under the new constitution, the principle of prelacy is retained. The rule of voting by orders, and of making the two-thirds of the votes of each order necessary to carry any important proposition, is a strange device never heard of before in the Church of God. It is to be hoped that Irish Episcopalians will yet inaugurate a policy of more thorough reform, taking the Word of God as their only guide, and the Church of the apostolic age as their divine model. They would thus do much towards gathering into one the various fragments of Protestantism. The union of Irish Presbyterians and Episcopalians is a consummation for which all good men should pray and labour. Some of the outlines of the plan of their incorporation have been sketched long since by the immortal Ussher;1 and were charity to hold the pen, it could easily contrive to complete the outline. The union of the General Assembly and the Irish Episcopal Church will, we trust, yet be realized; and the day on which it will be celebrated, will be the most glorious that ever dawned on the Isle of Saints. and perhaps the bishop of Down-who goes amongst his clergy, and works hand in hand with them, is the bishop of Cork."-Dublin University Magazine for February 1866, p. 239. 1 See his "Reduction of Episcopacy into the form of Synodical Government," in Neal's History of the Puritans, ii. 72. London, 1837. It is only right to add that Ussher's scheme would not now satisfy Presbyterians. See p. 451, motz (2). TO THE CLERGY AND LAITY OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN IRELAND. Rev. Brothers, beloved Children, WITH a trembling sense of the obligations which the nature of our office imposes on us, we have come together, after the example of our predecessors, to deliberate in common on the awful interests with which we are charged. We have taken into consideration various subjects which are intimately connected with the welfare of religion; and whilst we have sought with jealousy to guard the sacred deposit "committed to our trust by the Holy Ghost," (2 Tim. i. 14. ;) we have also esteemed it a duty to be "ready to satisfy every one that asketh us a reason of that hope which is in us," (1 Pet. iii. 15.) that you, dearly beloved, our joy and our crown (may) stand fast in the Lord," (Phil. iv. 1. ;) and “ that he who is on the contrary part may be afraid, having no evil to say of us."-Tit. ii. 8. 66 We know, dearly beloved, the filial duty with which you are solicitous to hear the voice of those who "watch, as being to render an account of your souls."-Heb. xiii. 17. We hasten therefore to make known to you our unanimous decision on such matters as are of common concern, that you, on your part, may "fulfil our joy; that being of one accord, you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind labouring together for the faith of the Gospel."-Phil. ii. 2 and i. 27. |