St. Peter? How comes it to pass that there is no allusion to his exclusive possession of the keys? Why do the words “ Tu es Petrus" appear nowhere? Why are there no allusions to Purgatory, to the worship of saints-or, indeed, to anything that is Romish? Why does the Blessed Virgin never once appear on the oldest monuments? We find Popes named like the humblest Bishops-allusions to only two Sacraments -hints that the cup was for the Laity-evidence of a married Clergy.' "And Dr. Maitland, in his Church in the Catacombs," p. 333, also declares :-'In the Lapidarian Gallery (if it be not rash to pronounce summarily upon the contents of so vast a collection) the name of the Virgin Mary does not once occur. Nor is it to be found once in any truly ancient inscription contained in the works of Aringhi, Boldetti, or Bottari. Should any exception be discovered, it will not weaken the astonishing contrast existing between the ancient and mediæval Churches in this particular.' 66 Why is Rome above ground so different from Rome under ground? Which is the old religion ?" CONNEMARA-ERRISLANON. THE district of Errislanon is connected with the Mission work in the town of Clifden. A convert congregation and Mission-schoo have maintained their ground in the face of many difficulties. The following report from the missionary shows that the work is still progressing: "The events of the past month present some very interesting features, which show that God's work is progressing in this district. For the last fortnight the priests have been very active, visiting from house to house, and, in every case where Roman Catholic children attend the Mission-school, using every exertion to have them withdrawn. I rejoice to say that, as yet, not a single child has been taken away, though threats of all kinds were freely expressed, even to the denial of receiving confessions and the withholding of the so-called 'rights of the Church,' should they be required by any members of the offending families. "On Friday last an interesting ceremony took place in: Errislanon Church, viz., the marriage of two converts. The young woman, now so happily settled, has had more than a share of trials from the persecuting spirit of the Church of Rome and the incessant appeals of a very bigoted mother, who went so far as to aid a Roman Catholic suitor in an effort to carry off her daughter, and by a forced marriage to take her away from the 'jumpers.' This plan was, by God's great mercy, happily frustrated, and the fidelity of this young woman to her adopted creed has met with its just recompense in the consent of her mother to her present union with a most eligible young man, also a convert, and her happy settlement in life under circumstances considered very favourable to her future welfare. "The Scripture-readers, generally speaking, are well received, and often receive invitations to visit again and again. Many promises are given and resolves entered into about coming out from Rome; but the slavish fear of the power of the priesthood still prevails, and the dread of the scorn and persecution of neighbours and relatives still deters many who are standing on the very brink of that river of the sanctuary that is to separate them for ever from the Church of Rome." KINGSCOURT. THE Mission station of Kingscourt, in the county of Cavan, is important as being the centre of an extensive work of Irish and English teaching, which was commenced by the Irish Society, and is now carried on by the Irish Church Missions: "Our readers have had a most interesting time inspecting the schools, thirty in number, and they report them, with few exceptions, to be most flourishing, and, in the midst of much persecution, still gathering their scholars for inspection. They have this advantage in winter, that they can be assembled freer from observation than in summer. This morning one of our teachers has paid me a visit. His wife has just been confined. I liked his manner, and the way in which he spoke of the mercies of God. This is the second child about being baptized by his parish minister, who writes most favourably of this man and his family. They have been out of Rome about three years. Another teacher, a most unpromising man twelve months ago, and one with whom we were getting dissatisfied because he did not come out boldly from Rome, has lately proved himself one in whom we can depend. He has left Rome for good and all. One cannot tell when the seed sown may put forth and bud, and bring forth fruit. "A Protestant widow, at service, has placed her son in a Romanist home in the village. We were naturally anxious about this boy, and sent immediately after him to get him to school. The woman of the house said she would send him to a Romanist school, when her daughter stood up and said, 'No, mother, send him to the Protestant school. He is a Protestant boy, and ought to go to a Protestant school; and I know it is a good one. He will get the Bible there, for it was there I got any education I have.' When this was related to me this day, I remembered the girl's name, but she had left the school for some years, and her name had passed from our memory. On further inquiry, I found that her sister had emigrated, and took with her the Bible she got at our school. The "Our readers and agents have ample work; numbers of handbills have been scattered the last month, and gradually the Word of Life is becoming more and more known. present priests, three in number, never were more active; yet it is pleasing to know that the handbills, on almost every controversial subject, are read, often looked for, by many Romanists. Of course many are destroyed, but some have been instrumental of great good." Original Poetry. MISSION VERSES. THE SECRET. GOD hath a secret for his own ;* Their faith reads well the promise free- Leaguered by hosts, no sword to aid, The seer stood calm while others trembled,— "Lord, open these men's eyes," he prayed,§ They saw celestial guards assembled. * Ps. xxv. 14. The secret of the Lord is with the righteous. + Rev. iv. 3. Isaiah xxvi. 3. § 2 Kings vi. 20.. Dreading the death-thirst of her child,* This secret is not of the past; Still treasured for the heavenly wise, If God hath opened thus the eyes. For those whose blindness Christ has found, And will by stillest waters lead them.‡ In many a wild secluded glen, In many a simple mountain home, "Be these to their own kindred strange,. They may not eat, to sell or buy, Give wages, breathe a kindly word; Regard with tender, pitying eye, Were treason to the priestly lord. Yet are they happy, even here, 'Mid scoff, and curse, and scanty food'; An Inward Witness makes it clear How all things work their lasting good.§: Clouds gather round their peaceful road, They will not ill to ill oppose; *Gen. xxi. 19. Ps. xxxiv. 7. Ps. xxiii. 2. § Rom. viii. 28. Their faith unmoved, their courage strong, The light of heaven is on their face. For there are wings in wildest seas Than when the tempest round them raves. The troubled sea beneath them rolls,† Whence had they, then, this wondrous spell Some sleep in Jesus; holier now, And bid unwavering faith be calm. Z. B. * A missionary of the Irish Church Missions Society in describing an attack upon him by a mob, who stoned him to his own door, said to the writer, “Thank God, I did not quicken my pace, nor seem to heed them.” + Isaiah lvii. 20. |