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principal subscribers, or else he must recal his compliment of my being the best beggar in England.ca

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I must now, Mr. Editor, request, that you will be so good as to insert in The Orthodox Journal the following extract from a letter of the Rev. J. G. Morris, which will shew that though our establishment in Preston is exceeded by few others in magnitude, yet the collection for it, produced by the annual sermon on Whit-Monday, (where about three thousand persons must have attend, ed in the chapel) was most trifling, amounting to one half less in shillings, for about double the number of children, than the collection for the children of the associated charities amounted to in pounds; and therefore it is highly necessary for me to exert my talents of begging for its support.

Now, with regard to my being the best beggar in England, to which Mr. Butler might have added, that I have contributed to other cha rities as well as begged for my own, with a desire to promote every benevolent institution, I can only ob serve, that on an occasion when so many very respectable persons were assembled for the sole purpose of giving to and soliciting charity for others; when the givers and procurers of charity were particularly commended; when a printed list of the subscribers to the associated charities was handed about the room to induce others to follow good example, where I found my own name, with the annual subscription of 11. after it, to which I willingly acquiesce, though I do not recollect I ever promised to be a subscriber, though I remember very well that I promoted last year an annual subscription for Miss Trelawney's school; when, in order to excite charity, a song was sung to prove that we should all be the richer for giving away, (and which song I once sung, with the best effect, for another person); when the learned gentleman himself made his eloquent speech, with great energy and great effect, for no other purpose but for asking, for soliciting, and for begging charity,I say, that on such an occasion, for Mr. Butler to call me the best beggar in England, I cannot but consider as a high compliment. I only hope that Mr. Butder will prove it to be true; for, I conceive that the best beggar must mean the most successful beggar: and, in this case, he must prove that I have been so, which will give me all that I wish for. I can only say, with regard to himself, I have not as yet had the honour of his name, either for the school or the two cha-sight. The procession closed about pels we have lately built; but after the compliment he has paid me, I expect he will become one of the

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"The children (writes Mr. Morris) assembled at 7 in the morning of Whit-Monday, with the teachers, to the number of above twelve hundred. They were all remarkably neat and clean, and at eight I joined them at the school, when they were paraded to the chapel, preceded by their own flag and the flags of the sick club, and a very excellent band of music. They were well arranged in the two side aisles of the chapel. After mass they proceeded with their banners and music in excellent order through Winkley-place, Churchstreet, the Market-place, to Fishergate, and back to the school. "Mr. Bird said I mass at St. Mary's. Mr. Gore, Mr. F. Trapps, my brother and myself, walked at their head: then came the mistress of the girls' school, with the greatest part of the ladies, (volunteer) teachers of the adult school. The children presented a most interesting and animating

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ten o'clock. Then the sick clubs were all in motion, and I began mass about half after ten, being already

of the learned writer is to invite the attention of his readers to the pecessity of "a unity in faith," and the' propriety of checking the career of schism now reigning among protestants; two very laudable ends,' in the attainment of which we' are confident he will not find the least obstacle raised on the part of the members of the church of Rome. The mode proposed by Mr. Wix to effectuate this wished for measure is,

much fatigued by walking with and arranging the children. At the gospel I took off my chasuble, and went to the back door of the chapel, and returned followed by all the children, who proceeded past the altar down the middle aisle.They passed through the middle folding door, and returned in good order to the school. After the children had all passed, I preached the sermon, which, to my great mortification, was followed by a wretch" that a general council or assembly ed collection amounting only to sixteen pounds. We had a banquet for the children, and afterwards recitation, both in prose and verse, which pleased exceedingly. The number of spectators in the school amount ed to five hundred."

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Reflections concerning the Expediency of a Council of the Church of England and the Church of Rome being holden, with a view to accommodate Religious Differences and to promote the Unity of Religion in the Bond of Peace, &c. By Samuel Wix, A.M. F.R. &A.S. Vicar of St. Bartholomew the Less, London.-Riving stop, pp. 100, 3s.

