Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1854-07-13

friends.'' They are not to be deluded by
his soft end honied acords. These only re-.
mind us of the words Of Ehud, 81 have a
message from God unto thee" while che
did grid under his raimenl' "s dagger
which had two edges" We shall judge
of Dr. Ives's friendship by his acts, rather
than by his words, for sorry we are to say
that unless his "conversion' has wrought
in him wonderful change, little confidence
can be placed in wha. he says In forming
q true judgment Of his book, we are forced
to take these unpleasant personal views OF
its author. There is nothing new in the
book, as to the controversary between us
and Rome, except that which relates TO him
as an individual. Conscious that he had
nothing new 10 offer, he has made his indi-
viduality most prominent de has not
given US merely discussion OF ebstrac!
doctrines, and principles, and practices
wherein we differ, and thus enabled Us to
lose sigh, of The individual injudging ofhis
work. But lie places himself before US, so
that we mus, look a, him whether we will
or not. Rome itself is only the back
ground, TO se, off the portrait ocDr. ives.
Even the motto in the title psge, "Ubi Pc
trus, ibi Ecclesia," is to be translated
|"Where Levi Slliman Ives is, there is the
Church !" HIS picture should be the from
tspiece, as he is the head and front Of
every page, whatever may be its subjec. or
the source of its authority. His arguments
res. chiefly upon quotations from works
inaccessible to common readers; therefore
they fall back for authority upon his per-
sonal character for honesty and veraci.y.-
His book is no, mere Typographical his
tory Of SHE progress to Catholicism"
handbook TO show the nearest and easiest,
and cheapes. route 10 Rome, describing the
ups and downs, the turnings and overturn-
ings, the bogs and quagmires, the bandits
and robbers each traveller may meet with
on such journey. The book is the his
tory of an individuals "progress," and its
value as reality depends upon the worth
of his authority 1t relates '',he trials Of
mind" i. e., of Dr.. Ives's "mind." /, calls
upon us therefore TO examine into the char.
acter of this "mind," to decide what innu-
ence its peculiar "lrials" should have upon
our spmpalhies and our judgments.
Both the introduction and conclusion of
Of ahis>Book atssdeepiy imPressed with tihiis
individuality. In the former he does no,
hesitate to ,hrus, forward the high official
station from which he fell, TO prove the
sincerity and reality of his convictions by
The sacrifices he was willing 10 make 10
their behalf. lie even ventures 10 appro-
pirate the words of the great Apostle as
applicable to his ''trial''-"But what things
were gain to me, the same | counted
loss for Christi SIC. Passing by the
shocking profanity Of such an spplcot Oh.
we are forced by i, to inquire what was the
real worth of these "triaIs' and looses in
his individual case? ? We know that fllse
view of these has made some impression
upon other minds, and is the subject Of
boasnng among Romanisss. Now what
was the real position Of DR.. Ives before his
fall lie was Bishop to be cure. But
90 to North Carolina, and ask II the hum
bIes, deacon or layman there would have
changed places with him if the change
involved the assumption Of his repu'e
and character He wore the mitre, but up
on lis front was written "lchabod," ''the
glory is Departed" His Influence was gone
past recovery-for few regarded him as ell
ther an honest or truthful man. His only
way of escape from charges affecting his
character. in these respects, was on the
plea by which criminals SO often escape
condemnation If he found the duties of
his Episcopale irksome before, how much
more trying mus, have become his long and
weary journeys, his cares and labours as a
Bishop, when he was conscious that dsrus'
and suspicion, justly excited against him
followed him wherever he went, and thai
be could no longer claim the general con-
hdence and respect of his clergy and laity
So far from its being matter Of sacrifice to
give up his high office under such circum-
stances, we fear tha, the prospect Of escape
in any way, was great temptation of the ad.
versary! He had himself SO lowered his off
cial character, ,ha, he could lose nothing
of dignity or standing by becoming as he
says, "a mere 1ayman."
DR.. Ives omils TO record, among s!he
lials" in his ''progress to Catholicism," the
difficulties he me. with in obtaining the
means Of getting there, i. e. TO Rome We
recall such facts with pain, but they are ne
cessary as witnesses Of the proper moral in
fuence which belongs 10 him as an indvidu.
al. We need only state, then, that he obtain
six months salary in advance, beside Dor
rowing from "his old friends" and that, el-
though on the authority of his new friends
he made his submission to Rome be fore he
| IL H..
diocese desired 1t, only the part OF his salary
he had received beyond the time OF his pub
lie apos.acy in Rome! We mus. add, as
very striking bu. humilia,ng evidence OF
individuality, that in settlement of den
ls's bill, ho gave him gold Communion
set, which had been presented TO him, as a