Church Reform: The Only Means to That End, Stated in a Letter to Sir Robert Peel, Bart., First Lord of the TreasuryCarlile, Richard
Religion
Church Reform: The Only Means to That End, Stated in a Letter to Sir Robert Peel, Bart., First Lord of the Treasury
Carlile, Richard
Bible -- Criticism, interpretation, etc.; Church and state -- Church of England; Rationalism
Such is the foundation of a Catholic Church, from which there can be no
dissent; for what is understood cannot be dissented from: the existing
dissent is ignorance dissenting from ignorance. In the common use of the
word, I am not a Dissenter; but a trier, prover, teacher, revealer of
that which is the true meaning of the mystery that has been through
ignorance the cause of the dissent. The personation of Deity in the
written mystery has been nothing more than a drama prepared for stage
effect, which, to the initiated only, would be matter of instruction or
refreshment of memory. The ancient mystery meant a play, a drama, in our
modern sense; but was first called a mystery, then a morality; was first
private, and afterwards made common to the public, and is now for
the first time revealed to the general understanding, through the
instrumentality of the printing press.
In my lecturings and discussions, both in town and country, I find this
revelation has a great charm among all classes who have good temper and
good manners to hear patiently. It is pure reason, pure knowledge, pure
translation of language; it clashes with no other man's knowledge, and
I have not found the man who can raise an argument against it. Of its
final and complete success in regenerating the world, I have not a
doubt; it is only a question of time. It is now a question, if you and
the Parliament will look at it. I know you well enough to know, that you
will not like its propounder; but who else has been ripe and bold enough
to do it? Who else deserves the honour of being its propounder; but
I, its honest martyr and zealous student, through a ten years'
imprisonment? I call you to witness my fidelity in this matter. I was
your prisoner through four years; you sanctioned the two years I had
suffered before you came to the Home Department: you sanctioned my
imprisonment by Lord Melbourne, through thirty-two months: and, by
virtue of your office, you are sanctioning my present imprisonment. I
do not say this in anger. I am retaliating upon you, as I would have you
retaliate upon the Dissenters, by superior knowledge. If you do not
now or early take me by the hand, I shall drive you out of the field of
politics, and all who may succeed of your disposition.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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