On this page
-
Text (1)
-
Untitled Article
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
in the name of their Master a number of things which were understood i » a literal sense by their hearers , such as food to the hungry and drink to the dry , &c , the native Priests took the alarm , and represeuted to the Government that the Missionaries were turning the Priests ' rice-pot bottom upwards ; which being * translated into the European language , more apt for mystification , siguified that the Missionaries were subverting the Established Church of Burman . In
answer to this statemeut , the Mr . Peel of the Golden Empire , whoever he may be , had the good sense to reply , that if the Missionaries turned the Priests' rice-pot bottom upwards , the Priests' might turn it bottom down again . A response which contains the whole principle t > f religions toleration , and the policy of free trade to boot . Now as , in the resistance of the Catholic Claims , this same rice-pot of the East , or tithe-pot called the Church
of our hemisphere , is the sole object in view , we certainly think it would be most wise in our Ministers to answer politicians in the words of the Burmese Mr . Peel ,- —* If the Catholics turn the Church bottom upwards , let the Parsons set it on its end again . ' The Master of the Rolls has shadowed forth the extreme danger to be apprehended , and see what it iseven the breath of eloquence . which is as likely to prevail against corruption as truth is against the gates of
hell" * Let me suppose that there are returned to this House some of those persons who exhibit in themselves specimens of some of those talents which seem to be indigenous to Ireland—let me suppose some of the individuals of that body to be desirous of overturning the Protestant Establishment , and of rearing in its stead
the Roman Catholic religion in Irelandlet me suppose these persons swaying the body they represent by their masterly eloquence , and directing that eloquence to the object to which I have referred . I ask , is this a light danger ? Or , are we not , on the other hand , to reserve in our own hands the most effectual means
of defending ourselves from such a danger ?' " Reserve it in your hands ! it is sufficiently reserved in your heads . Is there a skull in your Honourable House which is not eloquence-proof ? Beat down St .
Paul ' s with pea-shooters , and then plant seventy Plunketts in battery against an ancient and profitable abuse . One Plunkett , one Canning , one Brougham , cawnot , with all the united forces of wit , wisdom , and eloquence , prevail upon you to inquire whether the laws for the , mo-
Untitled Article
302 Intelligence—Catholic Question .
Untitled Article
always received the warmest sopport ) are neither very likely to be converted , nor the less inclined to assist for not being so ; and , that at temps at this time to recommend the peculiar opinions of the Catholics to popular favour , tend only to excite jealousy and distrust with those who , from auy motives , are their political opponents . It is their interest ( and the interest of all who wish to
unite in asserting the principles of religious liberty ) to throw on one side all discussion , and right of discussion , with the civil power on the merits or demerits of opinions , as irrelevant and only tending to embarrass the question , which is not whether it be desirable that people should be Catholics , but whether it be just and politic to refuse those who are so , and will be so , the equal rights of citizens for their opinions' sake .
We meant to have stopped' here , but we cannot forbear quoting in conclusion some observations from the Examiner , on two positions of Sir John Copley , Master of the Rolls , lately something very like a Radical , but mow , like his predecessor Lord Gifford , in training for the Chancellorship .
" Sir John says , * It is a question entirely of expediency . If we can grant the Catholics that which they require , with perfect security to our civil liberties and to the religious establishments of the empire , they are entitled to receive it . Prove to me that what the advocates of the Catholics propose to be done may be done with perfect security to ourselves . *
" Such is the language of the Master of the Rolls , who , filling the office of a Judge , does uot hesitate to stand forth the avowed advocate of injustice , on the score of its imagined expediency . . Formerly , * Fiat justitia mat cwlum * was the maxim of the Magistrate ; it is now exchanged for—Refuse justice ; not , indeed j lest heaven , but lest churches , far more solid than heaven , should fall .
* ' With all deference to the Lord Eldon , Sir John Copley , and Mr . Peel , we do hold that a Country is eveu more precious than a Church . Here , however , if they spoke the truth , they would retort upon us , and say , You are playing upon words ; a Church is not a mere quarry , or a heap of brick and mortar , it is a mill-stone
which grinds our meal . And this brings us to the grand uses of a wealthy Church Establishment , and the real nature of the fears for its welfare ; in the proper manner of meetiug which we might be instructed by savages . When the . American Baptist Missionaries commenced operation in the Burman Empire , and promised
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), April 2, 1827, page 302, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1795/page/70/
-