the monstrous doctrine-more than any such a policy and such schemes were in which heresy has ever put forth of a royal accordance with the desires of the people supremacy over the Church; and, a few was fully proved during the reign of Queen years later, the Abbey was consigned to the Mary, whose great task was to reconcile the creatures of the royal will, Benson receiving, English Church with Rome. The people for the miserable reward of his apostacy, hailed with joy the measures she adopted the office of first dean of the new founda- for that purpose, and the Parliament cotion, which was to consist of that func-operated with a like servility to her wishes tionary, and twelve prebendaries, with a that it had already shown in adopting meanumber of subordinates. Westminster was sures having a directly contrary tendency. also erected into a Protestant bishopric, to The pious labours of Queen Mary were which Dr. Thirleby was appointed; but it utterly destroyed by her sister Elizabeth, was suppressed, on Thirleby's translation who succeeded her on the throne. It was to Norwich, in 1550. under the Government of Elizabeth, and by When the Protector Somerset ruled Eng- means of the tyrannical deeds and sanland, the Abbey narrowly escaped total guinary proceedings enforced by her against destruction; for, it was his design, (another the exercise of the Catholic religion, that Reformer!") to have pulled it down, and the "Reformation" was brought to a perfect to have applied the materials to the erec- maturity. For the Catholic clergy no choice tion of his own palace, in the Strand, which wes left; if they remained in England there is still called Somerset House. He was was nought for them but persecution; and diverted from his design, by a bribe, of not if discovered, the mangling death of martyrs: less than fourteen manors: but, the divine if they would avoid both, then they must justice soon overtook him, and he perished, unlamented, on the scaffold. But, I must here relate the changes of this miserable century (so far, at least, as this country is concerned), and I will then briefly sketch the subsequent history of the Church in England. betake themselves as fugitives to foreign lands. The Catholic Church in England was thus, for a period of time, rendered, it might be said, absolutely desolate. Dr. Allen, who was afterwards made a Cardinal, first bethought him of providing with priests those who, in England, despite of all The cause of the separation of England persecution, still continued Catholics; and from its unity with Rome and the Catholic these priests he determined upon sending Church was the divorce-process so vainly from an English missionary establishment, urged by Henry VIII. The pontiff, Cle-founded by him at Douay, in France. Even ment VIII., had presumed to sympathise at that time the want of episcopal superinwith the unjustly repudiated Catherine; to tendence was felt in England; and especially thwart the wishes of the King, when, enthralled by the charms of Anna Boleyn, he pressed for a divorce; and the Pope hadmoreover, the courage to declare the mar riage of Catherine lawful, and, in so doing, to oppose himself to the gratification of the impure intentions of the royal tyrant. so after the death, in the year 1584, of the last of the Catholic Bishops, Dr. Watson, of Lincoln. The Roman Curia did not, however, then venture upon the establishment of an episcopacy, but, as a medium of communication, they nominated as archpriest George Backwell. Henry had a servile Parliament crawling The persecution of the Catholics was conat his feet, and he held within 1 is grasp the tinued under King James I. During this timid instruments of an unlicensed tyranny. monarch's reign, the laws that were enacted Such were the means with which this against the Catholics were truly barbarous despotic ruler rapidly advanced upon the in their spirit; and they were enforced with path of destruction to that object on which a cruel energy that completely corresponded he now set his heart, namely, that of making with the spirit in which they had orignated. himself the supreme head of the English Their main intention was to despoil all the Church. For this object he found in Cran- Catholics who remained true to their religion mer a willing tool. If Henry VIII., at the of their lands and property. These persecommencement of his career, had as little cuting laws were, under the government of idea as Luther himself of being the leader Charles II., and William and Mary, inin an absolute and complete "Reformation," creased in number, and the Catholics were still the necessary and inevitable conse- excluded from the succession to the throne. quence of the first steps which he had taken Amid all these distressing events it is forced him to take such a result. The interesting to remark, that at an early period exertions that were made in opposition to the English clergy made known how much him by the noble-minded Bishop Gardiner they felt the want of episcopal supervision. were rendered of no avail, by means of the In the year 1610, a petition was presented policy adopted under the successor of to the Holy See for the restoration of a hierHenry; for in the reign of Edward VI., it archy, from 180 priests, about three-fourths might be