PASTOR CHINIQUY’S FINAL LECTURE.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2161, 21 February 1880, Page 2

PASTOR CHINIQUY’S FINAL LECTURE.

TOWN EDITION.

The fourth and last lecture delivered in Timani by Pastor Chiniquy was delivered last evening - . The Rev Air Dumbell presided. Prior to proceeding - with his subject, the Pastor invited and exhorted all present who had not yet received copies of his numerous pamphlets, to call upon him at the Rev Mr Clilies’ house next morning - , when he wotdd be most happy to give them copies gratuitously. He stated that although the printing of them had cost him more than T'.IUL), he was both willing and anxious to give them away to any who could not afford to purchase them ; adding that he should not consider ho had accomplished his mission unless copies of them were to bo found in every Protcstauts’s house, as a study for them, and a guide to which they might have ready recourse after he had left them. The subject chosen for the lecture was “ Dangers ahead for Great Britain and her Colonies.” The Pastor pointed out the priest-ridden state of the people, prior to the period when on the hills of Scotland, and in the valleys of England the Bible had

first been read and studied by the people. He proceeded to show how this had had the effect of lifting the veil from our ancestors and shewing them the errors and impositions contained in the Homan Catholic doctrines. He informed his audience that the notice of the Pope and Bishops had been called to the obvious change in the people, and that in order to counteract this change the Pope had issued his mandate that the people should first be remonstrated with, and that in case of this remonstrance being ineffectual the sword should bo brought into force and that all who refused to give up the use of the Bible and freedom of opinion should be put to death. He showed that this tyranny had resulted in the most fearful persecutions, millions of people being slaughtered by order of the Church. Seventy-live thousand were killed in France in a single night, on the occasion of the St Bartholomew’s massacre. Over 10,000,000 hail suffered death throughout Europe, but the Protestants held out bravely, and determined to perish to a man rather than again place themselves under the blind idolatory and worship of Pope and priest,and eventually by the Battle of the Boyne, the sword of the Pope, and the Homan Catholic Catholic Church was for ever broken in Great Britain, and liberty of conscience had since prevailed. (Bond applause.) Probably, ho said, some might be there who would say, “ But why stir up these things ? You arc a tireband, Chiniqny, come to try and bring ill-will and disturbance amongst us again. These things are past, and the Church is now a good and peaceable Church, and her members live in harmony and peace with us.” He denied, however, that he was doing so, and in vindication of his mission he asked the Hev. Mr Gillies to read an extract from the works of Thomas Aquinas. [This prescribed excommunication and death for heretics.] He (the Pastor) at one time rejoiced in these cruelties, but he had seen his error, and ever since, he was marked out for implacable persecution. He had passed through countless dangers, ofttimes he was poisoned and wounded, constantly fired at, the bullets whissing past his ears, and upon one occasion a dagger had been thrust at his breast causing the blood to flow, but the Orangemen and others of the Protestant religion, had always stood between him and persecutors, and had saved his life. When violent measures proved ineffectual, others more subtle and more dangerous had been tried. He had been taken thirty-four times into custody, accused of the lowest and vilest of crimes, of theft, murder, arson, but, on every occasion God had come to his rescue, and had saved him from his enemies. On one occasion he had been so hard pressed, upon an accusation of which, he was innocent, but to which, in order to secure his being sent to the Pcnetentiary on the horrors of which he dilated that his own lawyers, two of the most able men in Illionis, had come to him and told him that there was nothing they could do for him, and his only recourse was prayer, for the intervention of God alone could save him. He went to his own room perfectly overwhelmed, and passed the lone hours of the.night in prayer. At three in the morning a knock came to his door, and caused him to start with horror, fearing it was his enemies. On opening the door he encountered his solicitor, who informed him he had discovered a Haw in the evidence of the priests, and that he (Pastor Ghiniquy) was safe. In the morning the opposing solicitor requested that the case might be withdrawn as there was not snilicient evidence, and the leading witnesses—the two priests—had Hed. The request was granted, but ho (the Pastor) petitioned the judge that the Bishop ’might be sent for to answer certain questions which he would put to him, undertaking at the same time, were his request granted, to prove that the Bishop and the Church were compelled on oath to destroy him and all Protestants. Leave being granted Bishop Foley, of Chicago, was sent for, and was, much against his will, compelled to prove that the works of Thomas Aquinas and T. Ligourc were books authorised and commended by the church and ordered to be kept in every college and placed in every priest’s hands, moreover that the extract already referred to with regard to the extermination of the heretics was contained in these books and that the same laws were still in effect.

The Pastor then proceeded to exhort all Protestants to stir themselves,telling them that, they had a great mission given them, which was to resist the Catholics ; not to make war with the sword, but with the weapon which God had put into their hands, viz,, the Bible. The Kev Mr Hallowcs, in suitable terms, proposed a vote of thanks, which was seconded by Mr F. W. -Mills, and most heartily responded to. The Chairman announced that Pastor Chiniquy would preach ir the Presbyterian Church to-morrow, morning and evening.