The Irish standard., 1899-09-23
CONFISCATED FOR PROTESTANT USE
Founded by St. Mellitus in the
Seventh Century.
IT WAS DESTROYED BY the DANES
Again Restored and Enlarged by
Edward The Confessor.

LA w OIL ~ lXlC OOllkCSSOIs
One OF the surprises in store for an
American traveller in Europe is the
number OF churches denominated Pro-
testant, that were once the property OF
Catholics. Religious intolerance, and
the prosecutions that sprang up from
age to age, were the causes that brought
about this state OF affairs. Judging
from the high-handcd confiscations of
property that almost invariably accom-
panied these prosecutions it would seem
as ii the acquisition OF the property Of
the prosecuted were the sole motive the
prosecutors had in view. But the great
est surprise is the bare-faced shameless
ness with which the present masters
glory in their ill-gotten possessions,
says M. c. Rowell in the Catholic Tran
script.
AS one visits St. Patrick's Cathedral
and Christ Church in the metropolis of
the Emerald Isle, he wonders whether
the genial guide who expatiates on the
grandeur of architecture, the body OF
worshippers who congregate there for
divine service, and the worthy minister
who occasionally expounds to them the
golden rule, is aware of the fact that on
those sites once stood Catholic churches,
which would in all probability be there
today, were they not confscated and de-
molished by their Protestant ancestors.
The same state of affairs exists all
over the United Kingdom. Henry
WILL, and, with few exceptions, his
constituencies successors made no dis
tinction as between Ireland and England
when there was question of prosecuting
Catholics, plundering their churches
and monasteries, confscating whatever
other property belonged to them, and
applying the proceeds to the replen-
ishing of their private Golfers or the
royal treasury.
Among the many houses OF Catholic
worship thus appropriated by the crown
was Westminster Abbey, the most not
able landmark in the whole kingdom at
the present day. The exact date of the
first foundation Of this magnificent edi-
flee is not certain. But it is generally
admitted that its origin goes back al
most to the introduction of Christianity
into the island.
When St. Augustine arrived in Eng
land and began to convert the people to
the Catholic faith his success was very
satisfactory, SO much so that when the
flattering accounts of his mission
reached Rome, Gregory the Great sent
to his aid St. Mellitus who was in time
consecrated the first bishop OF London
Shortly after his arrival he converted
among others, Sebert, the king of the
East Saxons, and requested him to aid
him in the building of house of wor-
ship for the newly-converted. The
saints request was complied with; the
king, together with others who had re-
ceived the gift of faith, handsomely con-
tributing towards the erection of the
new church which was dedicated to St.
Peter in the month of May, 616 Such
was the origin Of the present Westmin-
ster Abbey. One Of the objects of in
terest within the Abbey is the tomb oi
Sebert, the Catholic king, through
whose generous assistance the first
foundation OF this famous ediice was
laid
In the course OF time this church was
destroyed by the Danes, those terrible
Norsemen who became the scourge oi
several European nations. 1t was sub
sequently restored by St. Dunstan,
about the year o6o and endowed with
valuable estates by King Edgar.
The Benedictine monks were estab-
lished there about that period, and the
fame of the monastery was heralded
throughout the land by their excellent
labors in the cause Of education, their
works of charity, and the integrity OF
their lives. The government of West
minister continued under the disciples OF
st. Benedict without any change of a
radical nature until the time OF Edward
the Confessor' who ascended the throne
in the year 1910, and reigned for a quar-
ter Of century. He was, without excep-
tion, England's greatest and best ruler.
He was devoted to the welfare of his
subjects. His chief aim in life was to
advance their interests by warding off
aggression, preserving peace, restoring