The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1851-12-02 00:00:00

CHURCH MISSIONS,

To the EDITOR of the LIVERPOOL STANDARD

Sin,—No doubt you have seen the report of the meet-
ing held at the Mansion-house, London, at which such a
noble subscription was raised for the support of the
Society for Church Missions to Ireland. Why should not
similar meetings be held in all the cities and towns in the
kingdom ? The opportunity of reclaiming unhappy Ire-
land, from the desolating blight of Romanism, seems now
afforded to us. shall we allow it to pass ? Nay. patriotism,
Christianity, the common weal of our common country,
surely forbid such a thought.—l am, Sir, yours,&c:_.

A CHURCHMAN

THE ENGLISH PARLIAMENT AND THE
PAPAL CHURCH.

There is a philosophy in politics, as there is in all other
regions of human development, if men would examine the
subject with a thoughtful eye, and have the moral courage to
realise those true connexions which exist between cause and
effect. Let us apply this remark to that fearful problem which
is now vexing the social tranquillity, and darkening the poli-
tical conscience of the empire with disastrous gloom. Will it,
then, be disputed, there is an elemental religiousness (we do
not say religion) which exists and operates with more or less
intensity in the bosom of Humanity; and, moreover, that all
our faculties are so intimately woven with each other, that
whatever master-principle actuates the one, directly or indi-
rectly propels an influence over all the rest? Now, if this be
granted, what becomes of that peri'ous fallacy so conveniently
paraded'_ by the organs of democracy in our day—religion and
politics have no necessary relation to each other? But, this
brings us to the first of three views we are about to offer on
the legislative conduct of this country towards the Roman
schism, both in England and in Ireland.
I. Some of the most prominent and persuasive advocates for
admitting the Roman Catholics into the Parliament of this
Protestant country, haste most imperfectly and partially made
themselves acquainted with the veritable nature of the Papal
system. To illustrate this assertion, we will adduce our evi-
dence from the writings of one for whom we have the greatest
intellectual reverence; whose speeches are impregnated not
only with eloquence of the highest order, but also with axioms
of political wisdom for all ages; and who, moreover, by the
far-reaching discernment of his moral science, deserves to be
considered as the Prophet of politicians :—we allude to the
illustrious Edmund Burke. And yet, with all his deep intui-
tions as respects some of the most complex problems of the
period when he lived. no one can peruse the following extract
from his "Tracts on the Popery Laws," without the conviction
that he either ignored or neglected the real character of Ro-
manism. Speaking of the Irish question, Burke writes:—
" With regard to the Pope's interest, this foreign chief of their
religion cannot be more formidable to us than to other Protes.
Cant countries. To conquer that country for himself is a wild
chimera; to encourage revolt in favour of foreign princes is
an exploded idea in the politics of that court."—How many
fearful denials has the political history of Europe given since
the greatest of English orators thus delivered himself! The
truth is, Burke, like his inferiors. did not apply himself to a
full and fearless investigation of what Romanism is in its cen-
tral essence, or actuating idea. Had he done so, he would
never have legislated for Roman Catholics on the mistaken
theory that Popery was simply a form of religious faith. He
would have discovered it is in root and branch, in principle
and in accidence, a religio-political system, by means of which
a tremendous impersonation, called "The Church," endeavours
to wield all the energies of prostrated human nature, for the
sole purpose of embodying a quasi divine absolutism on earth.
In fact, not only is it a fallacy to maintain that, in any case, a
man's politics can be utterly separated from his creed, or that
temporal and spiritual power are capable of being divided with
logical adjustment; but, in reference to Romanism, it is pre-
cisely the reverse of the truth. The Pope by his canon law
claims to be head, not only of spiritual but also of temporal
empire, and to wield "two swords," according as policy or
providence permits. Hence, it is impossible for a consistent
Romish priest to be a sincerely loyal subject of the British
crown ; and this because, according to the tenure of his true
creed, the Pope has preoccupied hia priestly conscience by
absolute claims, which subordinate the whole man, with his
faculties, functions, and relations, to his one Lord and Master
—the Pontifical successor to Peter's chair. As regards the
people, too, let it he remembered, in a practical sense, the
priest is their religion : he is the type after whom they are
moulded, and the personification of religious sentiment whom
they are bound to imitate, and revere. It is no reply or refu-
tation to all this for our opponents to assert that, again and
again, Roman Catholics have been most loyal : we admit the
fact, but deny the argument. When Romaniets are truly loyal
they are inconsistent—by a kind of blessed ignorance soaring
above their own system ; but when Protestants are loyal, they
are only developing the inherent tendencies of that Faith,
whose negative inspirations prompt them to renounce the
Pope; and whose positive doctrines inculcate the grand maxim,
"Fear God, honour the King."

