ROMAN CATHOLIC COLLEGE OF MAYNOOTH: ITS IMMORAL, UNCONSTITUTIONAL, IN THE SPEECHES OF RICHARD SPOONER, ESQ., M.P. FOR THE NORTHERN DIVISION OF WARWICKSHIRE ; INCLUDING MANY AUTHENTIC QUOTATIONS FROM ITS AUTHORISED PREFACE. Ir having been my privilege, as a friend of Mr. Spooner, and at his request, to compile for him on each occasion of his impeachment of the College of Maynooth before the House of Commons (commencing in 1852), those passages from the Books returned as in use at that Seminary, upon which that impeachment was so well founded, and Mr. Spooner's health not permitting him to continue his efforts beyond the Session of 1860, I ventured to suggest to him, in consequence, the desirableness of collecting his Speeches into one pamphlet. This compilation is now presented to the public, in the hope that it may furnish those, who value Scriptural and Protestant Truth, with some effective weapons for assailing the Opposite Errors. It was not Mr. Spooner's object to enter into any of the more difficult and abstruse controversies which the Giants of the Reformation so effectually discussed with Romanists, but rather to look at those Lessons relating to Public and Social Morals which the authorised Books of Maynooth inculcated. It had been with many a popular, but mistaken notion, that however extravagant or erroneous the peculiar and distinctive doctrines of Roman Catholicism might be, its moral teaching was sound and valuable. To disabuse the public of this mistake was his object, thus laying down a valid and more than sufficient reason for the discontinuance of any public support to an Institution, which he felt bound to impeach, as immoral in its teaching and fraught with danger to the Constitution, to the Laws, and to the Royal Succession of the House of Hanover, being Protestants. It has been well understood that on the occasions when Mr. Spooner moved against Maynooth, there were present by courtesy, under the Gallery of the House (in addition to several Roman Catholic Members in the House, who were well versed in the controversy), certain well trained agents of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, who were watching for an opportunity that might occur of impugning the accuracy of Mr. Spooner's allegations. This, however, they have never attempted. In almost every case the Books and Documents quoted, were within reach, or in the House, and ready to be produced. One thing it is important to add-that the celebrated Commission of 1855, and its Report, and Evidence in its Appendix, were utterly destroyed by Mr. Spooner, as being of any reliable authority. The transmission of the Evidence, and probably the Report itself, to Rome-its falsifications and "doctorings were so exposed by him, that the Times, on no occasion friendly to Mr. Spooner, frankly acknowledged that "the sooner the Commissioners disavowed their Report, the better for their dignity."-The Times, May 2nd, 1855. (See page 80.) No better opportunity can be expected than that which Mr. Spooner with great readiness and success employed, of impeaching the Morals inculcated by the Church of Rome in the presence of some of her ablest Champions, and on the Floor of the Commons' House of Parliament. RECTORY OF ST. THOMAS, BIRMINGHAM, APRIL 22ND, 1861. G. S. BULL. MAYNOOTH MORALS, ETC. HOUSE OF COMMONS, Tuesday, May 11th, 1852. MR. SPOONER rose to move the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into the System of Education carried on at the College of Maynooth. The hon. gentleman, who was evidently suffering from indisposition, said— Sir, The circumstances under which I rise to address the House will, I feel confident, insure for me that large and liberal indulgence which this assembly never fails to grant to those who stand in need of it. Before I enter into the immediate consideration of the subject I have ventured to bring under the notice of this House, I beg, Sir, to assure those hon. gentlemen who profess the Roman Catholic faith, that it is my anxious wish, as it will be my earnest endeavour, to abstain from saying anything which may hurt their feelings or wound their consciences. I have no quarrel, Sir, with individuals. In the fulness of the Protestant principle I recognise, and I respect in every one, to the fullest extent, the right of private judgment. My quarrel is with the system of Instruction carried on at the College of Maynooth. |