55

DEACON PALMER'S ABJURATION OF

PROTESTANTISM.

"I [William Palmer, M.A. Fellow and Tutor of St. Mary Magdalene College, Oxford, and Deacon in the Church of England] utterly reject and anathematize the principle of Protestantism as a heresy, with all its forms, sects, or denominations. And if the Church of England should ever unhappily profess herself to be a form of Protestantism, (which may God of his infinite mercy forbid!) then I would reject and anathematize the Church of England, and would separate myself from her immediately, as from a human sect, without giving Protestants any unnecessary trouble to procure my expulsion.......In conclusion, I once more publicly profess myself a Catholic, and a member of the Catholic Church, and say anathema to the principle of Protestantism (which I regard as identical with the principle of dissent), and to all its forms, sects, and denominations, especially to those of the Lutherans and Calvinists, and British and American Dissenters;-likewise to all persons who knowingly and willingly, and understanding what they do, shall assert, either for themselves or the Church of England, the principle of Protestantism, or maintain the Church of England to have one and the same common religion with any or all of the various forms and sects of Protestantism, or shall communicate themselves in the temples of Protestant sects, or give the communion to their members, or go about to establish any intercommunion between our Church and them, otherwise than by bringing them in the first instance to renounce their errors, and promise a true obedience for the future to the entire faith and discipline of the Catholic and Apostolic Episcopate,-to all such I say anathema."

The foregoing abjuration and anathemas are extracted from a letter addressed by Mr. Palmer to the Rev. C. P. Golightly, occasioned by a communication to the "Standard" newspaper, charging certain members of the University of Oxford with dishonestly making use of their positions within the pale of the Established Church, in order to propagate "Popery."

Shades of Cranmer, and Latimer, and Ridley! Ye who founded Protestantism in England, what say ye to this profession of faith of this fellow and tutor of St. Mary Magdalene College, Oxford? But Mr. Palmer has a justification, which, whatever others may think of it, no doubt appears to him to be satisfactory. He "candidly" admits, that while Mr. Golightly and other churchmen, though "of much lower and more decided shades of opinion, have really very considerable grounds indeed to go upon," when they view and represent the Church of England" as a form of what is commonly called the Protestant

reformed religion;" yet he trusts that "others have still stronger grounds for viewing and representing it as a branch of the one Catholic and Apostolic Church, essentially opposed to the principle of general Protestantism, and essentially one with all other churches of kindred origin, both Greek and Latin." Yet" so long as the spirit of Protestantism seems to be dominant, as it now undoubtedly does, both among the dignitaries of the establishment and in society at large, and so long as people abound who, though in full communion with the Church, nay, though priests, or rather ministers, or bishops, or even archbishops, yet publicly disclaim Catholicism, and invite and even urge their brethren to quit the Protestant establishment,' on the ground that it is absolutely dishonest to hold Catholic principles within her pale ;" Mr. Palmer is by no means "surprised that imaginative, or impatient, or imperfectly-informed minds should feel a strong temptation to take them at their word, and act upon their truly Protestant suggestion."

The only hope for Mr. Palmer, and those who think with him, is in the delusive idea that the corporation known as the Established Church of England is "a branch of the one Catholic and Apostolical Church ;" and in support of this figment he is forced to blow hot and cold with the same breath; to draw a distinction where no difference exists, and to insist upon a principle which at Rome would lead him into her communion, and in England would keep him from it. Catholicism, according to Mr. Palmer, is not one, nor is it universal, but is made up of discordant parts, each part having certain geographical limits which determine the truth of the doctrines held in them, so that, what is true in England may be false at Rome, and vice versa. But let us hear Mr. Palmer himself.

"You (Mr. Golightly) represent me as having expressed surprise and regret, 'that Rome was no longer regarded as a schismatical community.' By the word Rome, I presume you mean that whole community which Protestants usually call the Catholic,' or the 'Roman Catholic,' Church; but with respect to this whole community, you must give me leave to draw a distinction. There are some persons in communion with Rome who have rebelled against their own Church (and originally against their sovereign also) in order to obtain this connexion. These are called, in the language of our laws and canons, 'Romish,' or ' Popish, recusants,' and have ever been excommunicated by the Church as schismatics, as all revolters from any particular Church must, in my opinion, be considered by the particular Church against which they rebel; and it is most time that I have expressed regret (but never surprise) to find persons who owned their allegiance due to this particular Church of England,

yet very much disposed to set aside her most evident and necessary excommunication of Romish recusants, speaking of their congregations as sister Churches, and of their members as persons with whom it is lawful to hold intercourse as with Christian brethren....... But for the Church of Rome itself properly so called, and the other foreign Churches of the Latins, I have never charged them with being schismatical, nor expressed regret that any one did not view their members as schismatics...... If to desire the restoration of unity with those Churches, and, above all, with the Church of Rome itself, be Popery, then I, for one, am a Papist from the very bottom of my soul!"

