THE ORIGIN CF CERTAIN CALUMNIES.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume III, Issue 155, 21 April 1876, Page 10

THE ORIGIN CF CERTAIN CALUMNIES.

— « — We have recently come across a review of a book, entitled " Untrodden Spain and her Black Country," written by an Anglican divine named Boss, who, for some time, was chaplain to certain mining companies, at work in the country in question. We have been much amused at the curious jumble and confusion of ideas manifested by the

author of the publication treated of, who, as indeed is far from unusual with travellers hailing from his Fatherland, seems to entertain most contradictory views of the people, concerning whose manners and customs he writes. He tells us they are wanting in civilization and morality, yet, that they are sober, courteous, honest, and chaste, that they are void of religion, while his enthusiasm is excited by the excellence of their charitable institutions, conducted by professed religious, and actions of piety which he sees commonly performed, evidently meet with his warmest Approbation. We have no intention to examine closely into Mr. Rose's book ; to do so would be a useless expenditure of time and trouble. It would subserve to no end that we can discover. Our only object in undertaking the task would be that of pointing out to non-Catholics the true nature of things connected with the Church and her teachings, and this we cannot hope to succeed in accomplishing, for the attempt to do so has been well likened to a futile effort to make one, standing on its outside, comprehend the beauties of a stained window. "We cannot open the eyes of the blind, so that they may see that which we Catholics well know — that in a country where the Faith was so long triumphant, as in Spain, there must be found much good, although, no doubt, as existing amongst those who are but human, it may be mingled with much that is bad, especially in thesejlatter days of revolution, and rebellion against religion, stirred up by men, who either are urged on by infamous passions, or who prefer the barren consideration of their own shallow theories to that of the " deep things of God." We should, then, idly spend our time in trying to prove to those who are without the pale of the Church that the disorders of Catholic Spain arise from the spirit of infidelity attempted to be disseminated there of late years, while her many acknowledged excellencies were conferred upon her by the teaching of the Faith ; and equally idle would it be to bring these considerations before the minds of Catholics, who know that thus it must be. But it still is useful to discover, in the obliquity of vision discernible in this work of a man undoubtedly well-meaning, sincere, and a Christian according to his lights, the fruitful source of many calumnies which have arisen, and from time to time arise, concerning matters Catholic and others. There is no more unreliable testimony to be found in the world than that afforded by the British tourist ; everywhere he goes he carries with him an atmosphere ot prejudice, through which he regards all things. He is rarely, if ever, given an opportunity of observing the inner life of the country through which he travels, and his ear is continually open to receive as truth any silly story, that a casual acquaintance picked up on the road may think fit to relate ; hence it comes that, without any intention to deceive, he propagates the most absurd and groundless rumours, which, however, when they have run their petty course, are consigned to oblivion, without haviug been productive of any result, unless, per haps, that of here and there slightly teasing some individual of weak mind.