Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-01-26

man be expected TO establish any controyerted
point with Church which has been nearly nine
teen hundred years Ia finding out the immaculate
conception Of the Virgin Nary M
TEE TERROR OF ExcoMsUMcArIoss.
But giving TO the Church the benefit Of all the
gentlemsn's disclaimers, there still exists the di-
vine right to excommunicate, and 1t Is the moral
power and terror of personal accommodation,
the exercise of which this country has to dread
In reference to deposng monarchs, the Church
might even safely surrender the power TO depose
and let il all rest upon the divine right to excom-
municate. According to the showing of the gem
teman from Pennsylvania, accommodation
unless removed within year, was to assist in
working out depositions." 1901 &MH
The gentleman admits that he believes in all
the religious dogmas Of the Romish Church. He
says: Ftrfh
~ acknowledge all my obligations to the Church
Of which am an humble member, and Irecognise all
ue rights Of The venerable head Of that Church to The
spiritual Differences Of ia children and desire that
no part OF what may say, or what may. concede,
ole dogma of the Catholic Church believe all that
that Church believes and teaches as religious dog
mas"
The gentleman declares 81 that he would oppose
the invading army and navy of the Pope, were
such thing to occur" But the Pope does not scar
with "armies and navies." He comes not with
all the PRIDE and pomp, and circumstance Of glo-
rious war; His accommodation is the only sword
he needs--his armies are the numerous hosts Of
superstition whose name is legion, which come
thronging the atmosphere Of the imagination. The
very daggers Of the air, which appall the firm
est heart, unnerve the stoutest body, and parayze
the strongest intellect VIII the gentleman say
that against an accommodation he would dare to
raise his head, his hand or his voice No, sir. He
yields not one Of the religious dogmas Of the
church. Would he not be LIABLE now, scIiie a
member Of Congress, were he to commit evil, to be
excommunicated, as person, by the Bishop Of bis
Church? Certainly. If excommunicated, would
not all Roman Catholics be obliged to refuse him
meat or bread, or cOuntenance, or shelter 7 and
would 1t not be their duty to the church to persece
himf Yes. What then would be his condition
As Catholic, his spirit would be Frustrated, his
mind would be unhinged his soul would be crush
ed an American Congressman would be denied
entrance into the lowest Catholic hove in the pur
licus Of Washington. sa5 q.
Suppose the gentleman was President Of the
United States-and his name, l believe, has been
honorably mentioned in that connexion---aS a man
he would still be liable to accommodation by an
American Bishop And in his person the habita-
ton of the President would be liable to become
whited sepulchre! and the Chief Magristracy Of
this Union would be groveling In the dust at the
foot Of the Roman Catholic power So it is of no
whether the Pope claims the right to de-
pose or not, If, under the terrors of excommuni-
cation, the mysterious and prostrating powers of
the Church can be as well and effectually put to
work
have already spoken Of the desolating effect Of
an accommodation. We cannot well imagine its
extent. And cannot forbear, in this connexion,
to refer to an instance Of the powers Of priest,
in this country, over member of his congrega-
ton. give It as ! find it in newspaper, and do
not, of course, vouch for its accuracy:
"SMaULAR PROCEEDINGS IN RoNAN CATHOLIC
CHuRCH IN JERSEY CITY.--We have already mention
cd the differences between Father Kelley, the Priest
Of the Montgomery Guards, the former having, on
several occasions denounced the latter from the al
tar for alleged violations Of the church rotations.
eve learn that on Sunday, at last prayers Cap
Pet~s from lohich he had been previously forbidden
By Tia priest, Father J. Kelley. This act was the cause
OF much excitement The priest appearing before the
altar, and addressing hae congregation, aated that
81 Captain Fhveus) loas pacdtsd. The captain hes
itated to remove, but, at the urgent solicitation of
some Of the congregation, he finally walked out of
his pew at which most Of the members Of the congre
Commander, became highly excited, and insisted on
his returning and taking possession Of his pew The
captain was prevailed upon to re-enter the pew but
he priest stu persistsng IN his determination not
ted, the captain finally yielded his post and retired
The service then proceeded"
do not know that Captain F. was member
of the Church. 1t is sufficient to know that the
priest, surrounded by the gorgeous and imposing
gewgaws of his altar, possessed the moral power
to drive a freeman from his pew This to ex-
communication in miniature!
Then what virtue is there in the protestation Of
patriotism which the honorable gentleman so en-
l~ 49, 49,
power of the Pope; and even, in another sense,
the gentleman, in effect takes ii back.
His protestation of patriotism Is made-as he
admits--in the face of what he says is "reaiiy an
impossi6iiity." What good is there in making
pledges against an inapossibiiityf Here are his
words;
In the early part Of my remarks took occasion
TO say what would be my course, IT, by any remarka-
stances the army and navy Of the Pope should In
wade the country"
fthe invasion Of the United States, by the Pope
with an army and navy, Is an impossibilify, what
virtue is there in this destinations display of patriot
ismf The gentleman fortifes himself by refer
ring TO the remarks Of Bishop England. That
learned and eloquent prelate said:
al But If the Pope were 10 declare war against
America, and any Roman Catholic, under the pre-
text Of spiritual obedience 10 refuse 10 oppose
this imperial aggressor he would deserve TO be pun
ished for his refusal"
In the understanding of the gentleman from
Pennsylvania, this means If the Pope should de-
clare war against the United States-which is re-
ally an impossi6ihty-any Roman Catholic who
should refuse to oppose the Pope-though it would
be impossible for the Pope TO do such thing
would deserve ODE punished" There Is certainly
very little danger of any man being punished for
disobeyng his government in an order which could
only be given TO him upon the happening Of an
bnposabiity
Sir, / do not doubt the patriotism of the honor
able gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr.. CHASp-
LER. only regret that he has involved II in so
much mystery, and expressed 1t in such dubious
phrases.
WORD ABOUT MENTAL RESERVATIONS.
The church gives to her Bishops and Archbish-
ops the right Of mental reservations in oaths. The
Archbishop Of Canterbury, the invincible Thomas
a Beckett swore to the constitutions Of Clarendon,
under Henry II, TO observe them "ieqaiiy, ,cih
good faith, and without fraud or reserve q.
Hume, 2ll) He afterwards refused to keep his
oath, and when upbraided by the other bishops Of
England he said " be had, indeed, subscribed the
constitutions legally NTH good faith, and ~ithoat