REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE Southwark Operative Protestant Association for the year ending June 1842. YOUR Committee have great pleasure in meeting the assembled members of the Southwark Operative Protestant Association once more, and they feel grateful that in laying before you a brief outline of what has been done during the past year, they have nothing of a painful nature to record, but on the contrary much that is calculated to excite our gratitude, and to create in our hearts a cheerful hope that our labour has not been in vain in the Lord. In the first place, we are happy to state that while at the beginning of the year our members amounted to 461, the number of persons who have enrolled themselves members of this Association now amounts to 631, and we trust that by the close of another year this number will at least be doubled. This however must mainly depend upon the exertions of the present members. It is scarcely too much to expect that their zeal for Protestantism, and their love for our cherished Association, will lead them each to add at least one to our ranks. If we are engaged in a good cause, and serve a good master; if we are promoting the highest interests of our fellow-subjects, and defending the cause of vital godliness and Bible truth, why should not we enlist all we can in so good a work, so pious an enterprize. Shame upon us if we do not. During the past year we have sent up two Petitions to the House of Commons, one praying that the grant paid annually from the public Treasury to the Popish College of Maynooth may be discontinued; and the other praying that enquiry may be made respecting the violence and intimidation used in Ireland at the late Election. We have held twelve public meetings during the year, and distributed several thousand publications, besides supplying each subscribing member with a copy of the PROTESTANT ALMANACK, and a copy of the PENNY PROTESTANT OPERATIVE monthly. The most interesting feature in our last year's proceedings has been the valuable course of Lectures so kindly undertaken, and so ably delivered by our esteemed and valued Patron and friend the Rev. M. H. Seymour. To that zealous and talented gentleman we owe indeed a debt of gratitude, we shall never be able to re-pay. His labours amongst us are too well known to you all to need any thing further to be said, than that we trust he may long be spared to be an ornament to the Church of England, a true guide and faithful pastor to his own congregation, and an extensive blessing to the Southwark Operative Protestant Asso ciation. To the other Clergy of the Borough who have so kindly patronized the Society and honored its meetings with their presence and supported its principles with the power of their eloquence upon the platform and in the pulpit, your Committee desire also thus publicly to offer their sincere and heartfelt thanks. Your Committee cannot conclude this brief report without alluding to the position of Popery in this Borough. You are all aware that the Church of Rome is no slumbering foe. She is busy at all times, in season and out of season-using every imaginable device to entrap unwary Protestants and extend her ruinous influence in our beloved country. You see daily the rapid progress of her splendid Cathedral in the most prominent spot in our Borough.-You are aware that in Bermondsey she has a nest of Nuns, scattering the poison of Papal Doctrine in all directions amongst the unsuspecting poor, with all the bland smiles and winning arts ladies know so well how to employ. The tracts of the Catholic Institute are also circulated in our Borough, and other means are adopted to sap the faith of Protestants and strengthen the hands of Papists. The Romanists are bolder than they were-they are more sanguine than they were. Mr. O'Connell, their paid agent and mouth-piece, talks in public about seeing High Mass performed in Westminster Abbey. Abroad and at home Papists talk confidently of soon having England as their own country once more.-And now we ask you, Protestant brethren, shall we know all this 'and be inactive ?-Can you know all this and sleep with a quiet conscience, without doing something to check the onward march of Popery and defend the Ark of God and the Institutions of your Country?— There is no room for coldness and deadness in this work now; while we Protestants have been slumbering in fancied security, the Pope has been casting his net around us. We must be up and doing. We must spread the leaven of Protestant truth whereever we can.