Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-07-16

clergy furnish quite as largea mum
Der of penitents as any other class
But this, perhaps-though tn,
clergy possess, or are supposed tt
possess, a thorough knowledge o
such publications as "The Priest il
Absolution," and Of its use, or 0.
the use Of similar works-may BE-
because priests have not that deli.
cate regard for the virtue of theil
wives and daughters which dis
tinguish other men,
However thoroughly worked
up" the public mind may be,
will venture the enunciation of the
prophecy that the authors of "The
Priest in Absolution will suffer
from no prosecution, however much
persecution they may be called upon
to endure fact which, consider
ing how thoroughly worked up
is the public mind, must most en-
phatically vindicate the truth of
my position, that the book itself is
not only not amenable to the moral
or to the ecclesiastical law, but that
in spite of most bitter preiu-
dices it cannot be brought
under the operation of civil courts.
We all know something of a
recent trial in England for the
publication of an immoral work,
and Of its condemnation. Lord
Macauley says somewhere, in one
Of his essays, that the English peo-
pie suffer from occasional fits of
virtue. The LEDGER informs us
that one of these periodical attacks
has present hold upon them, at
least | would infer this from its
statement that the public mind is
thoroughly worked mp" on the
subject Of 1.-THE Priest in Absolu-
ton" Now, then, let us see
whether English courts will touch
a book which a paper quoted by
the Commercial proclaims to be far
more immoral than the book of
Mrs. Besant, at id 0mne Genus"
recently condemned. And if not,
why not? Merely because any
English court, while ready to ac-
knowledge the nature of the sub
jects dealt with in s1eh a work, will
feel itself obliged to confess that
the same only constitutes a manuel
as necessary to the vocation of a
priest as 4 medical work is neces-
sary to the profession of a physi-
clan.
Furthermore there is this to be
said, when the Commercial insti-
tutes its ridiculous comparison be-
tween "The Priest in Absolution "
and Bradlaugh's recently condemn
ed book: The former c~onfessedly
sets its face against every form Of
sin. No one can deny this. The
worst that any can say against it is
that it may suggest sin even in con-
demning it. But of the other
book.
In conclusion let me ask your
readers to remember that confession
has never been but partially in
allegiance in the Church Of Eng
land; that it has at no time fallen
into disuse either in the Holy East
ern Church, or in the Church of
Rome; and that all this being SO it
is not very highly probable that its
increase, however great, in the
Church Of England will tend to
the disruption Of society, or to the
dissolution of those bonds of love
and confidence which should sub.
sist between man and wife.
And-may | take the liberty
it occurs to me to suggest that the
deep learning, the high refinement,
the social and the official positions,
the unquestionable personal purity
and the God-giyen lives of the men
who either had a direct share in
the publication Of "The Priest in
Absolution" Or are prepared to de-
fend it, should suggest the possible
propriety Of exercising a little eau
ton in passing Judgment upon it,
especially since such a judgment
necessarily turns wholly upon a
question Of morals. And / beg
leave respectfully to insist that any
question of morals when once
mooted is best left to those who
have made them a study; that is,
as students in the physical sciences,
or, as men in business life would
say, to experts.
Please let me correct an error
which occurs in my previous COM
munication, and for which | believe
that the manuscript | sent you is
altogether to blanca few typo
graphical errors apart-owing to
the fact that it was written with
contractions and given to an aman-
uensis to copy. In place of "Man-
uel dis Confesseurs," ETC., be kind
enough to read, Manuel DIES Con.
iesSeurs compose, ETC., spar LAB
be j. Gaume, Vicaife General de
Nevers."
Thanking you again for the use
Of your columns, / beg leave to