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THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC CATECHISING.

Mr. Editor--The review of Horæ ordinances, and a marked attention Catecheticæ, in the Guardian for in his holy bouse. An evening January, recalled to my memory lecture at the church of St. Saviour some occurrences wbich evince the having begun about this time, she influence of catechetical instruction eagerly availed herself of this proin producing a dedication of the fitable means of grace, though heart to God.

owing to the multitude of hearers • I was educated at a large school she was often compelled to stand in Suffolk, wbich was about thirteen during the whole of the service. years ago conducted by Mr. T But what seemed to evidence About fifty or sixty of us attended most strongly the work of grace constantly the parish church, and begun in her heart was her devotion occasionally the minister catechised to God in secret prayer. Here a us in the school : this was the mere most striking feature was maniquestion and answer as set forth in fested. She would let no circumthe Book of Common Prayer, with stances, however plausible, deter out adding one single remark. her from a spiritual communion with The natural consequence was, that Him who is ever present, and ever the service passed off as a dull ready to hear the petitions of his task, without interest or profit. people. Sometimes she would be Once, I remember a selection was upbraided for the length of her demade of a limited number of us, to votions, but she never abridged repeat the catechism after the second them, and as a peculiar gentleness lesson in the afternoon service : pervaded her walk and conversathe minister asking the usual tion, she silenced the reproaches questions from the readiog-desk, of others. The scarlet fever conand our answers being given as we fined her to her room shortly afterstood in the aisle immediately before wards, but her steadfastness in him. This always appeared to me Christ found no abatement therein; inexpedient during divine service; she still maintained her integrity. and I should think its impropriety Scarcely, however, had she recoverprevents the observance generally. ed when the typhus fever raging at

Soon after coming to this city, that time was caught by her, and a general confirmation was an after wasting her considerably, nounced, and the necessary pre- affected her brain ; she ejaculated paratory instruction was given at petitions of praise and thanksgiving the parish church. It was at this to God, and at lucid intervals extime that catehetical instruction pressed her resignation to the will impressed the minds of myself of her heavenly Father, with a and sister. A close forcible ex- cheerfulness and composure that position of the principles of godli- testified a meetness for the kingness won upon the tender heart dom of heaven. In this state she of Harriet ; she saw herself a sinner, resigned her soul in peace, in the and the means whereby her recon- month of February, 1818. ciliation with God could be made. It is not my present purpose She cast herself upon Him who to offer any remarks upon the receiveth the contrite, and through above statement, except simply her Redeemer alone expected sal. recurring to the cause that gave vation. Her deportment, wbich rise to those serious impressions always was unexceptionable, now which, as above stated, were made appeared of a more solid devotional in the catechising preparatory to kind, a greater reverence for God's confirmation. The importance of

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this duty was duly appreciated by successful mode of engaging the the Rev. William Richardson, late attention of the young, and elicitof this city, whose praise is in all ing their answers, rendered this the churches. In a brief memoir branch of his duty particularly of him at page 30, it is stated: interesting. In fact, he was wont “ Equally diligent was Mr. Rich- to mention it as the most gratifying ardson in preparing the younger purt of his ministerial labours.' part of his parishioners for confir- I apprehend that the above short mation. Many individuals who details are by no means cases of now adorn their Christian pro. rare occurrence, and that numbers fession, by an exemplary course of children who have been blessed of conduct, date their first good with such instructors as the clergyimpressions from his instructions man alluded to, can testify similar at this important season.” I well results. Since the diffusion of remember attending occasionally catechetical instruction through the at the church of St. Michael le channel of Sunday-schools, some miBelfrey, and bearing Mr. R. cate- nisters seem satisfied of their comchise the children. He stood at the plete efficiency, without their coaltar like a venerable patriarch, and operation. From such remarks I instructed his children as a father strongly dissent, inasmuch as there is his family; he smiled at the artless attached to the words of a minister answers of his young auditory; it of Christ, a divine commission that was the smile of love. His heart stamps an authority with a much gladdened at their eagerness and greater weight than can be expected attention, whilst he developed the to accompany the words of a lay important truths of the gospel ; teacher. I am far from underthe depravity of man ;-his utter rating the services of Sunday-school inability to save himself by his own teachers (which have been so exmerit ;-the sacrifice made for tensively useful), or presume that -sin by the Lord of glory ;---jus- their words have not the same tification by faith alone ;-the meaning and applicability as those glorious reward of the righteous; used by a minister ; but I hold --the eternal misery of the sinner. with Mr. Gilly, that their services

