Excerpt from An Earnest Address, on the Establishment of the Hierarchy

A Catholic hierarchy itself offers no security the sad case of England's schism fully shows. T It is impossible, in the compass of this short' address, 'to enter into the historical details connected with this important period, and which I hope shortly to set forth at length. M a treatise, which I am preparing on the English schism. But 1n order to make good my argument, it will be'necessas'y to take' a rapid'vie'vw of the succeeding reigns of Edward VI., Mary, and Elizabeth. Soon after the decease of Hemy VIII many considerable' alterations were introduced in'the manner of delebrating divine service, through the influence of the Pro tector, Somerset, aided by Cranmer. This first change was a translation of 'the. Mass' into English, with little or no alteration of importance, and excepting the irregularity of lts introduction and the question of the expediency of such a translation, it was accompanied by little that was objectionable, and from its accord ance with the old ritual, was generally received, the vestments and many of the old ceremonies were retained, and altogether this alteration was not so shocking to the feelings of the people. Brit it was 'rapidly succeeded by' a second, concocted under Genevan influence, full of heresies, and altogeth'er repugnant to Catholic practices and doctrines, 'but backed by the power of a tyrannical government, this second book was forced on the clergy and the nation, and I grieve to 'relate thabit was used by a great majority of the 'old priests, though by normeans com gamma to that which is now in use, and zin which several atholic passages and rubrics, fexpunged ln the second book, have been restored The publication of this new liturgy was accompanied by much' external violence. Altars were demo lished, roods cut down, and images, in many places, removed. Still, it must be observed that the old clergy retained their livings, With comparatively few exceptions, and when the tem poral penalties on 'the marriage of those in 'holy orders were 'remove'd, several produced i concealed wives, 101' con tracted marriage to the great 'scandal of 'those'who remained attached to' the old discipline, and themerriment of the profane. But this state of things soon diew ito 'a close; the succession of the' Princess Mary to the throne, arnost zealous Catholic, announced a speedy 'return to the old faith and discipline. But, unfortunately, the means taken for th1s rend were not sufficiently considered with reference to. The altéredrcircum; stances of the time. The schangescthat had been effected during the latter period of her: father's reign and that of her brother Edward, had, in a great' measu're, destroyed religious unity.; men had' been forced to believe and 'unbelieve bydqot of 'parlia went so often, and to swear they believed a mystery falseto-day1that they were toiacknovedg'e on the peril ofrsalfvatien to-morrow, that a great uncertainty iha'd been 'raised insithc minds of 1nany.; Objects and1 rites; which had been venenaztcd by suc'cessiife ages, . Had been treated with open contempt.

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