, 1844-02-03
O. a.

INV . "'bs OpiliOnS have 1T IuSl
settled down in favor Of Catholicism:
when so much shall be done, all is
done; far this very theory of the
church, then becoming predominant,
recognizes, in the church herself, the
inherent right. by virtue of the in
dwelling Christ. 10 settle, authorita-
lively. all tic other questions which
may or can come e.. Al that would
then he reTIisi,e would @ TO call, as
would then lie practicable. a new
council, to adjust the tasls Of renew
ed commnnion. outward Polify, and
d~escipIine. Let this new council,
which would be a sort Of eccIeSiasti-
calccncrsss, he composed ofdrIega,es
from all christian communities exiant,
which believe in the Holy Catholic
Apostolic Church. and are wiling to
submit TO it's authority, and abide lis
decisions. fairly and formally promnl-
gated, We see no serious difficulties
IN the way of doing this. We are
much mistaken, if TIE movement, that
must lead TO it, is not already con
menced. The few who would not
submit TO the canons promulgated by
this new GcuniEc.l council. would
be r~Ighttuily regarded as heretics and
schIsmatlcs. lUr they would have no
excuse t"r Not hearing the voice of
the church. Moreover, thev would
be morally powerIess agains: the
church. i.caicd Of is divisions, and
re m~vIgyrAteG, and they would soon
be abSurhed.'
This result obtained. the church
no longer obliged, rs III the first three
centuries. and IN these last three. to
struggle Tor her very existence, would
resume her work OF social ameIiora-
Ii n interrupted by the rise of Pro
tesiantrsm. and delavcd Y the obsia-
cIes thrown in It's way By infde1Itv
and the suplcmncy OF the temporal
auihoritv--&nd devote new and I'm
suspected energies to the moral, intel
iecrnal, and phy;icnl elevation Of the
poorer and muie numerous classes
Then the kingdom Of Cod will come.
and really, and con(cssedly, dwell
with men; then will lie in very decd
fulfilled this scripture, "Ihe spirit OF
the Lord is upon me, because he hath
anointcd Inc t. preach the gospel to
the POOR. he hath sent me 10 heal the
brohcn-hearted, 10 preach d~eIIvernnce
to tie caTIIves. the recovering OF
sight tn he bind. and to Sc, at liberty
them that are bouuG.H
is this an idle dream? 0. no!
God has promised i, and al Christen-
dom is CRYING out Tor ii. The angel.
with his roll flies through the mlds,
of the heavens preaching the everias;-
ing gospel, and men are every where
falling INTO their ranks. Inc great
question comes up, Catholicism, or In
Gividualrsm; which becomes again
Church or no Church,; which in the
las; analysis, is Religion or lntideIity.
Disguise the matter as We Viii, we
must all rally, at the one or the other
of these battle cries. Can !herc be n
question, to which the great mass OF
The Christian moIId will respond?-
Professionalism, in all it has peculiar
to Itself. in all that distinguishes il
from genuine Catholicism, no longer
responds to the religious, or even the
social wants Of the soul. II is weigh
ed in the balance and found wanting.
Through all our souls, have We, who
have been educated under It's Inilu-
ence. felt its utter insulliciehcy. We
have sought to supply its defect in
Mysticism with the Quaker. in Ra-
tionaIism with the modern Lutheran.
in Na,uralism with the old English
and French Deists, in Pantheism with
modern Philosol hers, in Socialism
with Owen and Fourier; but all in
vain. Let loose, Ike Noah's dove
from the ark, ere the waters had aba.
ted, we have found no resting place
for the souls Of our feet; and, weary
with our endless flight over the wild
and weItering chaos, produced by the
deluge of ratioralism and lntldel'ty'
we return. and beat against the WIN
dows Of the ark, impatient TILL The
patriarch reaches forth his hand and
takes rs in. Struck with the perpet-
ual miracle of the church, some a
mong as bow down and worship; 9th
ers find their way back through hIsto-
nv and traditions; others ngaIn, like
find. when the least expect
ing it, their philosophy reproducing
and the wants of the soul. suffering
from the ravages of sin, redemandlng
1nitv and cathoIicity. In n way
Or another. thank God, we shall all
" -al cha re m will ne |