The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-20 00:00:00

BY THE POPE.

We learn by letters from Rome that Mr. J. M. Morgan,
the benevolent and indefatigable projector of the Christian
Commonwealth, or self-supporting village of 300 families,
has been honoured by art interview with his Holiness the
Pope, at which he was permitted to explain his plan for
ameliorating the condition of the working classes. His
Holiness was pleased to express the great interest which he
felt in the design, and his approbation of its charitable pur-
pose. lie accepted copies of Mr. Morgan's work, the
" Christian Commonwealth," in French and English, and a
lithographic print illustrative of the proposed village : having
previously
allowed a transptrent painting of the same
to be placed in his 'apartment, and having devoted
-
to it considerable attention. The most patient consideratioa.
has been given to the design by the different religious bodies
of Rome, especially by the Scotch and Irish colleges; by-the
latter it was recognised as the most likely means, under
Providence, of averting the evils which afflict the sister
island. We learn, moreover, that the Pope has referred
Mr. Morgan's proposals to the examination of the Agricul-
tural Commission, of which the Cardinal Ma- shno is pre-
sident; and that it is expected their report will be followed
up by the establishment of a model village in the Cain-
pagna di Roma. Stich a movement on the part of the
head of the Catholic.-Church demands the utiinst grati-
tude from Christians of all denominations; whom we
trust it will excite to emulation in a work so noble
and excellent, and:so-highly calculated to relieve the pre-
sent and prevent, the future sufferings of the industrious
poor. The following extract from the Roman Advertiser, of
a date previous to that of Mr. Morgan's interview with his
Holiness, will show the estimation in which our worthy
countryman is held in the eternal city .
" PROJECT FOR A CuaterfAx CoLowir.—ln countrivs
where commercial prosperity has risen to its highest it is
often found that the moral anti social condition of the labour-
ing classes has sunk to its lowest degree. The wealth of
nations is sometimes found to advance in an inverse ratio
with every exalted and spiritual interest of national life. In our
intense conviction that the only Catholicon for these withering
tendencies ofovergrowing wealth and luxury is the Church, the
grand social regenerator, we are yet happy to see any effort
of philanthropy to stem this current of evil, this gross prin •
ciple of materialism, whose blighting sway, like the Upas
tree, spreads death around to all that is noble, generous, and
holy ; even if this may appear impossible to reduce to prac-
tice. Such we are not disposed to think is the project
above-named, which Mr. J. M. Morgan, who is now in
Rome, has benevolently devoted himself to the further-
ance of, and is anxious to submit to the consideration of
his Holiness, who, as the Common Father of the Faithful,
is the proper person to be consulted on any project '
aiming at the promotion of the principles of the
Gospel. The prospectus of this undertaking receives sanc-
tion from ths names of several of the English nobility.
and highly respected ministers of the Protestant communion.
It states that the object is to be found in any, or all coun-
tries, Catholic or Protestant, where funds may be raised, a
model colony for the establishment of 300 families, under
the management of directors, renting about 1,000 acres of
land, with a church. and public offices attached, schools,
farms, and-a factory, so that all the essentials to social wel-
fare may be combined with the action of religious and moral
influences, and as much as by any outward agency can, a
life of virtue, peace, and comfort be secured to all. The
theory of this little colony very much resembles that of the
Republic of Paraguay, which, under the guidance of the
Jesuit fathers, long presented the aspect of a moral oasis in
history, a contradiction to the selfish economy of anti-Chris
tian institutions.

Mr. Morgan observes that if this plan was generally
understood it could be speedily adopted, and prove the means
of furnishing the destitute population of Ireland and Scotland,
and indeed of all countries, with immediate remunerating
employment in preparing the establishments.