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ing ended, the procession left the chapel in same order it entered, the congrega tion remaining fixed and motionless, all stedfastly gazing on the coffin which contained the lifeless body of a man, whose discourses and example had conveyed to them the most forcible lessons of edification, nor did they manifest any inclination to retire till the chapel was ordered to be cleared.

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About twelve o'clock, the corpse was put into a hearse for the purpose of being conveyed to St. Giles's church for interment, to which place it proceeded in the following order: Two beadles, the parish clerk and sexton; the choir of the chapel, two and two; the bear

as officiating priest; the hearse bearing the coffin; three mourning coaches in which were J. Beaumont, Esq. of Bar row upon Trent, nephew of the deceased, chief mourner; Sir George Jer

solemnity due to his memory. About eight o'clock in the morning the body was brought into the chapel, and placed before the altar, which, with the pulpit, had been previously hung with black. On the top of the coffin, over the pall, were laid the purple vestment, used by the deceased, with the chalice and paten. Three large candles lighted were placed on each side of the coffin, and one at the head and foot. At nine the procession entered the chapel in the following order: The choir, two and two, in black; eight bearers, two and two; the thurifier; the cross borne by the Rev. Mr. Duckett, an acolyth on each side; sub-deacon, deacon, officiating priest, with an acolyth on each side.ers two and two; the rev. Mr. Jones, Friends of the deceased. During the procession the organ played the deadmarch, in Saul, which produced a most solemn effect. On the procession being seated, the office for the dead conmenced, and after the Matins andningham, bart. of Costessey-hall; the Lauds had been concluded, the Rev. clergy, Henry Jerningham, Esq. J. Da Mr. Jones, successor to the deceased, rell, Esq. F. Gostling, Esq. J. Pitchentered the pulpit, from which he de- ford, Esq. Mr. Angier, Mr. Luckett, livered a most eloquent and impressive Mr. Deday, &c. &c. four gentlemen's discourse, to a very crowded congrega-carriages, and nearly the whole contion, from St. Paul's first epistle to the Thessalonians, chap. iv. verse 12: We will not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that are asleep, that you be not sorrowful, even as others who have no hope."-The effect of this appeal to the feelings of the audience, the chief of whom were well acquaint Thus terminated the mortal existence ed with the incomparable virtues of the of the oldest member of the English deceased, was strongly evinced by the mission, whose spotless life, through a abundance of tears which flowed, dur-long series of years, has furnished an ing its delivery, from both catholics irrefragable testimony of the efficacy of and protestants. We are happy in be- true religion, and a complete refutation ing able to communicate, that the reof the railings and caluminies of deists verend preacher, having been urgently and infidels against the sacred institute solicited by the congregation, has con- of the priesthood, of which he was a sented to publish his discourse, which bright and exemplary ornament. Go, will appear forthwith.-Immediately on departed saint! to receive the reward the conclusion of the oration, a solemn which the Lord of the Vineyard has high mass for the dead commenced, at prepared in his heavenly mansion for which the rev. Mr. D'Eterville offici-those who faithfully serve him. And ated as priest, the rev. Mr. Bridge as deacon, and the rev. Mr. Husenbeih as sub-deacon. The music of the mass was composed by the rev. Mr. Jones, and may vie with some of the best compositions of church music now in use among catholics.-The divine myste ries being performed, the rev. Mr. Jones read the funeral service according to the ritual of the catholic church, which be

gregation closed the procession. The streets, through which it passed, were filled with numerous spectators, and on its arrival at the church, the body was deposited in a brick grave, amidst the sighs and tears of his disconsolate and lamenting flock.

when death shall summon us before the tribunal of the Great Judge, may no act of our life, in the arduous duties in which we have engaged, occasion thee to blush for the pains thou bestowed to ingraft the principles and precepts of the catholic faith in our breast, which we shall always hold in grateful remembrance.

Requiescat in pace.

Printed by W E. Andrews, 8, Drake Street, Red Lion Square.

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VOX POPULI, vox dei. THE VOICE OF PUBLIC OPINION IS THE STANDARD OF TRUTH.

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disinterested and magnanimous behaviour of Christ before the court of the high priest, and his refusal to submit to the inquisitorial proceedings of the sanhedrim, furnish a sublime lesson to the ministers of the catholic church, but more especially to those who are placed as missioners among the children of error and ignorance, how to regulate their conduct, especially as it regards their connexion with those in power. The reply of our Saviour, instead of calling forth the admiration of the man who had been appointed to guide and direct the people of Israel, aroused the insolence of his underlings, one of whom gave hrist a blow, saying, "Answerest thou the high priest so?" To which Jesus, with the greatest composure and dignity, replied, "If I have spoken evil, give testimony of the evil: but if well, why strikest thou me?" Here again our Saviour appealed to public opinion against the tyrannical injustice of this creature of the high priest, and shewed that indignities and oppression are not always to be borne without reproof.

