Nelson Chronicle, Colne Observer, and Clitheroe Division News. — 1898-05-13 (Nelson, Lancashire, England)

XIII.'s mantel of books Is published, modems% first, heretical books; second, editions of Holy Scripture, even such as are issued by Catholics, unless under the bishop's care, and with notes; and thirdly, Indecent literature. The classification Is • dishonour to Rome. And to discountenance the free reading of Scripture must tend to darken the minds of the people and to maks them unduly amenable to priestly control. Had Catholics been urged more to search the fioriptcures they would have had less faith in relics and sham miracles. Mr. Huntington, in his kat on "Northern Spain," rye that amongst many other relics in the church at Oviedo may be seen " a pima of the breed of the last supper," "one of the thirty pieces of silver received by Judas," "a piece of the rcest fish which Christ ate," "fragments of linen once moistened with milk of the Mother of Clod," and "a part of Moses's rod." When priests have brought men to believe such foolery they have them as their mercy. (d) The testimony of those who forsake • monastic or conventual life would imply that the evil of such institutions is not casual or exceptional. The Rev. T. Connellan says of the time when he was • priest:—" The rims of drinking and gambling were almost universal among the Roman Catholic clergy of my time. Six tumblers of strong punch at a sitting were not considered much of a feast. Spoil five ' and unlimited 100 were favourite games." (e) Beyond all these things, I bold that seem mentarlan claims in relation to regeneration, absolution, transubstantiation, Indulgences. etc., and which are inseparable from Catholic priestliness, are a dishonour to the supremacy of Christ as the only and all-sufficient Saviour; miens. Coned by the New Testament, and even In °ppd. Sion to its letter and spirit; alien to that modesty which Christian ministers should cherish, and destructive to that spiritual liberty wherewith Christ intended all His people to be free. 4. Mr. Connor intimates that we should seek Information from Catholic writers. The best book I know on the subject of the priesthood is the book of priestly action. Jesus says "By their fruits ye shall know them." Try that test. What about Madagascar? When it came into French possession the Jesuits at once proceeded to seise. without payment, churches and schools on which British Nonconformists had spent hundreds of thousands of pounds. I beard a retired missionary describe, with much detail, in Carr's-lane Chapel, the unscrupulous way in which the Jesuits marched through robbery, and even through murder, to reach their ends. Dr. Wardlow Thomson and Mr. Spicer went to Madagascar to see General Galileo', who has stopped this system of plunder. But Mr. Spicer said on his return, in Birmingham Town Hall, that Jesuit opposition, in one instance, when it could not seize one of our churches, put another building in front of it, so that the worshippers could hardly get in at the front door of their own church. by. Griffith John. OM of our oldest and most respected missionaries in China, writes in the "L MS. Chronicle" for March, INS :—" The doings of the Roman Catholics in these two districts, but especially in Eingehan, are simply Satanic." "The Bible Society's Reporter," and kindred publications, give sad evi. dense that, all the world over, the Catholic prieetheed is hostile to the circulation of the Bible and to any preaching but their own. As are its deeds so arelts teachings. The Bishop of Salford said in Burnley that we "could find no way of getting to heaven except by making use of these creatures whom God had appointed for the reconciliation." In their intolerance they deny that anyone outside their fence has a right to preach.it although Scripture says :—" Let him that my come." They unchristianly) Nonconformists and Churchmen alike. Mr. Connors living in the enjoyment of the civil liberty which Nonconformists have won for his elms and for all classes. Amid inch conditions he can talk of freedom and Mew the gloved nand. But where the Catholic Priesthood has its own way, where it is not held in check by the civil power, it proms itself to be still animated by the spirit which led Gardner to leant  while his victim, Bishop Haigh was r=a.ki the Hamm Mr. Connor's " Exeter Hall" as he terms them, may be sled that be and his class rennet have thdr way with them. The Catholic Priesthood never owns that it has done wont, DOM repents, lt even bowls of its nnshemer able principles. If we /Meter Hall lasadas" were at its Lowey we should liii. act all sieved hand, but Um mailed dot, sod should maim some sharp and merciless blows.—Taus