American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1855-04-26

max, left this scene Of human degrade
ton in state of mind not easily to be des
cribed. The whole road from the wells to
the neighboring town was crowded with
such supplicanls as preferred mortal half
pence to holy penance. Tho country a
round was illuminated with watch-ires;
the demons of discord and fear were a
broad in the air; the pursuits of the world,
and the occupations Of the peaceful. ap-
peared put STOP to by the performance
of ceremonies, disgraceful when applied
10 propitiate an all-compassionate Divinity,
whom these religionists were determined
and taught to consider jealous rather than
merciiul. Iwish it were in my power,
without insincerity, to pay compliment
to The Irish Catholic clergy. On this oc-
casion they were the mad priests Of these
Bacchanalian orgies; the fomenters offury;
the setters-on TO strife; the mischievous
ministers of the debasementoftheir people,
lending their aid plunge their credulous
congregations in ceremonious horrors" ~
Now, str, can you, as man of high in
telligence, regard these thing in any other
light than as the merest impostures to de
lude the ignorant? And what epithet suf-
iciently expressive of adherence can we
apply to the priesthood who thus impose
upon credulous people?
well remember yet another of these
impostures. Whena boy | often heard
that on the morning OF Easter Sunday, the
sun might be seen dancing in the heavens
and in the chapels, 10 express itsjoy on the
anniversary OF the resurrection Of Christ.
And often wished to be where could
witness the phenomenon. 1t took placein
a certain chapel, and in the presence OF
many pious and admiring beholders. An
lnbeliever in priestly miracles was pres
ent, who traced up the dancing of the sun
beams through the chapel 10 an individual
managing concealed mirrors, so rs to pro-
duce the wonderful effectl OF this heard
and although it seemed incredible, yet il
made an impression on my mind. The
probability of the imposture cannot be
doubted by those who know that the earth
which covers the grave Of Father Sheely
(who was convicted Of treason, and hung
inthe County of Tipperary) J, when boilec
in milk, cures a variety of diseases.
The Bible, with all its notes and CLOSES
ms published by the authority of your owl
t church, is denied by you to be a complete
rule Of faith. On this question will no
now enter, only so far as to say that thi
} denial holds very intimate connexioi
with its virtual Withholding from the peo
5 pie. If not complete rule, it may Leaf
$ astray; and as it is capable Of opposite in
9 terpretations, in some of its passages, tn
{ souls of the people must not be endanger
( ed by its general circulation. tits bette
e to know nothing ofthe Bible, than in som
particulars to misinterpret i'll Your inlal
lible church teaches both ways on vari
ETY. of subjects, and among the rest, on tn
| circulation of the Bible. 1t allows it j
Protestant countries, with some stringcn
regulations; it virtually forbids it in purel
, Papal countries. How many Bibles coul
your Reverence procure in, Spain, Portu
gal, Naples, or Italy? How many Span
iards or Italians have ever read Bibl
through? How many of tho Irish peas
antry that can read and write have eve
read ten chapters of it? Now, sir for year
together sat dailyat table witha Catho
lie priest, who was member of the family
and the curate of the parish; and neye
, saw Bible used in the family. neve
/ heard at table, or in the morning, or in tn
evening, religious service. The nun
bers of the Douay Bible published by sub
scription in Folio, were taken in the fam
; ily, but never real. And not only so. bu
f never heard sermon preached in Cath
t olic chapel in Ireland; nor a word of ex
S planation on single Christian topic, doc
= trine, or duty. And before was sixtee
Y years of age never read chapter inth
e word Of God, whilst in other respects m
8 Ieducation was not neglected. ofle
e asked the meaning of this thing and tn
r other; but there was no explanation. No
=, can one out of one thousand. in Pap'
r countries, give single reason for one {
Y your peculiar doctrines or duties. An
: since in the maturity of my judgment
a have examined this matter, have great
y. commended your wisdom in withholdin
Y the Bible from the people; If | were bsl
Il op or priest Of your church ] would d
,; the same. heard man who lived nea
J. the Canada line, in Vermont, during tn
c last war with Great Britain, tell the follow
It lowing stoly. "There was" said h,
d "much smuggling going on. Whenevt
n we met a traveller with pack Of any kline
Y we ordered it to be searched. Honest me
i. always said, search and welcome B,
h whenever a man refused, or made any fu'
n about it, we always suspected that thel
: were contraband goods in the pack; an
|, we were never mistaken" You hay
y brought contraband goods into the hous
n of God, and the Bible tells tho people so.-
!, Hence it is forbidden. Light is the SUI
Q death of darkness. The circulation oftl
: Bible will be the death of popery.
d With great respect, yours,
It KIRWAN.
If ~McGavin's Protestant, p. 403
VI