is instantly detected. P. S.-What standard do you allude to? J. S.-THE BIBLE: and Popery is afraid of it, because there is no Popery in the Bible. The Church of Rome knows this; and therefore withholds the Bible from the people. Instead of the pure gold of Scripture, she gives them the alloy of tradition, gilded over with the authoritative teaching of the church! the unanimous consent of the fathers!! or something of the kind (though their unanimity is most discordant); instead of feeding her children with "the sincere milk of the word," infuses into the cup a deadly poison, that lulls them to spiritual torpor and death. I don't wish to appear needlessly vehement, but where the judgment is convinced, and the heart warm, warm and animated language will be the result; and you remember it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing. (Gal. iv. 18.) For myself, I never will consent to pay a sixpence for teaching, as the Word of God, what I believe to be contrary to that Word. P. S.-Well done! That is as brave as Sir Robert Harry Inglis ! J. S.-They are his very words. Do you know what is taught in Maynooth? P. S.-No; but have they not a right to teach what they like? J. S.-Certainly not, if it subverts morality, and tends to the destruction of social intercourse and civil government. P. S.-But is it so? J. S.-Yes; clearly. You have only to look into the books they read, study, or refer to them, to be satisfied of this. (To be continued.) NOTES OF A DAY'S TRAVEL IN IRELAND IN 1844. (Continued from page 119.) MR. EDITOR, Methinks, Sir, though a lover of my chimney-corner, I shall for once turn traveller, and though my travels have only in this instance extended over a few hours of a single day, I fancy I have as much right to publish them, as some who have written volumes about Ireland. Not wishing to trust to remoter " Reminiscences," I penned down at night, after my little journey, my notes of what had fallen under my observation in an excursion over a few miles. I started from one of the poorest corners of our metropolis, where but a few years ago we were surrounded by miserable mud cabins, in which men, women, and children held joint occupancy with pigs and poultry; the last-named quadrupeds and bipeds being, perhaps, in some respects, the best tenants, as helping most towards the payment of the rent; and the notice of "good dry lodging" hung out at the door serving as a kind of caricature on the wet, and filth, and uncomfortableness that reigned within. Here, now, we have not merely "clean cottages, with pots of flowers in the windows," but good twostory houses, built of brick, and slated, and scarcely the vestige of a mud cabin or the snout of an intruding pig is to be seen. I walked along our noble quays, and at almost every step saw proofs of our civic improvements, which, along with other circumstances that suggested themselves to my mind as I hastened forward, filled me with the hope that still better "transformations" had either taken place, or would soon follow. Under the unusual warmth of an October sun, yet tempered by a gentle breeze from the sea, which the summer peripatetics of your hot London streets would no doubt have envied me, I arrived at the terminus of one of our railways (for we have more than one already), and instead of being perched on one of those numerous nondescript carriages, which jolted your traveller into Dublin, I took my seat in one of the second-class carriages of the train, a vehicle far more commodious and comfortable than any of the same class in which I have ever travelled on your English railroads. I was thus transported, in less than a quarter of an hour, over about seven miles of varied scenery, town and country, sea and mountain, such as few other cities can boast, as characteristic of their environs; and such as my humble pen cannot hope to delineate. As we passed rapidly onward, I noticed various pleasing changes that had taken place all along the road since the days of my boyhood. The hovels, and cabins, and crazy tenements of former times, were giving place in every direction to new, and neat, and commodious erections; and the station-houses along the road, with their little cultivated gardens, were like so many signals to the neighbouring peasantry of the improvement which temperance, industry, and order might enable them to effect in their cottage homes. But the best of all was that, where, in former years, you could notice only one solitary place built by a worthy and excellent clergymen, wellknown by his pious hymns, who had se ceded from the establishment, where you could speak with confidence of the Gospel's being faithfully preached, now you could point to different houses of worship, all along the line, as enjoying the stated labours of faithful ministers of Christ. As we approached the end of our brief journey, I observed that old Dunleary had left scarcely a vestiage of its former existence. KINGSTOWN had risen on its ruins; and new and beautiful buildings, villas, streets, and avenues were stretching in every direction around. The ironbound coast, once so dreaded in consequence of the many shipwrecks that occurred annually on its fatal rocks, before steam vessels had been seen, even in a dream, and when groglorded the ascendant over captains and pilots, crew and passengers, were now inclosed within a capacious harbour, on whose glassy bosom and securely encircled by its granite pier, floated at anchor a number of steamers and other and in its operations, he observed, was the characteristic feature of the Bible Soci ty, which he described as the foundation of ail other Evangelical and really benevolent institutions in and for Ireland; and of which, he denounced Infidelity, Puseyism, and Popery, as the principal opponents. He was followed by other speakers, an Independent, a Presbyterian, and two Episcopalians in a similar strain. But