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and not through the medium of the Orthodox Journal.

titude for the zeal and virtues of the Champion of our common faith. It is not, Sir, that the number of Dr. Milner's friends is small, or that they are

To tell you that an individual of no note, like myself, agree in sentiments with you, would perhaps hard-wanting in attachment to him, or inly be deemed worth committing to sensible how much they owe to his memory. But I feel a pleasure in exertions for their preservation from stating, and I am sure you will parti- the dangers which have threatened cipate in that pleasure, when you their religion of late years, it is not hear the statement that no small por- for any of these reasons, that no pub tion of the respectable persons, both lic expression has yet been made of clergy and laity, with whom I have the high estimation in which he is held conversed, accord with you, and are by the great body of English Cathoready to co-operate with you. It is lics. I am convinced that the day is time that some measure should be not far distant when it will be found taken, to convince our adversaries that a considerable majority of the that we are determined to foil their Catholics of this country coincide with attempts of separating us, the Catho-him. Hitherto unfortunately no op. lics of England, from the great bodyportunity has been given of acting in of our brethren in Ireland, of keep union, or of fairly learning our ing us by that division in a state of strength. Your proposal last year of real insignificance, of interfering in a meeting in the Midland District was the discipline of our Church, and at well calculated to promote this end. last, by corruption and intrigue, de- But the Petition which, I rejoice to priving it of what has hitherto sup- see it, is at length coming round for ported it, during nearly three centu- signatures, will operate still more ef ries of persecution, a virtuous and fectually. When the numbers who zealous succession of pastors. It is have signed it shall be made known, time that something should be done to many of those truly respectable indi testify our sincere attachment to our viduals amongst us, who from their venerable, but insulted Prelate, our rank and situation ought to take the grateful sense of his exertions in our lead, and who are well known in their behalf, and our determination to fol- private circle to be attached to the low the bright example which he has true cause of Catholicity, but have set us, of preferring the integrity of hitherto from family connection or our religion and the security of our other ties with what has been improholy church before the allurements of perly termed the Catholic Board, re worldly honour and temporal advan-mained inactive, will be induced to tages. During the nine months in come forward, to take the station that which Dr. Milner has been absent belongs to them, and by their rank from home, every effort has been used and talents give a powerful aid to to lessen his influence in this country, our humble exertions. Taking this and to bring him into discredit at view of the subject, I am of opinion Rome. On the other hand, what has that it will be productive of more good been done here in his favour? Not a that the signature of the Petition pen has been moved, nor a tongue should precede a meeting such as you heard beyond the precincts of the fire-have proposed. In the mean time such -side, in support of his cause, or to plans of co-operation may be formed, repel the insinuations thrown out against him. The warm heart of the Irish Catholic would have burst the bounds of its confinement, sooner than have consented thus to suppress the expression of its admiration and gra

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as will enable us to assemble at any time that shall be deemed most proper. In promoting these objects, be assured of my hearty concurrence.

With respect to the petition, which we are now called upon to sign, I most

cordially approve it, and hail it as the harbinger of triumph and repose to long persecuted Catholicity. It will shew the real strength of the Catholic body in this empire; it will undeceive Ministers as to the sentiments of the Catholics of England who will be found to be but one body, one heart and one - spirit with their brethren in Ireland. It will teach Ministers no longer to listen to the statements of a few unauthorised individuals who have been falsely supposed to speak the senti

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heaviest anxieties, that he has received,
during his absence, so little informa
tion or support to his cause, from his
friends in this country. In the hearty
desire of contributing to produce this
effect, I am sure you will join me.
Leaving the subjects upon which I
have addressed you to be my apology
for the liberty which I have taken. I
assure you of my
most sincere esteem
and regard for
you, and am, Sir, your
obedient humble servant,

FRS. MARTYN.

Feb. 18, 1815.

For the Orthodox Journal.

ments of our body, and who have been St. Thomas's, Bloxwick, near Walsall, found in their eagerness for place, at one time willing to gag their clergy, and deliver them bound into the hands of their enemies; at another time treating with disrespect an ecclesias- MR. EDITOR.-IN these afflicting tical superior, who had grown grey in times, it is with a degree of difficulty fighting the battles of religion, and that a sincere christian, and an ardent had the strongest of claims to their lover of Truth and unanimity, can deesteem and veneration. The petition cide upon the steps which he ought to will put a stop to the attempts that take, in order to promote the attainhave been but too successfully made ment of the great object which is equalto divide our body, and though at firstly dear to us all :-namely, the secu it may seem to have the effect of dis.rity of our Holy Religion, and the union in this country, by raising the clamours of a party, who will be forced by it, either to unite with the great body of their brethren, or stand by themselves, it will produce that most important of all unions, a union with Catholic Ireland, without which, all the efforts for emancipation by the Catholics of this country, will either fail of success, or only entail upon us a greater evil, by being clogged with conditions hostile to the security and progress of our holy faith. I may add, Sir, that the petition once generally signed, will shew that emancipation in the eyes of the Catholics of this country, is, as it ought to be, purely a question of a civil nature, and that, like our brethren in Ireland, we will not suffer the unhallowed hands of our adversaries to touch, with a single finger, the sacred institutions of our holy church. Lastly, Sir, the news of this petition being signed, will soon be wafted to the shores of Italy, and will administer consolation to our venerable prelate, who, I am told, feels it one of his

