containing about 1000 volumes of a Scriptural character, and chiefly bearing on the controversy with Rome, by which much valuable information has been diffused between thirty and forty Protestant watchmen are engaged in the weekly distribution of tracts. About ten thousand have already been distributed. The watchmen continue indefatigable in their labours. A society has been also established at Ison Green, a place in the vicinity of Nottingham, to which the efforts of the priests and the Sisters of Mercy have been mainly directed. Here we have six Protestant watchmen, and we are happy to state that, under God, our labours have not been in vain. Several have been brought from popish darkness into the marvellous light of the gospel of God. And like the converted Jews, of which we read in Acts, 18th chap. have brought their conjuring books, their beads and crucifixes, their idols of wood and ivory, brass and metal, and they have renounced the worship of the wafer, the work of their own hands, for the service of the true and living God. Many who were falling into the vortex of popery, have been snatched as brands from the burning. We would thank God and take courage, and say with the Psalmist, "Not unto us, not unto us, O Lord, but to thy name, be all the glory." We have had several meetings for friendly discussion with Roman Catholic laymen; at the last meeting, two Romanists, (young men) renounced their error, and exchanged the crucifix for the cross of Christ. The abominations and filthiness of auricular confession have been opened to the public view, and its immoral tendency disclosed, from the councils, catechisms, books of devotion and theologies of the Roman church. We are greatly indebted to the females of the association for their valuable services in the Protestant cause; we are looking to the mothers, wives, and sisters, of our land, to render great service in the work of moral regeneration, and overthrowing this gigantic structure of error and superstition.

***We are happy to observe the activity and energy of this association, under the able superintendence of Mr. Blakeney. We shall be happy to receive other communications.-ED.

PROTESTANTISM.

(From the Essex Standard.)

THE first of two meetings of the friends and supporters of the British Society for promoting the Prin ciples of the Reformation, and for the purpose of giving information upon the Roman Catholic controversy, was held on Tuesday evening se'nnight, at the Assembly Room, Chelmsford. It was announced in the handbills, that the Rev. J. Cumming, D.D., of London, and the Rev. C. I. Yorke, Rector of Shenfield, would attend as a deputation.

The Rev. Dr. CUMMING commenced his lengthened and eloquent address by remarking, that they perceived by the notice given of this meeting, that the society he was called upon to advocate was called "The Society for promoting the Religious Principles of the Reformation." The origin of this society was exclusively religious and spiritual, its design and the weapons of its warfare were also exclusively so; and if, on any occasion, any one had wielded a weapon not taken from that armoury-the only armoury of the Protestant-the Word of God, he had acted contrary to the principles of those who sought to promote the ends in view. Some persons might ask, "What are its special character and design?" Simply a Missionary Society: they proposed to do for the Roman Catholics, what Dr. M'Caul would do next week on behalf of the Jews, for whose meeting he is advertised, and what other Missionary Societies did for the heathen. He said a large portion of the population of the United Kingdom was sunk in the pernicious errors of Romanism, and there was required for that class a special instrumentality. They would find that no common proportion of our countrymen were believers in the Church of Rome, to such an extent, even that were the whole population of England, Ireland, and Scotland, to pass in procession through the High Street of this town, every third person would be a Roman Catholic. It was of no use to say Ireland was severed from this nation; they could

not fail to feel an interest in the well-being of that country, equally with any town or parish in the United Kingdom. It was a fact that one-third of the population of the United Kingdom was Roman Catholic; and if they believed there is but one name by which man can be saved-that there is but one way to Heaven, and that the Roman Catholic-whatever be his destiny-was not walking in that way, but was pertinaciously superseding that way-then he said there was a call made upon them to do what they could to bring them to a better knowledge, to a holier creed, and to a brighter and a surer hope. Some would say was it charitable to condemn the Roman Catholics? If, I reply, his creed be wrong, speak against it not against him, in strict, just, and impartial terms. But he wished to speak of them in the language of affection, sympathy, and love; they ought to make a wide distinction between the man and the principles he held. His error was misfortune. There was no greater misfortune than to be in such error as affected the well-being of the soul; therefore they ought to speak to them in the language of truth and the feelings of love, and the Roman Catholics would feel it. He was sure if they spake to them rationally and affectionately they would listen. If they convinced them they did not come to take away what they believed to be their civil rights-nor to interfere with them as citizens and fellow-countrymen ; but to convince them they are in error, deep and fatal, just as they had believed the Protestants to be; he said if they met them upon those grounds, the Roman Catholics would listen as they had listened to him in various parts of the kingdom. Having stated the vast number of the Roman Catholic body, he would now mention, on the most unquestionable authority, what had been the progress of Catholicism in this country. That progress was much greater than some believed; and it had advanced just in the proportion that the Protestant community had neglected their duty. They had so much looked upon them as citizens, that they had lost sight of them as spiritual and immortal beings; they had dealt with them in matters of enfranchisement and dis

