The Express.
London, England, 1850-11-20 00:00:00

CA-RDINAILt WISEMAN'S
MANNESTO.

The folliwleg is Cardinal Wisietsan's Manifesto :
ISTILODUCtION.
The followieg trot will be better understood, if the history
of the MethHabana of the catholic hierarchy in England be
briefly Meted
The esthetics had been governed in England by viem-
apostolic, gees 1623; that is, by bishops with foreign titles,
named by the rpe, sod keying jurisdiction as his vicars or
delegates. In 16.88 their number was inmeased from one to
four; In 1840-from four to eight.
A strong with had begun to prevail, on the pert of the
English:esthetics. to change this temporary form of govern-
ment for the ordinary f by bishop. with local titles, that
is, by an ecclesiastical hierarchy. Petitions had been sent
for this purple to the Holy Sm. The first, I believe, was
in 1834.
In 1847 the 'teals-apostolic assembled in London came to
the resolution to depute two of their number to Rome, to
petition earnestly in their name. for this long-desired boon.
The writer of the present appeal was one; and so be drew up
the memorial on the subject, addressed to the Holy See, he
may be allowed to give a brief analysis of its contents. This
will show how the bishops looked upon it, not as a matter of
triumph, or a measure of aggression, but as a simply Masi.
nistrative proviaion, necessary for the government of their
fl oks. The main grayed set forth, for the necessity or
expediency of having an ecclesiastical hierarchy, wee as
follows :
It was observed, that until now the only regulation or
lade of government possessed by tee English cetholics was
the constitution of Pope Benedict XIV., which begins
elpostolicum Ministeeiuns, and which was issued in 1743, a
hundred years ago. Now this constitution had grown obso-
lete by the very length of time, and still more by happy
amigo of CiresinitanCee. It was based upon the following
considerations :—lst, that the catholic were still under the
pressure of heavy penal laws, and enjoyed no liberty of
conscience ; 2nd, that all their colleges for ecclesiastical edu-
cation were situated abroad; 3rd, that the religious orders
had no houses in England; 4:h, that there was
nothing approaching to a parochial division, but that
most catholic places of worship were the piivste
chapels, and their incumbents the chaplains, of noble-
men and gentlemen, There are other similar supposi-
tions in that document, full as it is of wisdom, which, thank
tiod, at the present time appear as simple anachronisms. It
was argued, therefore, that virtually this—the only great
constitution existing for catholic England, part even of whisk
had been already formal', repealed by the late Pope—was
rather a clog and embarrassment, than a guide.
The catholic church in England had so mach expanded
and consolidated itself, Macs the Emancipation Act, end its
parts had so matured their mutual relations, that it could
not be carried on without a full and explicit code. The'
bishops, it was urged , found themselves perplexed, and their
situation full of oifficulty ; as they earnest'e desired to be
guarded from arbitrary decisions, by fixed rules, and yet had
none provided for them. The uncertainty, also, of position
on toe part of the clergy, which resulted from this anoma-
lous state, made it still more painful.
Such was the cam submitted to the judgment of the Holy
See, fully.illustrated with practical applications. A remedy
was therefore prayed tor, and it was sugge mad that it could
only be in one of the two following forms:
Either the Holy See must issue another and full constitu-
tion, which would supply all wants, but which would be
necessarily complicated and voluminous, and, as a special
provision, would necessarily be temporary.
Or the real and complete code of the church mutt be at
once extended to the catholic church in England, so far as
compatible with its social position: and this provision would
be final.
But, in order to adopt this second and more natural expe-
dient, one ocndition was necessary, and that was—The
catholic must have a hierarchy. The canon law is inap-
plicable under vicarkapostolic ; and, besides, many points
w.oild have to he anodically adjusted, and without a metro.
politan and suffragans, a provincial synod was out of the
question.
Such was the main and solid ground on which the hier-
archy was humbly solicited by esthetics from the Holy See.
It was one that referred to their own internal organisation
exclusively. Thoughts of aggression never entered the heads
of the petitioners or of the petitioned; nor were the bishops
moved by stupid ideas of rivalry with the established chute*,
is what forms its weakness, nor any absurd d. fiance oi
national prejudices. They knew that they violated no law
in Awaking for what was needful for their religious existence,
sad they acted on an acknowledged right of liberty of
conscience.
Other motives were added, to show the expediency of
greeting this boon to the English catholic.; as, for ex-
mp'', that it had been granted to Australia, and was about
to be granted to other colonies, without eoreplaint from
any one; and it looked like a reproach to the mother
country to withhold from it what had been granted to its
daughters.
But one more argument it is right to state, because It
bears upon the present excitement. It has been lately the
fashion to speak of the catholic pilicy as though, up
to the late change in its ecclesiastical organisation,
it bed been in a porition which was recognised
and respected. The Bishop of London, in his answer to
the Chapter of Westminster (the document is not at hand)
spike in this strain; and Lord John Russell, in his letter to
toe Bishop of Durham, insiaustes that its position up to this
time was quite satisfactory to him. It would be easy to refer
to other documents lately isued. But this is all an imagi
