THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN MEXICO AND BRAZIL. SORROW has fallen on the Catholics in Mexico and Brazil. For a long period they have had matters very much their own way in these countries; but the tide has turned, and now they find themselves in troubled waters. We have been accustomed to regard Mexico as a semi-barbarous country, but it has had the good sense and courage recently to carry through some important reforms, though the Catholics denounce these as diabolical. President Lerdo proposed, and the Congress adopted, the following among other amendments on the Constitution;- Complete separation between Church and State; Congress to pass no law either establishing or prohibiting any religion; marriage to be regarded as a civil contract; and no contract to be legal which involves the sacrifice of personal liberty in work, education, or religion.' This last amendment is a blow at monastic institutions. The bishops are wroth, and have protested, and are threatening excommunication, but in vain. The Jesuits, who have long been the curse of the country, have been ordered off, and the Mexicans are now beginning to breathe a little more freely. In Brazil, matters have not yet gone quite so far against the Catholic Church. Some time ago the Pope put the Freemasons of that country under his ban; and as the Prime Minister is a Freemason, he is considerably annoyed, and has openly shown his hostility to the Church's rule. The people sympathize with his views, the daily press is supporting him, and now there is a pretty brisk agitation going on for the separation of the Church from the State, and for the suppression and expulsion of the religious orders and Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. A pilgrimage has been tried by the clergy to allay the agitation, but it was a failure; only thirty-seven started for the top of the mountain where the tomb of the obscure saint was at which they were to pay their devotions. The only benefit seems to have been that the foolish pilgrims returned with 'sharpened appetites.' Although this struggle is put to the credit of Freemasonry, it is really the struggle now going on in Germany and Switzerland against Papal arrogance and domination. THE BALDACHINO. THE baldachino introduces us to a new phase in the ritualistic struggle now going on in the Church of England. The baldachino is a kind of canopy which is erected in Roman Catholic churches over the altar, in order to give a superstitious reverence to the consecrated elements, under the supposition of a corporal presence of Christ on the so-called altar.' This canopy the Rev. G. White, vicar of St. Barnabas, Pimlico, insists on having erected over his communion-table. A number of his hearers object, believing that it is an attempt more thoroughly to Romanize the Church service. The question has thus come before the Consistory Court, and is at present sub judice. Dr. Stephens, the counsel for the parishioners, opened his case with a most admirable speech, in which he gave a very full historical account of this baldachino, and proved that its avowed object was to show reverence to the consecrated elements, a position which Mr. Phillimore, the opposing counsel, failed to shake. It appears that there was no canopy over the communion-table in England until several years after the fourth Lateran Council, at which the doctrine of transubstantiation was decreed; and that Archbishop Peekham, who introduced it, stated expressly that the most worthy sacrament of the Supper should be kept in a tabernacle with a decent enclosure.' At the feast of Corpus Christi, instituted by Pope Urban IV. for the adoration of the 'host,' instructions were given to cover it with a baldachino; so that there is no doubt about its religious significance. At the Reformation all the baldachinos or canopies in the English Church were removed, except some fifteen, that were overlooked; and their re-introduction now is an unquestionable endeavour to introduce more of the leaven of Popery. How long are we to tolerate this? If anything can thoroughly rouse the Protestant community to demand the separation of Church and State, it is the Romanizing process that is now going on in the English communion. We shall never cure the evil until we have effected this separation. Atlantic, Loss of the, Baker, Sir S., Beginning at Jerusalem, Bunyan, John, Burial Bill, Mr. Morgan's, Burton, W., Obituary Notice of, 332, 333 CALLS MODERATED:-Rev. R. Alexander, 377; Candlish, Dr., Death of, Chaldean Story of the Deluge, Christian Effort, Motives to, Christian Philanthropy, . 236 454 528 46 • 359 241 Church History, Sketches of Early, 122, 145, 289, Church of England, Confession in, 288; Roman- CONGREGATIONAL NOTICES:-Dysart, 35; Clare- Connemara, A Sabbath in, Continental Affairs, 335, 383; German Eccle- Anderson's, Dr. W., Funeral Services, 42; Balfour on God's Jewels, 331; Beckwith's Caird's Sermon on Principal Barclay, 236; 524 . CRITICAL NOTICES:- Light, 36; Cottager and Artisan, 43; Cox's PAGE Davidson's Lectures, 39; Davidson's Re- Ferguson on the Prodigal Son, 523; Fin- Glasgow on the Apocalypse, 474; Glasgow Harrison on the Fathers, 567; Hengsten- Jacox's Traits of Character, 283. Keil on Kings, etc., 42, 522; Kinloch's John Knox and Union, 138. Leathes' Structure of the Old Testament, Mackintosh on Plymouth Brethren, 91; Naismith's Visions of the Night, 43. Ogie's Life, 187; Oliphant's Books for the Philosophy of Christianity, 41; Plath on Ramage's Sermons, 567; Reuss' Christian Shaw's Babylon the Great, 474; Smith on Thornwell's Writings, 427; Thoughts on Ward's Life among the Maories, 40; Wil- DEMISSIONS:-Rev. W. Williamson, 35; Rev. Dr. Established Church, The, in the North, 238; Faith in God, Finlayson, Rev. Dr., Memorial Notice of, Free Church, A, versus Erastianism, 1 481 136 Gleaner, The, 19, 74, 171, 218, 260, 317, 367, 410, 456, 506, 548 Gothenburg Licensing System, The,, HOME CIRCLE, THE:-Lessons from the Birds, INDUCTIONS:-Rev. R. Alexander, 521; Rev. A. Japan, Government of, Knox Tercentenary, The, Latimer, Hugh, 62 140 Prayer and Spiritual Law, 108; Theories touch- Pringle, Rev. Dr., Obituary Notice of, Key, Rev. A., Obituary Notice of, Knight Case, The, . 190 256, 302 211 Rajput History, Seenes from, 7, 56, 101, 157, 197, 315 385 190 452 OBITUARY:-Rev. H. Barr, 558; Rev. D. Con- Obituary Memorials, SIGNATURES:-M., 19; W. T., 80; A. S. M., 112, Permissive Bill, The, Annals of, Plymouth Brethren, Origin, etc. of the, 500, 544. Variety, On, 447 Political Matters, 142; The Budget, 240; The Government, 432. POETRY:-Before the Cross, 18; Jerusalem Wesleyans, Bishop of Lincoln and, 428; Con- Above, 225. Printed by MURRAY AND GIBB, 11, Queen Street, and Published by WILLIAM |