Priests, Women, and Families

Jules Michelet

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• Publié par: odda
• Publié le: 08 décembre 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 60
• Langue: English

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The Project Gutenberg EBook of Priests, Women, and Families, by J. Michelet This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net Title: Priests, Women, and Families Author: J. Michelet Release Date: April 28, 2010 [EBook #32157] Language: English Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRIESTS, WOMEN, AND FAMILIES *** Produced by Al Haines PRIESTS, WOMEN, AND FAMILIES, TRANSLATED FROM THE EIGHTH EDITION OF LE PRETRE, LA FEMME, ET LA FAMILLE. BY J. MICHELET. LONDON: PUBLISHED BY THE PROTESTANT EVANGELICAL MISSION, 5, RACQUET COURT, FLEET STREET, E.C. 1874. EDITOR'S PREFACE. When it was first proposed to publish an English Translation of this admirable work, its gifted Author wrote to the Translator to the following effect: "This work cannot be without interest to the people of England, among whom, at this moment, the Jesuits are so madly pursuing their work. Nothing is more strange than their chimerical hopes of speedily converting England." Indeed, their intrigues and manoeuvres were thought at that time—1845—to be "chimerical," even by many who were forced to join in the Jesuit Crusade. One of the Bishops, directed by Dr. Wiseman to use the "Litany for the Conversion of England," replied, "You may as well pray that the blackamoor may be made white." He was ordered to Rome, and six months' detention there quieted his opposition to the Jesuit schemes intended to "bend or break" his country. In presenting a New Issue of "PRIESTS, WOMEN, AND FAMILIES", we meet a want—a necessity—of Society. The CONFESSIONAL UNMASKED, which so faithfully portrayed the Romish and Ritualistic Priest, and which was so unjustly and illegally suppressed by the violence and intrigues of Priests and those whom they "directed," was too plain in its utterances for general reading. I t s testimony as a WITNESS was and is of the highest importance; but we fully concur with the Author of this "work of art" that it should not be disfigured by the portraits of Priests. The following Illustrations are a proof that something ought to be done on behalf of the deluded creatures who, under the pretence of becoming the "Brides of Christ," are subjected to "indignities" and cruelty, not tolerated anywhere else. "ARTICLES OF PIETY;" OR, INSTRUMENTS OF TORTURE IN ENGLISH CONVENTS. This engraving is copied from a Photograph, Published by the Society. For a description of these and other "Articles of Piety," see Oxford and Roman Railway. Price 1s. Instruments of Torture are now practised upon Nuns in Romish Convents in London and in all parts of the country. The Romish "Articles of Piety," named on the next page, were bought at "Little's Ecclesiastical Warehouse", 20, Cranbourne Street, and at the Convent of the "Sisters of the Assumption of the Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament," London. Such Instruments of Torture are fitter for the worshippers of Baal, than for the worshippers of God; and a person using them upon cattle would lay himself open to a prosecution by the "Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals." Both the parties who purchased these articles are intimately known to Mr. Steele, the Secretary of the Protestant Evangelical Mission and Electoral Union. COPIES OF BILLS GIVEN TO PURCHASERS. No. 1. Jan. 15, 1868. Ecclesiastical Warehouse, 20, Cranbourne Street. s. To Hair Shirt .................. 12 To Discipline .................. 4 Two Do., had last week ......... 3 d. 6 0 6 To Massive Waist Chain ......... Two Armlets, 3s. 6d. & 1s. 6d. One Hair Band .................. 8 5 5 6 0 0 6 £1 18 Rec. C. Cuddon. for F. A. LITTLE No. 2. Convent of the Assumption, 24, Kensington Sq. s. 7 2 9 d. 0 6 6 One Iron Discipline ........... One Nut ....................... Total ............. Rec. Sr. M. Bernardine, May 1, 1869. No. 3. Convent of the Assumption, 24, Kensington Sq. s. 5 1 2 9 d. 6 6 6 6 Iron Discipline ............... Two Bracelets ................. One Nut ....................... Paid S--: Sep. --, 1869. No. 4. Little's Ecclesiastical Warehouse, 20, Cranbourne Street. s. 6 2 6 4 19 Received with thanks, Sep. --, 1869. d. 6 3 6 6 9 To Discipline (9 tails) ....... " Ditto (7 tails) ............ " Chain Band ................. Ditto Smaller ................. Christian Reader,—It is your duty to testify, on God's behalf, against the Blasphemy and Cruelty of Romanism. The Maker and Preserver of man is the loving Father who gave His only begotten Son to die for us; and thus make atonement for our sin. "By Him all that believe are justified from all things."