There appears to be but one specific by which minds so affected can be disabused, and that is (as regards our Missions at least), GO AND SEE. This simple prescription effects a safe and speedy cure.

A valuable pamphlet, bearing the title which heads this article, has just issued from the pen of the Rev. Geo. Venables, incumbent of Friezland, an old and valued friend and supporter of this Society, but one who, like many before him, owns to have had his "suspicions" about the work. His pamphlet gives, in brief space, and in terse, pointed style, the impressions left on a candid mind by a rigid inquiry into the state of church matters in the diocese of Tuam, including Connemara. The little book is written in the immediate advocacy of "The West Connaught Church Endowment Society," a society called into existence mainly by the successes of the Irish Church Missions.

We strongly recommend the pamphlet to all who take an interest in the Irish Church, and in the progress of the Reformation in our sister isle.

In expressing our own acknowledgments to the author for this straightforward statement of things as he found them, we gladly avail ourselves of a few extracts having special reference to our immediate work, and this we do with the more pleasure, because they will place the Missions, before our friends, in the light in which they have presented themselves to a clergyman, who, perhaps, more than many who have written of the work, has looked at it from what may be termed a church point of view; and who has not only had his own mind relieved of doubts, but has come forward to vindicate the Society from the reproach, which has sometimes been cast upon it, of being deficient in order.

The first extract shall be Mr. Venables' reply to a question which he proposes to himself:-

ARE THE EFFORTS OF THE IRISH CHURCH MISSIONS REGULAR'

OR NOT?

"Many good men, while lamenting the fearful errors of Romanism, and shuddering at the degraded state of this country, are, withal, scarcely prepared for the decided bold and onward course adopted by the Irish Church Missions. As one of those who yield to none in my desire to have all things done decently and in order,' I can enter into their feelings and can understand how, at first, the matter may appear to them as being a little irregular. But, I would observe, that seldom has any good arisen in this wicked world, which has not been accompanied by a little irregularity, and that if we are to be very precise on these points, the probability is that we shall not do anything.

"Next, I would remark that we have high authority for stating that religion must first be pure, and then peaceable; and that it is impossible for any Churchman,

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bound as he is by Articles vi., viii., xi., xii., xiv., xix., xxi., xxii., xxiv., xxv., xxviii. xxx., xxxi., and by many declarations contained in the Book of Common Prayer, to feel comfortable in his heart, until he has done all he can for the conversion of the Roman Catholic.

"But finally I would assert that (at least in the diocese of Tuam) the proceedings are not only decent, but are in strict order with the Canons of the Church. The XIIth Canon of the Irish Church (there is no such canon in the English Church) orders that

"The heads of the Catechism shall be explained to the people. They shall teach the people to place their whole trust and confidence in God, and not in creatures, neither in the habit or scapular of any friar, or hallowed beads, medals, reliques, or such like trumperies. They shall also do their endeavour likewise to root out all ungodly superstitions and barbarous customs, as using of charms, sorcery, enchantments, witchcraft, or soothsaying; and generally to reform the manners of the people committed to their charge, unto a Christian, sober, and civil conversation.' "Now here is a canon, bearing on the parochial clergy, which almost forces controversy upon them; and it will not do to plead (as may be justly pleaded of some canons) that circumstances have rendered it obsolete and unnecessary, because that which made this canon right and needful two centuries ago, renders it right and needful still. It is, after all, but a human transcript of St. Jude, verse 3, and similar passages. This canon, therefore, requires some sort of aggression from the parochial clergy.

"But if we turn to the XLth Canon of the Irish Canons (which is the same as the LXVIth of the English) it is enjoined:

"Every minister, being a preacher, and having any Popish recusant or recusants in his parish (and thought fit by the bishop of the diocese), shall labour diligently with them from time to time, thereby to reclaim them from their errors. And if he be no preacher, or not such a preacher, then he shall procure (if he can possibly) some that are preachers so qualified, to take pains with them for that purpose. If he can procure none, then he shall inform the bishop of the diocese thereof, who shall not only appoint some neighbour preacher or preachers adjoining, to take that labour upon them; but himself also (as his important affairs will permit him) shall use his best endeavour, by instruction, persuasion, and all good means he can devise to reclaim both them and all other within his diocese so affected.'

'Really, when one reads this Canon, and asks for a specimen of obedience to it, I know not where to look so readily as to the Bishop of Tuam; and to the proceedings of the Irish Church Missions and other Missions, as carried on in that diocese.

"The course adopted is in precise accordance with the spirit, and almost with the very letter of this canon; and it seems to me that they who cry out at these efforts as irregular, are themselves open to the taunt of disobedience to their own church canons, or at all events to the remark, 'If the Irish Missions are irregular, take you the XIIth and the XLth Canons of your Church and carry out their injunctions more correctly.'

