To your useful work proposed for publication in your last Journal, I desire to be a subscriber-perhaps a contributor. I wish again to try my hand at title mending: leave out "Triumphs of Truth," and the epithet "illusions." I am your obedient servant, AN ENGLISH CATHOLIC. Jan. 17, 1815. For the Orthodox Journal. MR. EDITOR,-It was with mingled sentiments of grief and indignation that I first learnt the order, which was lately sent to the religious ladies living in community in your district, enjoining them to lay aside their religious habit, within a limited time, and assume a secular dress. That the Ecclesiastical Superior, who transmitted this order to the Religious, acted from the purest motives of conscience in so doing, I make uo doubt. Per I presume to recall to the recollection | one in St. Paul's time, may still be of your reades of the midland coun-applied-" Evil communications corties, that, in your Journal, twelve rupt good manners." months ago, I took upon myself to propose a meeting, for the purpose of petitioning, and, at the same time, of declaring our sense of the merits of our injured and insulted bishop. He said that the meeting would have been held, but for his unwillingness to divide the body till the last extremity. Had the Catholic question been agitated in the last session of Parliament, the extremity would then, in all probability, have arrived. I could with confidence appeal to the judgment of Bishop Milner, were he at hand, to answer my appeal, whether the extremity be not now arrived. Your address, Sir, so much to be praised for clearness of arrangement, and force of argument, must convince every one, uot determined against conviction, that the extremity is arrived. The deeds and omissions of the Board during "this last eventful year," prove it. The Canadian instructions have pretty clearly developed the plans of government, and explained the inten-haps it might appear to him necessary, tions of our Parliamentary friends. as the only means of preventing some The Clergy once properly gagged and more severe stroke of persecution shackled, the turn of the laity will which he apprehended. At all events, come in course: let them not be so though my own principles as a Catho simple as to doubt it: false brethren lic, and still more as a Clergyman, were ready, in 1791, to aid in the would have led me to spurn with dispious work of persecution. It has dain the proposal of being the instrubeen asserted, nay, no longer ago ment of publishing such an order, yet than last year, somewhere in Europe, I am well aware that what in myself that Catholics are subjects of the Pope, would be blameable, may, in the conand therefore ought not to have the duct of another, acting from different rights of English subjects.-The Nun-motives, in the sight of the Searcher baiting order too is a strong symptom of Poperyphobia, which, let me hint, is a disease that grows wonderfully by indulgence. I am inclined to think that some Catholics are almost as much subjected to it as Protestants themselves. At least, where the two parties associate much together, and when the former permit the latter to enter, by immethodical and desultory petulant argumentation, on the detail of Catholic doctrine and practice, I fear the proverb, which was an old of hearts, be not only without blame, but even commendable. In my observations, therefore, upon the order alluded to, I wish it to be understood, that I consider it, not as the act of an ecclesiastical superior, but as, what it is represented to be, an order coming from, or at least founded on, the expressed wishes of some part of the present anti-catholic Ministry. Like a venerable oak which has braved the storms of three centuries, Catholicity, in these islands, though sap lopped of some of its noblest branches, has still continued vigorous and firm. Its enemies, taught by experience that open persecution had tended only to root it more firmly, seem lately to have adopted the plan of stopping the that nourishes the tree, in the hope of first checking its growth, and then feasting their eyes on its gradually decaying branches and withering trunk. But the experiment was first to be tried at a distance, and Catholic Canada was to be the scene of the first essay of this new scheme of anti-catholic bigotry. Is it possible that any one who has read the instructions sent out to the Governor of Canada, can doubt either of the intent with which those Instructions were issued, or of the dispositions towards Catholicity of the persons by whom they were is sued? If there be such a one, let him give a few moments to a perusal of the remarks on those Instructions which have appeared in your Journal, from your own pen, and the observations of your learned and respectable correspondent, who signs himself" An English Catholic," and, either his doubts will be removed, or his claim to common sense must be forfeited. That the Canadian Instructions, and the Unclothing Order, to the Nuns, were engendered in the same brain, and form a part of the same system of hostility to the Catholic religion, there is no room for doubting. Both these measures bear the same stamp; both were issued from the same mint, But in putting the Canadian Instructions into execution, Ministers employed their own tools for the work of infamy. They were too well convinced of the honest integrity, the stern virtue, and the unbending religious attachment of the Catholics of Canada, to look among them for the instruments of their bigotry. At home, I blush for the honour of the name in mentioning it, Catholics are at any time to be found, who, without wait ing for the word of command, anticipate the wishes of the very worst enemies of their religion, and are ready to lend a hand in the pious work of sapping its foundations, and