The Sun.
London, England, 1860-11-23 00:00:00

that the Orangemen wished to justify the ridicule
heaped, by CHARLES DICKENS and others, on
societies for enlightening the natives of Bhorioboola
Gha and other distant lands, while their efforts were
so much needed/ at home. Certainly they afforded
unmistakable evidence that no forei:gn parts needed
the Gospel more than themselves. For, if we look
to the sacred volume which contains the first
records of our faith, we are reminded at once of
two public meetings—at one of which, a mob of
unconverted Jews cried out that the Apostle PAUL
was unfit to live, precisely because he said he was
commissioned to carry the Gospel to foreign parts
—while, at the other, a theatre-full of frantic
idolators cried out for a couple of hours " Great is
Diana of the Ephesians !"—and, as if Belfast
Orangemen should not want good heathen example,
we are informed of these poor fanatics that, " some
cried one thing and some another, for the assembly
was confused, and t7ie most part knew not wherefore
they were come together." We think our readers
will agree that the primitive rows about " propa-
gating the Gospel in foreign parts" were most
worthily re-enacted by the Orange mob of Belfast.
The chief facts of the case seem to be these, The
Bishop of DOWN, who according to the custom of
the soeiety referred to, was to take the chair at its
annual meeting at Belfast, had grievously offended
the Orangemen. In the exercise of his episcopal
discretion he had forbidden a clerical Orange de-
magogue, as we suppose him to be, from the fact of
the Bishop's interference, to preach in the
parish chuych of Belfast, at an Orange anniver-
sary. The Vicar, Dr. MILLER, disregarded the
Bishop's prohibition, and allowed him to preach,
and the Bishop consequently took legal proceedings,
which are still pending, in vindication of his autho-
rity. What occurred at this meeting proved plainly
enough, that the Bishop might have the best of rea-
sons for keeping the forbidden clergyman from the
pulpits of Belfast, for whatever his prudence might
have been, the materials on which he was to ope-
rate were inflammable enough. The meeting con-
sisted largely of what appeared to be working men
and women.; and when the Bishop, with a good
staff of clergymen appeared on the platform, a
scene followed which beggars all description.
Groans, hisses, Kentish fire, shouts and noises of
all kinds alternated with attempts to get order
by persons, it would seem, of different parties ;
but it was utterly impossible to get even a hearing
Here is a little specimen of Belfast Orangeism in
connection with " propagating the Gospel in
foreign parts":—
" A Vona—Down with the Bishop 1 (Tremendous
groans.)
"Another Voien—Don't dare to go in that chair ;
youd disgrace it. (Hisses and groans.) Order, order.'
(Kentish fire.) Put the Pope out of him.' (Kentish
fire.) He is a Puseyite." To h-1 with the Pope!
(Groans.)
" The Bishop took the chair.
" A VOICE—Put him out; out with him. 'No Puseyite.'
No surrender.' Throw him out of this.' (Tremendous
cheering and Kentish fire.) Three cheers for Dr. Miller."
(Cheers.) Groans for the Puseyite.' (Tremendous groans.)
"Dr. MILLan. here rose on his feet simultaneously with
the bishop.
"A Toren—Hear Dr. MILLER.
"Another Velez—You'll beat him, MILLER, my boy.
(Cheers and Kentish fire.)
" The Bishop hero looked round him, and faced the
raging storm. Nearly the whole audience got on their feet,
and groaned and hissed. This lasted fully five minutes.
"Rev. Mr. SEAVER—This is disgraceful. I never
thought such a scone as this could occur. (Groans and
Kentish fire.)