2. Our next remark respeCting the connexion between Eng-
lish legislation and the Papal communion is this,—those
statesmen who promoted the Roman Catholic Relief Bill, to a
great extent, were the victims of a popular delusion; or, they
falsely conceived that time, whiei improves and changes most
institutions, had also purified and ennobled the character of
the Roman system. Of course, the analogy was a seductive
one ; and there was something almost chivalrous in the high
and unsuspicious spirit with which politicians surrendered
themselves to its guidance. But, what is the real state of the
case? Why, it is the very boast and glory of Rome, that she
contradicts this analogy ! She professes the true principles of
" vestigia nulla retrorsum l" She is (according to her own
self-apotheosis) infallible, and therefore immutable. Hence
being altogether " Ceres and rotunda," perfect in creed and
nnimprovable in constitution, she repulses with disdain the
idea of change, albeit for the setter I What Paul said, she will
not say,—" I mist not" (Acts xxiii. 5); and certainly what the
repenting Peter did, the Romish Communion has never done—
gone "out and wept bitterly" (Matt. xxv. 73). An ancient
Father of the Church (Origen), in one of his earlier specula-
tions, has thrown out the idea of the Devil's possible conver-
sion; but, were he alive now, and read the unrepealed canons,
and unrescinded decrees of the Papal hierarchy, in connexion
with her impious claims to he the infallible organ of the Holy
Ghost,—what he dreamt of the Archfiend, he never could ima-
gine would be realised in Rome—even conversion, or change.
Hence, if our senators, blinded by prudential expediency, at-
tempt to legislate for the Romish Church under the idea that
she is not now, in heart. soul, and inward spirit, what she was
in the days of the fierce and fulminating Hildebrand,—they
will live to learn their error, if not to repent it. Immutability,
we repeat it, is the distinctive boast of Rome. True, her visi-
ble action and outward policy are adjusted with almost omni-
scient subtlety, so as to suit the present crisis, whatever that
crisis may chance to be; but, in her essential genius, she is
" Qualls ab inceptii." It ought, indeed, to be considered as an
axiom by the ciyil rulers of a Protestant empire, that while in
aspect Rome cilWiges ever, in principle she changes never.
3. There yet remains a third view of this most vital theme
for a Christian journalist to handle; but, limited as we are for
space? it can only be superficially alluded to, on the present
occasion. We think, then, the advocates for admission of
Itomanists into our legislature, to a great extent, were per-
suaded into this suicidal measure, by forgetting the real cha-
racter of our mixed and marred humanity, in relation unto
divine things. In other words, they mistook the province of
the intellect as respects the belief, or disbelief, or religious
dogma. Their theory was—We live in an age of scientific ex-
pansion and mental culture, when criticism, learxing, and
philosophy have reached a point of development, from which
the wretched superstitions of ecclesiasticism will speedily re-
coil. But, surely, those who thus reasoned must have dis-
regarded History, as well as have misinterpreted Man. The
facts of the former might have proved to them, such men as
Pascal, Bossuet, Fenelon, and one of the Schlegels in a later
period,—all were devout believers in Transubstantiation, while
the wealth of their intellect was, in other respects, enriching
the entire regions of mind ; and, as concerns the latter, had
they interpreted the simple realities of his inward condition as
a guilty rebel to the divine law, they would have found true
religion neither begins nor terminates with the intellectual
powers. Of course, as a " reasonable service," Christianity
does educe the mental faculties, and ennoble ern by conse-
crating their force upon the most transcendent of all themes
and objects ;—but still, religion is chiefly a motion in the will,
and an impression on the heart, as distinguished from the
niere acuteness of a perceiving mind. " With the heart,"
says that august Volume before which the impious Vatican
quails,—" with the heart man believeth unto righteousness."
Woe, therefore, to that system of legislative empiricism, which
attempts to deal with false creeds and corrupted churches, as
though strength of mind were sufficient to protect human
nature from the tyranny of the one, or earthly science pure
enough to rescue society from the impostures of the other 1
But it is high time to terminate these imperfect thoughts.

