The Sun.
London, England, 1842-08-12 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sin,—You will confer a great favour on the un-
dersigned, by inserting in the columns of your valu-
able journal the following incidental remarks, which
have been called for by the hearing of an extraordi-
nary sermon, on Sunday last, delivered by the Rev.
Incumbent of Low Harrogate Church, in order to
deter his parishioners from assisting their more neely
brethren in the erection of a Roman Catholic place of
worship, for the accommodation of strangers, as well
as for the general improvement of this delightful and
rising watering-place.
Not satisfied with, dealing in the old and hackneyed
phrases of blasphemous doctrines, debasing supersti-
tions, monstrous absurdities, &c. &c., of the liomish
Church, the Rev. Preacher.must needs treat his hearers
to a close inspection of his Holiness the Pope, by desir-
ing them to lift up their eyes towards this Papal god,
and read the terms of blasphemy written on his fore-
head emblazoned in letters of gold. What a pity,
by way of changing the scene, that the audience of the
Rev. Gentleman were not treated to a minute and dis-
tinct view of the apocalyptic beast, fully garnished
with a tail and ten horns ! But, to be a little more
serious, if you will
.indulge me, I will favour you
with a few extracts from the edifying and soul-stiring
appeal which flowed in honeyed accents from the lips
of the reverend orator.

Extract Ist.—" It has come to my knowledge within
the last, twenty-four hours that a Roman Catholic
chapel was about tr be built here, a place in which
most blasphemous doctrines are set forth—a church
which is one mass—one volume of superstition."
Extract 2nd.—" My text refers to Papal Rome,
that apostate church—that nominal church—that
mysterious church, I can hardly call it a church, in
which the Scriptures are withheld from the people,
and themselves kept in darkness."

Extract 3d.—" Look to the unhappy countries in
which it is transcendant, infidel France—Spain.
Turn to my own unhappy country, Ireland, where so
much bloodshed, perjury, and murder are committed.
Look wherever you will, where the doctrines of this
damnable, scarlet, Papal, apostate church are pro-
mulgated, there is nothing but bloodshed, &c."

Extract 4th.—" Look, -brethren, at the difference of
Our service; it is such as every one of you can under
Stand, not like theirs, performed in the Latin tongue."
Extract sth.—" Look, again, to the confessional.
What would you think of the virtue—the happiness—
of a young female who would confess to a priest—an
unmarried priest? I call upon you then, brethren,
to oppose, in every way you can, a -church, the doc-
trines of which are erroneous, false, and disloyal."
I leave you to judge of the effect which such
language is calculated to produce on the youthful and
inprejudiced-minds of his hearers; and to say how
powerfully the Rev. Gentleman advocates the cause of
his opponents, which he professes to disclaim, in terms
the .mostdisgraceful and unchristian.
, . . Really it is impossible to treat the subject with that
lousness of manner which the gravity of the charges
ivould seem to require, for they are only deserving of
4he ridicule and • contempt of every sincere lover of
truth and charity.
! In reference to extracts second and third, which
ihallenge my attention, I am quite amused at the
attempts
.of the Rev. Gentleman to re-forbish his
logical lore. The population of Ireland consists of
eight millions of souls, seven millions of whom are
Catholics ; therefore—oh ! delightful son of Bob Logic
' I—there is a greater number, or I would say, 4, a larger
hamerical farce" of murder, perjuries, &c., belonging
O the Popish - Church 'than to that of your humble
eryant.. The contrzry argument, as regards Protes-
aiit - England, of course, has no force ! " Credat
&leas sed non- ego." . .
1 The learned doctor of Low Harrogate Church,
after denouncing. the Rotnish • Church by many
hard • and • abusive epithets, in order to give his
iirgument a little more point, and to in-
dime his parishioners to turn a deaf ear and
It blind eye to -the blandishments of the scarlet
lady of Babylon, he seriously informs them that in a
l'enish mass-house there is so much attraction, not
Only frofn the music, but arse :rout the gorgeous fire:Ls
V die briest, &c. . flow deeply skilled and i)racti::.:32lv
iilforin;kl is. this Hibernian. pliloSopher in the art of
iscaring away his sign ,le frock from the bug-bear of his
own creation ; or, if you would have it so, how scien-
ifically versed in moving the finest chords of the
human heart.
With regard' to extract fourth, in reference to the
Latin tongite,• or that in which the , ritual of the
Romish Church is said to be performed, I: have only
to 4ay,• tint as a sincere Protestant, I should much
prefer to join. in the worship of ' God celebrated in
the tongue of the Turk or the Hindi)°, than to
be condemned to sit under the pulpit of a man,
,who, calling himself a minister of the God of
charity,, offends against its vital principle, by an
intolerable and bigoted abuse of his neighbour.
Truly, indeed, It is deplorable to witness the rapid
and fearful advances made by the -Romish Church
in these realms—to behold one Popish mass-house
rise after another—one Popish :bishop succeed an-
other; wielding his pastoral staff over his increasing
charge---nay, to see our very colonies full under the
dominion of Rome, and not one solitary effort made
to save our time-honoured Chiirch from erumbling into
nuns save and except—" heaven blesS the mark !"-L-
by the iron-hearted courage and heart-thrilling elo-
quence
of the reverend apostle and sainted Incumbent
of Low Harrogate Church.

such apostles as these are indeed envoys of mis-
chief and sower of discord amongst brethren, instead
of being, as they— are commanded by the Divine
Founder of Christianity, evangelists of peace and good
will on earth to nvm.:[heir doctrine is like a double-
which, when it is expected to smite the
edged 'sword,
enemy, only inflicts a deadly wound on hint who
weilds it.-1 am, Sir, a sincere Protestant, hut noliigot,
. . .

Dr. 'Joit-ssON.—.AV the--:time he was on a visit to
. .
Aberdeen, the Doctor noticed.. an old turreted house in
•Fluxter-iow being newly hada Struck with this opera-
the Doctor approached the', labourer, and inquired,
lio*.he.)irodtiCed .that regular' irregularity: The man
-eaplained the .composition, and,, the Doctor requested.
:next-to-see ho*. Al%"But,- 0,t1411 gait 4
he, "lam in your..war,—tnrgikid.rtieuct f.. 1. 1.14" Ago
Sir, ye're nae in my way," said the labourer, splashing a
huge trowelful on the wall, and plentifully bespattering
the Doctor's person—" Na, na, ye're nae in my way,
ye're nee in your aid."