Irish Church Mission Converts in London visited by George M'G, Lay Agent of the Society in Dublin. 1. Patrick C- -ly, four in family. This man was the first plucked out of Romanism in the Mission school at Moyrus, county Galway, and placed in the field as Irish teacher in the year 1851. He laboured as such, under much persecution, for upwards of four years, faithfully, and left for Scotland, where his faith has been fully tested. He is now employed. in London. Patrick's brother Michael was formerly in the Orphan Nursery at Ballyconree, where he was taught the truth of the gospel. From thence he was apprenticed in Dublin. During the seven years of his apprenticeship he attended the services and classes at Townsend Street, where his faith was much strengthened. He was afterwards an upper servant in noble families in the county of Cork, and was married in the south of Ireland. He lately fell asleep in peace, believing in Jesus. The testimony of the clergyman who attended him was most encouraging to those whom he left to lament his death. The wife of the aforesaid Patrick Cly is of Erislanon, Clifden. She was taught and brought out of Romanism in the Mission School, Clifden. She was sent by Miss D'Arcy to Australia, where she engaged with a lady who brought her back to Scotland, and afterwards to England, where she was married. They appear truly converted to God. It may be well to remark that her mother and younger family have also come out under the teaching of the Rev. H. D'Arcy, and that one of her brothers is an Irish teacher. 2. Edward Cy, and wife of Clifden, county Galwayeach of these are about eighty years of age, and brought out of Romanism under the Rev. H. D'Arcy. He is a cousin to the late Professor C―y, and uncle to Anthony, who is married to a priest's sister, and who proved himself to be the Romish giant of that country. It was he and another that waylaid Mr. M--; and dragged him off his horse, and also a Scripture reader, on their way to Clifden, after preaching at the house of Patrick Joyce in the year 1848. Each of these bless the day that God opened their eyes to see the truth, and to trust in Jesus. 3. Samuel C- -y, five in family. He is the son of the aforesaid Edward C- -y, and although he never made an open profession of Protestantism in Clifden, yet the seed was sown, and now it is springing up in a free religious country. 4. John O'C—, eight in family, all converts. The wife is daughter to the aforesaid Edward C―y, brought out at the Mission School, Clifden. 5. Edward Col- seven in family. This man had been taught in the Mission School, Clifden, and one of the first Irish teachers. He is an earnest and zealous Christian. 6. Bridget C, aged about twenty-two years. She is from Errismore or Derrygimla. She had been brought out of Romanism, and taught at the Mission School in Erislanon. She was afterwards taken by a schoolmaster to Tuam, where she was enlightened and strengthened in the truth by the Rev. C. Seymour. She is now a respectable servant, a staunch convert, and, I have every reason to believe, a true Christian -very_regular at Divine service. 7. Edward C- -r, seven in family. Three are converts from Romanism, and very happy. 8. Thomas B a convert. First taught at the Achill Training School; after at the Training-school Mission-house, Dublin. 9. Maurice S, a convert, brought out by the Mission at Bandon, county Cork. 10. D. H- a convert, same place. men zealous for the truth. The five foregoing are 12. Patrick'J. seven in family. This family were the first fruits of the Irish Church Mission at Sellerna, Clifden, county Galway. The three eldest were baptized by a priest, but confirmed by the Bishop of Tuam, in 1853. The fourth was the first convert child baptized by the Rev. George Wilkinson of the Irish Church Missions at Sellerna, in September 1849. They have all been taught at the Mission Schools to know and fear God. To Him be the praise! We walked a good deal through Chelsea to find two families who had been attending the controversial classes in Dublin, and who have shaken off the fetters of Romanism, and become Protestants here; but we failed for the present, not having their address. We were told by the Missionary that two families became Protestants somewhere at Chelsea, but where to find them he could not tell. We met a young man from Bride Street, Dublin, who had witnessed and helped on the riots at the Combe some years ago, and who having known P. J— there, brought no small share of persecution on him at first, while at work with him at the docks. He is now greatly changed, and speaks his mind freely. He says that he is fully convinced in his mind, from attending the controversial classes, that the Protestants have the truth. He counted up several persons who are here in London now, half Protestants, he said, from what they saw and heard of the Combe riots. He said Protestantism was breaking out in them—that they eat meat on Fridays, and never go to mass or confession, but go regularly every Sunday to hear street-preaching. Two married daughters of RJ-, of Clifden, regret sincerely that they are not allowed by their husbands to worship God according to the dictates of their conscience. One of them says she will never forget the truth which she learned from the Bible. Had a great many interesting conversations with persons of every creed and denomination during the time, and found that a great many of the Romanists here can tell about the Irish Church Missions and their work in every sphere of their labour. N.B.