INTRODUCTION. THE movement which has called forth such a full expression of sympathy from the Protestants of Great Britain with the German Emperor and Nation in their struggle against Ultramontanism, originated with Sir John Murray, Bart. (of Philiphaugh and Melgund). When the Emperor's letter of Sept. 3, 1873, to the Pope appeared, Sir John immediately consulted a few friends as to the best mode in which an expression should be evoked. They were unanimous in opinion that the Emperor's letter presented an occasion most opportune to all for an appeal from the people of the British Isles to regard their own position with the arrogant and stealthy Papacy. Hence the public meetings which were so successfully held in London on the 27th January, 1874. Sir John Murray. The promoters having formed themselves into Committee. B * a committee, selected from members of the Carlton, Reform, and National Clubs, and the Protestant Educational Institute, elected Sir John Murray, Bart., Chairman, Colonel Macdonald of St. Martin's, ViceChairman, and Rev. Dr. Badenoch, Honorary Secretary. The Committee determined that an expression of the national feeling should not be checked as it was on a former occasion, when the Prime Minister wrote a letter to one of the members of the House of Commons in favour of the Pope's independence.† They felt, however, that much depended upon the Chairman of character of the statesman who would preside. They resolved to invite all shades of political parties, in order to give the movement such a direction as would call forth the sentiments not of any particular section of Protestants, but of all who cherished the principles of civil and religious liberty. The name Earl Russell. of Earl Russell at once occurred to them. A deputation accordingly waited upon his lordship, when a conversation took place that will never be effaced Meeting. * Sir John Murray, Bart., Chairman, Col. Macdonald (of St. Martin's), Vice-Chairman, James Bateman, Esq., F.R.S., C. Neville Bagot, Esq., Aughrane Castle, Ballygar, Co. Galway, W. Gilbert, Esq., Sir William Fairfax, Bart., Dr. Edward Smith, F.R.S., James M'Clelland, Esq., William Carr, Esq., Richard Nugent, Esq., and Rev. G. R. Badenoch, LL.D., of the Protestant Educational Institute. + Letter from Mr. Gladstone to Mr. Dease, of date Nov. 30, 1870. See Appendix. from the minds of those who took part in it. The aged Earl Russell, statesman dwelt long and seriously upon the words in the closing paragraph of the Emperor's letter,— 'The Evangelical Creed, which, as must be known to your Holiness, I, like my ancestors, and the majority of my subjects profess, does not permit us to accept, in our relations to God any other mediator than our Lord Jesus Christ.' The relation of the German State to the Church of Rome, and the general bearing of the Prussian laws against the Ultramontanes, were also discussed. The deputation assured Earl Russell that the object of the intended meeting was to express sympathy with Germany against Ultramontane policy, as hostile to civil and religious liberty, and that parties representing all shades of political and religious opinions should be invited. Earl Russell expressed his general approval of the object of the proposed meeting, but desired, before giving a definite answer, to consider the matter more fully, and to examine the resolutions to be proposed. A series of resolutions was drawn up, and forwarded to Earl Russell. In a few days the resolutions approved by his lordship were returned, with an intimation of his willingness to preside. tane opposi tion. The work of the Committee was thus so far Ultramonsatisfactory. Opposition, however, as was anticipated, soon presented itself. The Ultramontanes endeavoured to exercise their influence on some of tanes. Ultramon- the leading politicians of both sides of the House. The Committee had been cognizant of the Ultramontane influence in connexion with certain journals, but they did not expect the storm of opposition which appeared in at least one leading political organ. Here it may be observed that it is the duty. of the English people to watch with a jealous eye Influence on the action of the public press. Secret influences in favour of Jesuit and Ultramontane policy have the press. * There is not in London a single newspaper of which some of the leading reporters, and one or more of the chief persons on its staff, are not Catholics.' 'There is not a magazine published in London of which one or more of the contributors are not Catholic; and the leading burlesque writer of the day belongs to the same Church.'-Weekly Register, 19th June, 1869. A well-known journalist, now deceased, has testified that— 'Having had the management of newspapers in many parts of the kingdom, and especially in London, he found it wholly impossible to make head against the combination of influences by which the Roman Catholic priesthood, more or less supported by other clerical professions, has woven around the newspaper press webs which seem too strong to break through. The instances of this which had fallen within his own very bitter experience, if published, might aid in awakening the public mind to the fact which he often mentioned, that England was in far greater peril from the state of the press than in any period of her history she had been from any domestic or foreign foes; that the steady labour of the Roman priesthood, with unlimited money at their command, having been since 1832 unceasingly directed to bring under control the press of England, had been attended with a success beyond anything known in the annals of that great conspiracy against the liberties and happiness of |