The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-12-11
Is 1870

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q commission was issued by the Bishop of
London, in consequence of charge brought
against Mr.: Yoysey, to the effect that, in q
he had promulgated doctrines contrary or
repugnant to the Thirty mine Articles, and
the fOrmularies of the Church of England.
Let the reader picture to himself q COM
Portable chamber in Downing street, q
comfortable fire, and four comfortable
looking elderly gentlemen sitting near it,
at o long table covered with green baize.
The four gentlemen constitute the machin-
cry made use of by the privy council for
the suppression Of heresy, and to show the
multifarious duties of the department, it
may be added that it also possesses a
veterinary branch which looks after cases
of cattle plague and foot and mouth dis
ease. Happy the country which can boast
| of department which alike undertakes
to cure the souls of men and the carcases
| of cattle. But to return to the inquisition
| chambers. The benevolent looking gen.
| tleman with the headache, his head leaning
on his hand, is the chief inquisitor, the
Archbishop of Canterbury and husband of
Mrs. TAFT. The little gentlemen with the
big wig and twinkling, ferret-like eyes, is
Lord Chancellor Hatherly. Opposite the
prelate and the chancellor, who are repre-
sentatives of the evangelical section of the
| tors, who decidedly lean to the High
Church party. At the bar stands the "here-
| tic" attired in full cassOck and wearing a
Master of Arts scarf. The only other per-
sons present on this interesting occasion
were one or two subordinate officials, a
general public, including some of the " de-
vout female SEX" and the ubiquitous re-
porters.
The Rev. Mr.. Voysey, though having the
advice of his solicitors, was unrepresented
by counsel, and consequently had to con-
duct his own defence. Opposed to him was
q strong array of legal talent, and it is a
curious coincidence that both the leading
counsel for the respondent have brothers
who have seeded from the Anglican COM
munion. Father Coleridge, the brother of
the Solicitor General, occupies high posi-
ton among the Jesuits in Farm street,
while Sir Rounded Palmer's brother is an
esteemed and Jealous member of the Ro-
man Catholic laity, although formerly an
Anglican clergyman. The mention of this
coincidence is not intended to convey the
insinuation that the Catholics have evil
IDENTIFY brought about this prosecution in
order to exhibit their Protestant adversary
in a ridiculous light.
Mr.. Voysey, having been condemned by
the court of York, appealed to the highest
authority on spiritual matters known to
the British law, namely, the Judicial Com
mittee OF the Privy Council. Being an APP
pellant, therefore, it now devolved upon
him to open the proceedings, and he did so
at considerable length. The ministers of
| the Established Church are for the most
part unable to make an extempOre sermon
or address, and the Rev. G. Voysey is no
| exception to the general rule. Standing at
the bar with the bulky MS. before him he
read his defence. The reading of it occu-
pied three hours.
If Mr.. Voysey had read his defence of his
peculiar opinion some three centuries ago
at Geneva in the presence of the gentle
Calvin, he would most assuredly have
undergone the fate of Servetus. But the
modern inquisition eschews the use of the
rack, the thumb screw, the stake, the glib
bet and does not even resort to the gentle
persuasion of needles under. the. fir ger
| nails, which was tried, but in vain, in the
case of young Alexander Briant, the Jesu-
| it, and other +" Popsh seminarists," in the
olden times. Instead of being carried weak
from the torture before infexible judges,
the Rev. G.. Voysey, in good health and
spirits, boldly holds his own, in emulation
Of the lawyers who boast of their ability to
drive a coach and four through an act of
Parliament, does his utmost to drive a
coach and six through the Thirty mine Ar
ticles. Only few months ago the Judicial
| Committee was called upon to determine
the legality of such practices as the use of
| lighted candles on the altar table, and the
| elevation of the consecrated elements: now
| it has to determine on the other hand
whether clergyman has right to deny
the doctrines of incarnation and atone
ment, the plenary inspiration of Scripture.
and the eternal perdition of the wicked. y