pulling down its strongest props, in this country. How low, how contemptible, must be the opinion which the anticatholic part of Ministers entertain of a certain set of Catholics, known for their friendly intercourse with them, when they see them, in their huut af ter temporal emoluments, cringing before them, and offering their services to bring about the accomplishuent of their anti-catholic designs! I am well aware, Mr. Editor, that among the class of Catholics to whom I allude, there are some who will cry out that the order in question relates to so trivial a point, that it is not deserving of notice. I know, too, that the same description of persons hold a similar language, in speaking of many of the practices and ceremonies of the Catholic church, with a view of appearing liberal, as they term it, in the eyes of Protestants, and, consequently, of promoting their own fa vourite object, the throwing open of the path to temporal honour and preferment. Their number, I hope, is small; and I am convinced they would soon sink into harmless insignificance, could the respectable real Catholics, who are connected with them, from political motives, be induced to think and act for themselves, and to follow the dictates of their own uncorrupted minds, acting in union with the great body of Irish Catholics, and not obsequiously walking in the train of any individual, however distinguished for his rank, fortune, or professional abilities. But, to come to the point, is the Order in question a trivial one? Can it be said, with truth, that it relates to a matter of trifling consequence? Let us consult the feelings and sentiments of those holy and amiable persons, who are immediately affected by it, and we shall be convinced, that to them it is far from being a matter of trivial importance. The religious, living in community, form one of the fairest portions of the Church of Christ, and " wish of Ministers to enforce the said order. Whatever may be the professions of Ministers to the few Catholics who court their favour, their deter mined hostility to the Catholic religion is rendered notorious by the Instruc nestness, therefore, in pressing the order in question speaks for itself. They well know what powerful pillars to the venerable fabric of Catholicity religious houses are. They know too how much the efficacy of these establishments depends upon their strict observance of their rules, and the care wise founders of religious orders have thrown round them. No wonder then that our adversaries should direct their efforts to the removal of those fences, and the destruction of those pillars of Catholicity, as the readiest means of effecting their grand object, the utter extinction of the Catholic religion in this country. constitute some of its brightest orna- | ments and most valuable members. To society they are eminently useful, devoting their time to constant supplica. tions for the blessing of heaven upon their country, and to the important office of training up youth in soundtions sent out to Canada. Their earmorality and virtue. From the members of the church to which they belong, and from the state, whether Catholic or Protestant, in which they live, they have a strong and just claim for protection. Renouncing by their own free choice the allurements of the world, and consecrating themselves to the service of God and their neigh-ful support of those fences which the bour, they adopt a habit or dress, which, while by its simplicity it strikes at the root of worldly vanity, by its religious form and fashion continually reminds them of the sacred obligations of their profession, and at every step operates as a powerful aid to the prac tice of Christian perfection. Their habit is the happy companion, the witness and the encourager of their devotion and penance. They regard it with a degree of veneration; they look upon it as the pledge of their chaste union with Christ. To tear it from them is to rob them of one of their greatest consolations, and to overwhelm them with one of the heaviest of afflictions. It is to exercise against them one of the most cruel of persecutions; a persecution which even the infuriate Demons of the French Revolution did not inflict. What then must be the grief of the religious on finding the stroke thus levelled at them quietly assented to by those to whom they looked up for comfort, support, and protection?-proportion of tail, and a cloven foot, Ask them yourself, Mr. Editor, and you will soon be satisfied how near to their tenderest feelings is the object attacked by the order in question. Enough, Mr. Editor, has, I trust, been said, to shew that this order for unclothing the religious is not a trivial matter, either to them or to the Catholic Body. To prove that the enforcing of this order would be an act contrary both to law and justice, is not necessary after what has appeared in your last number. Every subject of this realm is certainly at liberty to wear just what he pleases, any dress, or no dress, in his own house. I believe, if any one of the advisers of this odious measure of rough unpolished bigotry, chooses to sit at home, equipped, in addition to other appropriate decorations, with a pair of long ears, a due there is no law, nor a wish for a law, to prevent him. Some of those gen tlemen are perhaps in the habit of frequenting masquerades. Though I ne dver was present at one of these masked assemblages of persons tired of their own character and station, I have been told that it is no unusual thing to meet there with persons in the dress and appearance of monks and nuns. In deference to the wishes of Ministers, In another point of view, the said order is equally far removed from being a matter of trifling consequence. I mean as it is connected with the vital interests of the Catholic