The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-08-18

congregation, anywhere in the State-desnr
the temporalities of the church to be held ant
administered according to the rules an'
usages thereofn--which we think IS possible
case, to say the least Of it-turning 70 then
and coolly telling them that there is genera
statute which suits the creed and policy o.
every Protestant sect in the State ana must
therefore be satisfactory as well as sufficient
for them, is very like the welcome that the foa
gave to the stork when he handed him his soup
in dish so broad that any animal who laps
his liquor and licks the dish could drink, but
nevertheless, so shallow that daddy long-bill
couldn't get drop. What would +. w. ). say
to an Incorporation law in France which gave
its privileges to every congregation that built
a church and designated the minister thereof
as trustee. He would feel something like the
fox, we imagine, when the stork returned his
ciyilities by serving him with the soup in a
long-necked bottle.
When the nonsense is all taken out OF the
dispute, it means just this: The Catholics shall
have all the privileges of Protestants, upon
condition of turning Protestant in all that con-
Germs the holding and enjoying their church
property. Refusal to incorporate their bishops
in conformity to their church usage and disci'
pline, is just refusing to incorporate the church
itself
All that is said about the bishops appoint
ment by the Pope, his irresponsible power over
all the property in his diocese, the establish
ment of foreign dominion in these unhappy
United States, ought to be done up in rhyme,
for it has no show of reason in it; and as to
the position of the Era heretofore" and what
may be its position, disposition, or transposi-
tion "after getting at the true issue in this
State" or after the editor heretofore becomes
editor again hereafter, we have only to say
that zoe may be struck at, and even hit, but
not answered In plain English, we say to all
to whom these presents may come, that Doctor
Bailey is not responsible for Doctor Elder, and
Doctor Elder is not responsible to Dr. Bailey.
We have great respect for the Era, but not one
particle OF regard for its consistency that lin
its our own liberty of thought and utterance.
We are, however, unaware of anything in the
Era "heretofore," that will not square consist
emily enough with anything we have written
upon this question.
The case to be provided for, and the wrongs
% be provided against, in New York, stand
hus; There are Catholic congregations not
Incorporated; property intended for their use
s now and has been conveyed and devised to
he priests and bishops incumbent in fee sim
Die, to be held and employed in trust for the
,hurches for the simple reason that they could
lot be made legal trustees for the congrega-
IONS The removal of this disability will have
he effect, first, to save all the trouble and pre-
,ent all the risks of such indirectness of con-
'eyance and, second, the incorporation of the
bishops will bring all such property and funds
within the restraints and control of the civil
aw of the State and make it possible to limit
aithful appropriation. 1t will take away the
and absoluteness of the HER
rchy over the temporalities, which now exist
s an evil, and is growing silently and hiddenly
,to mischief. We say, therefore, as Pro-
estant or, better, as democrat, incorporate
hese gentlemen, as the bill says, being citizens
this State limit the annual revenues of each |
hurch to the amount necessary for repairs, |
nd the real estate 10 the quantity required for |
occupancy as churches and cemeteries bring |
own the tenth section on them which requires |
trennial report of their funds and income |
'ssolve their charters for neglect and for ex- |
ess and imprison them for contempt if they
Odge or disobey. Now, they are holding vast
mounts m secret, as much by compulsion as
y design. We would take away the veil, as
ell as remove the shackles; put them, under
10 tenth section, once in three years upon
nth, look into their naturalization papers,
ndt their accounts, and lodge them along
it'll their Protestant brethren in the tombs, II
lev do not behave themselves in their office.
power, indeed f. w. s. and
lr. Babcock are for that if they but under
God themselves; we would put them under the
over of our courts, and hold them within the
ounds which the public policy and the demo-
ratio institutions of our country rightfully i'm
ose. 4
We have heard of genius that burnt
andful of bank notes. for the purpose Of
reaking the bank that issued them of anoth-
r, who held the bough of a tree that crossed
lis path, straining it till he could hold it no
onger, and knocking his friend down by the
sbound, all for fear of hurting him by letting
t alone; and we think our friends opposition
o the Catholic property bill is parallel in
tance. The real danger Of church property is
not in the hands that hold il, but in the unlim-
ted accumulation. Cut it down to legitimate
quantity and use, hold it under judicial super
gison drive no sect into indirection, and per-
nit no subterfuges. Especially make no con-
iitions unacceptable to faith or feeling know
no sect OF party; fear nobody so much as to
snslave them hate nobody so much as to wrong
them, and trust that the truth, as Gen. Jackson
said, is mighty, and s6aH prevail.
f. w. S. greatly affects his credit as an OBJ
server Of facts when he ventures to say O. the
Bible is not forced upon schools" But it is
probable that he reasons upon this point as he
does upon the New York statute, which, he
says, does not exclude Catholics from any
legal privileges enjoyed by the most favored
religious denominations; which is true only
when it is understood to affirm that the most
favored religious denominations, i. Q. the Pro-
testants, enjoy legal privileges to which the
Catholics are welcome, if they will take them by
compliances against their consciences. Just so
with the schools; they-that is the directors
make choice Of the Bible as q school book, and
the Catholic children are not excluded from
the school, but invited to come in and read it