At one of those times I attended ought not to be considered as and earnestly listened to hisob- sufficient; and that the duty of a servations upon one of the com minister is to assemble the children mandments; it applied particularly in the church for this especial to me, and my attention caught his service. notice; he stopped, and looking at The sacred order of the priestme said, “As you seem to pay hood gives to ministers a paramount great attention, I trust the words advantage, in attracting the attenyou have just heard may be made tion of children; and as we have useful to you." I was astonished become a reading and enquiring at the time.

people, one plan suited to the times, “He also revived the much appears to be for the minister to neglected duty of catechising, which direct the attention of the reader engaged him every year, until that and enquirer to the things wbich preceding his death, on the Sunday relate to their eternal interests, by evenings in May and June. His combining with catechetical instruccopious exposition of the Church tion, copious information on biblical Catechism was profitable not only history, illustrated with suitable to the catechumens, but to a nume- addresses given in a pleasing and rous congregation of adults, who engaging manner. attended on these occasions; and his

MULLANDER familiar and bappy illustrations and York, April, 1829,

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ON OUR PRESENT SITUATION AND DUTIES. WHATEVER views may be enter authority; and they have hitherto tained of the Bill which has just answered the proposed end. Roreceived the royal sanction, for the man Catholics have till now been relief of the Roman Catholics, the prevented access to our Legislature, present must, I apprehend be gen- and though Socinians and infidels erally regarded as a new and im- have been admitted-men usually portant era, demanding serious regarded as worse than Papists consideration, fervent prayer, and yet these have professedly, if not prudent exertion, that we may really, been the advocates of reliavoid the dangers and secure the gious freedom, of which Popery has advantages, which the opponents always been, and now is, the most or promoters of the late measures deterinined opponent, have respectively predicted.

But still it is said, Restrictive I may therefore perhaps be al- laws failed of the desired effect, lowed to trespass on the time Popery increased, notwithstanding and patience of your readers by a their existence, yea, in consequence few remarks, which appear to me of their existence; they irritate important, with reference to the without convincing; they persecute past, the present, and the future; without destroying; they therefore and though I may not meet with increase the zeal of the conscienentire concurrence, yet possibly tious, and attract the sympathy some fears may be quieted, some of the spectators, and thus promote hopes excited, and some duties the faith they were intended to suggested or enforced.

restrain. How far this might have In adverting to the past, I am been the case, when Romish priests far from intending to revive any incurred the penalty of death for controversial discussion, but it seems fulfilling the duties of their office, to me of great consequence clearly I am not prepared to say, though I to ascertain the causes which have apprehend very little effect of this led to the late portentous changes, kind was ever produced; but to which, if not seriously considered talk of Papists suffering persecuand prudently obviated, may ere tion of late years is an amazing long lead to additional and yet farce. It is just as ridiculous as more appalling dangers,

the Quakers annually announcing The restraints from which the the amount of their sufferings, on Romanists have just been relieved, account of the tithes of their are regarded by many as unjustifi- lands, which they bought cheaper, able violations of natural rights, in consequence of their being and as having altogether failed to avowedly subject to such a claim. answer the end for which they were Ninety nine Romanists out of a imposed. Both these views appear hundred knew nothing, and cared to me erroneous. I cannot regard nothing, about those laws which those restrictions as any violation have been so much the subject of natural right, any farther than of discussion; they were as free in all legislative restraints are abridge. all their conduct and conversation ments of that perfect freedom as their Protestant neighbours ; which subsists in a barbarous and they paid the same tithes and imuncivilized state. They were ob- posts for their lands as Protestants; viously enacted to prevent a class they paid also their own Romish of men, who were deemed not priests, in the same manner as the trust-worthy, from obtaining legis. Protestant Dissenters pay, in addilative and political influence and tion to ordinary charges, the salaries

JUNE 1829.

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and other expenses of Dissenting peasantry were compelled to emi. Ministers and places of worship. grate, they might then be considered Popish grievances have been a very as promoting Popery, but this has useful topic of discussion for agi- not been proved, and is, I appretators, lawyers, and others, who hend, utterly unfounded. were thus enabled to obtain a certain While, however, there is an degree of notoriety; and now that increase of Papists in Great Britain, the Relief Bill has passed, these I am fully convinced there is a very gentlemen will find some other material diminution in Ireland; not topics, or perhaps revive the old, perhaps numerically, for the rapid rather than become a prey to increase of the population in that obscurity and consequent poverty. country may for some time prevent

