Peter was the first Bishop of Rome. But what authority have we for such a statement? Only a shadowy tradition. St. Peter is said to have founded the Church of Antioch, and has written an Epistle from Babylon. Why should not the bishops of Antioch or Babylon have as good a right to call themselves successors to St. Peter as the bishops of Rome? The Roman Catholic Church says Peter was bishop of Rome for twenty-five years, and was put to death the same year with St. Paul. Well, the Acts of the Apostles take us down to A.D. 66, and it is most extraordinary they never mention Peter in connection with the See of Rome. Even more extraordinary, if possible, is the fact that, although St. Paul resided two whole years at Rome, and wrote several Epistles therefrom, he never once mentions Peter’s name. In his second Epistle to Timothy, written, as the Douay Testament tells us, “not long before his martyrdom,” he says: “Only Luke is with me.” Nay, when he was before Nero, at his first examination, not a friend stood by to comfort him. “At my first answer, no man stood with me, but all forsook me; may it not be laid to their charge.” Where was Peter? The Church of Rome says he had been residing at Rome twenty-five years then. Was St. Paul totally ignorant of his presence there? I do not propose to touch upon any more points of controversy just now, but from what I have written, you will gather that it would have been dishonourable and wicked of me to remain in the Church of Rome. Of course the proper thing for me to do was to write to my bishop, and resign into his hands the charge he had given me seven years previously. But you know how a poor Irish priest, who retires from his ministry for conscientious motives, is reviled and persecuted. Then, my parents were living. I dare say some of you know them, and if you do, you are aware that they are devout Roman Catholics, and are respected and esteemed by their acquaintances. They doated upon me, and I knew they would much prefer to weep over my dead body than mourn over what to them would be my fall. I gave them the easier alternative. On Tuesday, the 20th of September, 1887, I said Mass in St. Peter’s, Athlone, as usual; had a talk with my old parish priest, Dr. Coffey, about schools, after breakfast, and then left, as I suppose for ever. I sent a suit of secular clothes to my boat, pulled up to Lough Ree, and, having left my lay suit on the bank, undressed in the boat and swam ashore. I thank God that from that moment I have had, what I had not tasted for years previously, perfect peace. I got a position as sub-editor on a London newspaper, and for eighteen months gave myself to deep and constant study in the British Museum. I began to feel that it was God’s will I should return to Ireland, and tell my dearly-loved countrymen of all that Christ has done for me. He has accepted me. I, a poor sinner, believe in the