-We must make our solemn protest against the errors of Rome and the foul practices of Rome be heard from one end of the Borough to the other. We must warn our Protestant brethren of the danger they are in from Popery, and tell them that in the vigour and consistency of their Protestantism depend all that is worth contend ing for. We must also let our Protestant brethren, let us cease not to pray,-for by meetings and Protestant publications reach prayer mighty things have been done in our Roman Catholic fellow-countrymen, times past, and without it nothing can prosthat they may learn in what a refuge of lies per. Let us only take God along with us they are trusting, and be led from the dan- in all we do, and acknowledge him in all gerous lap of Rome to place their confi- our ways, and no doubt a richer blessing dence in Christ alone as the Saviour of Sin- than ever will rest upon the operations of ners, and delight themselves in the green the "Southwark Operative Protestant Assopastures of his Word.-Finally, Protestant ciation." Total Receipts...... £ 73 1 8 Of this Balance there will be due in the course of the next month for the rent of the room in which we meet, and the publication Total Expenditure... 45 8 51 Balance in hand.................. 27 13 21 £ 73 1 8 of of Mr. Seymour's lectures, the sum £28: 4, so that the liabilities of the Association will more than absorb this balance. FEMALE MARTYRS IN ENGLAND. On the 19th of June, 1557, seven martyrs upon this he went and gave such an account were burned at Canterbury; three men and of his wife, that a neighbouring justice orfour women, named Final, Bradbridge, Wil- dered the constable to take her to Canterson, and Benden. The sufferings of Mis- bury jail. To complete her husband's intress Benden deserve notice. She was im- famy, he agreed with the constable to carry prisoned in the October preceding, for his wife to prison for a trifling sum of absenting herself from the Popish service; money! But she, unwilling that he should but after some time was set at liberty, and incur this additional guilt, went herself to returned home to her parish of Staplehurst. the constable, and urged him to go with On the next Sunday, her husband required her. He wished to avoid the trouble, but her to go to church, which she refused; at last consented to send his boy with her; and thus attended, she went to Canterbury, and surrendered herself to the jailer. Being imprisoned at first in the castle, she and a woman named Potkin, lived for some time for twopence hafpenny a day, provisions were then exceedingly dear; they did so, being told that when they were removed to the bishop's prison, they would only be allowed three farthings each for their daily support! After Benden had been removed there, her husband went to the bishop, requesting her liberation; but being refused on account of her continuing stedfast in the faith, this unnatural husband informed the bishop that her brother had contrived to see his wife, and send her money. Upon this she was put into a vault in the bishop's prison, called Monday's hole, and orders were given to apprehend the brother if he appeared. The dungeon had one window, before which were pales so high that a man could hardly look over. The brother sought for her with considerable danger to himself; but in vain, as the place was little known. He continued his search for five weeks; at length, one morning, as he was searching round the prison, he heard his sister's voice repeating a psalm, and looking over the pales, saw her in the dungeon. He then put money into a loaf of bread, which he fixed on the end of a pole, and contrived to place it within her reach. She was only allowed a little straw to lie upon; and as had been told her, the allowance for her sustenance was but three farthings a day. At that time provisions were nearly at their present price, owing to the dearth which prevailed! In this dungeon she was kept nine weeks, without being allowed to change her clothes, till she was almost devoured by vermin, and "at length she became most piteous and loathsome to behold." At first, the sufferer felt much afflicted, and was ready to expostulate with God, for permitting such aggravations of her miseries. One night, while engaged in sorrowful musings, several passages in the psalms occurred to her mind, such as "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise him for the light of his countenance;" and it pleased the Lord to apply these precious words with comfort to her soul. From that time she continued very joyful, amidst all her accumulated miseries. With her fellow martyrs, she met the terrible death prepared for them with faith and patience. The day before, three men and four women were burned at Maidstone, one of the latter was a blind girl, named Elizabeth, TRANSLATIONS FROM THE BREVIARY, WITH REMARKS, BY W. E. L. No. 2. THE following is a specimen of the superstitions and lying legends with which the Roman Breviary abounds; and when it is recollected that this is but one of the many similar fables, which are read annually by the priests of the Romish communion, some idea may be formed of the spirit that reigns in their devotions, and of that faith which countenances such things as services of piety. On the 30th day of August occurs the Festival of St. Rosa à Sancta Maria (Holy Mary), Virgin of Lima (capital of Peru, S. America). In the services for this day, for the second Nocturne or Night Watch, we find the following life of the Saint in three lessons.