Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-11-17

81 On the 16th day Of October, 1865, just three
hundred years ago, very early in the morning,
some workmen set up strong post in little hol
low not far from Baoli College, in Oxford Faggots
were brought and loads of wood prepared for
burning. About 10 o'clock band Of soldiers and
priests drew near, leading two venerable men.
A few terrified people looked from the windows
and roofs of the surrounding houses Arriving
at the place of execution, two ofiicious priests
stripped the prisoners Of their outer clothing
They were then led TO the stake, and black.
smith bound them firmly, one on each side, with
an iron chain A small bag Of gunpo.der was
then hung around the neck of each. Then the
soldiers and priests skilfuy arranged the faggots
and dry furze.
Everything being ready, one Of the monks
took flaming torch and touched the pile in sev.
eral places. The hungry flames sprung up in an
instant and, they Kissed like tortured serpents,
and glared upon the fierce band which surround.
ed the pile, Latiner turned to his companion
and spoke these memorable words so
"Be of good comfort, Mr.. Ridley, and play the
man we shall this day light such candle, by
Gods grace in England, as / trust never shall be
put out" H.I
!, But the flames grew stronger, and the heat more
dreadful. Latimer received great volume OF the
fire, and being very old his suffefings soon ended
Blinded and almost sufiocated by snoke aud
flame, the aged minister of God stretched his
hands into the burning faggots and crying out 20
Father of Heaven receive my soul" expired in
spasms OF great torture. Ridley was tofmented
TO extent at which the heart sick ems 10 imagine
A hot fire was kept around his feet and egs until
they were burnedof, while the remainder of his
body was unburt then, when ho was suffering In.
describabe torment, the fire was suffered to mouu,
higher, and thus was his body wasted to crisp,
while life remained. At last the fire touched vi.
tai part and the free soul left its mangled tenement
TO find recompense IN the crown OF glorious
martyr.
While the two men were burning, they we're re.
viled cursed and abused by the priests and sol
diers The former holding upcrosses, besought
their victims to recant and die in the Papal faith
Yet, both Iatimer and Ridley remained firm aud
undaunted, showing the strength Of their belief,
their undying devotion TO the Protestant cause
Then was consuniInated another scene OF martyr.
dom upon the soil Of England, and as the veners-
BILE Latimer predicted, candle was lighted there
which /" shall never be put out" Every week OF
Queen Mary's reign added TO the list OF slain and
tortured people until the land was clothed in mourn
ing At length this bloody minded woman died,
and her sister Elizabeth, Protestant assumed the
English throne. Then the sword was stayed, and
no more blood and massacre thrilled the people Of
the United Kingdom, with fear and horror.
In the year 1878, the great WicklifFe begin his
denunciatons Of the papal SYSTEM and with an
unsparing hand, exhibited the heinous sins and
ueTcsies oi tHc tatnOnC tnurcn, hh ~ was then cor
rnpt beyond all description, for there was no law,
either Of the land Of public opinion, TO restrain
the wickedness OF the bishops, priests and monks
For several years WicklifIe continued his good
works, and his books issued at different periods,
caused the papists inconceivable annoyance. He
also translated the Bible into English, from the
Latin language; so that IL could be read by the
common people. This net particularly incensed the
Catholic powers, and they caused bill TO be In
troduccd TO Parliament for the purpose of sup
pressing Wickhffe's Bible entirely. But like many
Of the bills introduced into our Legislatures by Pa
psts, at this time, 10 did not pass, and the Holy
Scriptures soon spread over England ya
Thirty years after Wickliffs's death, the Council
Of Constance assembled TO examine the opinions
OF John Huss, which were founded on Wickliffes
teachngs But, 70 get AZ the root Of the matter,
they srfsigned the writings and genius Of the great
anti-Catholic, ard submitted against them forty.
five propositions or charges. He was charged with
preaching against convents, nunneries, and priests
with denying the Popes authority and Supreme
Holiness On earth, with denouncing the worship Of
images Ono particular article, was the following
line taken from One Of tho reformcr's books