Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-01-06
From the London Times, Dc. ..
The Meeting Of the Romnn Cntholxc Fro
lutes nj Rome

From the London Times, Dc. ..
The Meeting Of the Rosann cathoiIc Fro
iates nj R0me.~
Tho Pope has apparently been reading second
time Mr.. Macanlay's celebrated article ON Ranke's
History Of the Popes, and now that his delight
with this celebrated performance, gratifying TO
every good Catholic, has little subsidized, he has
become aware that there are some things In II
which he cannot wholly approve. No doubt IL Is
extremely agreeable TO- the Pope TO be told that,
as che Church ~ Rome has rcsisted 30 many rude
a6saultx Il cannot be sxpsstsd thAt any future
insurTection Of the intellect Of man will ever pre-
vail against her that her acquisitions In the New
World have amply compensated her for her lossss
In the Old, and that the priueiph Of vitality in her
a el 20 strong that shs may wall hope 70 witness
the end. even a. she saw the beginning, Of al tho
Eurupsan monarchiss KS
But, while allowing to her infinite duration in
point Of time, hscssAyist has adopted line Of
Gurnent which seems 70 circumsczibs within mar
row limits her power over tho human mind. OF
religion II y said that We know no more In the
nlnetssnth age than No did In the drst and there
fore the Church Of Rome b safe from that over
throw which the advancs Of knowledge has In
Aictsd on dogmatioel teachers In almost every
other sciences. with this proposition the Pope Is
b. no msans prepared 70 concur. Il would, In
dSsd BE- hnminattng 70 parsonage occupying his
exalted positoa X he were forced 70 remain for
syss stAsaonsry--A perpetual exception 10 tho law
of prOgreae--a mere monument 0fthe past, forbid
dan TO combine the two striking excellences Of
truth and novelty. Besides, IL must be admitted
that the attempts recently made TO give TO the
teaching of the Church Of Romc somewhat more
piquAncy have been sgnally unsuccessful, that the
holy oeat Of Trevss turned out . scandal and the
\ lsgend of our Lady Of ID Salette fraud
~ under these circumstances IL seemed wise 10 alb
staln while from the miraculous line Of business,
and 20 aesk for support In the other supernatural
functions Of tho Catholic Church Physical science
since the days Of Calico, and the unhoy discovery
cordlng to the philosopher, and not the Sun round
the Earth, according to the Pope was too danger.
Gus 70 be attempted, 20 nothing was left for Il but
10 breach new doctrine. The worship of the
Virgin Mary has been In peculiar degree the
work of Popos and Of Councils II was only In the
eleventh century that solemn Office was decreed
to her. Hence proceeded afurious controversy, in
which st. Bernard, St. Thomas Aquinas and the
Dominicans were on ono aide, and Duns Scotus
and the University Of Paris ON tho other The sub
.iect Of discussion was neither very decorous nor,
10 profane eyes, very important. 1t WINS admitted
on ell hands that the Virgin Mary was without sin,
else che could not have been fitting mother to
sinlcss child hna \
\. The question which has so long divided the Ro-
man Catholic world is at what period this change
was .sfsctsdf All are agreed that II was before
the birth Of the Virgin; the difference IL as TO the
procise time. Was It at the moment Of the con-
ceptIon or WAS IL ct later periodf Several Popes
and the Council Of Trent have laid down that dif-
fersnce on this delicate subject 10 unimportant and
the charch has csnonized persons holding either
opinion; but II is now determined to put on end II
this sinful federation, and TO decide the question
onss for al afirmatively negatively, and thus,
ia the interest of Christian charity, 70 convert
ssnial difference into mortal sin In order to es.
tsbish sthls doctrine the prelates Of the Roman
Catholic church are summoned from the four winds
- Eye the sanction Of their authority to this new
6gmsnt and the Catholic world may expect shortly
70 b edited and astonishsd by the proclamation of
body knows upon whom, and nobody knows when
We regard the step, all things considered, - one
Of the most extreme audscity. To require the
nineteenth century TO believe, and that a. truth
necessary to salvation, fact utterly and avowedy
unknown 70 the Apostles, the early Fathers Of the
Church, the PopeR the Martyrs, and the whole cal
sldar Of Saints, and that upon no better evidence
:than the opinion Of the Pope and number Of
Biahops ID really stretch Of presumption Of which
Va oerld not have believed even the Church of
Rome TO have been capable. She d not content
with holding In her hands the Book of Revelation,
which abe claims 70 ntefpret at her will and to add
"a from TIE resources Of tradition; abe 10 now in
renting and improviaing nsw facts. and requiring
,thsm 70 b recaivcd by her votariss without the
liehtsst attAmpts at demonstration. II this claim
.cf the Pope Be admitted, he may - well cancel
thu whole Bible, and leave the doctrines Of Chris
IAnity 70 be taught answ It his pleasure. No fact
70 ven cstablhhsd, no conclusion 90 logical and
absolute, that be cannot 1t his win overthrow It.
Indeed, It quite evident that this matter Of the
ira1Dasulass conception cannot stay where tia !,
. The ssme necessity which drives the Church OF
Rome 10 mako the immaculate concipient herself
tho nHAprng Of an Immaculate conception, viii
oporate With equal forcs upon the whole succession
a Rensrations that OCCUR between the Virgin Mary
and TIA beginning Of the world What e true Of
The mathsr may b alleged with equal force Of the
ersAtpandmoihsr and the moro remote ancestors.
"a 70 ons step further backward, In order 70 add
nav ssint 70 the calendar, and new miracle TO
the Annals Of NE Church. Names viii be wanting,
hut Roma b rich In nomenclature, and the same
inspiration which reveals the miracle win not with
hon the nans Of It, object When this Is done
va my look for an increase upon authority Of the
plaques q Egypt the days Of the creation, the
number Of the patriarchs, or any other firmly set
lied Act or number Nothing Is 30 true that, un-
der this system, Il may mot become false--nothing
. falss that Il may not become true. p 2fe0
We shall wait With some curiosity this bold ex.
psrimsnt on the creduity Of mankind, and n IL
snocssdA though We shall not Be abba TO agree with
Mr.. NacsnlAs that the teaching Of the Church Is
tho same IN Al sgss We shall certainly DO disposed
immunity, noAnount OF absurdity, however gross--
no deception, however transparent---no fraud
OF hlsshood, however glaring. can shake the
empire Of the Roman Catholic Church over the
minds OF men, or teach them TO apply to her the
same cansns Of common sense and reason with
which thsy measure all other subjects, She 10
about TO make two immaculate conceptions out Of
one. n abe proceed 70 multiply miracles at this
rate, and with this facility she may incorporate M
70 Christianity, In single hour, all the lying won
ders of the Hindoo Pantheon. We know Of but
two parallels to such astounding audacty--Ms-
homst who improvsed chapter In the Koran to
rc-sstablish the more than questionable character
Of his iavoriLs wife, and Hiram Smith, who had
aver : nav revelation ready 70 conceal fraud, TO
sscurs mistress, or to punish an enemy. s.5
eA.~ 81 ~ Communicated.
noman Catholic superstition.
rhs ceremony Of baptising and consccrating the
ohfms Of bells for Roman Catholic Church At