The Sun.
London, England, 1826-09-08 00:00:00

sibly consist with enlighted enquiry. A Romish in-
cumbent, therefore, if he were sincere, must be, if not
an enemy, certainly but a very distant friend, to po-
pular education..
The Protestant Church, on the contrary, is built
upon the very principle of free enquiry, and it is
therefore, and always has been eminently friendly to
the diffusion of education ; 'and in proportion, as he
sees the-superstitions of Popery prevail around- him,
the Protestant Clergyman "mst feel himself impera-
tively Called upon to do all in his power (little as it
may be)' to promote education and encourage the
spread of intelligence ; and though in Ireland, under
its present circumstances, we cannot but lament the
numerous 9bstacles •which stand in the way of the
mental improvement of its population ; it must surely
be adMitted a point of no inconsiderable importance
to have an order of men always ready and willing to
do away those obstacles, and to seize every opportunity
of promoting so grand an object.
But, besides this one grand instance where so wide
a field demands the attention of the Protestant Clergy,
there are innumerable others to which we might advert,
where the Protestant Incumbent, not only may
be, but actually is looked up to by the Catholic
population, as their patron, friend, and protector ;
there are a vast variety of lesser offices which fall to
the lot of the Protestant incumbent, not only in the
way of moral, but even of legal obligation. We say
this with much more confidence as to the importance
of such services than the true mention of _ them in a
general way might .seem •to warrant, since we .speak.
from information acquired in conversing with several
Irish Clergymen. It is difficult by any communica-
tion to convey an adequate idea of the value of these
very miscellaneous items of service, which, though in-
dividually insignificant, involve upon the whole those
extensive benefits, which superior station, influence,
information, and connexion, can alone supply to the
needy and helpless. • •
We have extended our remarks to a greater length
than we hail intended ; but in truth, the topics of our
argument are far from being exhausted. To be
brief, however, we would say, let the Irish Hierarchy
be contemplated in ah enlarged, and enlightened point
of view. Let its utility be measured, not by a confined
standard of mere temporary expediency, or mere tan-
gible advantages, but with a reference to the whole cha-
racter and circumstances, wants and prospects, of the
Irish nation ; not only to what they are, . but what we
desire they should be. Let us not be too hasty in de-
ciding upon the efficiency of causes, because we do
not instantaneously perceive their effects. A Church
establishment is, under 'any circumstances, a powerful
engine : it is, moreover, a very complex one, and
its operations require to be studied. A Protestant
establishment of an enlightened and liberal character
is the grand diffusor of those advantages to the coun-
try at large ; the operation of this influence is often
little seen or acknowledged, but it is nevertheless real,
and attested by permanently beneficial results. The
Protestant Clergy of Ireland are the-promoters of con-
ciliation and liberality, their intercourse • with their
Catholic brethren has a powerful tendency to abate
hostile feelings, as well as to extend the blessings of
information and enlightened ideas ; and in a merely •
tOnporal point of view, whatever e the advantage:
and blessings which are so loudly called for, as
emanating front the, residence of landholders, all these,
and even greater benefits, are in the nieanwttile' sup-
, plied by the residence of the Protestant Clergy, withn
4e sphere of their influence.