HAT the voice of the people is the voice of God, is a maxim so powerfully enforced by the establishment of the christian faith in all climes and in all ages, that no man in his rational senses will have the hardihood, I think, to contest it.When our blessed Saviour was brought before the high priest of the jews, and questioned about his doctrine, he did not answer the haughty interrogator, but he referred him to the people, as witnesses to what he had taught. "I have spoken openly to the world," said Christ: I have always taught in the synagogue and in the temple, whither all the jews resort; and in secret I have spoken nothing. Why askest thou me? ask them who have heard what I have spoken to them: behold, they know what things I have said." Here then we have the example of the divine Redeemer of Mankind referring the constituted authorities of his country to the pub-Imitating the example of their dilic voice for an account of his doctrine and conduct, declaring that the latter had been open and undisguised, and that secrecy and intrigue formed no part of the law which he came to establish. This

ORTHOD. JOUR. VOL. VIII.

vine Master, the apostles directed their labours towards the people, and preached Christ crucified in the temple, and other public places; and when they were urged by the authorities of the state to give over

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their appeals to public opinion, they resolutely refused to listen to the proposals, but continued to lay down the maxims of truth, to which the people gave willing ear, and became, as it were, the visible voice of God, bearing to the votaries of the powers of darkness the omnipo tence of that word which the apostles and their disciples preached to them. In the first ages of the church, so forcibly did the voice of truth operate on the public mind, that the rulers of the world were instigated by the father of lies to exert all the means, which force and oppression had placed in their hands, to stem the current of public opinion. Every engine was therefore exerted to keep the people in the dark, and prevent the spread of knowledge. Lies, slanders, misrepresentations, exactions, tortures, banishment, and even death itself, attended with the most horrid cruelties, were practised on the primitive christians for a space of three centuries; but, notwithstanding all the efforts which error could bring against her, truth triumphed through public opinion, and even the rulers of the state became converts to her invariable attributes. By the conversion of Constantine the great to the catholic faith, error was left to contend with truth on equal grounds; for the newly converted monarch issued out a decree, on embracing the catholic religion, by which force was peremptorily forbidden to be exercised to compel the ignorant pagans to embrace christianity. Paganism soon gave way to the word of God; but the enemy of truth, not able to brook the defeat he had sustained, resorted to other means to turn pub. lic opinion in his favour. The people had scarcely followed the exam ple of their pious sovereign, and became the disciples of the true God, when Arianism raised its head, to contest the empire of truth over the

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public mind. The appearance of this heresy was met by the assembling of the first general council of the church at Nice, on the 19th of June, in the year 325; when the doctrines of Arius underwent a public discussion, and, being found erroneous, were condemned by the assembled fathers, afterwards approved by the bishop of Rome, as head of the church, and sent forth to the world as guide to public opinion. This decision was, of course, by no means agreeable to those who had imbibed factious notions, and were determined to per sist in error. They knew, however, that they had no chance of success in propagating their notions upon equal terms with the supporters of truth; they therefore dissembled, and set their engines to work to deceive, delude, and, when opportunity offered, to force their opinions on the public. The unguarded temper of Constantine opened a way to bring the Arians into power, and they endeavoured, by the aid of the secular arm, to extend their errors to the detriment of truth.A persecution was entered into against the orthodox prelates, many of whom were sent into banishment, and underwent other punishments, during the reign of Constantine's immediate successors; but ultimately the truth again triumphed, and Arianism was subdued. Thus also in the succeeding ages, Pelagianism, Eutychianism, Iconoclasm, Berengarianism, all yielded to publie opinion, and fled before the voice of truth. The church, resting on the infallible word of God, and following the example of her divine Founder, before related, used no other means to dispel error than the strength of reason and example; and on every occasion when she was called upon to give an account of her doctrine, reference was had by the fathers in council to the voice

of public opinion, expressed in all times and in all places, as the standard of truth. The result of this conduct was, that nation after nation embraced the christian faith, till the whole of christendom was under subjection to one supreme visible head.