For our own part, amid, much which depresses the hopes and

darkens the prospects of Christian patridtism, we still believe,
under the divine care of her EVERLASTING HEAD, the Catholic
Church of England will ultimately triumph over her combined
foes, if she will be true to her own scriptural character and
apostolical constitution. And, let us express our conviction,
that those, who shall read these lines, will rejoice with us, in
the spirit of the following patriotic creed of poetry and truth,—

"Most because the WoRD of heaven
Is purely to the People given
In British language, broad and free
Church of my fathers ! love I thee."
"God save the Church ! and save the Queen !
Mitre and Throne have ever been
To weal and woe alike related,
By truth revered, and treason hated."
"God save the Church !—be this our cry
Both while we live, and when we die ;
For, rail her foemen as they will,
The Church is England's glory still."

Let us add to this utterance a prayer, in which the Universal
Church of God, through ad ages, may devoutly join—" Oh !
pray for the peace of Jerusalem ; they shall prosper that love
Thee." 022 Ps. 6 v.) R. M.

MR. RYALLS' ANNUAL CONCERT.-Mr. Ryalls, one of
the most pleasing and talented of our resident vocalists,
gives his annual concert, at the Theatre-Royal, on Tues-
day next, on which occasion Miss Pyne and Miss Louisa
Pyne will sing some of their most popular airs and duets.
Mr. Webb, Mr. H. Percival, and Mr. H. P. Sorge will
also perform solos on the piano-forte, flute, and clarionet.
The seal of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway
Company has just been affixed to an agreement with the
British Telegraph Company, enabling them to use the
whole of the extensive and important lines of the Lanca-
shire and Yorkshire Company for telegraphic purposes—
thus placing the whole of the extensive shipping, com-
mercial, and manufacturing district between Liverpool
and Goole in telegraphic communication by the British
Company also.

BIRKENHEAD, CHESHIRE AND WEST !..4ANCASHIRE
JUNCTION RAILWAY.—NotiC
e of application to Parlia-
ment has been given for an act to incorporate a company
to make a railway upon the broad narrow,
Birkenhead, or mixed
gauge, commencing by a junction with the
;1 Kekewick,
Lancashire and Cheshire Junction Railway
Liverpool and
and terminating by a junction with themak
antobranch
Bury line near Kirkdale ; and also to
railway to the St. Helen's Railway at Black Denton, and
to Prescot. It is intended to make provision for the
Ing down of additional rails, Ro as to form a mixed gauge
all or any part of the follOging railways :—viz., thee
die Birkenhead, Lan_
East Lncashire, the St. Helens,
s.ashire and Cheshire Junction, the Matirl'ester South
,
--A Altriachal pitlw London and Norti:western,
• •,,,,,,...,..„,..f And it
"ii• to

J uncuon a.

the North Staffordshire and the Great

is intended to enable the company to be incorporao_. ,
use with their engines and carriages, and to carry pas-
sengers and goods, upon all or any of the said railways,
and to make arrangements wall the several companies for
that purpose. The several companies are to be authorized
by the intended act to contribute funds towards carrying
the undertaking into:effect.