absurd, that I should be sorry to let it rest on my own authority, lest it should invalidate the foregoing part of my letter; but I will observe, en passant, that if this tale be believed in Mayo, we need not wonder that the miracles of Prince Hohenloe should find supporters in Dublin. B. LETTER XIX. MARCH. You are certainly right in considering the clergy of the established church of Ireland as having a peculiarly difficult and delicate part to act. Placed among a people to whom, generally speaking, their ministry is unacceptable or even odious, they are assailed on the one hand by the fear of betraying, through an injudicious zeal, the cause which should be nearest their heart, while on the other is still sounding in their ears the awful warning, "Woe is me if I preach not the gospel." Under these painful and perplexing circumstances, the wisest course of action appears to me to be the one pursued by an exemplary and zealous clergyman in this part of the country, who, instead of endeavouring to convert bigotted catholics into mere nominal protestants, professes that his great aim is to make them all real christians. With this idea he qualified himself, by a diligent study of the Irish language, to read and explain the Scriptures to his poor parishioners in their native tongue, and he finds this by far the readiest and most grateful way of introducing the subject. Many who would not listen to a word, so long as it was spoken in English, become silent and attentive the moment he opens the Irish testament; being of course better able to comprehend the truths delivered to them in the language with which they are familiar, as well as better disposed to attend to it, as one to which they are strongly attached both by habit and association *. * Might not the practice which has so generally obtained in Wales, of obliging the candidates for holy orders, in those parts of the country where the native dialect still maintains its ground, to pass an examination in that language, be extended with great advantage to Ireland? It is there a frequent custom for young men, after leaving the university, to spend six or twelve months with a Welsh tutor, by which time they become competent to read and preach in that language, and of course have obtained such a general introduction to it, as will facilitate their learning to converse with those among the poorer and more ignorant members of their flock, who would otherwise remain shut out from all familiar intercourse with their spiritual pastors. After witnessing the eager and devout attendance of large congregations, all dressed in the national costume, and assembled within the neatly white-washed walls of the village church, at one time listening to a Welsh sermon, at another assisting at a Welsh sacrament, the greater number of whom would never enter the church while the Finding that several copies of the sacred volume which he had given away had been called in and even destroyed by the priest, our good clergyman had recourse to the expedient of writing his own name in the first leaf, and lending it, with the condition of its being returned, when no longer made use of. He was also in the habit of admitting any of the neighbours at the hour of family prayer, and found, what indeed may appear somewhat singular, but what is likewise the case with catholic servants in private families, that many will on such occasions attend even when a protestant clergyman officiates, who would probably consider it a deadly sin to enter a protestant church. This being all done in the spirit of gentleness, united with great kindness of heart, and general and active benevolence, may surely be considered as answering to our blessed Lord's injunction, of combining the wisdom of the serpent, with the meekness of the dove. To this are equally opposed, as contrary and fatal extremes, the artifices of an indiscreet and bigotted desire of proselytism, or the carelessness of latitudinarian indifference. service was performing in English. I cannot help wishing that our poor secluded mountaineers enjoyed the same opportunity of hearing the word of life, "every man in the tongue wherein he was born." K The latter is the more general error; nor can we feel not visit for these things? saith the Lord." What is to be expected from those who are thus called of men, while in words they profess to be moved by the Holy Ghost, to undertake the high office for which they become candidates? Or where is the wonder that the ministry, thus committed to their charge, should degenerate into an empty form, or be performed, in a slovenly inefficient manner, by the substitutes which they carelessly appoint. church On attending service at some years ago I was struck by the indecorous appearance of two clergymen in the reading desk, who alternately assisted in the service, shifting from one to the other the only surplice which had been provided--and such a surplice! so covered with spots of dirt and iron mould, as to be very far from coming |