THE MARQHIS OF RIPON AND THE CHURCH OF ROME.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1886, 19 January 1875, Page 2

THE MARQHIS OF RIPON AND THE CHURCH OF ROME.

Throughout the Catholic world there is great rejoicing over the conversion of the Marquis of JJipon. The Catholic Church may, however, find in the long run that that event has occasioned, her more loss than gain. No perversion to Borne—not even that, of the Marquis of Bute-never called forth so much discussion in the public press. This has chiefly arisen from the abject obedience to his. new master which the Marquis has shown, in his resigning the Grand Mastership of this Masonic body. The leading journal had set itself to show, by every variety of 1 illustration, what Romanism really is, and what it requires of its subjects; not so much as to the dogmas they shall believe, but as to how they shall act as members of a mixed civil society of various creeds., In furtherance of this object, it publishes a document from its Berlin correspondent purporting to bt> a profession of faith extorted from Frederick 11, Elector of Saxony, upon his perversion to Rome. The date is 1697, but it was first'published in 1770. It contains a great many ar- . tides; in one the convert is made; to " profess that.any new decrees, made and ordained by the Pope, whether baaed upon Holy Writ or not, are of divine origin and as such, must be more highly respected by the laity than the commands* of the living, (rod.",; . > tn r another the convert says: —.V.I curse my parents who brought me up in heretic belief. I curse those who represented to me the Roman Catholic belief as doubtful and questionable. I curse those who offered me' the accursed cup." Such* is a sample of thisf strange document; and as Rome is stilt; more exacting to-day, it may well become;: , the duty of the press to oiilighten the world respecting the principles and tactics of a a Church whose, aim is.the subjugatuHt of the human mind arid the sub version of political freedom.—^Home paper. s '