franchisement, and not as immortal beings passing to an immortal scene. He would proceed to proofs, not from any ex parte statements which might be exaggerated, but upon Roman Catholic authority itself. Dr. Wiseman, a Roman Catholic bishop in the midland counties-a man distinguished for his literary attainments, and who had ordained Mr. Newman and many other clergymen who had joined the Church of Rome, stated at the consecration of a new Roman Catholic church at Nottingham, that during the last seven years, fifty-six new churches had been built in various parts of the country, and were the largest parochial edifices in the kingdom; and one was now being erected in St. George's, Southwark, which would be the largest church in the metropolis, with the exception of St. Paul's, and the spire was to be some feet above it. In addition to the churches, twenty-six convents had been built in the same period. It might be asked, "Do you mean to pull these churches down?" No; they had no sympathy with such a design. "Do you wish to reduce the number of Catholics by physical resources?" No; they only wished full scope for the development of what was true: they wished not to pull the churches down, but they wished to hear the Gospel preached in them, to which the Roman Catholics were now strangers. The Roman Catholics were also establishing the Sisters of Mercy and Charity in almost every town and leading parish in the kingdom. In Queen's Square, Bloomsbury, in the parish of Mr. Villiers, the Sisters of Mercy made daily visits to the parishioners, and distributed tracts and publications in defence of the Roman Catholic system. He had seen the two sisters going about with their baskets: in one they carried tracts, and in the other, works, he presumed of a more substantial character, and they left their books at every house, and endeavoured, no doubt with the best intentions, but with erroneous principles, to disseminate the views of the Roman Catholic system. Dr. Wiseman also mentioned the fact, that no fewer than 59 or 60 clergymen had left the Church of England, and joined the Church of Rome. Those clergymen first of all embraced the

Tractarian or Puseyite views; and he might explain, that the only difference between Tractarianism and Roman Catholicism, was simply on matters of consistency. The Roman Catholics carried out the system to a complete result; the Tractarian stopped be.twen the forms they had laid down, and the conclusions to which they ought to come. Their ideas were allied to Roman Catholicism; and every Tractarian who stopped short was guilty of inconsistency. It was apparent throughout the country that the Roman Catholics were most active, zealous, and earnest. He did not blame them for that; he applauded their zeal and admired their energy; he only grieved that such energy should be exerted on a cause, which he solemnly believed to be dangerous to souls, dishonourable to God, and injurious to the best and noblest interests of the country in which they lived. But he gave them credit for zeal and for conscientiousness: he did not think them deceivers or dishonest: they would die for their religion; he believed they thought it from God, and infallible in all its points. Only recollect, it was possible to be conscientiously wrong as well as right.

The Hindoo mother was conscientiously right when she threw her babe into the Ganges, and the widow when she offered herself upon her husband's funeral pile. Paul was conscientious when he persecuted the Christian church ; therefore it was possible to be sincere in an opinion one held, and in the path one pursued, and yet be chargeable with sin, if there was any truth in the Word of God, if that path led far from God, from heaven, and from happiness. It might be said the Roman Catholics were only a small body in Chelmsford; but he found a chapel was being erected, and would very soon be finished, and no doubt they would send one of their most talented priests into this new district, and concentrate their energies for a season; and rest assured they would make proselytes. Some persons would 66 say Do you think any one would be so absurd as to join that system of mummery?" Satan rarely made an open and visible blunder. If Satan was the author of this mystery of iniquity, as they believed he was, they might rest as