The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-10-07 00:00:00

"THE PROGRESS OF CHRISTENDOM."

Cardinal Manning preached on Sunday morning at
the Pro-Cathedral, Kensington, for the first time since
his return from the Provinces. His subject was "The
Progress of Christendom" his Eminence taking his
text from the 26th chapter of St. Matthew—" Put up
again thy sword into its place ; for all that take the sword
shall perish with the sword." He said on that (Rosary)
Sunday they called to mind with thanksgiving the
great victory of the Christian world when the Maho-
medan hosts were scattered before Vienna. Speaking
of the Crusades, he asked why it was the chivalry of
Cristendom in trying to relieve a Christian people from
Mahomedan power had not accomplished its ends?
Because of the rivalry of Christian Princes and leaders
which paralysed every effort made on behalf of the
Christian Church, whose action had been in all ages to
protect the Christian people of the world. It WAS no
wonder that some people in these days looked upon
the Mahomedan Power as the Antichrist whose
coming had been predicted, as their hosts had appeared
before Palestine, seized upon the sacred places and the
holy sanctuaries, made Egypt their own, penetrated
into Spain and into France through Spain, and set up
at Constantinople a standing menace to Christianity.
But Mahongedanism was not the Antichrist predicted
by the Apostles. In many countries Christendom was
disintegrated and dismembered, and in them there
was no longer that Catholic unity which kept the
Christian peoples of Europe together, because Kings
and Princes had chosen to serve the world and them-
selves rather than Catholic unity. What was the
result of this disintegration? That there was not
a strong Government on the face of the
earth unless it was surrounded by armed men.
Where could they find a Government strong in moral
right and moral power? Perhaps it was to be
best found in the four seas of Britain—more
genuinely, at least, than in any other place. He should
be sorry that any word of his should wound any of the
noble people of Europe, but many of the European
countries were undermined by secret political societies
—societies bound together to overthtow the Christian
and civil order of the world. Look at the state of
things in Servis. Its soil was steeped in blood; its
Prince had been made a king against his will; and is
was held by an army more foreign than Sarvian. He
mentioned these things in order that they might realise
the fact that as to Kings, Princes, and Governments,
there was something above them, beyond them, and
mightier than them all. Again, a human scourge had
possession of Constantinople; a torrent of cruelty and
lust had swept acroes the fertile fields of Bulgaria;
now the Christians and Mohammedans were so bitter
against each other that it would seem as if nothing but
a war of extermination would put an end to their feuds.
If the head of the Christian Church had been silent
at a moment like this, it was to prevent a pool of blood
becoming a river—it was because of the recollection of
former massacres of Christians. It was only the
previous day he read of 700 Christians being massacred
in a most barbarous manner. They had beard that
the power of the Servian Government had passed out
of its hands; but he did not care fur the government
of this or that man. For those who were citizens of
this country—not members of mere Parties, but of the
English nation—he would say to our rulers, `5 I hope
you will take this lesson—that those who take the
sword shall perish with the sword." God forbid that
there should be a war which would deluge Europe
with blood! He had no desire to see a pool turned
into an ocean of blood. He had no desire to see the
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