nary view of the past. Instead of this, the catholic have
been unmercifully treated by Anglican writer, high-
church Jr low-church, as ichumatirs, as rebels to the bishops
of England, as having no true bishops. They were
told that the very outlandish names of their sees proved
them to be torn:nen, and that they were not eves
real bishops. Read the Rev. W. Palmer on the sub. ,
ject," and see how he treated viers-apostolic. In one
pamphlet against the writer of this appeal, be began by re-
fusing him the usual courteous title, given in all civilised
society to a catholic bishop, and sent him to the Bishop
of Worcester, as his diocesan, for leave to preach( Nay,
again and mein they were taunted with this—that the
Pope durst not name ordinary bishop in England, be-
cause conscious of not keying authority to do so. It was,
therefore, a point of no light weight and of no indifferent in-
terest to catholic. to have this sarcasm silenced end this ob-
stacle removed ; for many minds allowed themselves to be in-
fluenced by the spparent advantage of ecclesiastical position on
the other side. Strange that, after delying catholic. en theolo-
gime' grounds,when the step has been taken, these opponents
should no longer consider it as a question of theolody, but of
prerogative; should shrink from meshes the act with melee
mastics' argument, but shout for the sword of the state.
Why did they not tell catholic before—" You dare not term
a domestic hierarchy (and this proves that you are not the
true church in England); because, if you attempt it, we
will rouse the people against you, we will lash on the multi-
tude to outrage you, and we will bring down parliamentary
enactments to crush you."
, But to return. These were but secondary and corrobora-
tive arguments. The ground of the pleading was the aim-
, lute nesemity of the hierarchy for domestic organisation and
good government. The Holy See kindly listened to the peti-
tion, cad referred it to the Sacred Congregation of the
P After a full discussion, and further reply to
the boon was granted. The Titan-apostolic were
desired to suggest the best divisions for new dioceses, and the
hem places for the titles. These were adjusted, the brief
sea drawn up, and even printed.
Bose difficulties arose about a practical point, and publi-
sides was delayed. In 1848, another bishop, Dr. Ullathorne,
was deputed to RW3141, to remove them, and the measure was
again prepared, when the Roman revolution suspended its
final conclusion till new.
All this time there was no concealment, no attempt to take
people by surprise. All catnolies knew of the intended mea-
, sure ; the papers announced it ; so notorious was it, that the
Dean and Chapter of Westminster petitioned parliament
against it; and a friend of the writer's heard the Dean of
Westminster say, moat openly, " Well, he maw call himself
what he pleases, but at least he can never be Dian of West-
, 'Kinkier." In Battershy's Irish Directory for 1848, the
writer was named, " Most Rev. N. Wiseman, Archbishop of
Westminster." He can tad, that many letten came to him
M addressed.
Then why is this very sot, which was openly spoken of,
cad hardly attracted attention, three years ago, now de-
aranced so furiously, and characterised so foully / This is
met the place to answer this question ; it Is only wished
here to state simple facts, and leave others to reason on
tissm.
Bat the main objects of this introduction are accomplished,
If It has been shown—
First. That this is no wanton, sudden act; that it Is not
measure of a grasping aggressive character; but one era-
dually and undisguised'', matured: one based upon the ne•
cresities of the catholic body, its Internal regimen, and its
healthy organisation. The necessity for having a code, pro-
duced the necessity for the only goveromint which could
administer it.
Secondly. That the blame (if any) and the responsibility
of the measure rests with the writer and his colleagues,
and not with his holiness, the best, and here the most
calumniated, of men. He, as a kind father, yielded to
the earnest solicitation of his children ; and they,
likewise, naturally suggested those details of execu-
tion which were necessary. Instead of being an ag-
gressive act on his part, it was one of condescension to his
vicars, their clergy, and people. Let hie apostolic letters be
calmly read by any ene, and this will appear. I: may be
useless at this moment to stem the current of vulgar and
ribald abuse that is poured out against his sacred person, and
encouraged by those whose mission, if they have one, should
be of peace. Time will di- rue the mist, and show the
transaction in its true light. In the meantime, the writer of
these pages (and he is sure he is not alone) declares himself
ready to stand between the Pontiff and the vituperation east
upon his act, believing it to have been most just, most ex-
pedient, nay, little less than necessary, for the well being of
the catholic church in England. And yet, for Englishmen,
it ought to have beep mfficleat to say, " It is strictly within
the law."
AN APPEAL, &e.
- -

An agitation, perhaps unparalleled in our times, has been
raised by the multitude& at a catholic hierarchy in this
island. Its vialenes has been that of a whirlwind, during
which it would have been almost folly to claim a hearing.
After the news mashed Slagland of the measure being cam
plated, a paused a few days ensued as if the elements wen
brewing for the storm. Then it burst out with absolute
fury ; every newspaper (with a few honourable exceptions)
seemed to vie with Its neighbour, of mos. opposite politics
end priselpho, in the amAmony, virulence, and porsaver-
awe of its attacks ; liberal and ooneerrative, Anglican
or dimentlag, grave or light, me their usual tone sad ohs-
-
• Its is quoted by Mr. Bowyer, in an extelleat pomphlet lost
Abitibi&