—Acts xiii. 38, 39; Micah vi. 6-8; John iii. 16; Rom. iii. 20-26; Heb. ix. 22. IRON DISCIPLINES OF "THE CHURCH." Saint Liguori, the Doctor of the Romish Church, commends the use of Disciplines to the "True Spouse of Christ" thus:— "Disciplines, or Flagellations, are a species of mortification, strongly recommended by St. Francis de Sales, and universally adopted in Religious Communities of both sexes. All the modern Saints, without a single exception, have continually practised this sort of penance. It is related of St. Lewis Gonzaga, that he often scourged himself into blood three times a-day. And at the point of death, not having sufficient strength to use the lash, he besought the Provincial to have him disciplined from head to foot." Instruments of Discipline or Flagellation A. This is a band for going round the body to "mortify the flesh." It is made of Iron wire, and the ends of each link form Spikes which range in length from the sixteenth of an inch to half an inch. B . This is a Flagellum, made of strong iron wire. It has five tails to represent the "Five wounds;" and at the end of each tail there is a Spike, about an inch long, to pierce the flesh. It will be seen that the lowermost joints are the heaviest, so as to increase the severity of the blows. C. This is a Cross resting upon an "I. H. S."—Jesus the Saviour of Man. It is for wearing on the breast, and is made of iron, as, indeed, all the other articles represented in the engraving are. It is covered over with spikes on the side next the body. D. This is another Flagellum, commemorative of the "Five wounds." At the end of each tail there is a kind of Rowel with sharp points. It is impossible to use this without cutting the flesh. E. This Belt is similar to A, but of stronger material. This belt sometimes becomes imbedded in the flesh of the devoted victim of "the Church." F . This Flagellum has Nine tails, to represent the nine months during which "The Word was made flesh." The "Cat-and-nine-tails" and the "Incarnation"!! G. This Flagellum is a modification of B, D, and L. H, J, P. These are Bands for the limbs, and, like A and E, are covered with spikes. I. This is a Cross similar to that resting upon the "I. H. S." above. K. This is a Cross and Heart to be worn over the seat of the affections, to show that all "natural affection" is to be crucified. This was painfully illustrated in the case of a young lady who had left her home and entered one of these Conventual Establishments to the great grief of her parents. Her father called at the convent to see her. She was brought to him, and on his expostulating with her, and soliciting her return home, he observed that she pressed her hands against her breast, and seemed to suffer excruciating pain. After a little, blood oozed through her dress, and she was then withdrawn by the "Sisters." L. This Flagellum may be called the Mother Superior's "Wild Cat." M. This Flagellum has Seven tails, to represent the "Seven Dolours" of the Virgin; and a doleful tale they tell. N. These two Nets of Iron wire, covered over with spikes, are for the most cruel and immodest purposes. We dare not describe them. O . Each of these two hemispheres, together forming a Nut, has five brass spikes, which are used for imprinting the Stigmata or "Five wounds" of Christ upon the Religious. Were such cruelties perpetrated upon the Heathen, all our Christian Churches would resound with appeals to the sympathy of the people to come to the help of the sufferers, whether Fanatics or Victims. This would be commendable. Why, then, is the same course not adopted on behalf of Nuns, who, as Rev. Pierce Connelly says, "are not only slaves, but who are, de facto, by a Satanic consecration, secret prisoners for life, and may any day be put an end to, or much worse, with less risk of vengeance here in England than in Italy or Spain!"—Extracted from the Annual Report of the Protestant Evangelical Mission and Electoral Union, January, 1873. PREFACE. The following pages—intended to restore Domestic Life to French Society—formed the Preface to the Third Edition of Priests, Women, and Families, by M. Michelet, of which celebrated work, "THE PROTESTANT EVANGELICAL MISSION" have published an Edition in English. This book has produced upon our adversaries an effect we had not anticipated. It has made them lose every sense of propriety and self-respect:—nay, more, even that respect for the sanctuary which it was their duty to teach us. From the pulpits of their crowded churches they preach against a living man, calling him by his name, and invoking upon the author and his book the hatred of those who know not how to read, and who will never read this work. The heads of the clergy must, indeed, have felt themselves touched to the quick, to let loose these furious preachers upon us. We have hit the mark too fairly, it should seem. Woman!—this was the point on which they were sensitive. Direction, the spiritual guidance of women, is the vital part of ecclesiastical authority; and they will fight for it to the death. Strike, if you will, elsewhere, but not here. Attack the dogma—all well and go