The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-02-06

Citorio and assure him that Won Min =
again repeat these illegal acts hone i tt'sr
way you may possibly suspend yonr ~ as;in s;iis
| which is now hanging over you oA'ie'
am, sir, your obedient servant
(Signed) JOSEPH SEyEnS
British Consnl
To Rev. JAMES LEWIS. SA'
will not characterize this letter as il mer.
its. Instead of expressing his regret at beinp
compelled to give such notice, and offering
his official and personal aid to secure a favor
able consideration OF the case, this Consul
evidently takes special pleasure in being able
to bring his countrymen under censure, and
1t rs not strange that he is accused Of being
the instigator Of the offensive measure. How
ever that may be, the letter is unworthy any
oIciai, and would be properly noticed by the
expulsion rom office OF its author. But it
was actually served upon the two Scotch
preachers. One of them. Rev. Mr. William
sun, was aiso informed by the woman whose
aparIinehts ne had hired, that she would not
ahoW tne people to come into the house for
pubic worship any more; and of course he
mad TO submit to the woman power and closed
his chapel. anu e'''eu
The oGner minister, Mr.. Lewis, called mon
the Duke OF Argyle, Mr.. CardwelI. Mr.. Gal
stone, Mr.. Odo Russell, and other distinm;sb-
ed British gentlemen here, and took counsel
OF them, but it was not prudent for them to
interfere. He then went directly to the Gov
ernOr OF Rome, in whose hands this matter
would lie, and laid the case before him. The
result was that Mr.. Lewis became satisfied
that the Roman Government would rather not
know anything OF his movements, and he
might preach and pray, in his own house, as
much as he liked, if he did not make noise
about it. He returned home and the next
day held his usual service; and 1 had tue
pleasure of hearing him preach from the
wo.ds, "And Paul dwelt two whole years in
his own hired house lin Rome,) and received
all that came unto hin, preaching the king
dom of God, and teaching those things which
concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all conf
dence, no man fOrbidding him. Acts xviii,
30. f sfstw aa sf84a Tbi iofAi 7H htlf"a
He has heard nothing further from the Con-
sui, and nothing from the Inquisition. Up to
this time it was not known that such a tri.
bunal was in existence here. But it is SO an
nounced by British official, and its exercise
threatened TO suppress Protestant preaching
1t is not supposed that anything more VIII
come oil the matter, and the general opinion
Is that the complaint out of which the action
grew, was made by some English con- ert to
homanism, who would signalize his change oil
base by a mean assault in the dark, upon his
countrymen of another faith-strangers IN
Rome, worshipping God after the custom OF
their fathers. IN feI b asd 49,
1t Mr. Lewis gets into the hands of the In-
QUESTION, will let you know. He has asked
me to preach tor him next Sunday; and it
these letters suddenly come to a close you
may guess what's the matter.
SATURDAY, Jan. 5, 1867.
Worse than our worse tears-the blow has
been struck, AMI Presbyterians are ordered to
desist from public worship in all the papai do
miniOnS! H5Gui A.a.s..H E a-s5 HlHtH
al tba
tive OF the British Government, had an inter-
view with Cardinal Antoneili, the Prime Min
lister of the Pope. Mr. Russell expressed his
surprise on being informed that an order had
been issued requiring the Scotch Presbyteri-
ans to desist from the worship they had been
holding in the private houses OF their pastors.
lie asked the Cardinal ii he was aware that
these meetings had been held for six years
past, without objection being made by any
one, and II there were any special reason why
they were now so summarily suppressed. The
Cardinal intimated, inrepiy, that the Govern
ment had for many years past been under re-
straint but now that foreign protection was
removed, they would administer it according
to their own views ofduty; that one Englis II
chapel was open, and that was enough for the
kngllsh in home. Hae NfaA '-a-
Mr. Russell said the Cardinal must be aware
that the suppression OF Presbyterian worship
would produce great excitement in Britain,
and the action OF the Pontiicial Government
would be loudly condemned. This sugges-
ton, however, produced no effect, anu dr.
Russell remarKeo that the Americans are al
lowed To nave apiace OF worship. 10 this the
Cardinal answered that the Government
would attend to that aIsol binding argument
and remonstrance vain, Mr.. hassell retired |
and reported the result or his interview. The |
TWO places OF worship are, therefore, peremp-
toriy ciosed! There l., therefore, no pace III |
Rome, OF in the papal dominions, wnere Pres
byJerIaDs are admltted ,or DIVINE worship.
faul cOuId preacn LwO wnO.e years, IN his |
own hired house, in Pagan Rome But Papal
Rome iorDids the Protestant follower OF the |
Apostle to worship Cod with ms trends, Ia |
his own hired house. Pagan Rome was more
tolerant in Paurs day tnan Papal hone III