New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-10-23


worshipiGg God each according to the
dictates of his or her own conscience
such was the noble platform on which the
leading Catholics Of this City planted them
selves, as the foremost among them I've
understood) had previously done at the
Liverpool dinner. Il was the Identical
ground Of Universal Religious Liberty Ia
ken by Lord Baltimore and his brother
Catholics when they planted in Maryland
the second if not the very first Colony 10
America whereia Religion was proclaimed
a matter exclusively between God and the
individual soul, with which Civil Govern
ments had rightfully nothing to do. And,
so far as our observation extends. that Is
still the doctrine of the great majority OF
Catholics in this country, so far as they
have any definite opinion on the subject.
But there is in this city newspaper, en-
titled &" Newly rk Free mans Journal and
Catholic Register formerly controlled by
Bp. Hughes, and mistakenly supposed by
many to be still under his direction, which
takes very different view of the matter.
Mr.. J \. McMaster, the Editor, is recent
convert from Presbyteriinism to Catholi-
cism, and, like most recent converts. goes
considerably ahead of those born in the
Church in his exhibitions of zeal for his
new faith. The idea recently started in
England of memorializing the Pope for per-
mission to erect a Protestant Church in
Rome is coftumaciously secuted at by him
as prcposteiOus and inadmissible.
Rev John p. Durbin, an eminent and most
respected Methodist clergyman, lately sug-
gested in the christian AdcOcatc and Jour-
mar a general American Petition to the Pope
for the establishment Of Religious Liberty
throughout his temporal dominions. This
suggestion is treated by the Catholic Reg
ister aforesaid as if it were too absurd for
gravity or too insolent to be treated with
cvility. Says that paper
We can imagine the tone OF an answer to pe-
We can imagine how the Holy Father would inform
the petitioners, first of all that God had made Rev
citation TO the subject of religion. and that.
from the nature of the case, this Revelation must be
distinct easy to be understood in what il commands
and requires, and committed 10 an authoritative and
visible Judge for It's Interpretation and It's keeping.
This " ouG 10 general answer as to why. being IN
posse sslon of the true religion and the pure Revea-
on Italy should not be opened by the act Of any OF
It's sovercIgLs TO the propagaonof doubts uncertain
ties falsehoOds and the Pandoras box full of evils
that, whether under the name Of Protesantlsm or
what not, follows the Withdrawal Of the light and
authority OF Gods own teaching
Surely, no one can mistake the spirit nor
the drift of this extract. Whoever may be
for Religious Liberty, the writer ofthe fore
going is against it, has no faith In it. and at
heart detests it, He submits to state of
Universal Freedom in matters Of faith be-
cause he apprehends that his party is more
likely to lose than to gain by relighting the
fires of Smithied or sounding the tocsin of
st. Bartholomew.
The idea of asking Archbishop Hughes,
after all he has said or approvingly listened
to in behalf of RELIGIONS Liberty, to sign
memorial in favor of that same Liberty, fills
the Editor of The Catholic Register with
irresistible mirth. The joke is such good
one that, should any person or deputation
ever call on Abp. Hughes on such an En-
rand. he wants notice of the time. so that
he NAV be on hand to enjoy the interview.
And, proceeding to tell why and how he
don't thank the Protestants Of this country
for the Religious Freedom which is here
the fundamental law, he says;
"Were a decided majority of our population SIN
cerely attached TO any one form Of Professionalism,
We would have penal laws against Catholics before
year. But Catholics are stronger greater in num-
ber more united IN sentiment and more profoundly
convinced of the importance of their religion, than
any two OF the Protestant sccts. II NAV be that a
majority o. the population are opposed to Cathoclty,
but 4 sui larger majority of the population Op-
posed to Methcoism still larger proportion are
opposed 10 Calvlnism and still larger proportion
opposed to permitting the followers OF any one
religion to advance itself by injustice to any other
So the Pope does not thank anybody for what free
dom Cathollcliy enjoys III America. Catholic Bishops
co not thank anybody. We thank nobody We
bless God for HIS good Providence the mater and
stand ready 70 pH the silly nose OF the first Methodist
Presbyterian that in act would attempt to prevent
us IN the free exercise OF our religion. II any OF
them doubt, let them try II"
1t is very evident that, if a ma ority of
our People were of kindred spirit with this
zealot, We should have an abundance of
uose-pulliDg and other hostile demOnstra.
tons growing out of differences of Faith.
But why should lie speak of injustice" as
involved in the efforts of one sect to adj
vance itself at the expense Of others Has
he any idea that persecution for Faiths
sake is unjust per SEE Certainly not it is
only when your bull cores my OK that he
sees any injustice in the premises. That
the large number of Protestants who spend
each winter in Rome should be deprived of