Roman Catholic Appointments.—The Earl of Granard, a Roman Catholic, aged only thirty-three, has been appointed Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords, in the absence of the Lord Chancellor. I am told the appointment is for life. Quite apart from the question of religion, it seems extraordinary that one so young should be appointed to such a high position over the heads of older and better qualified Peers. It is said that this is the first time since the evil days of James II., that a Romanist has been appointed Deputy Speaker. For the first time also since James II. a Roman Catholic has become Leader of the House of Lords, in the person of the pervert Marquis of Ripon. And now it is announced that this same Earl of Granard has been also appointed Master of the Horse, in the room of the Earl of Sefton, resigned.—Protestant Observer.
The Hope Trust’s Circulation of Protestant Literature.—In the account of the work done by the Hope Trust during last year, we find the following reference to the circulation of Protestant literature: The circulation of Protestant literature has been productive of much good. The following papers have been distributed each month: viz., of The Bulwark, 6,895 copies; The Protestant Alliance Magazine, 4,350 copies; of The Protestant Observer, 3,900 copies; of The Catholic, edited by the Rev. Thomas Connellan, 600 copies; and of The Vanguard, 600 copies. In addition to these, 2,000 copies of “In the Net,” 690 copies of “Which Sovereign?” and 893 copies of “The Papacy,” were distributed at the Convent Inspection meeting in the United Free Assembly Hall, Edinburgh. A copy of “The Religious Question in France” was sent to all the Protestant ministers in England and Ireland other than those who received it last year.