Correspondence: To the Editor of the East and South Devon Advertiser: … Kingston Mission: … Sir, —Thanking you for the opportunity you afforded me of correcting the “correction” offered by the Rev. G. Y. Comyns, who denied the report “That the Dissenters of the village had been invited to attend the Mission under false pretences,” I must ask you for room to report progress in the matter. It will be remembered that, while I avoided mentioning names, I met Mr. Comyn’s denial by facts which he could easily trace and ascertain the truth of. In particular, I stated that the Church agent referred to had come with an (alleged) message from the Vicar. Had it been needed, and had I not feared to trespass too far on your space, I might have stated further facts which would have borne strong internal evidence the truth of my informant’s story. But it was enough. With every motive to contradict my assertions, the Church party has not ventured to call my statement question in a single iota. By their silence, they admit the truth of the report of the conversation with my informant — the pledge given to the Dissenters — that it was given by an agent from the Vicar. They admit the flagrant breach of this pledge, the Doctrines of Transubstantiation and Auricular Confession were preached to Dissenters who trusted to the fulfilment of the pledge; and if the Popish Doctrines were not enough, the impossibility of any Dissenter going to Heaven, and the vanity of their religious services, and of the pretensions of their Ministers were insultingly remarked on. And now, when they have been unexpectedly met with an indignant rebuke, they are shabby enough to shelter themselves under the cloak of silence, and are neither bold enough to deny, nor honest or gentlemanly enough to apologise. But your readers may charitably imagine that my letter was never brought to the notice of Mr. Comyns and his friends. L am obliged to dissipate this idea. My letter appeared December 4th. On the11th I was surprised to find it remained unanswered. I could not tell how such a letter could have failed to have come before them in some way or other. But thinking it barely possible that Mr might not have seen it, I sent him a copy by post with a note, of which the following is a copy: — … …“Kingsteignton, 11th December 1875: Revd. Sir, I forward you by post a copy of the East and South Devon Advertiser of Dec. 4th, containing my reply to your letter in that paper of the preceding week. As I find you have not noticed my letter in this week’s issue, it is possible you may not have seen it. After the emphatic denial you gave to the report in the above paper as to your Kingsteignton Mission, the public will, I think, expect you to show wherein I was wrong on my statements, or will consider that an acknowledgment of error would be only a graceful act on your part. However, it concerns you much more than it does me. I have the honor to be Reverend Sir. Your obedient Servant, Savery Pinsent. “ … … On the 14th I received the following reply: … … Kingsteignton, 13th December 1875: Sir, I beg to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of your favour, dated 11th December, and the copy of the East and South Devon Advertiser sent therein. I am Sir, yours faithfully, Geo. Y. Comyns. … … Mr. S. Pinsent, Mrs. Voughts, Kingsteington: Rather a cool reply I think to a charge of careless trifling with the truth against the writer, and of something more decided against some of his friends. He cannot deny the truth of my statements, so he with polished curtness acknowledges receipt of the copy of my letter. Without further explanations, it would be difficult to apportion the blame correctly. But on the most favorable construction, there is in this attempt to delude the Dissenters, and the excuse for the act, more than one instance statement positively made for a purpose, which the writer and speaker did not know to be true, and apparently made no inquiries to ascertain. . . All this obliquity of moral vision is connected with the strenuous advocacy in the parish of the Popish Doctrine and practice of Auricular Confession. The leaders in this conspiracy against Protestantism at least, must in all probability have studied the writings of the Catholic Casuists. Those who know anything of the general character of these writings won’t be surprised that the students and their willing disciples have no special regard for truthfulness. Can anyone touch pitch and not be defiled? Yeoman and labouring men of Kingsteignton and other parishes afflicted by Ritualist Priests (Romanists in disguise) don’t be deceived. This is no mere quarrel between Church and Dissent. The condemnation of such conduct as the above is not meant as any reflection on the Protestant Church of England, in which many of you were brought up. But there are traitors in our camp — men who want to blindfold you and lead you back to Popery. They have introduced the Confessional into this village. Do you know what that means? I will tell you. It is system under which unmarried Priests may put questions to your daughters and wives, which would shame those that frequent the slews and brothels of our large towns. Books are published in which questions are printed for the use of the Father Confessors, in which it is sought to discover the most secret thoughts of the heart; pure minded girls often shrink from it; and if continued all modesty is broken down. And they style themselves the Successors the Apostles! Nor do others have a right to preach or administer the Sacraments. These are Priests of the Holy Saviour. You will, no doubt, be assured that this is false, that no such questions are asked of your wives and daughters. How do you know? Are these Priests so very truthful in these matters? And is not the Confession a secret? And are not the penitents under the fear of hell, warned not to speak what passes at Confession? And if the Priests do not really go to these lengths present, don’t you see, that they only avoid it lest you should be too soon frightened? But when you are accustomed to the practice, and the Confession is firmly established, then when it is too late, you will find that the Priests of England are no better than the Priests of Rome; and what they were their books remain to tell us. And why is it difficult to introduce the Confessional? They want to make slaves of you, so that neither your soul nor body, neither your acts nor your words, nor even your thoughts shall be your own. You must be the Priests! S. PINSENT: Dated 22nd, 1875:
Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.
Referenced
GRO0798 Devonport: Savery Pinsent: 1815 – 1886