"You cannot advocate letting the Roman Catholics alone! You dare not, as a Christian or as a Churchman! What! leave them in a church which (in the words of the XIXth article) has 'erred, not only in living and manner of ceremonies, but also in matters of faith?' Leave them in a church a part of whose doctrines is 'a fond thing vainly invented, grounded on no warranty of Scripture, but rather repugnant to the Word of God ?' As you love the Roman Catholic, and as you love your

and his Redeemer, you are bound to seek in every proper way the eternal interest of the man; and while showing him all love, you must point unto him the errors of his religion. So that even if you do not think the mode of proceeding adopted in the diocese of Tuam is correct, you must as a hearty Christian Churchman, attempt the conversion of the Roman Catholic in some other way, and as you think, more canonical way.

"But you cannot leave it alone."

As the result of his scrutiny into the Mission work, Mr. Venables says:-

"I am bound, in common honesty, to declare, at the close of a fair investigation, of a rigid inquiry from all sorts of people, and of a general observation, the conclusion to which I seem forced to arrive in reference to the work in the West, in the diocese of Tuam. I say then, with all candour, as a practical parish priest, entertaining, of course, my own views, and judging matters according to those views, that the work I witnessed, surpassed my expectations in genuineness and in reality, and in the general display of wisdom in its management. As a hearty and sincere Churchman, I do not say that every particular was precisely such as seems to me quite correct. I regretted to find the catechism was not invariably taught, always, in all schools; but I know well that the same defect exists in many Sunday schools in England; and I feel sure that the number of communicants falls short of a due proportion. I think, also, that church principles may be taught more fully than they are in the schools, both as a matter of Scriptural truth and also as of great value and importance to the convert. And I think, also, that patriotism might be advantageously impressed on the minds of the people generally in such a way as to lead them, whether they emigrate or not, to feel an interest in their native land, and to try to benefit the population in some way.

"I can, too, believe it possible that some of the agents may be possessed with a spirit of controversy in which love may be lacking. There is great danger of this from the nature of the case, and it ought to be guarded against. But of this I am quite sure, that the leaders in this movement are actuated entirely by a spirit of love for the Roman Catholic, and I believe that they are very desirous that every effort should be made in a spirit of love only, and from no other motive. But, having spoken thus freely on any defects which occurred to me, I must say that my suspicions, as to the possible or probable blunders of the Irish Church Missions, have been by no means realized. I am convinced that they have given a great and a good impulse to the Church in some parts of Ireland. I am satisfied that ecclesiastical proprieties are far more attended to than is generally suspected, or than I anticipated."

We must add our author's remarks on the examination of the scholars of the Moyrus School :

EXAMINATION OF THE SCHOLARS.

"The following morning the school-room was crowded with its own scholars and the children of the second school-house, which is at some distance on the other side of the bay. There were present sixty boys and forty-six girls. The Rev. W. C. Plunket gave them a short account of our doings during the past few days. The Rev. J. Conerney examined them upon controversial subjects, and I then proceeded with my inquiries. The notes entered in my memorandum book at the time are as ollows:

'The Importance of Good Works. A little confusion at first, but all clear and excellent in the end.

'The Three orders of the Christian Church. Good.

"The Prayer Book. Fair.'

"I cannot but believe that if those who turn away the subject of efforts amongst the Roman Catholics, with the easily spoken remark, 'I never could see or hear that they have done any good,' would really take but the commonest pains to obtain true information on the subject, they would arrive at a very different conclusion. But so long as they content themselves with a simple inquiry at an hotel, kept, it may be, by a Roman Catholic, they can easily obtain an 'Oh! no!' to such a leading inquiry 'These Missions don't do much I suppose, do they?"

as,

"Let my English brethren just examine half a dozen schools before they leave England, and then, let them go into the schools of Connemara, and examine the children there, and let them inquire what religion their parents had professed? and then they may speak with confidence. But as far as I can learn, the few (they are very few) fault-finders have not really taken common pains to ascertain the truth of the matter."

We conclude with Mr. Venables' testimony to the Connemara Orphanages :

"I sum up my remarks by stating that I have never seen any institutions which surpass the Glenowen and Bally conree Orphanages. Only that I desire not to speak too strongly, I could say I have never seen any institution equal to them. Two hundred and eighty boys and girls have passed through them. Nearly all of them have turned out well, and many of them have risen greatly in life."

"THE DEATH OF THE RIGHTEOUS."

ACCORDING to our previously announced intention, we produce another specimen of Rome's method of teaching by pictures. Here, in small compass, we have a whole volume of divinity, but, alas, how false! Without discussing the questionable expediency of teaching divine things by pictorial representations, we merely observe that if such methods are had recourse to, the utmost care should be taken to produce right impressions; but here all is calculated to mislead. For anything representing trust in the living Saviour we look in vain; objects which present a false trust abound.

The VIRGIN, bright in the effulgence of the Trinity, to whom the heavenly hosts are rendering adoration, is the central object of attraction. The crucifix even, which is superstitiously grasped in the hands of the dying person, fails, apparently, to afford repose, and the