A FALSE PRETENCE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VI, Issue 286, 25 October 1878, Page 11

A FALSE PRETENCE.

One of the most foolish and mischievous pranks of Protestantism is that which it is playing in Mexico. It has invented a brand new I'lfJZ f * co « lltr 3 r . and h «s not scrupled to give to this fresh attempt to tear the seamless robe of Christ the name of the " Church of Jesus. Ibo men and women engaged in tins work-which as we shall presently show, is nothing more nor less than a scheme to coax money out of the pockets of foolish people in this country, like Van" Meters soup-kitchen in Rome-belong to the Protestant Episcopal sect m the United States. Why should they change their name in Mexico ? When people go to a foreign land and assume a new name it is generally because their own has attained an unpleasant notoriety and they wish to conceal their identity. The Mexicans are well enough instructed to abhor the name of Protestant ; they venerate the name of Jesus. By the false pretence that they are not Protestants, and that they are disciples of Jesus, these adventurers may have imposed to a slight extent upon a few well-meaning Mexicans : but if an accurate review of their » converts" could be made it would be found, we imagine, that most of them were dissolute and abandoned persons, who had already forfeited their position as Catholics by oersistihg m flagrant and unrepented sin. There is before us a letterin the last number of the Churchman— written by Albert E Mackintosh, treasurer of the Church of Jesus, resident in the city of Mexico," to "Miss Charlotte Hamilton, secretary of the Mexican League, New York." There are several things mentioned in this— epistle— but the thing that is mentioned most is money "The Church of Jesus," it appears, has been hitherto mainly run by two gentlemen named Pdley, who supplied the funds ; but one of these is dead, and the other having gone into the boarding-school business the enterprise will "require a round sum of 25,000d015. per annum "' which sum the Episcopalians in the United States are earnestly requested to remit without delay. No portion of this sum will be required for rent, for the « Church of Jesus," by means of which we can only have a suspicion, is already in the possession of stolen goods —it has been allowed to take possession of " three churches in the capital which must have cost in their time at least a million of dollars— the church of St. Francis, with its chapel ; the church of St Joseph; and one in the ex-convent of St. Authony." The 25 000 dollars are for the pay of the preachers. "I consider," says'the ingenious Mr. Mackintosh, " the arrangement of the salaries of the clergy as a very important point for the welfare of the Church if the idea is to obtain an educated clergy who will be apt to teach all classes of society. A man must have peace of mind in his home to be able to dedicate himself and his whole time to study and to all the sacred duties of a clergyman ; but this is impossible if he has always to bethinking how he can manage for himself and family." True; but if these men would go into some honest and reputable business' instead of giving their time to introduce heresy in Catholic families' they perhaps would have more " peace of mind " in this life, and might save themselves from eternal anguish in the life to come — Catholic licvlem.