Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1852-06-30

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TEMPoRAL1T1Es OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH,
We briefly adverted, q few days ago, to the
Pastoral Letter of the First Council Of the
Catholic Church in tho United States, to "the
venerable brethren of the clergy, and beloved
children of the laity;" but the document is one
of such vast importance, involving as it does so
many considerations affecting the present posi-.
ton and future progress Of Catholicism in
North America, and influencing, perhaps the
mighty sstiny oi Tie country itself, that it calls
for more than passing notice. We therefore
deem it our duty to return to the subject, and
point out in detail the dangerous tendency of
tho principle first broached by Archbishop
Hurhcs; and now so broadly and emphaticaly
asserted by all the Bishops in Council assem-
bled. It is the beginning of the ond-the COM
mencement of the same spirit of dcspotism that,
in the ancient church, began by changing the
voluntary principle of christianity into a COM
puso:y support of the bishops and clergy, who
proceeded step by step till they grasped not only
church property and temporalities, but The
whole political power of the old Roman Empire
ftlhcr.d r.decline, and of Europe after the close Of
that empire, and even has aimed at the unirer-
sal dominion of the habitabe globe ever since
It is curious to trace the rise and progress Of
the power Of bishops in the history of christi
anitv. At first, bishops were simply pastors of
of churches-that is each bishop was the min
lister of a congregation, elected by the people,
and subject to be disposed by the people for
misconduct He was indiiferently called bishop,
aepishopos,' or presbyter (elder) "presbuleros"
Tho only other officers of church were the dea-
s-laymen.-answcring to the modern trus-
tees; and their business was to the temporal
concerns of tho congregation. In these times
the clergy neither had nor wished to have the
management of the temporalities. Each con-
eregation was q distinct church, independent of
NIL external control, and there was no such thing
as an aggregation of churches being called
church, as we find at the present day. The
word translated achurch' is "ekklesia," and
means assembly or congregation; and it has
the same meaning in Greek profano authors,
who applied it to the regularly called meetings
of the people There is no fact moro evident
hthe writings of tho New Testament and
from those fragments of the history of the
primitive churches still preserved, than the inde-
pendence of each congregation. Such was the
simple democratic republican principle of church
government in the first dawn of christianity.
In process Of. time, the clergy,held assemblies,
or synods; and bya sort of courtesy, tho blsh-
ops of the most important cities were called to
preside at these conventions, which were always
held in such cities. What was at first conceded
rs u uoartesy, ftorpsstas pretended
FIGHT, and the bishops of Rome, Antioch, Con.
stantinople,-- and Alexandria, were called pri.
mates and metropolitans, and at last patriarchs,
instead of simple bishops (episkopoD which
only meant oYerseers, or those who watched
over the flock-in fact, pastors or shepherds OF
souls.
The next step in The progress of the spiritual
hierarchy was the creation of diocesan bishops,
giving them the rule over the clergy of dio-
cess. But even at this time, the Bishop of
Rome never pretended to or dreamt of any su-
periority over the bishops of the churches of
the other cities we have named, nor of any ju-
risdiction over any church or bishop in the
world. In fact, the innovation began with an
other city, and that only in tho end Of the sixth
century. In 5sS, John of Constantinople,
), the antetype of John of New York, assumed
the title Of "Uniyersal Bishop" md the title
was confirmed by a council of that time, in ses-
sion in said city. The successor of John as
sumed the same title. sGregory the Great,
: who was then Bishop of Rome, took umbrage
Mt the boldness of the Bishop of Constantine
pie, in assuming a title which, in point of pre-
eedence, belonged to Rome, if to any city, but
which bis conscience would not permit him to
take. Gregory died in tho year 604 of the
Christian err, and Boniface, his successor, not
only had no scruple TO take the title, but actual
ly sought it from the Emperor Phocas, with the
privilege of transmitting it to his successors
t0
of his court sycophant, deprived the Bishop ot
Constantinople of tho title, and conferred it on
.Boniface, in the year COG, at the same time de-
elarinr the Church of Rome to be the head OF
all other churches.
Previous to this, the Bishop Of Rome had ac-
auired great power and influence; but this was
driving home the wedge which had been insert
ed long before. The Emperor Constantine, in
the beginning Of the fourth century, was the
first to establish Christianity as a state engine,
and to make it thing of this world. Hc sue
ceeded emperors who prosecuted tho faith,
which seemed to flourish the moro for being op-
pressed, and to BIO only corrupted and contami-
mated by its contact with the state nc gave
liberty to his subjects to make bequests to the
the church, and set q liberal example himself:
Constantius succeeded Constantine, and favored
soeeded him, and not only placed Paganism OH IN
equal footing with Christianity, but discouraged
the latter in every way. Joyian succeeded Ju-
lian in 363, and established Christianity again !;
and from this time Pagauism appeared to die
away. But what the faith of the Nazarine
gained in temporal power, it lost in purity and
effulgence. At this time there was a decided
Increase in the influence Of the Bishop of Rome.
We are informed by the historian that he surpas-
scd all his brethren in the magnifcencc and
splcndor of the church over which he presided
lin the richness of his revenues and posses
sions-in the number and variety of his minis
ters-in his credit with the people, and in his
sumptuous and splendid manner of living
This led Pretextatus, . heathen, who was mag
istrato Of the city, to say, snake me Bishop of
Rome, and /, too, will be o Christian" Thus
the power of the Bishop of the Eternal City
gradually increased, till ut length in 6o6 he was
invested with the title and authority of" Uni
versal Bishop"
But ambition did not stop even here The
sower and influence of the new Universal Bish-
ep won't on increasing, till finally he became a
Pope, and the Pope became temporal soyer.
eign, welding spiritual power which received
homage of nearly the whole world, and was
more like the imposture of Mahomct than the
religion of Jesus of Nazareth. How different
the sovereign pontiff, claiming to be sricar of
Jesus Christ on earth," clothed with royal pow
er, and surrounded with all the pomp and luxu-
~ of regal state, from the author of Christiani-
ty who had not where to lay his head, and from
the fisherman of Galilec, st. Peter, said TO be
the first Bishop of Rome, who declared, when