But · Popery has increased.' Has the diminution of any party from it so increased? Is this so clear, being apparent; but I am well so undoubted? We see more of satisfied that the proportion beit; we hear more of it. Its advo- tween Romanists and Protestants cates say so. Yet all this does not in the sister island is continually prove the affirmative. It has un- diminishing. Considerable nomquestionably increased in England; bers of Romanists join, from time for Romish chapels and Romish to time, the Protestant communion; priests abound and appear continu. still greater numbers practically ally in places before unknown : but renounce popery, who have not if a hundred thousand British Pro attached themselves decidedly to testants went over to Ireland, and any other denomination; while a established themselves in different generation is growing up in silence parts, erecting places of Worship, who have been taught to read the and providing ministers, it would Holy Scriptures, and in some not be safe to assume that Pro- degree to think for themselves. testantism had therefore increased. This alarming fact has unquestionWe might ask, Have all who left ably contributed very much to this country remained firm to recent measures. The Romanists Protestantism? or have any, and discovered their danger when, what number of them, become under the authority of the Parliaproselytes to Romanism ? and by mentary Commissioners of Educawhat denomination are the places tion Inquiry, their priests obtained they have left now occupied ? access to the London Hibernian And till these questions were an Society's schools, and those of swered, we could not absolutely similar institutions, and then first determine whether Protestantism perceived the rapid progress of was really gaining ground. I am scriptural education; they tried indeed far from denying that Popery their strength by endeavouring to has increased. I think, in this break up the meetings of religious country at least, that there has been institutions, and annoy the modest a considerable growth. Numerous and peaceable by indecent and converts were made, and numerous violent discussions. Defeated every stations planted by the French where, they started in the career priests, when they fled from revo- of political agitation, and the result lutionary violence; and every fresh has been the intimidating Govern. importation of Irish hodmen and ment into concession. The growth labourers becomes the nucleus of a of Protestantism has thus conduced fresh formation. But all this has to the present, I trust, only the no connexion with the late restric- momentary success of Popery. tive laws. If it could be shown That success could never have that these laws produced national been obtained, had there not been distress, and that therefore the Irish in this country a grievous departure from Protestant principles and con- of our hierarchy have assumed an duct. I conceive that while Ireland extraordinary authority, and many is rising, England is comparatively Ministers have tamely submitted to falling. I am now indeed ap- their assumptions, and have abproaching delicate ground, but I stained from contributing to causes feel that the times require plainness and preaching for Societies which and decision, and that it ill becomes they were fully convinced were us to cultivate that morbid charity entitled to support; or have conwhich leads to the disregard of sented to advocate institutions, fatal symptoms, and the suppres- wbich employ a large part of their sion of painful intelligence, until funds in the promotion of an the disease has acquired such fearful imperfect or perhaps a corrupt and progress as to defy all attempts at distorted Christianity, rather than alleviation. I am well aware that encounter the frown of a superior. a vast increase of pious and excel. I am persuaded that if men will carelent clergymen and otber Ministers fully examine the proceedings of is observable of late years ; that some of our most bigbly patronized Scriptural Christianity is more Societies, willinquire into the characgenerally diffused, and more com- ter and conduct of their agents, monly professed than at many for- and the sentiments of their publimer periods; and that Bible and cations, they will find a grievous Missionary, and other similar departure, in numerous instances, Societies, have been instituted to a from Protestant principles, from degree unknown in earlier days; Scriptural Christianity; and will and these facts will lead many to a not be surprised at such sentiments very different conclusion than I and conduct leading directly to have just stated: but those who Popery.* carefully observe the sentiments Another cause which has powerand conduct of the majority in this fully contributed to recent events land, will probably concede the is, the very generally prevailing justice of my observation.

ignorance of what Popery is, By Protestant principles, I mean and the prominence which some a firm adherence to the statements of its opponents have given to of the word of God, in opposition its least injurious, or perhaps to to, or irrespective of the sentiments speak more correctly, its least of men; and by Protestant conduct, I mean a practice at all times and * Popery has amazingly increased in the in all places accordant to these British Colonies in North America; and principles. Now it appears to me but for the exertions of the Wesleyan that of late years there has been a

Methodists, would have very generally

prevailed. The Reports of the Societies considerable departure from these

for promoting Christian Knowledge and principles and conduct. The doc. for the Propagation of the Gospel in Fotrines of our admirable church, the reign Parts, demonstrate the scarcity of opinions of this or that learned clergymen in those extensive regions ;

while the oppression and tyranny of petty Bishop, or excellent divine, are in

local authorities so interferes with clerical many instances far more implicitly

istances far more implicitly exertion, that many who have been honestly regarded than a plain statement of desirous of discharging their ministerial holy writ; wbile the leaders of va duties, have been compelled either to rerious denominations are frequently

linquish their posts, or desist from much

which conscience testifies ought to be perlooked up to with somewhat very formed. Government seem not yet aware nearly approximating to that re of the importance of maintaining civil and verence which Romanists evince

religious liberty in our several Colonies. for Papal authority. The right of

This is, however, an undertaking of great

difficulty, as the outrageous proceedings in private judgment is thus most Demerara, Barbadoes, &c. sufficiently seriously infringed. Some members prove.

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