The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1855-06-23

Conwell, the Bishop of the Diocese of Phla-
delphia, opposed these reforms as contraven-
ing the interests Of the Catholic Religion. By
the Diciplne Of the Romen Catholic Church,
the Bishop alone possesses the power of re-
moving an incumbent Pastor. This power
was exercised, and Hogan was removed by
Episcopal authority, for Introducing the Sun
duy School System and Bible INTO the Church.
BY the Charter of the church, the Trustees
alone appoint Pastor. He was again elect
ed Pastor by the trustees, having majority
OF the members. The Bishop appealed to
the Courts of Law and was there foilcd. The
trustees applied to the Supreme Court of
Penn. for an amendment of their Charter.
Having proceeded irregularly they failed to
obtain the object of their wishes. In dcliv-
ering his opinion Chief Justice TILGHMAN
used the following language:
"Asm opinion in matter of law submitted
&c to the Court, is in favor of the Pastors of
&c this church, these Rev'd gentlemen may
"pcrhaps not thank me for going out of my
g way, when offer few words for their con-
"sideration. 1t is scarcely possible that the
Roman Catholics of the U. S. should not
imbibe some ofthat spirit Of Religious Free
&c dom which is dtlused throughout the coun-
.stry. II those who govern that church en-
60 crcise their power with great moderation; if
{: they are not too forward in assuming the
C. direction of temporal affairs if they consult
6: the reasonable desires of the laiety, both
| s.. in tha infp 4 nd ID
90 they may long retain their dominion. But
* if things are carried on with high hand; if
&c trusting to the authority of the church, they
- disregard the wishes of their constituents,
Sc it is easy to see how the matter will end
" That church possesses neither property nor ien.-
"poral poper IN this couniry," &c.-(Report OF
the Trial.)
GIBSON, Justice, remarks in speaking OF
the Corporators -
"But WHO are these corporators The
& Pastors for the time being not exc ecdine in
g number, three. Now as st. Mary's is the
90 cathedral church Of the Diocese, the Bishop
&c is nccessarialy one, and he has the nomi-
CO nation Of two others who hold their officers
90 by no other tenure than his pleasure. He
g has then in ct, three votes out of eleven,
&C in the lay affairs of the aggregation. We
'sare told by very respectable Clergyman,
''who was called by those who offered the
''amenlments, that they ucre all bound to
".follon him; that he ,ras their leader. But the
GO Bishop himself holds his Office on the same
" terms Of unconditional Submission to The Pa
''pal See. He at least derives his authority
"from that source. Here is a foreign juris-
g aiciion in its nature, political as well as &C.
'c!esiasticai, holding and exercising the pouer
ofapponting to Offices created by the gov
" eminent Of Pennsylvania, for purposes en-
90 tlrely GIRL and DOMESTIC. Now can it be
:. said that the Legislature has so far divcst-
90 ed itsslf Of power over this subject as to be
&c unable to resume the right Of appointment
| 90 and place it elsewhere
GEAR be it from me to counsel the catholics
GO of this country to shake of their spiritual
GO allegiance to the Pope; that is their con-
&c corn, not mine, but do protest against the
light of appointment, to civil office, incau-
g tionsly granted to foreign Potentaie being
cement of our country. With me tits no con-
90 sideration that the Catholic Bishop is elect
ICED by the Catholic Clergy here and else
sswhere. Both he and they acknowledge
{. the Holy See, as the source from which
&c they derive all their power, and as the
90 power to which alone they are responsible.
& 1t is enough for me that our citizens here,
'swhose interests are involved in the govern
&c ment of the Corporation, have no voice in
sc nominating or rejecting the Pastors who
&c are introduced into the Church,
| This remarkable struggle between Catholic
and Catholic ended in a fragrant riot and
| bloodshed. Hogan was supported in his eff
forts to introduce the Bible into the Church, by
the native portion of the congregation. The
Bishop was backed by the alien or Irish fac
ton. The Bishop failed, both in the use of
| force, and in his resort to law, few to his
ecclesiastical arms, and accommodated IIo-
gan and his congregation. They however
retained possession of the charter and its
temperatures, till his Reverence withdrew his
sentence, which he did SO far as it related to
the congregation. Hogan still continues I'M
der the ban. Thus was the bible and conf
mon school system crushed, if not kicked out
of St. Mary's Church in the year 1921. Thus
then, by the Roman Catholic aliens of Saint
Mary's Church in Philadelphia was struck
the first blow at liberty Of conscience in
| America. AN AMERICAN.
(To be Continued)
Platform and Principles of the
| Sn