said that there was manifested the of the secular clergymen then in England; desire to outstrip the "Reformation" and in the following year there was a similar schemes of the deceased King. How little petition, with above 200 signatures attached to it. The Roman Curia at length complied | and, like her father, appointed a dean and with the general wish, by appointing Dr. prebendaries, with various other officials. Bishop as the episcopal superior of England, There was a school from the first foundawith power to nominate vicars-general. The tion of the Abbey, for, Ingulphus, Abbot of newly-chosen bishop imparted a new organi- Croyland, says he was educated in it. He sation to the English Church, having esta also speaks of his disputations with St. blished a species of Church government Edward's queen, and of the presents she through vicars-general, archdeacons, and made him in money, in his boyish days.1 deans. In the year 1685, a change was 1 Vide Stow, book 1, vol. 1, p. 123. made by Pope Innocent IX., by his confid- Most of you are aware that the choir of ing the episcopal power and jurisdiction to the Abbey has recently been adapted to a vicar-apostolic for England, with whom Protestant purposes; and, with this view, in the year 1688, he associated three other it has been made to include the transepts,vicars-apostolic; so that from that time of course an utter violation of the principles forth, England was divided into four Church of Cathedral arrangement. But it was felt districts the London, West, Midland, and that without this alteration, the building Northern districts. This regulation was was quite unadapted to the services of subsequently confirmed by Pope Benedict Cranmer's prayer-book; and, indeed, the XIV., in his constitution of the 30th of May, greater part of it is still useless, or, rather 1753, and in which he also established rules worse than useless, for it is mis-used. The for the guidance of the secular and regular Daily News remarked, lately, that Protesclergy of England. tantism had no use for Cathedrals; and, After long suffering, severe oppression, indeed, the only Protestant edifice which and a barbarous, blood-stained persecution, aspires to the name-St. Paul's-sufficiently endured by the Catholics, a new era and proves the truth of the observation. But better times opened for them. The impos- how different would it be, were the ancient sibility of maintaining laws that were alike Cathedrals in the possession of those who infamous and brutal became year by year profess the same religion as its founders; more manifest, and at last, and after many and how gloriously adapted for High Mass, struggles, came the emancipation of the or Benediction, is such a building as WestCatholics-a measure which by no means minster Abbey! We would not, however, merits the name of being a full and complete change places with those who have obtained emancipation, because it was clogged with possession of these relics of better times, divers unworthy conditions. In the year, (how, I do not stop to enquire,) or sacrifice 1840, Pope Gregory XVI. divided England the faith of our fathers, for the sake of its into eight vicariates-apostolic; and the full endowments, or any of its accessories. episcopal heirarchy was established by the I have now only to thank you for the present Pope Pius IX., by his bull, "Uni- attention with which you have listened to versalis Ecclesiæ," of the 29th of September, me; and to express my hope that you will 1850, by which there is founded in England not fail to pray daily for the Conversion of the Archiepiscopal See of Westminster, with England, when Westminster Abbey will be twelve suffragan Bishops. restored to those whose ancestors in the faith In the year 1792, the Catholics in England built and endowed it, and the relics of the had only 35 chapels; and in the year 1844, glorious St. Edward be duly honoured. May there were already placed upon the English he himself also pray that that day may be soil 499 churches and chapels, 9 colleges, hastened. VALENCIA. 26 monasteries and convents. The following was the condition of the Catholic Church at the commencement of the year 1851- Almost everybody knows Killarney-Catholic churches and chapels in England knows about it, at all events, by book or newsand Wales, 597; in Scotland, 98. There paper, if not by the actual sight of it--but were, moreover, in Scotland 26 oratories, 10 scarcely anybody has either seen or heard Catholic colleges in England, and 1 in of Valencia. "Valencia! why I thought Scotland. The number of male monasteries that was in Spain," some one will cry out. in England was 17, and of convents for "What can Valencia and Killarney have to females 53. The number of priests in do with each other?" Why, simply that England and Scotland was 440; and the they are about forty miles apart, and that number of bishops and vicars-apostolic, everybody who sees Killarney should go on including the English colonies and posses-to Valencia. It is true, there is a Valencia sions abroad, 45. in Spain; and it is probable that this island In the reign of Mary, the Benedictine is named after that city; for there were Monks were restored to their Abbey, and Spaniards here once upon a time, when John Feckenham was appointed their