I must not attempt to report, or even to epitomize, their speeches. Suffice it to say, there was an evident adherence to their respective peculiarities on the part of all the speakers, combined with an undisguised homage to the Bible as the great standard of truth, to which all must appeal; and a fraternal recognition of all who recognise that standard, and agree in the essential truths which it reveals. The meeting seemed to respond heartily, though silently, by looks and not applauses (which are not much liked in our religious meetings in Ireland) to the sentiments expressed. There were resolutions passed; I trust, not such as cheered for a time the hopes of your esteemed Correspond. ent, only to blight them afterwards, with the more bitter disappointment. These spoke of what had been already done, and considered the success realised, as but an encouragement to attempt more in vessels, most of them drying their canvass in the sun; while the old, rudely-constructed pier, with the rough black-looking fishing boats moored alongside of it, encompassed within the range of this new and wonderful enclosure, seemed as if it had been preserved to be the memento of by-gone days, the memorial of the only and miserable refuge from the perils of the sea, which that ill-famed coast once afforded. The wretched tenements that then formed old Dunleary had altogether disappeared from view. The very masses of solid earth on which some of them had stood, had been thrown down upon the shore to be washed away by the tide, in order to level the steep hill and make way for still further improvements. I looked in vain for one of these old houses, a room in which had been occupied some twenty years ago as one of our village preaching stations. But if I missed it, and regretted that the zeal and liberality of Independents had not kept pace with the march of improvement in this quarter, by erecting a better and more permanent edifice in its stead, I could rejoice to notice that a Quakers' Meeting, a Scots' Church, a Methodist Chapel, a Bethel, and a Mariners' Church had since arisen, where such places were unknown before, and now served to supply, in addition to the parish Church, the spiritual wants of the rapidly-future; and there was certainly something increasing population; and I could wipe away the tear that might have started at the loss of our little room. To the lastnamed of these new places of worship I was, on this occasion, bound; and as, notwithstanding the speed of railways, I was somewhat late for the object in view, I hastened forward, without waiting to scrutinize the merits of the far-famed atmospheric railway, and with scarcely a passing glance at the object of so much interest and inquiry. I found a numerous and respectable assembly already met in the vestibule of the Mariners' Church, a long, spacious, and convenient room, peculiarly suitable and well fitted up for public meetings. The proceedings of a Bible Association had commenced. The minister of the Church, an Episcopalian, was in the chair, and was addressing the meeting when I entered. He was remarking on the honour he felt done to his Church, by such a meeting being convened within its walls, and the pleasure he experienced in being surrounded by Ministers of THE CHURCH on the occasion. He did not mean, he said, that of England, Ireland, or Scotland; but THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, true and faithful ministers of which, from different denominations, were present and would address the meeting. To unite such on its platform more than mere resolutions: for a collection was made at the doors. Whether large or small, for I could not stay to inquire its amount; it showed, at all events, a disposition, not only to resolve, but also to perform. i bave attended some happy Bible Meetings in England. One, with which I venture to compare this, was at GREENWICH. The localities of each place may be regarded as allowing such a comparison. The nobility of the chairman and of some families in attendance graced the ne, but not the other. For, THE NOBLES OF IRELAND! Where are they? Echo, or rather, England and the Continent may answerWHERE ARE THEY? But, in every other respect, Kingstown was by co means behind hand After a few calls in the neigh' onrhood, I returned with friends, who had meantime been testing the locomotive powers of the atmospheric railway, which commences from the Kingstown terminus of the Dublin railroad, and runs underground for a short distance across the pier. In starting on their excursion they had met with a specimen of native Irish wit. A carman, who was pleading hard with them to prefer his vehicle, (as one from which they could see the country), to the subterranean road they were anxious to traverse; turning to the eldest of the party, an aged gentleman, exclaimed- -"Ah! Sir, you will be underground soon enough, without wanting to bury yourself in the atmospheric." Just as we were about to start homeward we witnessed the descent of a balloon, which was preparing for its aerial voyage as we had been passing by in the morning. It came down under circumstances of peculiar peril; one moment we saw it in the clouds rapidly approaching the earth; the next, it seemed to disappear, and a dense black cloud of smoke rose from the spot on which it seemed to have descended. It had been ignited by coming into contact with a chimney; the gas exploded; but happily the life of the adventurous æronaut was saved. When we reached our homes in safety, and heard the details of this event, I trust a thrill of gratitude pervaded our souls, as we contrasted the quiet security which we had enjoyed through our day's rambles with the awful dangers that our contemporaneous traveller had encountered in his, and rejoiced in the happy verification of the proverb-" The path of duty is the path of safety." On reaching the Dublin terminus, a