The Sun.
London, England, 1853-06-01 00:00:00

tended that Catholicism was disappearing, and the
people of England were called upon for renewed contri-
butions. The question was certainly one for investiga-
tion, and this investigation the Catholics of Ireland
courted and craved. If the property of the Church
were well managed, it would produce a million per
annum. It was not honestly managed at present, and
and the system of bishops' leases was most injurious.
This great revenue was distributed among a close cor-
poration of younger brothers, many of whom passed
their time in the apostolic pastime of snipe-shooting.
(A. laugh.) He paid tithes himself, in eight parishes,
and in none of them was he aware of any Protestant
clergyman resident, except in three out of the eight
parishes, and there only a few Protestants even in those
parishes. In a parish he knew there was a venerable
abbey which had been wrecked at the time of the Re-
formation. Within the walls of that ruined church th e
whole population of the parish (for there was not a Pro-
testant in it) knelt to worship, and wider a single arch,
which shadowed rather than sheltered the altar, the
priest offered up the sacrifice of the Eucharist exposed
to the winds and rains of heaven The tithes of this
parish were paid to the vicars choral of Christ Church,
Dublin ? Could their prayers and praises ascend to
heaven ? Was it possible to be loyal to such a law ?
The religious policy of England in that country had
been most evil in principle and vicious in practice. He
was in favour of Church endowments, because he con-
sidered it essential that the pour should have the Gospel
preached to them, which could not be the case on
the voluntary principle. In Ireland, however, the
religion of the rich was endowed, while the religion
of the poor was left in poverty. (Hear, hear.) It
was alleged that the religion of the Irish people was un-
scriptural and idolatrous. If it were intended to treat
the Irish as a conquered race, no doubt this course
might be reasonable ; but not if it were desired to deal
fairly and justly with them. It was a begging of the
whole question, so intolerant and stupid, that decency
and policy should forbid it. It was obviously requisite
to consult the opinions of the majority of the people as
to the question of religion. It was said, indeed, that the
Protestant was the religion of the majority of the em-
pire, but then the expense of the Irish Church ought to
be paid out of the Imperial revenues. The argument,
however, was clearly fallacious; for in Scotland the Epis-
copal Church was not established, although Scotland as
well as Ireland was an integral portion of the empire.
Then it was said that the Act of Union secured the sta-
tus of the Established Church. No doubt it was an ar-
ticle in the Union; but if both parties to a contract agreed
to rescind it, of course it could be done. Again, it was
said that every alliance between Church and State in-
volved reciprocal advantages, and recognised the influ-
v ence of the State in the Church. That might be an ar-
gument for endowing the Protestant Church, but not for
raising it on the ruins of the Catholic. The maintenance
of peace under the present system was impossible, except
by means of overwhelming force of arms ; whereas peace
might be expected to result from the removal of this griev,
ance, just as peace had been established in England by
the expulsion of James, and in Scotland by the abolition
of prelacy. The act that made Scotland happy and con-
tented was the act of abolishing Episcopacy, which as-
serted that the religion of the nation should be in accor-
ance with their inclinations. Look again to Belgium :
the differences that existed arose from religion, and had
been terminated by the establishment of religious liberty
Since then the people of Belgium had lived in peace and
prospesity, as those of Ireland might, and one day
would, under a Protestant Sovereign. (Hear, hear.)
Ever since the Reformation division and strife had
raged in Ireland, and all this would be put an end
to only by the abolition of the Established Church.
While an endowment of from half a million to, a million
a year had failed to increase or develop Protestantism,
the supporters of the Establishment now contended that
the contribution of a few thousands voluntarily had suc-
ceeded in evangelising Ireland. One of the members for
Warwickshire (Mr. Newdsgate) had argued that the
Irish became Protestants when they went to America.
That was really to contend that they became Protestants
when they got out of reach of the Established Church of
Ireland. (Oh, oh, and a laugh.) It should be re-
membered that there was no Established Church in
America, however. In conclusion, he (Mr. Moore) was
anxious to give the Protestants fair play and a fair field.
Let Protestantism breathe free air, and remove from its
neck the golden collar. Let it step forth in its true pro-
portions to meet its great adversary, and might God de-
fend the right. (Hear, hear, from those sitting near the
hon. member.)
Mr. M. O'CONNELL confessed that he seconded the
motion with great pain, because he felt exceedingly grieved
that such a subject had been mooted at all. (Oh, and
laughter.) The less this vexata questio was touched the
better would it be for England and Ireland. The move-
ment was a rashand imprudent one, and one which did