there was a great trade between Galway and Abbot,- -a man of great piety and learning, Spain. There were, probably, Spaniards who, in the succeeding reign, died in living on the island when the Grand custody, in Wisbeach Castle. Armada sailed by-fated to lose the great Elizabeth again drove out the religious, ship, Our Lady of the Rosary, close by, and two more presently after near Kilkee, on histories are true-at that ivied house, and, the coast of Clare, and more still, near the in a somewhat more genteel and disguised Giant's Causeway in the north. All Ireland manner, at Darrynane Abbey, the residence was supplied with wine from Spain between formerly of an uncle of O'Connell, and then two and three centuries ago; and it is natural his own. And the rocks of Valencia itself to suppose that merchants or agents from afford great facilities for the same practice, the Spanish Valencia might give its name to which used to go on almost unchecked by the Irish island and port-the most westerly the coast-guard who were, and still are, port in Europe. It is a glorious place for stationed on the island. I saw their flag. scenery; and it might be a glorious place the other day, floating half-mast high, in for trade. Perhaps it was once; I am con- mourning for Wellington. The men have fident it will be, some time or other. There little to do now but to learn and tell the it lies, just within a great bay, spreading news, when their routine duty is done; for out its arms, as if to guard the lake-like sea France, Spain, and Ireland are no longer within; and rearing up mountains, as if to the foes of England, and the reduction of prevent the winds of Heaven from visiting Customs duties has made smuggling no its face too roughly. The winds do find longer worth while; so that the coast-guard their way in at times, however; and they are have but a dull life of it. And so have the so very rough with that smooth sound as to constabulary. Poor fellows! there is scarcely prevent the ferry-boat from passing, and anything for them to do, now that industry, then the people on the island cannot get their bringing regular good wages, has succeeded letters and newspapers, though they are to the gambling of an illicit trade, with its near enough to the mainland to see the occasional frays and drunken bouts. It is post-bags arrive at the ferry-house. The the quarry that we care most to see, and up English residents say this is a hardship in to it we go, under the guidance of the overwinter, for they depend so much more than looker, as soon as he has measured a block English people can suppose on their letters of slate with the marked rod he carries in and newspapers, in a situation so wild as his hand. He is a Welshman-from their island. Last winter, however, there Bangor-the only person among the hunwas not a day in which the sound was im- dred and twenty about the works who is passable. If those waters could tell what not Irish. Is it really so? we ask, when we has happened on them, and if those moun- are in the quarry. There is nobody theretains on the mainland could echo to our not one man or boy among all those groups, ears the things that have been said in their who can properly be called ragged. Many recesses, we should hear some curious have holes in their clothes; but all have stories. There is one inlet of the sea, which clothes-real garments, instead of flapping can be overlooked from the island, flowing tatters, hung on, nobody knows how. in among the mountains, turning and Another thing. These people are working winding, round many a promontory, and steadily and gravely. If spoken to, they past many an old dwelling now in ruins; answer calmly, and with an air of indepenand among the rest, the ivy-grown gable, dence-without vociferation, cant, flattery, and rootless front of the house where or any kind of passion. Yet these people O'Connell was born. It was up that inlet are all Irish; and they speak as they do that smugglers used to steal by night-as because they are independent. They have the pirates of the olden time had done good work, and they do their work well. before them. They used to slip in one They earn good wages; and they feel side of the island, while the Government independent. These are the people who, cruiser was watching on the other; and up in famine time, formed a middle class they came, in the shadow of the mountains, between the few proprietors in the and behind the screen of the promontories, island and the many paupers. The relying hid in some chasm of the rocks if the ceivers of relief, we have said, were two enemy came by; and always winning thousand two hundred. The proprietors their way up, sooner or later, to the still and their families were two hundred. These dark cove, on whose brink stands that workpeople and their families were the ivied ruin. We must remember that remaining six hundred. They look like smuggling was then and there considered people who could hold their ground in a rather an act of patriotism than an offence. season of stress. This quarry was their The inhabitants of these coasts were some anchorage. What a noble place it is! We of the most disaffected of the Irish; and climb till we find ourselves standing on the they amazingly enjoyed depriving England, upper tramway, or the