Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1894 edition. Excerpt: ... the faith in Germany, Italy, and Switzerland, who are suffering the same persecution, often under the same calumnious cry of disloyalty to the State.1 IV. [But you will ask, is this cry raised nowhere but abroad? Have we not heard it ourselves in our own country within the last fortnight, and does it not threaten us already with at least the danger of the same treatment, under which our forefathers suffered and our brethren are now suffering? Has it not gone through the length and breadth of the land, nay, wherever our language is spoken, has not a powerful voice been raised denouncing us to our fellowcountrymen as men, whose religion, if they are true to it, must make them again traitors, or at least of doubtful allegiance; as men, therefore, who ought to be suspected and watched, if they are not once again to be proscribed and persecuted? Well, we may at least say that as a fact our fellow-countrymen know us, and whatever may have been said against us, they are not ready to believe that we must either be bad Catholics or bad neighbours and bad subjects. Those who rule us, and the mass of the people whom they represent, have no present idea, whatever attempts may be made to poison their minds, of any measures against us that would deprive us of our liberty, or fetter the free exercise of our religion. They are content to believe that our loyalty to our faith does not prevent us from being, rather helps as nothing else helps to make us, loyal Englishmen. And so, in our own case at least, there is no present danger of the State encroaching upon our spiritual freedom. 1 This Sermon was preached, as the date given above implies, immediately after the appearance of Mr. Gladstone's pamphlet, the aim of which was to prove that Catholics in...