The Irish standard., 1910-06-11

that the invocation or alteration Of the
Virgin Mary or any other saint and
! the Sacrifice of the Mass, as they are
now used in the Church of Rome, are
superstitutious and idolatrous; and I
do solemnly, in the presence of God,
| profess, testify, and declare that I do
make this declaration and every part
I. thereof in the plain and ordinary sense
of the words read unto me. as they
are commonly understood by English
Professionals, without any evasion,
equivocation, or mental reservation
whatsoever, and without any dispen-
sation already granted me for this
purpose by the Pope or any other au-
thority or person whatsoever, and
| without any hope of such dispensation
from any person whatsoever, and
without thinking that l am or can be
| acquitted before God or man of any
| part thereof, although the Pope or any
other person or persons or power what
soever should dispense with or annul
the same or declare that it was null
and void from the beginning"
| While the King is reading out this
oath or declaration in the House of
Lords there will be standing by his
Marshal of England. That officer must
! be there for it is his duty as Earl
Marshal to direct and be present at
all great Royal functions and State
ceremonies.
| This Earl Marshal is the Duke of
Norfolk. He is hereditary Earl Mar
shall of England. The Office is his by
right of birth. His father before him
was Earl Marshal, and when he dies
| his eldest son or male heir will be
Earl Marshal.
| Now this present, living Earl Mar
shall of England-the Duke of Norfolk
| who must be by the side of King
George V when making the declara-
ton quoted above, is a Catholic. The
Duke of Norfolk is Catholic and not
a mere "nominal' Catholic. He is q
Catholic sincere, devout and practical.
He is a Catholic strong and firm in his
| faith accnntinp and ho1iovipo with oil
his heart and soul all the doctrines
! and teachings of the Church.
And of course like all true Catho-
lies the Duke of Norfolk believes in
as most sacred. and regards with most
! intense reverence and alteration, the
Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist and
Holy Mass. wherein, he believes with
firm belief is visibly present the
Body and Blood of Christ; and Of
course, he believes with firm belief
in prayer to and veneration and in
vocation of the Holy Virgin Mary
Mother of God, conceived and born
without spot or stain of original sin
and in Heaven next in honor and glory
to her Divine. Son.. s,fs.- r@4nt'g
In all these holy doctrines Of the
Catholic Church the Duke of Norfolk
believes with a faith undoubting and
unquestioning. Now what must be his
feelings listening as he must, if that
oath be taken as prescribed by law,
what must be his feelings listening tn
all those holy doctrines in which he
SO intensely believes, described and
stigmatised by his King as "supersti-
tious and idolatrous"? Surely he must
feel that he is foully insulted and
grossly outraged by those words COM
ing from his King, of whom he is a
most loyal subject and faithful officer.
Needless to ask the same question as
to the insult and outrage perpetrated
on the millions of Catholics resident
within King Georges dominions.
But should King George take that
oath? 1t is said that his own feeling
is strongly against it. If. this be so
would he not be justified in disre-
garding the human law and obeyins
the higher law which forbids such a
wanton outrage upon the sacred con-
victions of his loyal Catholic subjects?
Scene Of Emmet's Execution.
Mount Drummond Avenue, Harold's