verge of a precipice and the English part of their own govern- of slate, with a rough wall of slate behind ment, of the produce of the Customs, while us-of all shades of grey, from white to carrying on a good trade with their dear black, contrasting well with the orange line friends, the French and Spaniards, and of the iron mould caused by the drip from making their own fortunes at the same time. the roof upon the tramway; but the ceiling Not small, therefore, was the amount of is the most prodigious thing about the smuggling that went forward-if the local place. It is in sober truth, in its massive ness, greyishness, smoothness, and vast ness, somewhat like the granite roof in the great chamber of the great Pyramid. It takes away one's breath with something of the same crushing feeling. Look at the groups clustered or half hidden in this enormous cavern. How small every one looks-the men with the borers and mallets, making holes for the blasting; the men with the wedges and mallets, splitting off great blocks: some on shelves high up over head; some in cupboards far within; some in dark crevices in the mighty walls! Knock, knock, knock, go the mallets, with an echo following each knock-far, near, incessant; and the echo of the drip heard through all -an echo for every plash. It seems to us that we have heard so much of new applications of slate, within two or three years, as to show that the world is awakening to a sense of its uses; but such a display as this was a curious novelty. I discovered how well this material bears turning and carving, and how fit it, therefore, is to be used in masses where solidity is required, together with a capacity for ornament. If its use become as extensive as there is reason to suppose, the effect upon many a secluded mountain will be great. The slate-quarrymen of our islands are, for the most part, a primitive, and even semi-barbarous set of people-Valencia being one of the excepted cases. In Cumberland, Westmoreland, and Wales, very important social changes must take place, in whole districts, through an increased demand for slate-better wrought out of the mountain than at present. As for Valencia, not only is its slate far finer, and more skilfully obtained than any we have seen elsewhere; but the workmen are a body of light to the region they inhabit. They marry, when they can, English girls, or girls who have had English training in household ways. Their dwellings are already superior to those of their neighbours; and if the works increase, through an increased demand, so as to become the absorbing interest of Valencia, the island may become a school of social progress to the whole west of Ireland, where such a school is sorely needed.-Household Words. SERMONS IN TREES. (From the German of Antastasius Grun.) The Wild Rose breathed soft odours round, And the brighter will I blow!' The Aspen said, 'Me, gaudy day The sunbeam oft a death-stroke gives'Tis in the shade that wisdom lives Safe, though I tremble there!' And next, the slender Poplar spoke, And pointed to the sky- The Willow glanced to Earth, and said, 'My floating locks o'er thee I bend; As mothers tend a child!' And next, the laden Plumtree sighed- I bear it not for self alone; Then spake the Fir- What tho' on me The lofty Oak exclaimed-Alone Heaven's lightnings me can send; The Ivy heard him offer thus His staunch support to lend; And around him soon his arms were thrown, And now so many voices rose That memory fades away; Oh, that their whispered morals all The Church. CALENDAR FOR THE WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 11. 5. SUNDAY, 2nd of Advent, sem., purple. Comof St. Sabbas, Abb. C., 3rd Pr. of B.V.M. V. (1st) of the following, com. of Sunday (white). 6. MONDAY, St. Nicholas, B.C., d., white. 7. TUESDAY. St. Ambrose, B.C.D., d.. white. Cr. 8. WEDNESDAY. CONCEPTION [al immaculate] of B.V.M., d. of 2nd cl., with an Octave, white. Cr. and Pref. of B.V.M. (during the Oct.) F. D. ((In the Archd. and Dioc. of Southw. (for the day), in the Dioc. of Newp. and Shrewsb. (through the Oct.) Plen. Ind. Fast. 9. THURSDAY, St. Birinus, B.C., d. (from 5th), white. Com. of Oct. 10. FRIDAY, of the Oct., sem., white. 3rd Pr. of St. Melchiades, P.M. Fast. 11. SATURDAY, St. Damasus, P.C., sem., white. Com. of Oct. We recommend to the prayers of the Conferences the following members, recently deceased: Louis de Belcastel, Active Member (Toulouse). ,, Collin, Honorary Member (Saint Briene). Nicolas Chevallier, Honorary Member (Seine). A. Rondel, (Breante). TO THE EDITOR OF THE BULLETIN. SIR,-Your gentle hint in the last number of the "Bulletin," reminds me that I have been guilty of a breach of politeness, in not answering your former notice, for which neglect I beg to apologise. was, to the nearest village, where they put him in a cell carefully barred, because he manifested a mischievous disposition at times; and ever afterwards he was honoured as a Sheikh of the first order. It is true the boys and girls of the village were often allowed to amuse themselves by tormenting him; for the fellah has no real veneration in his character, and is ready to satirise and make fun at any moment of everything he pretends to respect-except, of course, the deen, his faith in the abstract, and Lord Mohammed.