Southern Christian Advocate

FOREIGN ITEMS.

A Protestant Burial In Madrid.--A gentleman who signs himself "a Traveller," says, "During part of the year 1850 and 1851, I resided in the Spanish capital, and in the month of October of the former year a young man belonging to London died here. Having visited him in sickness, I was anxious to see him decently buried, and, after an infinite deal of trouble with the authorities, permission was given for his funeral under certain restrictions, I and about a dozen of our countrymen attended the funeral. The deceased being a Protestant, and the mode of conducting the funeral being contrary to Spanish notions, caused a considerable number of spectators to follow us through the streets to the place of interment, outside the Toledo Gate, occasionally saluting us with opprobrious names reflecting both on our religion and our country, and designating the funeral of our friend "El entierro del perro muerto," the funeral of the dead dog. Arrived at the place indicated to us by the authorities--which is a common a few miles from the city, we deposited our burden, until, with our own hands, we had dug his grave; there we buried him, and there, amid the shouts and execrations of "the true faith" we left him after I had read a portion of our English burial service. During my stay in Madrid an aged female died at Aranjuez, who, under priestly influence was perverted to the Roman faith through fear of being denied Christian burial, as the priest had told her that her soul would be lost if she died without it. In her weakness she yielded, and died and was buried apparently a good Catholic, and the fact was trumpeted forth by the priests as another conversion from Protestantism.