We noticed in the wrapper of our last month's Journal, the publication of the above work, since which we have been favoured with a copy from the reverend author, and never have we experienced so great a pleasure in the perusal of the pages of a writer opposed to us in religious principles, as that which we have derived from reading the Reflections of Mr. Wix. They appear to be written with a candour and sincerity, which must obtain for him the esteem of every one who values those inestimable qualities of the human heart. The professed obiect

of christians of the visible church should be called together, in which assembly all the leading articles of difference might be candidly considered, dispassionately compared with early opinion, and uncorrupted tradition; and mutual concessions made." With this view he thinks that the church of England, she being, according to his opinion, the great reformed church in apostolic succession, should propose to the church of Rome a meeting, to consider, with all possible affection and forbearance, whether some plan date their religious differences.→→ might not be devised to accommo"The church of Rome," he observes,

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might, perhaps, relax in what the church of England considers her fundamental errors, and the church of England might incline a

little more than she does to some of the favourite opinions or practices of the Romish church, which are not unscriptural." The arguments which he has advanced in furtherance of his plan, are very judicious, aud chiefly selected from the writings of the most learned divines of the established church in her best and purest time; and clearly shew that, by their declared sentiments, the dif ferences between the two churches were then considered not so great as some modern writers wish us to believe. He has also quoted some very strong passages from scripture, pointing out our duty "earnestly to

tion of true faith, and the advan-
tages of a discipline modelled after
tages
apostolical practice. A conference,
therefore, with her, by the church of
England, now that the heat of the
reformation has, in a great degree,
subsided, might, under Almighty
blessing given to fervent prayer, be
the happy means of leading to the
renunciation of error, and of bring-
ing about a Christian Union, which
might restrain the alarming progress
of that unscriptural variety of opi-
nion which prevails, to the great in-
jury of our common religion." The
latter part of these sentiments are
too wofully visible in the numberless
conventicles raised and still raising
in this country by the endless va-

Contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints," which he the most justly observes, should be done without uncharitable hostility towards those who think differently from ourselves, though we must feel it to be imperatively prudent to avoid the affectation of religious communication with them; since that night endanger the stability of our faith, or convey an idea mischievous to them and others, that we think with less horror than we ought to think of their unscriptural conclusions or denials." In these latter sentiments we perfectly agree with the author, and we sincerely hope he will be able to infuse the same -liberality of feeling amongst his reverend brethren and other protest-riety of sects which have sprung out ants towards catholics, as he has uniformly evinced throughout his work. The objections of the author to the British and Foreign Bible Society are most correctly conceived, and his observations addressed to those of his brother clergymen who have enrolled themselves under its standard are pointedly conclusive, and we hope will have the best effect in inducing them to withdraw from an association, whose measures, by organizing a wild plan of comprehen sion, and in infusing the pride of re-ject which he has in view might be ligious knowledge into its members, have contributed much to endanger the established church, by promoting schism within and sectarianism with out her boundaries. Whatever may be the errors of the church of Rome," says Mr. Wix," they are not in the view of the writer, so alarming, nor should they be, in the view of any sound member of the church of England, as the errors of the socinians, the anabaptists, the quakers, and others, who reject episcopal discipline, and depart widely from apostolical faith. For, the church of Rome has the founda

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of the reformation, and must, in time, undermine the established church, by detaching from her ranks, and leaving her ministers without a flock. We therefore think it would well become the dignified and beneficed clergy to examine candidly the proposition of Mr. Wix, and if they study well and humbly the admirable rule proposed by Vincentius of Lirinensis, which the reverend author has given in the beginning of his work, we have no doubt but the ob

easily obtained. Let them but endeavour to arrive at the knowledge of the true faith; let them but once feel the necessity of maintaining inviolate one visible catholic church, and we prognosticate that but little further will be necessary to accomplish the desirable wish of the respected and learned writer, in which we most fervently join, "that, without the invidious distinction of papist and protestant, we might be all led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life.""

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Smile with charm of Nature's gift,

And rich every produce that the swain Might love to gather. Round its peaceful 1. sides be

Rose the soft mountains which the wonder Mighing eye c

gaze on gladdened at the beauteous sight,

Nor feel the aching, and perchance the fear,

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Which rougher rocks and bleaker points inspire.

