Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-01-27
REPORTED yoR THE AMERICAN ORGAN.
Rev. Is. r.. Brookes,s Lecture.


Rev. B. r.. Brookos,s Lecture,
IN reply 20 Father Mcguire, on the "1smporal
Po0er Of tho Pope" last nigh at Forest Hall,
Georgetown.
lie commenced by saying that he had not vol
entered nor had he been pressed into service but
on invitation, had freely accepted, as he thought
itwould be doing service to his God, his country,
and to truth. Applause
The Rev. Father Mcguire had spoken of " ianati-
eisln," I" machination of few public men''---how
many we viii know after the next Presidential
election-and "base lies circulated &c. but If
ii were anaticism to believe that Americans should
govern America, he was ready to own himself a
fanatic
He now spoke Of the sylogism ofthe Rev. Father,
and said that he thought the audience could dis
cover which party bore most resemblance to the
long-eared animal mentioned by him, In the cere-
mony and chant at the procession of the Flight
Of the ASS at the close of which the clergy and
laity alternately prayed repeatedly. The Popes
had long been accustomed to asses, and according
ly Pope Plus had tried to put one leg over this
government, but the signal failure he win meet
will show the ''ears" in the audacity of the at
tempt
He now took up the contradiction of Father Ma
gure of the doctrine that the Pope had tempo
raj power in right of his spiritual office, and that
the tenets Of the Church would give 1t to him, and
cited passages from their most eminent authors,
which proved directly the contrary.
He quoted from Dr. England, to show that the
Catholics consider the Pope the Lord Of the
world, and superior to all kings and princes"
As to the establishment of the Popes in power,
In mar lv wit tha Eafh IN no
election Of the earlier Popes by the people; but
Gregory the Great 80 eulogised by Mr.. Mcguire,
he characterized as being far from spotless and, so
far from advancing civilization, he greatly retarded
it by destroying temples and works he considered
as paganish, and even prosecuted bishop severely
because he chose to study grammar.
AS to the Fathers qotations from the infdel Glib
bon, who would delight 70 throw ridicule on true
religion, by upholdng the false he quoted passa-
ges from Gibbon, proving directly the reverse Of
what was stated by Mr.. Mcguire.
And as to the power of arbitration given to the
Pope, it was done 30 in one instance by France ;
and then that was alleged as precedent for inter-
ference in the affairs Of State Of other nations.
He now spoke Of the power of excommunica-
ton, 80 much dwet on by the Rev. Father, as
coming only from the spiritual power of the Pope,
in obedience to certain laws, of which the Pope
was the executor. This power was first used on
the king of Lorraine. Prayers in the kingdom
were stopped, and unless the people would re-
nounce their allegiance to him, they were cursed
too and as that was so meekly received, the pom
tifs proceeded further, and might have made their
rule universal, but they were SO mentally imbecile
The Popes were morally corrupt and 30 wanting in
common decency, that he could not proceed in their
history in the presence of woman, as he should
have to stir up such pools of filth.
Gregory VII and Henry Nv, 80 often mentioned
by the Hon. Mr.. Chandler and the Rev. Father,
were examples of the temporal power of the Popes.
Henry, in the midst of winter, stood barefooted
three days at Gregory's gate, begging in vain for
dissolution; while that venal Pontiff was closeted
with the beautiful Countess Matilda. These Popes
are too holy to marry but they all seemed very
fond of their Matthias" Laughter and applause
We are told that the love of Matilda to the Pope,
for whom she left her husband, was spiritual not
temporal love; SO, we are told, the power of the
Pope is not temporal, but spiritual power!
On the fourth day, absolution was granted to
Henry his crown restored, and on that crown
Latin verse inscribed, signifying that it had been
taken away, and returned by the power of the
reigning Pontif. Does this not combat the truth
of the statements respecting the temporal power
of the Pope?'
He now met the assertion that {" the Romsh
Church was a glorious unit" by stating few
where there had been three claimants for the
Papal chair at once where one had dethron-
ed another, where several had been slain, and
others taken their places the disagreements
of their various councils the contradictory dog
mas issued in various ages and closed by showing
the disagreement of the late dogma respecting the
Imaculate Conception" with the teachings Of the
early fathers.
He met the disavowals by the Rev. Father of the
temporal power Of the Pope" by reading from
various authors Of his Church. in which it is stated
by one, that the Pope has supreme authority over
the world !" by another that "the Pope is not only
man, but partakes of the nature of God; is king of
kings, king Of earth, of heaven, of hell; can ex-
communicate the angels, If they sin; is vicegerent
of God; can break sceptres," &C.; and they who
hold contrary doctrine are heretics, and subject to
eternal damnation.n The same language is held in
Brownson's Review, in one number Of which
Brownson /" is grieved that Catholic statesmen
should search history for precedent, to deny the
power Of the Pope to interfere in State Matters
thereby. they were endangering the salvation of
their SOULS
The true issue of the lecture of the holy Father
was to throw dust in the eyes Of the public at this
time. "What," asked the lecturer, "is the diff
ference between being killed, and being scared to
deathf the difference between cat, and cat
covered with meal? We remember the case of
the cat who covered herself with meal that the
mice might not see her till she could pounce on
them. The object of the Rev. Fathers lecture
was to cover the cat with meal; my object is to
strip her Of that covering so that her claws can be
seen" Tremendous applause
The Catholics If true to their faith, must believe
any doctrine the Church may set forth--we see
that in the late dogma; they must believe virtue
Is vice, If the Pope commands them, and dare not
refuse at the peril of accommodation.
Allegiance to Rome disquaies person from
holding allegiance to any other power "Arch-
bishop Hughes" said he, says his first duty is to
his God, his second to his country say, my
duty TO my God and my country are inseparable.
[Great applause When they say, "obey God be-
fore man." they mean the Pope as Gods vicege-
rent, and all Mr.. Chandler's igmarole respecting
blowing the Pope's brains out, was of apiece with
Aristophanes TRADE against his most intimate and
dearest friend, Socrates.
In case Of disagreement between this and
Catholic country, Romanists would take part with
the latter, seen in the conduct Of st. Patrick's
regiment In the Mexican war. The Irish bishops
hold language like this 1--WE pray God that Louis
Napoleon, the protector Of the Catholic Church,
will invade the domains of Victoria, the head Of
the Protestant Church, and meet, conquer, and de-
stroy her armies, and eradicate the Protestant he
e -