Excerpt from Hansard's Parliamentary Debates, Vol. 81: Commencing With the Accession of William IV, 8� and 9� Victoriae, 1845; Comprising the Period From the Fourth Day of June, to the Third Day of July, 1845; Fifth Volume of the Session

Was likewise appointed by the noble Marquess, to show that the selections made by him were free from any political considerations, and governed by the highest and purest motives. Next in yesterday's debate came the most rev. Prelate connected with Ireland. His ar gument in favour of the Bill proceeded upon the supposition, that favour and en dowment, or persecution and intolerance, were the only alternatives for the Govern ment to choose between with reference to the Roman Catholic religion. He stated that he was not unmindful of his vow to use all faithful diligence to banish and drive away all strange doctrine contrary to God's Wor There were different ways, said the most rev. Prelate, of banishing such doctrines. How was he to drive them out? By secular coercion? By penal laws 7 by the bayonet? Was he to propagate and uphold what he thought to be truth by drawing the sword in its defence? Sooner than do that, he would renounce his high station, and retire into some humble situation of life. My Lords, there was no question about persecution. The most rev. Prelate overlooked the real question at issue, which is, whether error should be tolerated or cherished. Toler ation, as opposed to persecution, I hold to be perfectly consistent with the duty un dertaken by a Protestant clergyman at his ordination: and I regret to feel myself called upon to remind one in the most rev. Prelate's position, that the weapon of a Christian's warfare - the only weapon which it becomes a Christian minister to wield for the purpose of banishing error and upholding truth - is the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. I must also remind the most rev. Prelate, that he has left his explanation of the vow he made at his consecration very incomplete. He only explained his sense of the first part. Of it, the duty he undertook of banish ing all erroneous doctrine, &c.; he forgot to add that he had likewise vowed openly and privately to call upon and encourage others to the same. In the absence of any explanation of this from the most rev. Prelate, the House, Ithink, will he in. Chord to adopt that which was afl'orded by the right rev. Prelate who addressed your Lordships on the first night of this debate. I now turn, my Lords, to the case made out by the noble Duke for the introduction of this Bill, and the grounds of the noble Earl's (lord St. Germans)

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