The Irish Ecclesiastical Record, Volume 1, December 1864
History
The Irish Ecclesiastical Record, Volume 1, December 1864
Catholic Church -- Ireland -- Periodicals; Catholic Church -- Periodicals
parentage'; the Protestant Society, with 430 orphans; the
Charitable Protestant Orphan Union, for 'orphans who, having had
only one Protestant parent, are therefore ineligible for the
Protestant Orphan Society'; and last, though not least, on the
imposing catalogue, the Society for Irish Church Missions to Roman
Catholics, and the West Connaught Endowment Fund Society".
In addition, then, to six hundred thousand pounds of public money, all
this enormous income is yearly spent to uphold in Ireland the religion
of a fraction of the population!
It would take us too far out of our way to follow the author in his
investigation of the results obtained by these powerful resources,
especially in the west of Ireland. Let it be enough to say that he
rejects the current stories about wholesale conversions to Protestantism
among the peasants of the West. But we cannot pass over the following
remarks made by Mr. Cunningham on the handbill method of controversy
adopted by the proselytisers.
"After politely requesting the reader not to 'be offended on
receiving this', the handbill goes on to state that the invocations
of the Madonna and saints are 'pronounced by the Bible to be the
awful sin of idolatry, and that all idolaters have their place in
the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone. Do not be hurt',
continues this agreeable mentor, 'at this strong statement, but
think! is it true?' Do not be hurt! And this, after a summary
statement that the religion of three-fourths of the Christian
world, the creed of whole generations of the best, purest, and most
devoted of mankind, the hope and joy in life and death of millions
of humble and faithful saints--is pronounced by the Bible to be
punishable with the everlasting torments of hell fire! Verily, if
this be the 'spirit and manner' of these 'true Christian pastors',
the less we hear of this new Reformation the better!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account