abolition of the Penal Laws. Divided as we unfortunately are, one recommends silence, and another says, that silence would betray the cause. I have weighed seriously the arguments of both, and I do not hesitate to declare my conviction that the latter is the decision of Truth. We are not now in ordinary times.-Dangers are encreasing around us.-A dreadful storm is collecting in the wind, and, ere long, it will burst upon us in all its fury. The divisions that begin to exist amongst us, are the forerunners of more terrible disasters ;- they are only the beginnings of evils. Whatever decision may be given by the Court of Rome on the question which is the subject of agitation between us, tranquility will not follow, unanimity will not take place:-I speak according to probability. The admirers of Monsigr. Quarantotti's rescript will complain of undue influence if it be rescinded; (I mean the violent members of the party;) and if it be confirmed, a clamour will be made against his usurpation of

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duce me, nor no temptations prevail over me, to act contrary to it. In civil allegiance I will never be wanting; but, backed by the ecclesiastical power,

civil authority in its undue usurpation of spiritual dominion.-Happy would it be for us if all were actuated by the same dispositions, and ready to yield where submission was due. I am ready to allow, or to suppose that all, or at least those who have no temporal advantages in view, are actuated by conscientious motives, and do not accuse themselves of violating any of the principles of the Christian rule. I will not, therefore, be their accuser. But, if they are not violators of the christian rule, by adopting and promoting plans which are not condemned as dangerous and inadmissible, by proper authority, they are certainly violators of Christian charity, by cen

undue authority in interfering with local discipline, and civil allegiance. Whichever party is disappointed in the appeal that is now making to the centre of unity and peace, by that party (II will never yield submission to the mean the violent members of it) complaints will be made, and means of resistance will be resorted to.-This will be the cause of all our evils.-An arbiter with full anthority, acknowledged by both parties, can alone settle our differences; and this arbiter can be no other than the Supreme Pastor. It is not merely a civil question: it is an ecclesiastical question. It is concerning the election of bishops, whether it shall be a free election or not whether it shall be according to the received forms or not :--whether a Protestant Prince shall interpose his Veto against any one that is judged fit according to the usual forms or not.This is properly an ecclesiastical question, and to be decided only by the Su-suring and condemning those who will preme Head, the fountain of juris- not adopt and promote those plans.— diction. Put this question aside, and It is the same on both sides. In our preI will acknowledge that all the rest is sent state, (but how long we shall remerely civil, with which the Court of main united in the same state God Rome has nothing to do. This, there- only knows) we are all brethren; and fore, I consider as the great object; the ties of charity and religion ought and I have not the least shadow of to induce us to be compassionate to doubt but that the decision of that one another, and to be united together Court, the purest, the most deliber- in the common band of unity. Reate, and the most impartial court that proaches are not justifiable between us ever existed, will be according to the in the present state of the question; pure principles of the Gospel, and the remonstranees aud argumentations are general discipline of the Church. It the only weapons either offensive or dewill be a decision that we may all ad- fensive, that can be called allowable; mit with security, and which we can- for we are not in a state of downright not refuse to admit without danger.- warfare. The case at issue between If the decision be in favour of the go- us is this:-one party is willing to vernment interference, and the decree concede certain powers to the govern be promulgated by my ecclesiastical ment of the country, provided that superior, the bishop, I will bow to it, the government grant to them in rehowever serious may be my reflections turn the full privileges of free subupon the expected consequences; and jects. The other party consider that my reason will be because I shall know the powers intended to be conceded that I shall be acting according to the will be injurious to their religion, and usual forms, and yielding that obedi-had rather forego the advantages to be ence to my Pastor, and that submission to the will of God, which is my duty. If the decision be to the contrary, and which I have no doubt but it will be, no power on earth shall in

derived from the concessions of government than to grant what, in conscience, they think cannot be granted. The first have no such terrors about them; they are convinced that the in

