The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-04-12
CATHOLICISM IN EUROPE-ENG-
LAND &c

The following is al extract Of q letter
from President Durbin, of Dickinson Col.
lego, Pa, (who is now travelling in Europo,)
10 DR.. Sewall. Published in the National
Inteliigenccr. 1t states important facts, and
evinces clear and philosophic observation,
which entities il 10 attention:
have carefully studied The Catholic re-
ligion, both as system Of faith considered
IN itself, and as an external institution &C.
ting upon society as such ard forming an
integral and necessary par; Of Government
in Catholic countries. | have 10 doubt
no intelligent Protestant in Europe can
doubt-but that Catholicism il gradually re.
gaining its ground in Europe, under the d.
rect or indirect patronage Of most Of the
morarchies.becauset they find ii a very con-
venient and powerful means of controlling
The mass of tho people through the priest.
hood. In Italy and Austria the clergy are
in correspondence with the Bishops, and The
Bishops with the Minister of Police. Louis
Philippe and the church had no friendship
for each other seven years since; now they
arc in close alliance, and, with a returning
sense religion among the people Of France.
there is a corresponding return Of the
Church 10 power. The ceremonies and
decorations cf the churches are arranged to
suit the state of society, so as 10 strike and
cap:ivate The mass of the people. Thence
she is acquiring her influence again over
two divisions of the community over kings
and rulers, because they need her as Il
means Of government; and over the mass
of the lower orders, because she is so arran-
iged in her external ceremonies as to strike
and CRAFTY the senses, and SO adapted by
her sacramen!s, particularly oiperance, land
her doctrine ofpurgatory, as to the ear.after
auricu!ar confession, the pardon of sin, and
he hopes Of escape in the next world. if not
quite successful in this. While in England
she is acquiring great influence, by greatly
multiplying and expanding her external
machinery, such as fine churches and ca
thedrals, schools and colleges, and the resi-.
dence many missionary priests; secondly,
| by the strange approximation of many OF
/ the clergy of the establishment TO wha. is
essential 10 Catholicism but, most of all,
BIZ the too equal division of Wigs and To-
ries, SC as TO give The balance ofpower, du-
ring the last Administration, very much 10
the Catholic party represented by Mr. O..
Ccnnell; and when we remember that TIE
religious faith of Catholic is superior 10
his political opinions, whole, on the contra
nv, the liberal faith of Protestant is sub
ordinate to his political opinions, We shall
sco the true power and position Of the Cath
ole Church In affairs of government where
there are popular elections. must in JUS
tice add another element Of power in which
as Christian, rejoice. refer to the in
creased morality and responsibility of The
clergy.
While the Church is acquiring power ant
influence with sovereigns and kings, and
with the masses of people, The educated
and intelligent portion of the community
nre much better affected towards her thar
they were fifty or a hundred wears ago, coz,
sidering her purely as a religious institution
involving faith and morals simply; but they
have an invincible aversion towards her a.
on external institution acting on society a.
such because she effectual!y DESTROYS the
hope of liberty, or the spread ofliberal prin,
: ciples, which this middle intelligent clas
in Europe cherish almost exclusively. TIL,
result is, this class is neutralized in decided
ly Catholic countries, and the nobility arr
i declining in influence and also in numbers