NEWS OF THE WEEK.
yllE Anti-Papal agitation-goes on without change of character : there is the same spontaneous indignation, the same general Unanimity of sentiment, and the same want of definite aim. It is 4---burst of feeling, and the feeling his broken forth before re- tion could cheek it or define its purpose. Meetings go on in every part of the country; Dissenters taking their sand by ortho- dox Churchmen, and in the main agreeing to restitutions and ad- dresses' that differ little from one average standaid. Casual inci- dents do happen occasionally to give a semblance of variety,—such —such as the anomalous position of Lord Feilding, High Sheriff of Flint- Witt and recent convert to Romanism, who being officially called upon to convene a meeting, excited much anger by moderating the terms in which the meeting was called, and was pursued in his gosenee by the angry censure of the speakers. Here and there in- dignation at the Papal aggression has thrown a share of its weight on the Tractarian "traitors in the Church "; and occasionally an apologist of the Tractarians, or even of the Roman Catholics, shows himself to be hooted. But of the country at large the utterance is
t the same that it has been from the first—a steady blast of indig- nation.
The indefiniteness of aim, which is not unnatural to the multi-. tudei is found even when we come to individuals. This week has brought forth some new participants in the movement, on one side or the other, but still -without distinct suggestion. On the mode- rating side we have Mr. Roebuck, in a critical epistle on Lord John Russell's letter to the Bishop of Durham; the Member for Sheffield riblaying the part of teacher to the Prethier, explaining to him the spi- t of the history-of the Roman Catholic Emancipation, and logically analyzing the present movement to show the groundlessness of the alarm. On the same tide, Sir Benjamin Hall addresses the Arch- bisholi of Canterbury; to expose, for the hundredth time, the un- satisfactory state of the Ecclesiastical Commission and the abuses iu the appropriation of Church property; - a subject very proper to moot, but not bearing upon the present question as much as Sir Benjamir' Hall supposes.. The Bishop of -Exeter's statement to the Queen, of the reasons for his isolation, are more to the purpose,— sound objections to several grounds of the agitation; though sa- vouring of the spiritual arrogance of Dr. Phillpotts. . Even when we come to the very highest authorities who are engaged on the side of the Anti-Papal aggression, we are still Without definite or practical suggestions. This week, for example, brings out high authorities in the Church and in the Law, and yet neither in an ecclesiastical view nor a legal view have we any sug- gisraOn towards a practical solution of the difficulty—any hint to- wards a measure which might eerie for the "emergency." The Archbishops and Bishops collectively address the Queen, and you might suppose that the wisdom of the Church would point out a mode of dealing with the great public necessity. Now what does taiis suggestion amount to ?. The 'Prelates call upon the Queen " to discountenance , by all constitutional means the claims and -usurpations of the Church of Rome." A very wide requisition; bat tha wisdom of that augustbody, which is so immediately oon- corned, and is so profoundlylearned in the treatment of ecclesias- tical affairs, fails to throw even a spark of light upon the nature of the measure which is required. This negation is so very re- riutrkable that it cannot be passed over. Undoubtedly it has a very important meaning; for if it had been, we will not say easy, but possible, to Sugsvi, st a positive measure suited to the occasion, there can be no doubt that the wisdom and zeal and long expe- tienco of the collective heads of the Church would have been able to hit at least upon some indication of the proper enactment. It i:s an important historical fact of the week, that that zeal, that ex- perience, that wisdom, fail to indicate any such desirable clue. The wisdom of the Law enters into the agitation, represented by the Incorporated Law Society. From such a body we might ex- pect a suggestion, not perhaps of an ecclesiastical kind, but pre- cisely of that legal nature which would be most valuable in. aiding the invention of responsible Ministers. Now what is it that the Incorporated Law Society suggests in addressing the Queen ? It calls upon her Majesty to direct such measures as will effectually prevent the bull in question being in any manner• ed."— "Such measures " : but what measures? Could not e Incor- porated Law Society have vouchsafed some little help in find- ing out what measures would answer the purpose ? More- over, we want some purpose a little more practical and de- finite than the one suggested. The Incorporated Law Society can think of no purpose more effective than to prevent " the _ball in question being in any manner recognized." ReCognized by whom ? Of course it will not be recognized by Protestants ; so that there is no need of any measure to prevent its recognition by the people at large. On. the other hand, no pains and penalties, no formal obstructions, can prevent the Papists from recognizing it. Do what you may, they will re- cognize it, and you cannot prevent them. Zealous Protestants will cut Cardinal Wiseman..que. Cardinal, and it needs no statute to en- force that Protestant duty. Zealous Roman Catholics will not cut Cardinal Wiseman qua, Cardinbi, and no statute can force them to cut him. It must be confessed that the incorporated wisdom of the Law totally fails to afford any assistance to the inventive facul- ties of the responsible Ministers.
By one of the most singular changes in history, we find the most practical and largest suggestion, together with the greatest amount of tolerance and forbearance, in " the Grand Orange Iu
of Ireland" ! The Grand Orange Lodge has added one more to the innumerable addresses to the Queen : this address is duly signed " Inneskillen, G. M."; and a very remarkable document it is We do not seek to pry bengath the surface, we will not suspect covert motives; but we take the Orangemen as they stand before the Government, on their own formal declaration. They ask for no new law, they " ask for no new measure of severity "; but they only "ask for light,"—for a Parliamentary inquiry; not for an inquiry "into the truth or falsehood of the dogmas" of Rome, but into "the tendency of doctrines in which the consciences of British subjects are to be. trained," with a view to show " whether any and what new laws may be required to pro- tect the country from the consequences " of that influence. An open and not an unreasonable inquiry, suggested' in language eager but yet temperate and courteous, and not unlikely to elicit really useful information.
The demeanour of the Roman Cathdics in England continues to be that of perhaps a somewhat studied fortitade and patience under wrong constructions and threatened persecution. Meanwhile, " Nicholas, Cardinal, Archbishop of Westminster," has proclaimed a solemn jubilee, to extend from the 8th to the 22d instant, both inclusive. The jubilee is a spiritual observance intended to pro- mote and exalt the influence of the Romish Church by a studied cultivation of unity and zeal among its adherents. It was due about this period ; but it remained, we believe, with Cardinal Wiseman to appoint the precise time; and perhaps he has not chosen the very best. His manner is such that he might be thought ostentatious of a certain meek pertinacity,—the most of- fensive demeanour of all to a public which may be conscious of a somewhat exaggerated bigotry in itself, and yet retains a not un- reasonable alarm at the dogged perseverance with which the leaders of the Romish Church incessantly extend their influence. One of the most amusing incidents of the season is the new " dodge " of Mr. John O'Connell. Mr. John has converted the Repeal Association into the Loyal National Catholic Repeal Association ' • he reads letters against the English hatreds_ of " Lord John Mummery," and threatens to collect more -Mad ments of rent in the new Irish Catholic reaction against persecati Protestant England. It is really possible that the English Anti- Papists may have helped Mr. John O'Connell to reopen his shop.