-The Romanists here give the epithet of Dallasheens to any convert from Ireland. Visited also Bridget S- a convert from Dublin, a Christian girl, who bears her testimony for the truth. Mary T a convert from Luke Street School, Dublin, in service as parlour-maid—a communicant. Also Matthew O'C a convert from Clifden-one of the city missionaries at Chelsea. Mr. M'G (the lay agent who makes the above report,) has seen fifty-one converts at their deaths in Dublin, the fruit of the classes and Ragged School. The New Cathedral in Tuam. THURSDAY, the 27th August, must have been a happy day to Lord Plunket, Bishop of Tuam, and to the Rev. Charles Seymour. Never was there before so large an assemblage of Protestants in the town of Tuam as were then gathered together to meet the good bishop on the occasion of his laying the first stone of the new cathedral, and very striking was the change in that once dark and bigoted locality, as shown by the peace and order which marked the proceedings of this important and interesting day. A few years ago, when the mission work com menced in Tuam, there were scenes of violence and outrage almost exceeding those which have been experienced in any other mission in Ireland, and the Rev. C. Seymour, the excellent vicar, was for years exposed to the most dis graceful insult and persecution, so that he could scarcely appear in the streets without being guarded by police. Now all is changed, and the ceremony referred to, though carried out in the presence of a large number of Roman Catholics, passed off as peaceably as it would have done in any Protestant town in England; nay, more, numbers of Roman Catholics offered Mr. Seymour assistance in various ways on the occasion, and many of them refused to accept payment for their services. It is important to remember that the town of Tuam has been for some years the scene of an extensive missionary movement, and that additional accommodation is required for the increased and increasing congregation in the cathedral, which is also the parish church. In these days, when the Irish Establishment is made the object of such attacks, it is extremely important to notice the progress the Church is making in various places, and especially in the diocese of Tuam. New congregations have been formed, as our readers are well aware; new churches built and endowed, and now a new, or, rather, a restored, Cathedral has been commenced in the town of Tuam as a testimony to the success of missionary work, and a proof of the vitality of the Irish Church. The ceremony of laying the first stone, or, more strictly speaking, the memorial stone of the restored edifice, passed off most happily. It was very interesting to see the reverent and respectful demeanour of the large body of Roman Catholics who were present, and to listen to the touching observations of the Rev. C. Seymour as he contrasted his former with his present position. The kind and Christian expressions of the Dean of Tuam also drew forth a cordial response. The following is an outline of the addresses delivered on this important occasion. The Rev. Mr. Seymour said "My Lord Bishop, by your Lordship's desire I stand here to give an account of this building and of its origin. You are aware that under God's blessing and the ministry here, there has been a large increase in the Protestant people. Their numbers have been more than doubled within the last few years, and any person who goes into the old church will see that in order to accommodate the parishioners of Tuam we have been obliged to encroach on our chancel. We have pews in every portion and quarter, and still we have families that have no pews or sittings in this church; and not only is this alteration desirable for the sake of the wealthy, but I have often thought that our poorer people should have places for them connected with those of the wealthier parishioners, and that they should not be separated, as they are now, by a. complete partition. We therefore, after some time, thought of adding to the old church; and, after receiving various plans, our thoughts began to rise, and at last it was found. that the best thing would be to restore the old Cathedral of Tuam. We stand now upon the ground of the old Cathedral of Tuam, raised for the purpose of preaching the pure gospel of our Saviour Jesus Christ in Tuam. We have gone, in the providence of God, along the foundations of the old church, and we are going to restore, by God's blessing, that old arch to be the chancel-arch of the new church, as it was in the olden times, when the Lord had here his ministers and bishops preaching the everlasting good tidings of salvation to poor sinners. I must say that, in this matter, it had been thought enthusiastic in me to commence a work which must demand at least £12,000; but I know that I am no enthusiast when I look at the text there displayed and read, "The God of heaven He will prosper us, and therefore, we, his servants will arise and build." I know that I am no enthusiast, thank God, when I have acted on the promises of Jehovah, and have endeavoured to go forward in a spirit of prayer, thinking and knowing that God will answer that prayer. And I need not say that we have full proof that God will never desert us -that He will never send us away confounded when we can point to another text which I see there" Hitherto the Lord hath helped us." We are now enabled to say that we have got a large portion of this church built; we are enabled to say that we have got the sympathies of numbers of Protestants both in this country and in England; and we are enabled to say, blessed be God, that we can go on still continuing this building. We still require a large sum of money to complete it; but I do believe that God, who has hitherto helped us, will not withdraw his help until we have the work completed." After alluding to the kind support and generous contributions of the Bishop, and to the effective co-operation. of the architects and builder, Mr. Seymour continued as follows: |