There would the stranger in his first amaze Deem that fair Nature's self might choose to dwelle

So lovely was the vale, so pure the streams, Purling along the more fertile meads So sweet the warbling of the joyous birds, Hailing the sun that gilded all the plain. Two simple villages adorned the vale, i Peopled by peasantry of guileless hearts, Worthy the swains of patriarchal days. But why say more?—It was—it is not now The fairest valley of Helvetia's land. “

II.

And withered all its charms before the foe?
Ah, no! war's trumpet not
These echoes to return
itshrin

For length of years nor was it famine's breath

That blasted angrily the peasant's hopes, Leaving the hamlets desolate and sad. No mountainstorm has burst upon the vale, Nor has the headlong torrent rolled too far And drowned the blooming recompence, of toil.. 'Twas worse than these,--for each, nay all might come,

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And yet the suffering swain might live and hope;

But, what

did come, came frightful, sudden, sure,

And left no hope-no happiness-no life

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Vied, it would seem, with Rigis' pineclad steep,

Which most might tempt fair Nature's wor shipper.

To view the sun set from its brightened sides.

Between them Goldau, reared her rustic [spire,

Catching the latest sun-beam on its vane ; : far distant, by her own blue lake, And what hath marred it ?-Was it war's ertz rose to crown the peaceful fell strokep?

Have hostile chargers trampled on its flowers?

Did the dread cannon crush the shepherd's home,

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vale.

15 97

But these are gone;one moment saw them shine; to wei

The next with all their charmes, they ceased to be.

Mount Rossberg fell, and thundering filled the valey B

Crushed hamlets, buried; men, and flocks, and all!

Rolled his huge fragments frightfully around,

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And buried all that charmed and breathed : alike In one wide, deep, and dreary sepulchre! One moment passed, and all was hushed for ever.

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grave,

For none that knew them had escaped to wail;

Save that perchance a reckless villager, Tarrying till eve upon some mountain's brow,

Trod later homeward than his wonted
hour,

And soon enough to view the fated scene,
Smile for a moment, ere it sunk for ever:
Was left alone to mourn its destiny.

And he might live and tell the affecting
tale,

Year after year, to asking travellers ; And point the spot where either hamlet stood,

And where his father, brother, spouse, 1 and friend.

Repose together in the sleep of death *.... Years now have rolled o er that lamented vale,

And grass has covered half those sepul-
chres,

And Lawertz' lake is glassy as before,
And Rigis' lofty top is lovely still;
But Goldau is not-cannot be again-
The fairest valley of Helvetia's land!
F. C. H.

St. Mary's College, Oscott,
May 4, 1818.

* The author met with a peasant in the valley of Goldau, in the summer of 1816, who related in a very affecting manner this melancholy event; and that he saw the mountain fall from a distance, and all his family were buried beneath the frag

ments.

MORE

QUERIES TO PROTESTANTS.

Protesting friends! 'cause I believe

In Transubstantiation,
Shall 1, for that, be thought to be

Less friendly to the nation?

'Cause 1 choose not to give the lie

To what my Saviour said,*
Must all my country's vengeance hang
Q'er my devoted head?

If I, in holy writ can find |

Seven sacred signs of grace; +
Ah! why must that discernment, say,
The moral man debase?

143

'Cause I look on the Pope of Rome
As Primate of the Church,
Why, in the honours of the State
Am I left in the lurch?

If. I think in the world to come,
Small faults are wiped away,
And that poor souls from punishment
Are rescued, when I pray;

Must that opinion render me
Unfit to grace the Bar;
Unfit to shine in Parliament,
Or draw my sword in War?

If I suppose my prayers are heard
By Angels and by Saints,
Must all my Country's Powers, for that,
Be deaf to my complaints ?

This is my body,

+ The seven sacraments,

THE

EPITOME OF INTELLIGENCE.

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THE following very important | but highly detrimental and injurious and very extraordinary pro- to the interests of religion. ceedings have been communicated "I have just been made acquaintto us, as the substance of a lettered with a famous plot or intrigue, in from Rome, dated the latter end of which the chief actors are, the Rev. April last, which, if true, we here Mr. Macpherson, the Rev. Mr. most solemnly protest against, as Gradwell, the Rev. Mr. Slater, and not only irregular and indecorous, Sir John Cox Hippisley,sisted by Orthod. Jour. Vol. VI.

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