little weary with our day's excursion, we felt thankful that the nondescript vehicles had not been altogether done away with by the progress of modern reform; and perched upon an Irish jaunting car, we were rattled with a speed which seemed to show that our driver was anxious not to be outdone by the locomotives, to a distant part of the city. Your English hours have their advantages; and yet, when we reached home, we did not regret that our Irish arrangements enabled us to spend a long morning in useful recreation and engagement, without having to forego the pleasure of sitting down to a FAMILY DINNER, though our return was protracted to the evening hour. If this sketch of a day in Ireland shall serve to put any of your readers into good humour with the country, or shall lead them to hope that improvement is not quite at a stand still with their Irish neighbours, it is at your service. As a frequent visitor to England, loving it as his native land, and highly appreciating its superiority, the writer feels anxious that poor Ireland, with all her faults, and short comings, should have due allowance made for the many hindrances to her progres, and due credit given her for her attempts to follow, though at humble distance, the onward movements of her elder and happier sister. I am, Mr. Editor, Yours, Dublin. Continental Corner. SWITZERLAND.-Three abjurations of Popery have lately taken place in the town of Lausarne. The first, a German Swiss, belonging to Valois; the second, a young man of Porrentruy, secretary of the Nuncio of the Pope to Lucerne; and the last, a friend of the diocese of Clermont. After conference with the pastors, they were received as members of the church, in the presence of all the pastors and ministers of Lausarne, on Christmas Eve last, and communicated on Christmas Day.-L' Esperance. CALCUTTA. "It may be interesting to some of your readers to learn that a vigorous movement, to counteract the strenuous efforts which the Jesuits have been recently making in this part of the world, has commenced in Calcutta. A combination of clergymen of different denominations, among whom, the ministers of the Free Church of Scotland have been foremost, have resolved to deliver, during the present cold season, a series of discourses, the object of which is to point out the dangerous errors of Romanism. Three or four of these have been delivered, and with good effect. The last, which was delivered by Dr. Duff, not only one of the best, but one of the ablest men in India, drew a very crowded audience. Long before HEMERODROMOS. the service commenced, every seat in the chapel was occupied, and this, too, on a weekday, the evening of a grand ball at government house. The Jesuits have as yet taken no public notice of the movement. Contrary to their wont, they have been silent. Though sufficiently litigious and controversial-extremely sensitive to any thing to their discredit, which appears in the columns of the local press-they have suffered a very able article, written by the Rev. Mr. Mackay, in the last number of the Calcutta Review, on the early Jesuits missions, to pass unnoticed; probably, because the authorities on which the article was based, being all Roman Catholic authorities, it would have been impossible to refute its statements. The activity of the Jesuits, in almost every part of India, is great; their energy is unfailing, and their influence is rapidly extending throughout the country. Their rise has been extraordinarily rapid; and, as there are among them, men of high ability and good character, it is impossible for a member of the Protestant community to look on with unconcern. Their emissaries are engaged everywhere, to an extent, I believe, suspected by few-often disguised, always subtle, and in every position most dangerous.- Correspondent of the Morning Herald. THE PROTESTANT ADVOCATE AND IRISH MISSIONARY MAGAZINE. MAY, 1845. Spiritual State and Claims of Ereland. THE ENDOWMENT OF MAYNOOTH. NoT a month passes that we are not more and more assured of the necessity which existed for a publication particularly devoted to the religious interests of Ireland. We think we can appeal to many of our readers, to bear us out in the statement, that previously to the publication of our little work, that interesting island was, in a great degree, a terra incognita to them. They had heard, no doubt, of the wretchedness in which the lower orders throughout many districts were involved, as well as of many fearful deeds of retribution which the excited peasantry had inflicted on those by whom they supposed themselves to be oppressed, or ill-treated: still, many were unaware, that by whatever other evils that country may be afflicted, to the spirit of Popery, which pervades the land, nine-tenths of the misery that prevails may fairly be attributed; that it is this which renders life and property insecure; which prevents that confidence among the people so necessary to success, in either manufacturing or mercantile pursuits; and that, until some great effort be made to spread the word of truth among its perishing millions, little or no change for the better can be expected. To inform our readers on these important points has been our anxious wish and design; and we should hope that our labours have not been altogether useless. We believe that many, who had not before considered the subject, have been led to see the necessity that exists for combined operation, not only in resisting the further inroads of that great antichristian system, which has so long kept the people in ignorance and error; but also for extending, by every means in their power, the knowledge of the pure and unadulterated Gospel throughout the length and breadth of the land. To those who have read the recent debates in Parliament, on the MAYNOOTH QUESTION, the necessity of the information afforded in some of our VOL. I. с с |