-(Brev. Rom. Part. Autum. Bellovaci, 1830, p. 312.) The first flower of holiness in South America was the Virgin Rosa, born at Lima of Christian Parents, who straight from her cradle shewed evident signs of her future holiness; for the face of the babe was wonderfully changed into the form of a rose! from which circumstance she derived her name. The God-bearing Virgin (i. e. the Virgin Mary) afterwards added a surname, ordering her to be thenceforth called Rosa à Sancta Maria. At the age of five she took a vow of perpetual virginity; and when grown up, she cut off a beautiful head of hair, that she might not be forced by her parents to marry. She was given to fastings beyond human powers, (i. e. she fasted to a miraculous extent,) and spent the entire forty days of Lent without eating bread, living merely on five grains or seeds of a citron daily. On this first lesson, let me offer a few remarks.-1. As S. America was discovered very early in the 16th century, Franciscans and others were sent out as early to convert it to Romish Christianity, we may presume that the "first flower of holiness" in that soil, would spring up soon after the first planting, at latest in the middle of the same century. Now Clement the 10th, by whom she was made saint, was Pope between 1669 and 1676, so that it was probably a century after her death that her life was published and her name canonized. Such, indeed, is the usual course pursued in the Romish Calendar. After a man or woman has been dead a great many years, and all about them is forgotten, some one writes a book about their holiness and miracles, and forthwith Benefit Society in their own district. Such the Pope, without much troubling himself as to the truth of the account, orders them to be made saints! 2. This lady was born in Lima, so that the churches of Spain and France, among whom the story would chiefly be read, could not possibly find out the truth of it, even if she were alive, and certainly not a hundred years after she was dead. But it has been observed with regard to Romish legends, as well as travels, that the lies told in them are the more daring, as the places where they are said to take place are the more distant. 3. The chief points on which Romish legends chiefly dwell, as titles to holiness in their saints, are, their virginity, powers of fasting, and self-torment. Such is strikingly the case in the present instance. I need not refer Protestant Operatives to such texts as Col. ii. 18, 23, "Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility-which things have a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body." Matt, xv. 9, "In vain do they worship me teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."-(See also Mat. vi.; Luke xvii. 10.) Eph. ii. 8, 9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast. See also 2 Tim. i. 9; Tit. iii. 5; Mat. vii. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity;"-to shew that fastings and miracles are not proofs of holiness; and that unless they proceed of faith and love, they are really "works of iniquity," and can avail only to condemnation. 22. 66 institutions are of immense value in forming habits of forethought and careful providence, and for want of these many a family has been reduced to beggary and starvation. When these great and good habits are cultivated on sound Christian principles, the advantage is increased fourfold. From a copy of the Rules and Orders before us we extract the following: ORIGINAL POETRY. How short and chequered is the stay, And oft pale sickness lays him low. Compare the life of mortal man; A vapour, shadow, and a span. And crown our efforts with success, GEMS FROM LUTHER. 25. The Bible is like an immense orchard, where many and various sorts of trees are to be found, from which may be gathered a great variety of fruit. For we have in the Bible rich consolations, doctrines, instructions, counsels, warnings, promises, and threatenings. In this orchard there are no trees, from which, by shaking we shall not obtain some fruit. 26. They are small devils which tempt with lasciviousness and avarice; higher spirits tempt with unbelief, despair, and heresy. 