The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1835-07-14 00:00:00

FATHER DENS"XHEOLOGY,

A second protestant meeting was held at the Exeter Hall, on
Saturday. The meeting was advertised fur eleven o'clock, but
by half-past ten the. room, which • holds 5,000 persons was- corn_
pletely filled. Among the noblemen and gentlemen present
were Lord Kenyon, the Earl of Lincoln, Lord Ashley, Sir
Andrew Agnew, M.P., Sir D. Jackson, M.P., Mr. Hardy
M.P., Mr. Plumptre, M.P., Mr. Horace Twiss, M.P., Captain
Alsager, M.P., Mr. J. E. Gordon, M.P. Sir Peter Laurie, the
Rev. Drs. Holloway and Niblock, the Rev. -Messrs. Melville
_Martin, Driscol, Ayres, 'l'. Less ey, J. W. Cunningham, H.
Beatnish, J. Hannah, B:.c. &e.
Lord Kenyon took the chair. In stating the regulations by
which the speakers must abide, the noble lord said he had been
informed that a number of pet sons were present for the purpose
of interrupting the proceedings of the meeting, but he could
not believe such was the case. He hoped and trusted it was a
calumny. It would, in such a case, be his duty as chairman to
preserve order in the meeting. But he repeated that he did not
believe the statement; he was sure that those even of his Roman
catholic brethren—for so he must.call them as belonging to the
same country—who had got into that meeting by courtesy would
not violate the confidence reposed in them. lie then proceeded
to read the regulations, when
Mr. Thomas Murphy, one of the candidates for Marylebone,
attempted to address the meeting, but was silenced.
The regulations, governing the proceedings of the meeting,
having been read,
The Rev. Mr. M Ghee proceeded to address the meeting. He
commenced by referring to a letter which he hail addressed to
the Roman catholic Archbishop of Dublin, inviting him to
attend or appoint some person to be present to dispute the
positions which might be advanced against the catholic religion.
the rev. gentleman then went into a lengthened statement to
prove that Dens' fheology was the accredited standard of the
Roman Catholic faith. This had been proved at the last Meet•
'ing at Exeter Hall, and then, thouch„ never denied before, the
Roman catholics came forward and repudiated the opinions of
Dens, calling the publisher of his book a liar, because he stated
that the book was published by authority, and excommunicating
Dens ;—(loud cheers)—and then they proceeded to call the
gentlemen who spoke at the last meeting fools and fanatics.
(Ironical cheers from a number of catholics in the room.) The
rev. gentleman then proceeded to animadvert on the letter of
Dr. Murray which has appeared in all the papers, denying that
Dens' Theology is received by the catholics as the standard of
their 'faith. The same publisher, Mr. Coyne, published notes
on the Bible in 1829, by Dr. Troy, Archbishop of Dublin ; and
so intolerant were the doctrines there inculcated, that Mr.
O'Connell said, in a public meeting, that if those doctrines
were entertained by the Roman catholics be would not continue
a catholic one hour longer. The book was then disclaimed by
the Roman catholic bishops, and the publisher in that case, as
in the present, was accused of stating au untruth its sayiug it
was published with the concurrence of the catholics. But he
addressed a letter to the present archbishop, in which he proved
to demonstration the truth of his statements. (Loud cheers.)
He met the statement, that Dr. Murray did not make Dens
Theology a conference-book, with the most determined, explicit,
and decided contradiction. (Cheeriug, with hisses.) The rev.
gentleman here paused for a moment, and, addressing the part
of the meeting from whence the hissing proceeded, said, in a
very emphatic manner—"To those who hiss, I would say, hiss
me, if you please—revile me, if you please; nay, I would say
with the Athenian, strike me, if you please—but hear me."
(Loud cheers.) The rev. gentleman then proceeded to prove
from Dr. Murray's own written admission, as well us from his
evidence before a committee of the House of Commons in 1829,
that he recognized Deus' Theology as the standard of the ca-
tholic faith.—When the rev. gentleman came to that part of
Dens which asserts that the Roman catholics hold the doctrine
that protestants should be put to death, there was a shout of
"No, no!" from several parts of the meeting,and various per-
sons rose and assumed the most violent attitudes and manner.
The police interfered in several instances, when some of the
persons disturbing the meeting attempted to strike them.
In the course of the confusion, Captain Gordon, who sat on
the platform, advanced to the front of it, and addressing the
Chairman, said—" My lord, I think it my duty to inform you,
that some of the disturbers of the meeting say that you are to be
a marked man." This announcement created a feeling of
horror among those by whom it was heard.
