The Sun.
London, England, 1861-02-12 00:00:00

treatment than that which they now receive. For this pur- '
pose the energetic co-operation of all classes is absolutely
necessary. 'We rely upon our zealous clergy for the collec-
tion of sufficient evidence to submit to the promised com-
mittee of the House of Commons which will sit upon this '
subject. We sincerely and earnestly hope that not only
every Catholic member of either house will contribute his
most strenuous and. persevering efforts in this sacred cause,
but that every liberal-minded legislator, of whatever reli-
gious creed he may be, will second our endeavours to attain
what no one can deny to be just—an equal treatment of our
poor with that which others receive, as fair and honest an
interpretation and application of the law to Catholic chil-
dren as to others, or if the defect be in the law, its prompt
and honourable amendment. But from all we must ask
such assistance as may enable our committee established to
promote these ends to do its work efficiently. The Work-
house Papers' issued by this active body, the perusal of
which we earnestly recommend, will instruct all whom it
concerns and interest all readers, enlisting their warmest
feelings of pity and indignation in behalf of these hapless
children of misery. The labours of the committee in bring-
ing this subject before the public, and still more before
Parliament, will involve no inconsiderable expense, and to
meet this we have no other resource except the familiar one
of 'our charity. "We desire that for this holy end a col-
lection be made on some Sunday during the Lenten season
in every church and chapel of the diocess, according to the
direction and good judgment of the local clergy ; and, fur-
ther to insure the success of our efforts, petitions to both
branches of the Legislature will be of the highest import-
ance. A form for these has been prepared by our com-
mittee, and we earnestly exhort you all, clergy and laity,
to sign them and procure as many signatures as possible
for them, that so they may carry all the weight which so
religious a cause deserves.
" Let us now conclude with expressing our regret at not
having been able to address you in those solemn and reli-
gious notes which befit this holy season. Let your own
piety supply this want ; let it remind you how this season
is connected with the most tender and awful mysteries of
salvation; how it is intenqed to purify and to consecrate
the frail but sacred vessel which every one bears into the
sanctuary of their God, that so it may be found pure and
bright to receive the fulness of Easter joys and graces.
Fast, therefore ; weep and mourn for a time, that you may
be glad with the angels and Apostles and with Mary in the
resurrection of Him whom you will contemplate hum-
bled, suffering, and crucified ; and unite in all this contem-
plation the full, though humble, assurance that as God dealt
with His own dearly beloved Son, so will He deal with His
spotless and cherished spouse. Weep and mourn, and
humble yourselves with her, too ; join your alms-deeds and
your prayers with hers, that so, when the day of her resur-
rection and brightness returns, you may be able to feel that
your sympathy has been complete, and that, as you have
suffered with her, so likewise with her, without self-re.
proach, you may exult.
" One word more. We venture to request, in addition,
an occasional prayer for ourselves, that God's will be done
in all things regarding us ; only, that whether in sickness
or in health, whether it be His holy will that we should con-
tinue still to languish in infirmity or be restored once more
to full vigour, we may devote ourselves exclusively to the
promotion of His glory by the faithful administration of our
ecclesiastical office.
"And we, on our side, earnestly entreat Him to bless
you and yours with His choicest gifts, temporal and spiri-
tual, and in due time to crown your lives of virtue with
eternal bliss, in the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost.
" Given in Westminster, and ordered to be read on Quin-
quagesima Sunday, on the sth day of February, 1861.
" N. CARD. WISEMAN."