The Sun.
London, England, 1850-11-20 00:00:00

" INTRODUCTION.

" The following trace will be better understood if the
history of the establishment of the Catholic hierarchy
i►l England to briefly' stated. _ _ _

44 The Catholics -had been governed in England by
Vicars-Apostolic, since 1623; that is, by bishops with
foreign titles, named by the Pope, and having juris-
diction as his vicars or delegates. In 1688 their num-
ber was increased from one to four; is 1340 from four
to eight.

" A strong wish had begun to prevail on the
.part of
the English Catholics to change this temporary form of
government for the ordinary form by
bishops with local
titles, that is, by an ecclesiastical hierarchy. Petitions
had been sent for this purpose to the Holy See. The
first. I believe, was in 1834.
"In 1847 the Vicars-Apostolic assembled in London
came to the'resolution to. deptite two of their number to
Rome to petition earnestly in their names for this long,
desireil boon. Tha writer of the present appeal was one ;
and, as he drew up the memorial on the subject addressed
to the Holy See, he may be allowed to give a brief ana-
lysis of its contents. Thiswill show how the bishopilooked
upon it, not as a matter of triumph; or a measure of
aggression, but as a simply administrative provision ne-
cessary for the government of their flocks. The main
ground set forth for the necessity dr 'expediency of hav-
ing nn ecclesiastical hierarchy vas as follows:
" It was observed, that -until now the only regulation
or Cade of giiiernment possessed by the English Catho-
lics, was the constitution of Pope Benedict XIV., which
begins 'Apostolic= Alinisterium,' and which was issued
in 1743, a hundred years ago. Now, this constitution
ad grown bbselete by the very langth'of time, and still
more by happy change of circumstances. It was based
upon the following consideratious:-1. That the Catho-
lics were still under the pressUre of heavy penal laws,
and enjoyed no liberty of conscience ; 2. That all their
colleges for ecclesiastical education were situated abroad;
3, That the religious'orders had no houses, in England ;
4e That there was nothing approaching to a parochial
division, but that most Catholic places of worship, were
the private chapels, and their incumbents the chap-
lains of noblemen and gentlemen. There are other
similar suppositiooa in that document, full as it is of
wisdom, which, thank God, at the present time appear
as simple anachronisnis. It was argued, therefore, that
virtually this, the ; only great constitution existing for
Catholic England, part even of which had been already
formally repealed"by the late Pope, was rather a clog
and embarrassment than a guide.
The Catholic Church in England had so much ex-
panded and consolidated itself since the Emancipation
Act, and its parts had so matured their mutual relations,
that it could not be carried on without a fall and explicit
code. The bishops, it was urged. found themselves
perplexed, and their situation full of difficulty; as they
earnestly desired to be guarded from arbitrary decisions
by fixed rules, and yet had none provided for them. The
uncertainty also of position on the part of the clergy,
which resulted from this anomalous state, made it still
more painful.
'" Such wee the case submitted to the judgment of the
Holy See, fully illustrated with practical applications.
& remedy was, therefore, prayed for, and it was sug-
gested that it could only be in one of the two following
forms:—

•‘' Either the Holy See must issue another and full COD-
rstitution, which would supply all wants, but which would
ba necessarily complicated and voluminous, and, as a
special provision, would necessarily be temporary;
" Or, the real and complete code of the Church must
be at once extended to the Catholic Church in England,
sd far as compatible with its social position; and this
provision would be .final.
I" But, in order to adopt this second and more natural
expedient, one condition.was necessary. and that was—
thle Catholics must have,a hierarchy. The canon law is
inapplicable under Vicars-Apostolic; and, besides, many
points would have to be synodical!), adjusted, and, with-
out a metropolitan and suffragans, a provincial synod
was out of the question.

