National Republican., 1880-03-03
PETER'S PENCE.
A Conservative view of the Case.
D The Editor Of TIE National Republican,

To The Editor Of The National Republican:
SIR: If the statement referred to in your
editorial columns on Monday regarding the
transmission Of $3.50 sterling us Peters Pence
to the Pope by the Archbishop Of Armagh and
the Bishop of KilmOre is true, trust the am.
nounccmont of the action of these church dig
ptaries will not tend to "dry up the flood of
charity that is flowing from all directions upon
tho suifcrings of Ireland" As you apprehend,
the people of Ireland are suffering for food
starving; and the money, il sent rs alleged
would have furnished Il barrel of flour each TO
800 families within the sees of these bishops,
and there is neither starvation nor want ut
Rome.
l will not presume to condemn tho bishops,
as do not understand their obligations in tho
matter. If the funds were collected as Peters
Pence, they were probably bound as trustees
TO remit the same to Rome, and no doubt the
contributors felt bound TO support tho head of
their church as we of other denominations
feel bound to support our clergy oven in
time of famine. In the present case
however, If 1t could have been possible to have
waived the collection this year, or to have
turned over the funds collected for the relief
of the starving Catholics of Ireland. it would
have been most cOmmendable. But, without
this, am sure we should not allow the action
of these bishops or the Pope, or the contrib
utors of the pence to dry up our charity for
poor class; they had no means to'contributo to
the fund.- and if any of them did contribute a
mite by q supreme act of sclf-dcnal, according
to q conviction of religion aud duty, however
much we might dcplore what we would regard
rs an error of judgment, we must commend 1t
as n noble instance of religious faith, stimu-
lating TO the performance of duty which
would, perhaps, deprive tho children Of some
poor peasant of morscl of bread. No, Mr..
Editor, rather let this instance iucitC us to
swell the food of charity to relieve people
who are so noble as to contribute their last
mite for the support of a religion in which
they believe, while wo heartily condemn the
rich hierarchy who would accept the cOntri
button at such time.
There was a time. Mr.. Editor when Ireland
did not send any Peters Pence to Rome. 1t
was an AnglO-SaXOn institution, and you
know that we Irish have no overweening ad
miration for some of the Anglo-Saxon institu.
tions; for this one particularly we ought not to
have n high veneration, as it was tho consider.
tion which Henry IL, agreed to pay to Pope
Adrian and his SUCCESSORS for the grant of
Ireland in fee to the English Crown.
The first idea of Peters Pence appears to
have como from England. 1t is ascribcd to
Ina, King of tho West Saxons (72l, A. D.
This tribute consisted in the payment of II
silver penny by every family possessed of
lands or cattle of the value of thirty pence.
The original object Of the tribute was for the
support of an hospice Mt Rome for Anglo.Saxon
pilgrims, to be maintained by an annual con =
tribution from England. Other western nn-
tions followed the example, but Ireland would
not contribute until compelled to do so by the
power Of England.
This tribute was called in the English laws
the Romescot, and was in force until abolished
by Henry VIII.
When English bishops were translated to
the Irish dioceses and sees they Of course soon
taught the people their duty in the matter OF
the pence. In modern times it is Il voluntary
Offering, and, rs such, most commenduble
from Il Christian point of view. Peters Pence
is the annual offering of the Catholic world
for tho support OF the Papal Sec. 1t now con-
stitutes the only revenue of the Pope In 1860
the amount contributed exceeded S?,OOO,OO0,
and will largely exceed that amount for tho
present year, no doubt. If am correct you
can SEQ that the Irish contribution is a nero
trihe which it is to be hoped the Pope will
double and transmit to Ireland, and by doing
| So see Queen Victoria's $500 and go her two
aud onelilth better. She is supported by tax
alton, tho Pope by voluntary contribution
Tho Pope might set her Il good example by
waving at least all that part of his income
which is derived from Ireland.
Until this is done let us not condemn the
Popo unless We condemn Her Majesty Taxa
tiOn falls on tho PRODUCER labor is the pro
Queer; the laborcrs of Ireland are starving;
taxation has not been reduCed payment Ol
tax is enforced. Peters Pence is voluntary
contemplate trhc at most. Let us pity
the poor of Ireland whose labOrs provide both
taxes and pence, and let US be more generous
than Kings and Popcs.
FELIX BRANNIGAN.