Mr. M•Ghee then resumed his argument. He proved that
Dr. Murray stated on his oath, before a committee of the House
of Commons, that the bull Euuigenitus was in force in Ireland,
While in his letter, ten days ago, to Lord Melbourne, he so-
lemnly says it isnot in force in Ireland. (Loud cheers.) The
rev. gentleman then adverted to the alarming progress which
the Roman catholic religion is making in •England, which he
showed by an uncommonly large map. drawn up and exhibited •
from the platform for the purpose. Ile told•the lord bishop of
the church of England, that it was not by penal statutes, not by
statesmen. but by the active exertions of the clergy and pious
men that the progress of catholicism could be arrested. (Loud
cheese.) lie prayed for his Roman catholic friends as he
prayed for himself, and his prayer was, that they might be found
on the last day where he hoped to be found—at the right hand
of their Redeemer, and washed in the regenerating blood of the
Lamb of God. (Universal cheering.)
The Chairman said, that in conformity with the regulations
of the meeting, he now called upon any gentleman, authorised
by the Roman catholic prelates of either England or Ireland,
Who had given the required notice of his wish to speak, tocome
forward for the purpose. No one, however, who had not inti-
matett his intention of addressing the meeting prior to Thurs-
day last could he heard.
When the chairman called on the Rev. Mortimer O'Sulli-
van, Mr. Murphy again attempted to gain a bearing, without
effect, and a gentleman on the platform required Mr. O'Sulli-
van to produce the authority which entitled him to speak.
The Rev. Mortimer O'Sullivan replied that he appeared at
the meeting by the universal call of the protestants of• England,
and of those who now did him the honour to listen to him. Or-
der being restored, the rev. gentleman proceeded to address the
meeting. His rev. frieni who had preceded him had ,expati-
ated with such ability and eloquence on the character of the
hooks which were used by the Roman catholic clergy as text-
books, that little remained for him to say. He mild not, how-
ever, abstain frouvadtling his testimony to that of his reverend
friend as to the baneful tendency of these books. Ile main-
tained that the doctriete laid down in Dens was the doctrine of
the Roman catholic priesthood of Ireland, and that in spite of
the contradiction given to the fact by the right rev, Doctor
Murray, this book was published by Mr. Coyne with the full
sanction of the heads of the Roman catholic church of that
country. Now was it likely that Mr. Coyne—who,, be it re-
membered, was the bookseller of the Roman catholic college
ofMaynooth—would have published this book without the au-
thurityof the Romati catholic clergy ? In deciding this ques-
tion they were bound to appeal to the canons of the church of
Rome, for by those canons it was highly penal for any printer to
publish a theological work without the sanction of the heads of
that church. This being the case, then, was it. likely that Mr.
Coyne would have sent forth to the world an unauthorised book
of this kind ? Had Mr. Coyne done so, was it likely that he
would still retain the appointment of bookseller to the college
of Maynooth? Could any one doubt that he would not ?
(cheers)—aud when they found not only that the book had
never been disavowed, but- that Mr. Coyne was, down to the
present time, the authorised catholic bookseller of Irerland, had
they not a right to conclude, notwithstanding Dr. Murray's
letter—in which he exhibited such accurate knowledge of the
mind of the prime ininistet of England—(loud cheers)—that
Mr. Coyne never would have published a book that deserved
perpetual oblivion without the sanction of the heads of his
church? (Renewed cheers.) It hail been denied that the
questions put by the Roman catholic bishops to the con-
ferences had anything to do with matters of faith ; but be insist-
ed that they had. Not only Dens', but every other book relating
to the confessional, were replete with abominations too obscene
to be noticed in such a place. Was it to be tolerated that young
females, with innocent minds, should be obliged to disclose, not
only the most delicate secrets of the heart, but he might even al-
most say,to discuss unknown secrets with men who were acquaint-
ed with all the abscenities and abominations in which their
books abound in every part—obscenities and abominations, be
it remembered, which ill-comported with either the duties or the
relation in which those men stood with respect to the other
members of the community. (A few cries of "Oh !" and " Not
true!") He asserted that the doctrines of the church of Rome,
as they were preached and practised by the Roman catholic
clergy, were opposed to liberty of conscience ; and in proof of
the perfect despotism of their iloctrines,•he had only to refer to
the address of the clergy of the church of Rome in Belgium to
the King of Holland, in the year 1823. further evidence of
this would also he found in the Irish Laity's Directory for 1833;
and, indeed, no one who knew anything of the doctrines and
practices of the Romish church could doubt that it was a religion
which was essentially intolerant in its nature. (Cheers.) By
that religion the rights of heretics were wholly disregarded; and
this, he was sorry to say, was the principle on which the parlia-
ment of' Great Britain—he had nearly said—was now acting ;
but, at all events, it wee on this principle that one set of men
had been hurled from power because they respected these rights,
and another set of men had been thrust into the government of
the country because they repudiated and stigmatised them.—
(Tremendous and long continued cheering.) The property of
the church of England was as much entitled to the protection of
the law as any other species of property, and be denied that ally
pertions of that propetty could be taken away from the protestant
establishment in liclancl,• not only without rank injustice, but
without violating every principle of the law of the land. They
were mocked, however, by the word " appropriation," when
spoliation was the intention; but he would put it to the good
sense of every one present, whether any direct attack had been
made upon the tithe system until after the Roman- catholic
relief bill had passed. Before then no attempt whatever had
been made to divert the revenues of the church from ecclesias-
tical purposes; and such being the fact, and seeing that the
established clergy of Ireland had now no representatives in the
legislature—had no friends except in one branch of the great
council of the nation, which was now treated as nothing—it was,
he maintained, their bounden duty to step forward not only in
sell'-defence, but as the assertors of the pre-einiuence of the
religion which they professed. (Great cheering.) The
.provi-
sions of the catholic relief bill furnished the most convincing
evidence that the parliament by whom it was passed never in.
