Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-08-13

MOncure D. Conway, writing
from London to the Cincinnati
Commercial, in the course of a long
article, says:
The book published by the So
ciety Of the Holy Cross" entitled
"The Priest in Absolution," has
been the subject Of prosecution in
Glasgow, where a yender of it was
fined and imprisoned under the law
against obscene literature. The
Society of the Holy Cross have con-
yened and discussed the situation,
and have resolved that they will
stand by and defend the book.
The excitement is causing the re-
publication and sale of that also,
and the printers of it dare not claim
any copyright in it. All the pulpits
are Illuminating on the subject, one
of the chief thunderers being the
new Canon Of Westminster. But
the anti-confessional party cannot
out-thunder the Ritualists. For
instance, the Rev. G. j. Ridsdale, of
=" Felkstone Ritual case" notoriety,
preaching last Sunday in defense
of the terrible book, said: 81 won
der why some one does not stand
up in the house of lords and bring
a charge against the bible Especially
Leviticus) as an immoral book. /
have heard indeed that Mr.. Brad
laugh intends to do So" To which
Bradlaugh answers: "Mr. Brad
laugh not being a member of the
house Of lords has no right to stand
up there and reply to what Mr..
RidSdale suggests, but is glad to
know that the Rev. @. j. Ridsdale
thinks the bible may be fairly at
tackled as an immoral book. Mr..
Bradlaugh has long thought So"
At the meeting held a few days ago
the Ritualist leader, Rev. A. II.
Mackonchie, placed the clergy in
relation to the book in the same
category as a physician in relation
to medical work. A physician,
he said, has to deal with works
which the world called indelicate,
but it would not be thought that
a medical student was discharging
his duty to the public if a feeling Of
delicacy should prevent him from
acquainting himself with facts ap-
pertaining to his profession. After
this Colonel Childers declared that
their position was quite impregna-
bic, and indeed it is difficult to see
how they can be successfully as
sailed on the principles which the
act-of-parliament religion has laid
down for these enfants terribles of
the church. The physician inquiries
into symptoms when people are in
abnormal conditions, i. e., sick. But
these priestly doctors proceed on
the principle that sickness is nor
NAL; all are from birth and by ma
ture wounds and bruises and putre-
flying sores, with the exception Of
those who have already undergone
their treatment. They learned this
in the catechism, in the creeds and
articles, and the formidable fact is
that they believe and act upon it.
f! Hence they Systematically approach
innocent children, ,pure-minded girls
and boys with morbid scrutiny
that can only fill their minds with
gross and sickening suggestions,
such as can hardly fail to promote
the moral diseases by which the
practitioners live. To the healthy
common sense of the English peo-
pie they are like the fabulous
gh0uls preylng on all young ana
ruddy life. And yet their theory
is the established religion of the
country, and they are "impregna-
bic" so far Us bishops and courts
are concerned. But the people are
not so helpless. The authorities Of
the House of Detention in Clerk
enwell, London City, finding that
their chaplain, the Rev. Mr.. Hors-
ley, is a member Of the Holy Gross
Society, and refuses to leave it, iiaye
given him notice that he must
leave that Society or cease to be
their chaplain their reasons being
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