We leave Mr. Palmer to enjoy this desire; but we can assure him, that there is no way of being admitted to an unity with Rome, but by following the example set by Mr. Spencer, Mr. Sibthorp, and others.

ECCLESIASTICAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
INTELLIGENCE.

ITALY.

Rome, December 9th, 1841.

Nov. 4. To-day, being the festival of St. Charles Borromeo, the Pope attended mass, accompanied by the Sacred College of Cardinals, in the church of SS. Charles and Ambrose, in the Corso. His Holiness arrived at the church about half-past ten o'clock, A.M. in his state carriage, attended by his usual retenue. Clement XI instituted this Capella Papale, as such visits of the Pope are called, upon occasion of the dispute between Charles III of Austria, then Emperor under the name of Charles VI, and Philip V, King of Spain, concerning the Duchy of Milan. The confraternity to whom the Church and the adjoining hospital belong, consisting chiefly of Milanese,; wished, on account of the festival of St. Charles, in the year 1706, to put up the portrait of the emperor, as was the custom; but the ambassador of Philip III desired to put up that of his master. The Pope, who prudently stood neuter during the dispute, in order to prevent any disagreeable consequences, determined to hold a Capella Papale in the church, and this removed every occasion of disagreement by destroying the very ground of it, for the portrait of no cardinal or potentate can be hung up in a church where the Pope attends mass. On the festival in the following year, the portrait of Clement himself was hung up, and though in 1709 the objection against exhibiting the portrait of the Emperor was removed, His Holiness informed the cardinal-protector of the church that it was his intention to hold a Capella Papale there every year, on the festival of St. Charles. And shortly before his death, he declared, by a special brief, that a Capella Papale should be held in that church thenceforward; which is still observed, with all the splendour usual on such occasions, by his successor, Gregory XVI.

On Sunday the 14th ult. the Right Rev. G. Brown, D.D., Bishop of Bugia, and V.A, of the Lancashire district, by special permission of the Cardinal Vicar of Rome, gave ordinations at the English College, at which the follow

ing members of that establishment were ordained: Thomas Grant, subdeacon : Robert Chapman and Francis Weld, deacons. Thomas Grant has since been advanced to the orders of deacon and priest. He sung his first mass on the festival of St. Andrew, in the chapel of the college.

At a private ordination held by Mgr. Vespignani, the vicegerent, at his palace, four Polish gentlemen received the order of priesthood previous to their return to their native country. The position of these gentlemen is interesting, for they are among the number of the refugees proscribed by the Emperor of Russia; and about three years ago were formally demanded by that emperor from the papal government, which very justly declined acceding to the demand. They have since been studying under the fathers of the Society of Jesus, and some of them are now on the eve of their departure to their native land.

Nov. 20.-The Right Rev. G. Brown, D.D. had an audience of his Holiness in the Vatican Palace. His Holiness received his lordship with his usual urbanity and kindness. The Very Rev. Rector of the English College, Dr. Baggs, accompanied his lordship. We have great pleasure in announcing to the numerous friends of his lordship, that his health is considerably improved since his arrival in Rome.

It is now decidedly arranged to send Mgr. Cappucini as Papal nuncio to the court of Lisbon. The Rev. Abbé Vizzadelli accompanies Mgr. Cappucini as auditor. The rev. gentleman has already set out for Portugal.

We are exceedingly sorry to announce the death of the Rev. Father P. Kenny, S.J., who died on the 19th of last month, in the house of the society in this city. He had but shortly before arrived here, as the representative of the Irish province in the triennial meeting of the society. About eight days previous to his death he complained of cold and fever, but he afterwards appeared to get better, and attended to business a little. His sickness, however, took an unexpected turn, and he died about 2 o'clock P.M. on Friday the 19th ult. R. I. P.

We have also to announce the melancholy intelligence of the death of Madame Campanili, who died the 4th inst., leaving a fond husband and five children to mourn her loss. Madame Campanili was an English lady. R.I.P.