hierarchy was humbly-solicited by Catholics from the
i" Such was the main and solid ground on which the
ly See. It was one that referred to their own internal
organization exclusively. Thoughts of aggression never
entered the heads of the petitioners or of the petitioned;
ner were the bishops moved by stupid ideas of rivalry
with the Established Church, in what forms its weakness,
nor any absurd defiance of national prejudices. They
knew that they violated no law in asking for what was
needful for their religious .existence,. and they acted on
an acknowledgediight of liberty of oonsetence.
" Other motives wore added to show the expediency
of granting this boon to the English Catholics; as, for
example, that it had been granted to Australia, and was
rti)Ott4 to be granted so other colonies, without complaint
from any one; and it looked like a reproach to the mo-
ther country to withhold from it what had been granted
to, its-daughters.
" But one more argument it is right to state, because
it bears upon the present excitement. It has been lately
the fashion to speak of the Catholic policy as though,
up to the late change in its ecclesiastical organization, it
had been in a position which was recognized and re-
spected. The Bishop of London, in his answer to the
Ctiapter of Westminster (the document is not at hand),
spoke in this strain; and Lord John Russell, in his letter
to' tha Bishop of Durham, insinuates that its position
up *ss this time was quite satisfactory to him. It would
be easy to refer to other documents lately issued. But
this is all an imaginary view of. the past. Instead of
this, the Catholics- have been unmercifully treated by
every Anglican writer, high church or low church, as
schismatics, as rebels to the bishops of England, as
having no true bishops. They were told that the very
outlandish names of their sees proied them to be
foreigners, and .that they were ,not even real bishops.
Read the Rev. W. Palmer on the subject,* and see how
he treated Vicars-Apostolic. In one pamphlet against
the writer of this appeal: he began by refusing him
the usual courteous title 'given in all civilized society
to a Catholic bishop, and sent him to the Bishop
of Worcester, as his diocesan, for leave to preach.
Nay, again and again they were taunted with this,
Out the Pope durst not name ordinary bishops in
England, because conscious of not having authority
t' do so. It was, therefore, a point of no light weight
and of no indifferent interest to Catholics, to have this
sarcasm silenced and this obstacle removed; for man)
minds allowed themselves to be influenced by the appa-
reet advantage of ecclesiastical position on the other
side. Strange that, after defying Catholics on theologi-
eal grounds, when the step has been taken, these oppo-
nents should no longer consider it as a question of
theology, but of pisrogative; should shrink from meet-
ing the act with ecclesiastical argument, but shouts fir
the sword of the state. Why did they not tell Catholics
before, you dare not form a domestic hierarchy (and
this proves that you are not the true Church in En-
gland); because, if you attempt it, we will rouse the
people against you, we will lash on the multitude to out-
rage you, and we will bring down Parliamentary enact-
ments to crush you?'

But to return. These were but secondary and cor-
roborative The ground of the pleading was
thrabsol rgutaeneemeeesnsittsy.
of the hierarchy for domestic or-
ganization and good government. The Holy See kindly
listened to the petition, and referred it to the Sacred
Congregation of the Propaganda. After a full discus-
sion, and further reply to objections, the boon was
the granted.best d
shi
oe
nsforVicars-Apostolic
new
dioceses,
the titles. . These were adjusted, the brief was drawn up,
and even printed. e;best places for
to suggest
"Some difficulties arose about a practical point, and
publication was delayed. In 1848 another bishop (Dr.
aenred desiredth
Ullathorne) was deputed to Rome to remove them, and
the measure was again prepared, when the Roman revo-
lution suspended its final conclusion till now.
" All this time there was no concealment, no attempt
to take people by surprise. All Catholics knew of the
intended measure; the papers announced it; so notorious
was it, that the Dean and Chapter of Westminster
petitioned Parliament against it; and a friend of the
writer's heard the Dean of Westminster say, most
openly, ' Well, he may call himself what he pleases, but
at least he can never be Dean of Westminster.' In
Battersby's 'lrish Directory' for 1848, the writer was
named' Most Rev. N. Wiseman, Archbishop of West-
minster.' He can add that many letters came to him so
addressed.
" Then why is this very act, which was openly spoken
of, and hardly attracted attention three years ago, now
denounced so furiously, and characterized so foully ?
This is not the place to answer this question; it is only
wished here to state simple facts; and leave others to
reason on them.
" But the main objects of this introduction are ac-
complished, if it has been shown
"First. That this is no wanton, sudden act; that it is
net a measure of a grasping, aggressive character; but
one gradually and undisguisedly matured; one based
upon the necessities of the Catholic body, its internal
regimen, and its healthy organization. The necessity for
having a code produced the necessity for the only go-
vernment which could administer it.
" Secondly. That the blame (if any) and the responsi-
bility of the measure rests with the writer and his col-
leagues, and not with his Holiness, the best, and here the
most calumniated of men. He, as a kind father, yielded
to the earnest solicitation of his children, and they, like-
wise, naturally suvested those details of execution
which were necessary. Instead of' being an aggressive
act on his part, it was one of condescension to his
vicars, their clergy, and people. Let his apostolic
letters be calmly read by any one, and this will appear.
It may be useless at this moment to stem the current of
vulgar and ribald abuse that is poured out against his
sacred person, and encourwd by those whose mission,
if they have one, should be of peace. Time will disperse
the mist, and show the transaction in its true light. In
the meantime, the writer of these pages (and he is sure
he is not alone) declares himself ready to stand between
the Pontiff and the vituperation cast upon his act, be-
lieving it to have been most just, most expedient, na
little less than necessary, for the well-being of the CI: