The Roman Church, 219 



died June 7th, 1880, fortified with rites of Holy Church, on whose 

 soul sweet Jesus have mercy. R. I. P," 



There were several such requests. What a power 

 that church has been and is, only one who has travelled 

 the world round can know. In England here it is but a 

 sickly, foreign plant, so fearfully foreign. We can all 

 repeat Buddha's words and apply them to it, but they 

 should not stop here : 



" And third came she who gives dark creeds their power, 

 Silabbat-paramasa, sorceress. 

 Draped fair in many lands as lowly Faith, 

 But ever juggling souls with rites and prayers ; 

 The keeper of those keys which lock up Hells 

 And open Heavens. ' Wilt thou dare ? ' she said, 

 ' Put by our sacred books, dethrone our gods. 

 Unpeople all the temples, shaking down 

 That law which feeds the priests and props the realm ? ' 

 But Buddha answered, ' What thou bidd'st me keep 

 Is form which passes, but the free truth stands ; 

 Get thee unto thy darkness.' " 



Say what we will about the Roman Church, there is 

 something sublime in her attitude. Neither sense nor 

 reason make the slightest impression upon her ; for she 

 stands confident in her power and her right to save, de- 

 nying the power to others, regardless of the conclusions 

 of science and the fuller knowledge of to-day. This 

 gives her the hold she obtains among the ignorant 

 masses, whether at home or abroad. 