To enter into all the instances which might be adduced in support of my argument is superfluous and unnecessary; I shall therefore content myself with a few historical facts, from the annals of our own country, to shew the sense in which our ancestors held the efficacy of public opinion. When Austin landed on the pagan shores of our island, he had a public audience of the monarch, who, after listening to the explanatory speech of the holy missionary, allowed him to impart the doctrines to his people. The extraordinary correctness and deportment of the saint and his companions, added to the eloquence and force of their preachings, soon produced conviction on the minds of their hearers, and numbers became converts to the voice of truth. The impression made on public opinion soon induced the king to embrace the catholic faith; and in the course of time, the whole island bowed to the infallible precepts of the gospel. The voice of truth being thus triumphant, we see the zealous ministers of the church employed in directing public opinion according to it; and whenever the ambition of courtiers, or the innovations of kings, occasioned attempts to be made on this disposition of the people in favour of justice and truth, their vigilance was exerted to counteract the mischief, and public opinion was always on their side. For example, when the tyrannic acts of the Norman kings threatened the subjugation of the rights of the church, as well as the privileges of the nobles and people, the circumspection and patriotism of cardinal

Langton preserved both from falling a sacrifice to the measures of the despot John; and so well convinced were the framers of Magna charta, that the guardians of truth should rest the support of their trust on public opinion, that the very first clause of this memorable document stipulated that the election of bishops should be free, thus establishing the necessity of a popular choice to secure the purity of the prelacy.The correctness of this mode of filling up vacancies to the high offices of the church is sufficiently exemplified in the pages of our historians; as it will be invariably found, on examination, that when the rule was departed from, by a dereliction of duty on the part of the electors, and a favourite of the court was preferred, through the influence of the king, the individual chosen was unworthy the exalted situation he was appointed to fill, whereby irregularities and corruption found their way where accuracy and integrity should alone exist. to the great disgust of the people and scandal to religion. Whereas, when public opinion had its free sway in the choice of the candidate, none were ever selected who did not do justice to the appointment and honour to the character he had to sustain.From the first introduction of the catholic faith to the reign of the fourth Henry, the church was kept totally distinct from the state, and no coercive laws were ever thought of to restrain the people in matters of conscience. The contentions between the two houses of York and Lancaster, which deluged England with the blood of its own people, and raised the arm of brother against brother, tended very much to reduce the respect which had heretofore been paid to religion, to relax the discipline of the clergy, and to produce a depravity in the morals of the people, which subsequently led

to the rise of Lollardism, and threat- | fourth and his queen Caroline of

ened the very existence of the ancient establishments in both church and state. These disorders gave rise to a law against heresy, which indirectly connected the church with the state; and, I am of opinion, by gradually inducing the clergy to rely more on the power of the secular government than on the voice of the people, paved the way for the reformation, so called, which took place in the reign of the eighth Henry. Had the clergy, on the first appearance of the errors of Wickliff, exhibited a similar spirit in defence of truth as the champions of orthodoxy evinced when the church was attacked by Arius, Eutyches, Pelagius, and other heretics; had they, by the force of reason and example, appealed to public opinion; had they opposed the exactions of the courtiers, and soothed the feelings of the people-there can be no doubt but many of the excesses which were then committed by a deluded and exasperated multitude would not have taken place, and religion would have had its usual effect in restoring peace and unity to the country. Measures of coercion were, however, resorted to, in which the clergy, as I have before observed, were indirectly combined, and religion henceforward began to decay among the people.

We come now to another remarkable epoch in history, in which the clergy failed to have recourse to the standard of truth, and entailed evils on the country and the true religion which have never yet been removed. -I allude to the subject of divorce between the tyrant Henry the eighth and his virtuous queen Catharine of Arragon. There is so striking a similarity between the question of Harry's separation from Catharine and the cause now pending between the reigning sovereign George the

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Brunswick, that I have copied into the subsequent pages of this number the narrative, as related by Stowe in his Chronicle, not doubting it will be found useful and interesting to the reader. Then, as now, the public voice was in favour of justice and truth. The historian just-named says, that whosoever spoke against the marriage of Harry and Catharine was of the common people abhorred and reproved;" nevertheless, we see, when the matter became a subject of solemn investigation, only one member of the episcopacy was found honest and bold enough to speak the truth, and defend the legality of the marriage.— All the others, through fear and sycophancy, sided with the court, and thus they lost the confidence of the people; public opinion, at the same time, receiving a shock through the base subserviency of those who were appointed to direct it. The voice of one bishop could avail but little against all the others; and the king having thus far succeeded in gaining over the leading clergy, the next thing to be done was to vilify and slander the second order of that body, from the strength of which more was to be dreaded by the court than from the prelates.— Accordingly, slanders were put into circulation, tales of the most disgusting nature were invented and propagated, reflecting on the lives and character of the monks, and friars, and nuns; all which, in consequence of the inactivity of the guardians of the faith and morals of the nation, and the scandal they had created by tacitly sanctioning the divorce of the king, and his second marriage with Anne Boleyn, operated to vitiate the public mind, which gradually became deluded, and made way for the reformation, or rather the deformation, of religion, which took place in the suc

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