27. As the stars do not make heaven, but only decorate and adorn it, even so works do not merit heaven, but adorn and decorate CHURCH OF ENGLAND BENEFIT the faith which justifieth. IN the month of September, 1841, the Ope- ANECDOTES. Euclid (the disciple of Socrates) having offended a brother of his, the brother cried out in a rage, "Let me die if I am not revenged on you, one time or other." To whom Euclid replied with a sweetness next to Christian, "And let me die if I do not soften you by my kindnesses, and make you love me as well as ever." The Rev. Mr. Cochlan asking a lady in the neighbourhood of Norwich, "Whether she knew any thing of Christ?" She answered, "Yes, sir; I remember that I once saw his picture." The life of a Christian is a life of dependence, obedience, and suffering, as well as of peace and of hope. Man needs a righteousness imparted, as well as a righteousness imputed; he must, therefore, go to God, that he may possess a meetness for as well as a title to heaven. Just as we can realize the glory of the person, and the love, and the redemption of the Son of God, so are we in humility, and hope, and heavenly affections. It is better to be a wise man than a rich man, and better to be a good man than either. "To design the advancement of Popery, is to design the ruin of the State, and the destruction of the Church; it is to sacrifice the nation to a double slavery-to prepare chains both for their bodies and their minds." -Bishop Sherlock. INTELLIGENCE. "PRAY WITHOUT CEASING."-1 Thess. v. 17. Newark.-Recantation of the Errors of Popery. In the presence of a large congregation, on Sunday, the 7th inst., at Christ Church, a person was, after due examination in private, and upon his public recantation of the errors of the Romish Church, put forth A.D. 1564, received into communion with the United Church of England and Ireland, by the Rev. Henry Denson Jones, Curate of Christ Church, Newark. The form used was that of Archbishop Wake; which, it will be remembered, was lately used by the Bishop of London, when three Roman Catholic priests made a public renunciation of their former errors. Shoreditch and Hackney.-On Monday, July 25, a crowded meeting of the Members and Friends of this Association was held in the British School Room, Weymouth Terrace, Hackney Road. Mr. Goodier, a member of the Association, was in the chair. The speakers were Messrs. Lord, Dalton, Callow, Allen, and Poole. Southwark.-A meeting of this Association was held on the 2nd of August in the National School Room, Borough Road. Admiral Duff in the chair. The speakers were the Revs. J. R. Barber and T. Cuffe, E. Dalton and J. Lord, Esqrs., and Mr. Sturges. Tower Hamlets.-The first meeting of the Mutual Instruction Class of the Tower Hamlets Association was held in the Trinity Episcopal Chapel School-room, on Tuesday, the Chair. The subject was the first clause August 2nd: Mr. Theophilus A. Smith in taineth," &c. which was very well treated by of the 6th Article" Holy Scripture conMessrs. Reed, Naish, Colson, and Yates, members of the Association. Classes of a similar description will shortly be commenced in Southwark, Marylebone, Shoreditch and Hackney, and on Monday, September 5th, in the City and Finsbury Associations. tives' Protestant Association held a public The City of London Tradesmen and Operameeting on Monday, August 15th, at the Bishop, Bt. in the Chair. George Hall, Aldermanbury, Sir Cecil The good old Protest against Popery, was consistently The Rev. A, S. Thelwall, M.A., the Rev. J. maintained by the following able champions: R. Barber, M.A., J. Lord, Esq., R. Dart, Esq., C. Sibley, Esq., and Mr. R. H. Binden. The chairman concluded with an animated and powerful speech. The Hall was filled with a numerous and respectable audience, and there was a manifest determination exhibited by all present to hold no parley, to make no compromise with Popery in spirit or in principle, wherever it might be found, and whatever garb it might assume. Marylebone.-The Marylebone Association held their second annual meeting on Friday Evening, August 19th, in the Fitzroy School Rooms. Benj. Bond Cabbell, Esq., the Patron of the Society, in the chair. The attendance was very numerous and respectable. Mr. R. Binden, the Secretary, read the Annual Report, which contained much that was gratifying and encouraging; after which, addresses were delivered by Mr. Rigley, Mr. A. V. Allen, Mr. Edward Dalton, Mr. R. Dart, Mr. Moulton, &c. The Doxology was sung and the meeting separated, apparently highly delighted. Letters apologising for unavoidable absence, were read from several Clergymen. Peckham.-An Operative Protestant Association has been formed for Peckham, in Surrey. Southwark Church of England Working Man's Bible and Missionary Association.The half-yearly meeting of this Association was held on Tuesday Evening, August 9th. The chair was taken by the Rev. J. R. |