-St. John's Life in Egypt. ST. EDMUND'S OAK.-There is a large oak tree in said the Deans tied Edmund, King of the East Norfolk, called St. Edmund's Oak, to which it is Angles, when they shot him to death with arrows. Note. This tree has since perished, and when it was cut up, an arrow point was found deeply embedded in its trunk, about six feet from the ground, forming a remarkable proof of the truth of the legend.-Notes and Queries. To Correspondents. Literary communications to be addressed to "Hugh Harkin, Esq., the Editor of the Bulletin, Clarence Place, York." Business letters as hitherto, to the Publisher, Mr. W. E. Stutter, 7, Little Blakestreet, York. Those who wish to insert Advertisements in the Wrapper of the Monthly Parts, will please forward them not later than the 18th of every month. All communications relating to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, which may be intended for publication in "The Bulletin," to be forwarded to the President of the Council of Direction, 7, Hercules Place, Belfast. It was, and is still, my intention to test you; and I hope I shall soon have an opportunity of labouring, as far as my humble abilities allow me, in the field of Catholic literature. You call me zealous, in your notice. I assure you that I am zealous in my endeavours to promote, as far as possible, the establishment and extension of the Catholic press. I regret to notice a very great indifference among men, calling themselves Catholics, upon this subject. I regret to see that many, very many, prefer supporting the insidious and contaminating periodicals of the Pro-" testant press, because, perhaps, some of them are better business' papers, or some of them may have better literary staffs. These pretend to regret that the Catholic press is not equal in ability to that of their opponents, and yet they are too indolent and indifferent to help to make it so. Not so with me. I hail, with delight, the appearance and continuance of Catholic periodicals; and, as far as I am able, would, and will gladly assist them. I should be happy to do so for the "Bulletin," for its character and management hitherto, have enlisted my warmest sympathies in its favour. Manchester, November 18, 1852. ERIONACH. CATCHING A SAINT.--It was once reported in a district towards the north of the Delta, that a strange animalsome said a monkey of a huge stature was abroad, and did mighty damage to the crops. Many women, too, who met this thing in the fields, were frightened into premature maternity; and several men, who endeavoured to catch it, were severely wounded. At length the population of a great number of villages, armed with naboots, turned out for a regular battue, and succeeded in discovering their quarry, sunk up to the middle in a morass. They pelted it with clods of earth, until it came forth, and took to the open fields, when they gave furious chase. The monster was covered with hair, but resembled a man in form. Its agility was tremendous, and for a long time it contrived to evade the grasp of those who endeavoured to seize it. However, at last, by throwing naboots and stones, the excited fellahs managed to disable it, and to their astonishment found that it was really a human being, a raving madman, escaped from some distant village. At first they intended to finish the work they had so well begun but some one suggested that that man was, perhaps, a great saint. They accordingly carried him in triumph, bruised and bleeding as he : Books, to be reviewed, or noticed, to be forwarded To the Editor of the Bulletin, Clarence-place, York." ERIONACH (Manchester).-We sincerely thank you for your kind communication, and though you have marked it private, we cannot forbear giving our readers some extracts, because you paint so truly, a wide-spread evil, which all sincere Catholics feel and deplore. We take leave respectfully to tell you, what no doubt you very well know, that the remedy for this evil lies greatly in the zeal of individuals. In your hands, and in the hands of such as you. It is true that public bodies such as the Manchester and Salford Catholic Association, may do much in their respective localities towards implanting better sentiments-removing that cold, and, in the half-Catholic, that sneering cynical spirit, which prompts the sage sceptic to rail at exertions on the part of men who are anxious to promote unity and true Catholic feeling among their co-religionists. Still, though public bodies may do much, the welfare of our cause depends on individual exertion. We trust that many will read and reap advantage from the perusal of our correspondent's strictures. Printed and Published by W. E. STUTTER, at the Beverley and Salford Diocesan Steam Press, 7, Little Blake-st., York, and 30, Oldham-st., Manchester; and Published also by C. DOLMAN, 61, New Bond street, and 23, Paternoster-row, London; and may be had Wholesale of the following agents:Liverpool: E. TRAVIS, 57, Scotland-road; Manchester: HEYWOOD, Oldham-street; Birmingham: MAHER, 108A, New-street; Newcastle-upon-Tyne: JOHN FARREN, 5, Moseley-street; Sheffield: C. LEONARD, Waingate; Edinburgh: MARSH AND, BEATTIE, South Hanover-street; Glasgow: H. MARGEY, Great Clyde-street; Dublin: MISS BATTERSBY, 10, Essex-bridge: Belfast: O. KERR, 12, High-street. |