religion. There needs no farther proof of this than the declaration that it was the ORTHOP. JOUR, VOL. III E and from a motive of tenderness to "When Queen Elizabeth first did reign, | All people then with eyes like sloes, But, Mr. Editor, to return to the serious consideration of this Nunbaiting Order; what good end could it have been designed to answer? Was it intended to shew how far a certain party would go in their servile cringing to Ministers, with a view to the attainment of temporal emolument ?We had proof enough of the extent of that disposition before. (Vide the late Relief Bill.) Indeed, I entertain not the least doubt in my own mind, that Ministers, whatever might have been their secret wishes, would never have dared to threaten, much less to publish the order in question, if they had not first felt the pulse of a certain description of Catholics, and found them willing to go almost any lengths with them, provided they could lay hold of Emancipation at the end of the tether: But, though it is impossible to disbaiting Order was intended to procover any good end which this Nunduce, there are some good effects which, I trust, will spring from it. The religious, by their humble and patient resignation under this new and unprovoked persecution, will manifest to the world a noble example of Christian perfection, will consummate the sacrifice which they have made of themselves to their Creator, and will add a fresh lustre to the Faith that is capable of producing such heroic models of virtue. I trust that those, who have hitherto been deluded by the professions of Ministers, will open their eyes, and with the Canadian Instructions and the Nun-baiting Order be fore them, be convinced, that, to compromise for their temporal rights with a set of men, whose every action marks their design of rooting out the Catholic religion, first by fettering its pastors, and secondly by undermining its firmest pillars and best supporters, is to run the evident danger of signing away their faith with the eternal blessings which it promises, and of lend I remain, Mr. Editor, with respect St. Thomas's, Bloxwick, To the Editor of the Orthodox Journal. ing a hand to the destruction of Ca- | thought adviseable to achieve some tholicity in these kingdoms. I trust feat of éclat, which, without a formal too that every Catholic will be con- proclamation publicly issued, would vinced, that in pursuing the attain- make it publicly known, that the ment of his civil rights, the only se- reins of government were committed cure and honourable method, is to to their hands; or were it announced unite with the venerable Hierarchy to the religious houses, that a wish to and staunch Catholic Laity of Ireland make themselves acceptable to certain in the open, manly, and honest avowal persons, of minds most liberal and of this principle, that, in petitioning unfettered, who are supposed to stand for our just rights and immunities, we at the head of the Catholic body, and will never consent to barter away one have assumed the management of our single atom of our holy religion. affairs; or a desire of attracting the notice of ministers, and of proving that they were devoid of prejudice, and ready to give security for the good behaviour of the men of our communion, by a severe restraint thrown upon a part of the female sex; were the persons who issued the order to excuse themselves, on SIR,-At the sight of another letter the ground of inexperience in the art addressed to you, on the subject of of governing, and to acknowledge the late order, which directs that the that experience had convinced them of religious women in the London dis- the impropriety, the inexpediency, trict shall lay aside the habits of their the unpopularity, of the measure; profession, some of your readers will, were they to declare that they were I suspect, complain that the discussion now sufficiently known and noticed is unnecessarily prolonged, from a by the world, in consequence of what persuasion, they will say, that it had already passed, and that the lawould be much better to let it sink dies in convents, no less than others into oblivion.-I know, and you know of their sex, might be permitted to it also, that all who take up the Or- choose their own modes of dress, thodox Journal, do not expect to without the interference of law, civil meet with every thing in it entirely to or ecclesiastical; were this, or any their satisfaction; and, it is more than part of this, candidly acknowledged, ten to one, that, if they have read and the forgiveness of the ladies poyour paper at the head of this num-litely solicited for the inconvenience, ber, they have found a great deal, which, in their opinion, had better be kept from the public eye, and which, were they the Censors of the Press, they would have expunged without mercy. Were the order in question (which, by the bye, is said to be left in doleful plight, without parent to own, and almost without friend to notice, the bantling,) were the order revoked, or were it made known by those who are entrusted with the government of the London district, that it was intended as advice, rather than positive injunction; that, on their first entrance into office, it was expence, anxiety, and alarm, which had been unnecessarily given them; then, indeed, we might indulge a harmless laugh at the theologico-political speculation, perhaps address a short letter of congratulation to these ornaments of our religion and of their sex, and then be silent on the subject for ever. For my own part, Sir, were I to see the order fairly dead and buried, I would be amongst the first to chant a REQUIESCAT IN PACE over its grave, or to inscribe the same upon its sepulchral monument. But, Sir, I can by no means bring myself to think that it should be so |