232

THE JESUITS IN POWER.

from his closet, proceeded to the steps of the altar, where I overheard him repeat a Latin prayer, at the close of which he left the church.

The Romish church allows of no exception to the practice of confession; from the humblest of its members to the pope himself, all are considered as laid under solemn obligation to its observance. Yet to this service there are most serious and weighty objections. The works designed to assist those who are about to confess, are far more likely to promote the pollution of the mind than its purity. Such, too, is notoriously the effect of the questions of confessors, and many well-authenticated facts show, that by these services offences were first suggested.

INFIDELITY.-A Roman priest, of New York, recently endeavored to pervert a protestant woman from the truth: she at once repelled him by the Scriptures. "The Bible," he replied, "is a bad book—it is all stuff; burn it, and come and join our church."

This confirms all the other testimony, which assures us that Italian, French, and Irish Jesuits and priests, who are flocking to America by hundreds, are disguised atheists.

PLURALITY OF WIVES IN NEW MEXICO.-It appears that the men, and even the priests, in New Mexico are permitted to marry, not only one wife, but as many as they please. A correspondent of the government paper at St. Louis (the Union), writing from General Kearney's camp, September 13, describes the town of San Domingo, of which he says :—

"There is at this town quite an extensive church, to which is attached the priest's house, where he keeps his wives or concubines. The priest at this place has four-two of them are quite good looking."

No wonder the members of "The Society of Jesus" were anxious to get into our army as chaplains, to aid in bringing the Mexicans back to the faith.

THE JESUITS IN POWER.-The Jesuits arose high and rapidly to power under the reign of Pope Gregory XVI., predecessor of the present pope, Pius IX. Pope Gregory was so friendly as to

PRESENT DOINGS OF POPERY.

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grant them extraordinary privileges, one of the chief of which is the entire control of the college of the Propaganda, heretofore a kind of union missionary seminary, directed by all the orders combined. This change, which was made in 1837, has excited remonstrances. The other institutions now under the Jesuits have already been mentioned, as well as the fact that they have a control over all the institutions for education in Rome. But their power is not limited there: so far have they insinuated themselves, that now it is quite in vain for any man to pretend to any public charge, office, or employment, without the recommendation of the Jesuits.

PRESENT DOINGS OF POPERY.

THE question has often been put to papists, "What has become of Milly McPherson?" but no answer is returned, and probably never will be. But it is an instance of the daring and cruel spirit of popery, which ought to be borne in mind, and treasured up against it. Many of our readers may remember the circumstances. She was an inmate of a nunnery at Lebanon, Kentucky, and being grossly insulted by her priest, Rev. David Duparry—let his name be remembered-she left the establishment. she left the establishment. Her parents being bigoted catholics, incensed against their daughter for charging a priest with immorality, drove her from home, and compelled her to seek refuge with some protestant families. Here she abode for some time, much threatened and abused by the catholics, until at last she was missing; and though diligent and anxious search was made for her, she has never since been heard of. The Romish priests were openly charged with having made way with her, and some of them brought a suit against a western editor, for saying

SO.

But they failed in their suit, and have never yet made an open defence of themselves. The inferences which the public have a right to draw from these circumstances, need not be told; if Milly M'Pherson did not fall a victim of popish cruelty, then where is she?"

ROME.-An official publication, authorized by the papal court, declares that twenty-six pictures of the Virgin Mary opened and shut their eyes in 1796 and 1797; and a statue of the Virgin at Torrice, changed color and perspired.

234 DRAGGING PROTESTANTS THROUGH BOGS IN IRELAND.

DRAGGING PROTESTANTS THROUGH BOGS IN IRELAND.

CONTINUATION OF THE IRISH MASSACRE.

N the county of Antrim they murdered nine hundred and fifty-four protestants in one morning; and afterward about twelve hundred more in that county.

At a town called Lisnegary, they forced twenty-four protestants into a house, and then setting fire to it, burned them together, counterfeiting their outcries in derision to others.

Among other acts of cruelty, they took two children belonging to an Englishwoman, and dashed out their brains before her face; after which they threw the mother into a river, and she was drowned. They served many other children in the like manner, to the great affliction of their parents, and the disgrace of human nature.

In Kilkenny, all the protestants, without exception, were put to death; and some of them in so cruel a manner, as, perhaps, was never before thought of.

They beat an Englishwoman with such savage barbarity, that she had scarce a whole bone left; after which they threw her into a ditch; but not satisfied with this, they took her child, a girl about six years of age, and after ripping up its belly, threw it to its moth er, there to languish till it perished.

They forced one man to go to mass, after which they ripped open his body, and in that manner left him. They sawed another asunder, cut the throat of his wife, and after having dashed out the brains of their child, an infant, threw it to the swine, who greedily devoured it.

After committing these, and many other horrid cruelties, they took the heads of seven protestants, and among them that of a pious minister, all which they fixed up at the market-cross. They put a gag into the minister's mouth, then slit his cheeks to his ears, and laying a leaf of a bible before it, bid him preach, for his mouth was wide enough. They did several other things by way of derision, and expressed the greatest satisfaction at having thus murdered and exposed the unhappy protestants.