Polynesian., 1851-06-07

sSAe ohhS"'N'
CATHOLIC COMMERCIAL MISSIONARY
|ScHEME--'The Opinion Publsque takes up
with warmth some remarks bv the National
on an effort making by the Roman Catholic
Clergy to obtain greater influence in the
mercantile navy. We extract as follows
'sThe National announces in these terms
thecreation of Catholic Navy Creation
is not the proper word; it is an old under
taking, which it is desired to verify and in
crease. The object Of this undertaking is.
to propagate the Catholic faith, and to pro-
mote the commerce of small ware. Thus
far Providence has not blessed it; and it is
urgent to make new effort. A subscrip-
ton is opened in all France. People sub
scribe for 5O0fr or 5 fir. The subscribers at
5OOfr will have part in the profits; and those
of 5fr. will only gain indulgences. The UNDER
taking is directed by superior ecclesiastical
committee. This Council Of the Catholic
admiralty is composed Of Mgr. Bonamy,
superior general of the congregations Of Pic
pus. president; NJ Etienne, superior-general
mann, superior-general of the congregation
du Saint Esprit, and NJ Rubillon provincial
Of the company of Jesus There are, we
are certain, amongst the subscribers OF the
National some republican Catholics, who la
ment the anti-religious spirit Of their Journal,
but who take in the National on account Of
its republican Character. To these sub
iscribers it will certainly be very agreeable
to learn that Catholic admiralty is being
established under the spiritual direction of
the persons named BY the .Naftenai, persons
whose names are the best Of guarantees to
ali Catholics interested in the propagation of
The faith. The National has, then, rendered
service TO this excellent enterprise which.
perhaps, it desired to injure. In admitting
that the Catholics are very restricted in num-
Der amongst the subscribers to a journal,
which like all its colleagues, with one excep-
ton, seeks all opportunities of insulting the
Catholic religion, the National will admit that
liz possesses a considerable number Of intel
| ligent subscribers, to whom an affair has no
need to be explained in detail, and who ac-
cept great political results from whatever
source France can derive them A whole
class of readers will be usefully instructed
! by the brief indications of the National
transformed into gratuitous advertiser. 10,
country in which the history of Mr.. Pritch-
ard has made so much noise, it is not neces-'
sary to explain how the English make use of
the Protestant propaganda to extend COM
merce; and if people are not influenced by
the consideration Of the advantage the Cath
ohc propaganda may derive from the eNen-'
sion which commerce will take, they ought 10
be so by the advantages which commerce
/ will derive from the efforts of the Catholic
propag ganda. To unite these two interests
to develope one by the other; instead of the
mercantile missionary like Mr.. Pritchard,s
from whom England derives advantage, but
by whom religious morality is injured-to
have missionaries seconded by merchants,
and merchants who reap in fields opened
often at the sacrifice Of their blood-by
missionaries simple undertaking, and
of striking utiIity-and of this, the Nationnf
does not, it is true, give false idea. though
| it has not seized it with sympathetic intelli-,
gence. To propagate the Catholic faith, and
at the same time encourage the exterior COM
merce of France, by taking shares for spec:
Iulation, if one has the funds or in giving
piece of 5fr. if one only wishes to take a
| part in good works well conceived
measure. The lNotioAsl ought to haye COM
pleted its advertisement by sayiug where the
public can subscribe We are convinced
that several Of its readers, catholics, or poll
Fticians would have carried their piece Of 5fr.
to the address indicated. The readers OF the
Opinion Publique have long knownth Societe
d. Oceanic; it has given an account OF the
results already obtained with the small num-
Iber Of vessels composing its Catholic navy,
which are placed at the service Of freign
missions. They know that it makes nume-
rous efforts, and we have no mead to recon-
mend il. The article ofthe National sufiices.
DEPRAvrrf OF MAN-Various are the
causes which contribute to the factitious de-
prayity of man. Defective and erroneous ed
uca,ion corrupts him; the prevalent examples