• tended to allow Roman catholics to interfere with the property
of the protestant church. But had not the law us laid down by
that great measure: been evaded, and had not the Roman catholic
members of the legislature of the country become, notwithstand-
ing their oath—an oath which would be bindieg on the con-
sciences of ail other men save Roman catholics—the bitterest
assailants of the rights and privileges of the church of Ireland.
which was one and identical with the church of England,
(Tremendous cheering.) They had given some proofs of the
dangerous doctrines of the church of Rome, and they could have
given many more if time- permitted. But he asked whether,
with the accumulation of facts they haul submitted, their case
was not made out ? (Loud cheers.) The rev. gentleman then
referred to the interruptions which had that day been given to
the proceedings of the meeting by Roman catholics, and con-
tendeththat the circumstance was a proof that all the worst and
most venemous doctrines of pope: y were still entertained.
(Loud cheers and hisses.) They had undertaken a task—in
trying to assert doctrines which they could not defend, though
invited to do se—which he had thought none but ruffians would
have engaged to perform. (Loud cheers, mingled with hisses.)
After soree other observations, the rev. gentleman concluded,
amidst deafening cheers, by reading a resolution to the effect
that it had been satisfactorily proved that Dens' Theology was
the recognised standard of authority in matters of religion by
the Roman catholic bishops of Ireland.
The Rev. Robert Daly seconded the resolution, which was
put and carried by ucclaination, together with a vote of thanks
to the chairman.

MOTHER WIT.—" We:l, John," said a laird to his tenant the
other dav, " what's your-opinion of this voluntary business ? "
" Deed,-sir, I'm a nee dout,tfu' about it; it seems to me that
it's the black coats themsels that are making a' the stir; us puir
folks are no fashin' ourselves muckle i't." " You are quite
.tight, John, it's certainly the ministers that are leading the
movement." "Then, sir, you may be sure that the ministers
hae a drift o' their sin to drive; for my mother used to say to
me—' Jock.' said she, 'whenever ye see a flock o' craws fleeing
a' ae way, depend upon it there's craws' business on hand.' "
Laird of Lotion.

THIRD CENTENARY OF THE REFORMATION.
4. have been reminded by a correspondent that Friday,
the ea day of Octobi:*r next, i 4 the anniversary of the third cen-
tenary of the reformation. The recurrence of this remarkable
epoch should nut be allowed to pass without notice by thote who
prize the enjoyment of the inestimable blessings of the pure
light of the gospel. We, therefore, hone that on the following
Sunday, thee-25th October next, besides observing the -usual
ordinances of the Sabbath,. proteitaiits of all denominations
throughout the empire will celebrate the third centenary of the
reformation. by praise. and thanksgivings to the Almighty for
their deliverance from the.thraldom of the church of Roipe. It
would no doubt be highly consolatory to the members of the
'established church were our archbishops and bishops to prepare
an appropriate service fur that occasion.
While we redact on the reports, we may add the arrogant
!Masts, whicbdaily reach us of the successful efforts making by
the catholic hierarchy to regain that position which they usurped
in our hind during the dark ages; we cannot but feel impressed
with the necessity which now exists for the publication.. of a.
short Manual in a popular form of the principal reasons for our re-
jection of the corrupt church of Rome, embracing the following
points :-
Ist.—That the authority over the christian world assumed by
the Pope as the successor of St. Peter is founded on an impos-
ture, inasmuch as St. Peter, according to the sacred writings,
never received or claimed any acknowledgment of superiority
from the other apostles. In the second chapter of the epistle to
the Galatians it is recorded, that when St. Peter, at Antioch,
" walked not uprightly according to the truths of the gospel,"
St. Paul " withstood him to the face;" also that the gospel of
the uncircnmcisiou was committed to St. Pau!, and the gospel
of the circumcision to St. Peter. There is no evidence iu his-
tory, sacred or profane, that St. Peter ever visited Rome.
2dly.—That the church of Rome has invaded the civil rights
of its votaries by burthensome exactions of a personal kind af-
fecting solely their animal nature, fur which there is no precept
or precedent in the scriptures.
idly.—That it has degraded the minds of its votaries by its
impure rites and corrupt creed, at variance with the divine com-
munications recorded in the sacred scriptures.
Mthly.—That it has sinned against the Holy Ghost by its false
and debasing tenets of the nature and attributes of the Deity.
sthly.—That the prophecies and awfdl deuuneiatious of the
scriptures against " the mystery of iniquity that has made her-
self drunk with the blood of the saints' are alone applicable to
the religiously impure and the civilly intolerant church of
Rome.