Nov. 30. The presents which his Holiness is about to make Mebemet Ali were open to the inspection of the public on this and the previous day. They consist of two mosaic tables, a number of gold medals struck during his Holiness' reign, and a complete set of engravings of the masterpieces in Rome. The tables are truly beautiful; the centre of one is occupied by a representation of St. Peter's, in mosaic, whilst the other parts are ornamented by representations of the chief remnants of antiquity existing in Rome. The other table is less beautiful, rather on account of the subject of the design than the richness of the material or workmanship. The design consists of a wreath of flowers, with birds.

This day being the festival of St. Andrew, was kept by the members of the Scotch College as a holiday of obligation. High mass was sung by the students in the church of St. Andrew, attached to the college.

The members of the Congregation of St. Cecily held their annual festival in the church of their celestial patroness in Trastevere. The celebrated master, Ricci, was the conductor of the musical department; Cardinal Brignoli, titular of the church, officiated at the first vespers, and also sang the mass.

The following is a list of the dissertations read in the Liturgical Academy, held in the Mission House, in this city, during the latter months of the last scholastic year. The Rev. George Errington, D.D.; On the sanctuary, its parts and use amongst the ancient Christians. The Rev. Aloysius Jona, Doctor

in Divinity, and Canon and Civil Laws; On the ancient and modern rite of consecrating churches, and especially on the origin and signification of the Greek and Latin alphabet, which is written by the consecrating bishop on the pavement of the Church. The Rev. Paschal Badia, D.D.; On the antiquity, position, and use of sacred images in the first ages of the Church. The same gentleman delivered another dissertation, On the image of our Saviour, which is said to have appeared in Rome painted on a wall. Mgr. Peter Minetti, D.D.; On the particular ornaments of the ancient Churches, of the age and name of each. Mgr. Baggs, D.D., Rector of the English College; On the hexedra, or external buildings attached to churches. The Rev. Father Finetti, S.J., according to custom, read a panegyric on St. Vincent of Paul, the founder of the order of missionaries. Mgr. Pius Martinucci; On the respect and veneration of the ancient Christians towards their churches. In conclusion, Mgr. Stephen Rossi delivered a panegyric on the B. Virgin, Mother of God.

The usual Capelle are held by his Holiness, in the Sistine chapel, on the Sundays of Advent. His Holiness is in good health, and his voice still continues strong as when he was first called to fill the chair of St. Peter. We have had great pleasure to see that the health of the Right Rev. George Brown, D.D., permits him to take his place among his episcopal brethren in all the Papal functions.

The influx of English into Rome, this year, is not so great as was expected. Apartments, consequently, are let at a comparatively low rent.

ENGLAND.

LONDON. The friends of St. Boniface's German Catholic chapel, to the number of about 150, dined together at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street, Lord Clifford in the chair. A considerable sum was collected for the support of the chapel.

We observe that at an extraordinary meeting of the Repeal Wardens of London, held at their rooms in Medway-street, Westminster, the Rev. Dr. Magee in the the chair, the following resolution was passed: "That we, the repealers of London, believing in and advocating the principles of civil and religious liberty to all classes and creeds, promise to aid and assist the Catholic Institnte in its most laudable efforts." We hope that this resolution will be carried into practical operation, and we think that the most effectual way of doing so would be by establishing a branch of the Institute in Westminster. We are happy to say, that the Rev. Dr. Magee has long since contemplated the formation of such branch.

The first annual meeting of the Somerstown Branch of the Catholic Institute, was held at Lawson's rooms, Gower-street, on Monday the 6th ult., the Rev. James Holdstock, the president, in the chair. The annual report, which was most encouraging, was read by Mr. Hay, the secretary. The subscriptions for the year amounted to 58l. 13s. 6d. The number of tracts circulated amounted to 4,000, the greater part of which, we believe, have found their way into the hands of Protestants.

A quarterly meeting of the Spanish-place and St. John's Wood Anxiliary Catholic Institute was held in the school-room, Richmond-street, Lisson Grove, on the evening of the 28th ult. the Very Rev. Dr. Kirwan in the chair. The meeting was addressed successively by the Rev. chairman, the Rev. Messrs. O'Neal, M'Neale, and Reardon; by Mr. J. H. Keane and Mr. Smith, the general secretary, who read extracts from Deacon Palmer's letter to the Rev. Mr. Golightly, abjuring Protestantism and anathematizing Lutherans, Calviuists, and all other dissenting sects, which seemed highly to amuse the meeting.