Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1855-01-12
CORRESPONDENCE
Written for the Ellsworth Americana
Cause Of the Pre7alal CO Of Roman Ca


uRlrd through the Editorial co!nmnS OF
the Herald, aud by the pens Of cores
rondents, also; yet the topic embraced in
the caption OF this article has not, think.
been investigated definitely, if at ALL
Oar Editor has done we'll in his efforts
TO expose the RELISH features aid put
down the rising power OF the Papal
church still, 'one thing is needful;' an
enquiry into tho cause Of The pferae"e>
Of the religion Of this ekmrek..
Tha, catholicism, as religion, Is pop
ular in The world, no one will pretend to
to deny. Figures can't lie;' and religion,
statistic. inform us that in Continental
Europe alone, more than IA 900 OF It's
area is under the dominion of the Papal
Power. Now if Popularity is jus, cri-
terivn OF charactef,-if it is reliable
recommendation of an individual, or a
body Of individuals; then all mus, admit
tina, Organism alone excep,ed) this
church is the most immaculate and its
tenets the nearest perfect Of any on earth.
But who believes this! Go tell it 10 the
Winds and murmurng response will
chide your folly. No; it is not so-Pop.
ularlty is farm this case very far from
being an exponent OF Virtue; and if the
object in writing this article is secured,
the reader will learn this important fact.
The Features which constitute the
Popularity d Catholicism, are among
the very worst elements which enter into
the composition Of this accursed church.
Why then. is Catholicism so undeser-
vedly popular in the world!
The question can be answered in one
word 1t is, its wonderful rkxibleness.
Catholicism is a protested unity; hut i,
las most singular variety Of forms and
aspects. 1t is composition Of peculiar
forces; and it stands forth an astonishing
monument Of human wisdom and skill;
and the minds that projected aud matur.
ed its ecclesiastical formulate, were Pro
fessors in the Science Of Human Nature.
la its wonderful adaptations, it beauti.
fully suits itself to the sentiments and de.
sires and p,orensil'es and feelings and
lustiul affections of fallen man.
Bnt let Us more particularly examine
these adaptations in detail, and thus more
correctly learn their character. 10 the
lovers OF form, it presents gorgeous ri,-
ual; and this mother of lIarlots' SO con-
ceais Ter hideous defofmites amid the
pompous ceremonies, tina, she appears in
d Virgin form, well calculated to arrest
the eye and secure the homage of ador-
ne multitudcs To the man Of the world
who would offer body and soul as will
ing sacrifice upon the altar OF 4uoIoch,
aud bow before the shrine of Ambition;
it presents Pope i'll the chair OF St Pc
tie. and on throne in the NArIcAN,-
Bishops, with mtcrcl heads and clad in
all the Insignia of royalty and power;
Priests, dressed in sacerdotal robes o.
white. aud Palaces adorned with all tina,
wealth and art and taste can afford. 1t
presents a scep,er OF dominion which the
ambitious wording iain would first kiss
and then grasp. There are others who
would s,arye themselves into life OF
godliness;-in their wasting, dying frames
they would nurture spiritual life; and
TO such, what more inviting retreat can
be offered than the 'Mendlcant Converts
OF ST. FIancis!' Here they may live a
life of devotion, starved in this world
in order, as they fain would believe, to
Be fed with living bread in the world to
come. To synpathzing enthusiasts who
would spend 4 life Of comA,vnion and
prayer, alone, ye. not alone, il affords
numerous fraterui,ies in which q Broth
ers Of Mercy or Sisters of Charity they
may worship in secret intercourse, and
together wend their way onward.
There are, again, others who would be
restless pilgrims; in their heavenward
journey, they would compass sea and
land. The very counterpart to monas-
tic life; they would show to the world
that they are travelling homeland to
all such, Catholicism offers tombs, and
shrines, and relics. not only on Calvary
and in its immediate vicinity, but in 9th.
er lands also. 10 view the fragments Of
the cross, and the 'splinters from the Bar
of P,late;' and the blood stained hand
kerchief Of Christ, and the vnl of the
Virgin Mary, and the chips from the
steps TO the Judgment Hall, &c, dem ands
a whole life Of pilgrimage; and the drea.
my. wandering devotee may here satisfy
bis desires.
EPSILON
ITO De CONFINED