terests of religion will not be compro- | to the partizans on both sides, for upmised, they have bishops, and pious, rightness of intention; and that the exemplary, and learned bishops on safest side is with the latter-that the their side; and they are surprised and path in which the first wish to walk is angry that all are not of their opinion. new and unexplored, but not, as yet, The others are zealous for ancient forbidden to be explored; and that forms, and dread the idea of innova❘ the path in which the others wish to tions of any kind whatever. They walk, is the same in which they and know that, hitherto, the faith has been their forefathers have walked with preserved pure and undefiled, and they perfect security. are afraid lest changes of one kind should bring on changes of another; particularly when they know that the first changes are to admit Protestant rulers within the rails of the sanctuary. The first are willing to make these concessions for temporal motives; the others put temporal motives aside, and are willing to submit to privations, persecutions, and every temporal calamity rather than expose the venerable fabric of the church to the danger, ot to the prospect of danger of its being undermined. The first are, perhaps, afraid, that if the present plan be not adopted, many of our most eminent lay-members will be disgusted at the rigidity of our principles, and may be tempted to separate themselves from us: the others are convinced that where there is true religion there will be no falling off; and that the good grain will not be blown away with the chaff. The first, therefore, are for something new--a change in the economy of our discipline; and the others are opposed to innovations. They are like their forefathers in every preceding age-they abhor novelty, and by opposing novelty, they know that they are sure of preserving the sacred deposit unviolated. They are walking in the old path, and they will not depart from it. In that path they know that they are safe; but if they depart from it in the least, either to the right or left, they do not know but that there may be some concealed pit into which they may fall. Such is the nature of the question at issue between us. I trust that I have given a candid and impartial account of it. From this account, therefore, we may argue as follows:-that credit may be given

Now, Mr. Editor, what is there that can authorize reproaches on either side? At present we are none of us in the wrong; we are all desirous of the right, and all seeking after the right. What is there then on either side that is deserving of harsh language? To examine into, and to reason upon the arguments of each other, and to refute them with mildness will tend to promote the continuation of the reign of truth. But to attack with violence, to refute with acrimony, and to condemn with severity, will have no other effect but to cause animosity and rancour, and to sow the seeds of the most fatal dissentions. This has been too much the case hitherto ; criminations have been made, and even the term of promoters of schism have been applied to those who are the opposers of every thing new, as well as to those who are furthering their plans in a canonical manner. It is our duty to hope that they who are in the wrong will submit with humility when the case is decided, and this duty implies another which is to create no obstacle to that humble submission. Now, what greater obstacle can be created than to inflame the minds of the opponents by contemptuous expressions, by ill timed accusations, by premature judgments? What has not been done by minds inflamed? How many souls have been lost on account of acting rashly in that state of irritation? How many nations have been separated from the church by listening to the infuriated harangues of such irritated and disappointed people? We have the weaknessess of human nature as well as they; and if goaded by insults and provocations,

praying that the dreadful scourge may
be averted, and that a blessing may be
our portion instead of a curse. I do
not say that we are not to use exer-
tions in making our cause appear
good: exertions may be made, and
even the most strenuous exertions;
but let those exertions be made with
a christian-like spirit; let them be
made with charity; let them be made
with brotherly love; let them be made
with a view to the honour and glory
of God, and not be influenced by any
worldly considerations.
Exertions
would, by these means, promote the
reign of truth; submission would be
yielded when it was canonically re-
quired, and the dreadful evils of dis-
sention and schism would be avoided,
St. Chad's,
EDW. PEACH.
Birmingham, Feb. 21, 1815.

we are as capable as they were of turn- of contributing to such a calamity?ing our backs on the grace of God, I know that we have none of us any and actually promoting schism. The intention of contributing to such a greater number of the former authors crime; but we may contribute to it of schism were probably actuated by without any formal intention; we may good motives in the beginning; but contribute to it by reproaches and inthrough want of humility they appeal- vectives; we may contribute to it by ed from one decision to another, from our silence; we may contribute to it one authority to another, until at last by our want of humility, and our refuthey rejected all. It may be the same sal to submit to proper authority; we with us. The birth of our present may, in a word, remotely contribute disunion was above five-and-twenty to it by not earnestly presenting our years ago; and it is now come to matu-petitions to the throne of mercy, and rity-the Catholic body is completely divided into two parties A decision on the important subject, as far as regards spirituals, may be expected from the Court of Rome in a short time; and how will it be received? Can we flatter ourselves that the disappointed party will give in their adhesion sincerely and unanimously? Will there not be some haughty spirits, who, mindful of former reproaches, and dreading the insults of a riumph, (for probably many of the successful party will be mean enough to triumph over the unsuccessful,) will appeal to a higher tribunal, and even insist on the authority of a general council before they will submit? Such things have been; and such things may be again: and I cannot repress my fears that such things will be before our present differences are compromised. If my fears were to be realized, which God prevent, then we should have to encounter all the horrors of schism.— Then father would condemn son, son would condemn father, brother would condemn brother, and our dearest friends would become aliens to us.The flock would rise up against the pastor, and the pastor against his flock. All would be anarchy and confusion amongst us in this world, and multi-instances of the same, but really I tudes of souls, who are now serving God in uprightness of mind, and looking forward with well-founded hopes to happiness hereafter, would be hurried down the precipice, and be eternally lost. What greater calamity could befal us? and what greater crime could we be guilty of than that

To the Editor of the Orthodox Journal.

SIR, AS I have taken some degree of notice of the illiberality of the English press, and in one of your last numbers exhibited a most cruel instance of the same, I request you will permit me to return to that subject.— It would be in my power, did I conceive it necessary, to enumerate daily

think the pages of your most interesting Journal may be better engaged than in combating or answering the empty assertions of such men as the London prints are edited by; for, bear in mind, Mr. Editor, that we must not throw pearls before swine: but, Sir, there is no rule without an exception;

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