American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1855-04-26
KIRwAN'S LETTERS.
30 THk EIGHT REV. JOHN HUGHES BISHOP
or NRw YORK.
LETTER III.

DlI OEAh Gtkt ~ i"st tSesSt = SOiiN
Inenced statement to you OF the causes
which. in carly life, caused my misgivings
and distrust as to yours being true
church, and as to its holding the true
faith referred to some incidents con-
nected with the claims Of your priests to
miraculous power, with the doctrine of
purgatcry, and with praying to the saints;
] shall now proceed with a statement ot
some more Of those causes.
The doctrine ofConfession is one OF the
primary doctrines of your church. tire
quires every good papist to confess his sins
10 priest at least once year. 1t any
sins are concealed, none are forgiven
This doctrine makes the bosom Of the priest
the repository of all the sins OF all the
sinners Of his parish, who make con-
science Of Confession. And this is one Of
the souices of the fearful power which
your priests have over your people. And
with this doctrine of confession, is con-
nected the power of the Father Confessor
10 grant Absolu!ion TO the confessinS pen
itent. Ii is sometimes affirmed, and then
denied, to suit circumstances, that the
priest claims such power. But DR.. Chal-
Toner in his "Catholic Christian Instruct
ed" Chap. 9th, asserts this power, and
on what he deems scriptural authority
And never knew an individual who came
from Confession, with the privilege of par
taking of the Communion, who did not
feel and believe that his sins were forgiv-
en- him. And if they were not immedi'
ately forgiven, they would be on the per.
formance Of the prescribed penances. You,
sir, will not say, thatI either mistate or
misrepresent the doctrine.
Now for some of my early impressions
upon this subject Father n. held fire.
uuently bis confessions at our house. He
sat in dark room up stairs with one or
more candles on table before him. Those
going to Confession followed each other
on their knees from the front door, through
the hall, up the stairs, and TO the door OF
ihe room. When one came out Of the con-
fessing-room another entered. My turn
camel entered the room, from which
the light of day was excluded, and bowed
myself before the priest. He made over
nue. the sign Of the cross, and after saying
something in Latin, he ordered me tocom.
mencc the detail of my sins. Such was
my fright that my memory soon failed in
bringing up past delinquencies. He would
prompt me, and ask, did you do this
thing, or that thing? | would answer yes,
or no. And when could say no more he
would wave his hand over me and again
utter some words in Latin, and dismiss
me. Through this process often went,
and never without feeling that my sins
were forgiven. Sins that burdened me
before, were now disregarded. The load
ofguilt was gone. And | often felt, when
prompted to sin, that l could commit il
with impunity, as l could soon confess il
and secure its pardon. And this,,sir, il
the fearful and fatalefIect Of your doctrine
ofConfession and Absolution upon mil
lions of minds.
The questions however often came up
Why does the priest 60 into dark room
in the daytime? Why not speak to me il
English, and moi in Latin? How can Ii
forgive sin? What, if my sins, after all
are not forgiven? And always foun
that could play my pranks better afle
confession than before, for could 60 q
them with a lighter heart. Very earlyi
life my confidence in this doctrine of Con
fsssion was shaken; and at q later period
came 10 the conclusion that it was priest
ly device to ensnare the conscience, and
enslave men.
Another thing which made early dee
impression on my mind was this. On m
FIRST remembered journey TO Dublin W
passed by a place, called, unless mistake
ST.. Johns Well. 1t is, as you know, on
of the "Holy Wells." Of Ireland. Their
was vast crowd Of poor.lookng and dis
eased people around it Some We're pray
ing, some shouting; many were up in tn
trees which surrounded it, All these tree
were laden, in all their branches, wit
shreds Of cloth of every possible varet
and colour. l impaired what all this mean
] was told: "Tnis is 81. Johns Well. .an
these people come here TO get cured. -
But what do those rags mean, hanging o
the trees? was told, that the people VIII
were not Immediately cured tied a piece Q
their garments on some limb Of the trees
to keep the good Saint of tho Well in min,
Of their application. And Judging fror
the number Of pieces tied on the trees,
inferred that the number that went ava
cured were very few. / had previousl
read some travels in Africa describinI
some Of the religious rites OF the sable son
OF that continent;and thethought that thos
performed around ST. Johns Well wer
Just like them. occurred TO me. hav
no doubt but that the rites witnessed i
my youth are performed there yet--tha
the rags Of diseased persons are no,
streaming from those trees to remind tn
Saint Of the requests of those who sus
pended them. There was always prie,
present to hear confessions, and to receiy
the pennies Of tho poor pilgrims. An
the impression then made upon my min
was, that It was piece Of paganism. An
tho rites and ceremonies about this Well
learn, are nothing in comparison with tho
performed at the Wells Of Saint Patrick
tho County Down. win here insert
account ola festival At 81. Patrick's w,
as given by an eye. witness.
"When or how the custom which
shall describe originated, | know not, n
Is II necessary to inquire; but every mi
summer eve thousands Of Roman Cath
lies, many from distant parts Of the cour
ry. resort 10 these celebrated holy wells
cleanse their souls from sin, and clear the
mortal bodies Of diseases. The influx
people Of different ranks, FOR some nigh