Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-10-24
From the Christian Union.
POPERY AND PRAVTTY.


In our July number, we gave a brief article
on Popery and Pauperism, which attracted
some attention, and vas transferred to the coll
umns of some of the prints, abothosecnlar and
religious. The subject is sore one for the
Jesuitical caus;sts Of Rome. When compell-
ed to admit the too papable fact OF the pover-
ty of Papist rs compared with Protestant pop
ulations, they gloss it over by saying with
sanctimonious airs, that s'the Gospe lis preach-
ed to the poor, and among them finds its sim
cerest and most exemplary disciples" This
Is true. But it is not to their purpose, unless
they can show that it is the intent and tendon
cyof the Gospelto make men poor, keepthem
poor, and render them poorer and poorer to
the very brink OF starvation. So far from this,
II can be morally demonstrated, that true re-
I!gion, as an enlightner OF the mind and re-
nner of the heart, promotes intelligence vir-
Tue, industry, and health; and therefore has
natural and necessary tendency towards tenn
poral comfort and prosperity.
Ignorance is neither the mother of devotion
nor of thrift. AS to devotion, the ignorant
..oship they know not what; and as to thrift, it
is truly said BY Solomon ssMuch food is in the
tillase Of the poeF but there IS that which is
destroyed for want Of Judgment" Not igno-
rance, but the knowledge of the true God and
of his revealed will, is the parent of piety. But
Romish devotion is the direct source OF popu-
ilr ignorance, RESULTING II much sq5alid and
beggarly pauperism, and in general priration
of tlarJls. Having heretefor. briefly discuss
.d the former of these results, We go on tothe
consideration OF the latter.
The great AID iasolvabe difficulty in the
way OF the Popish causist u.s. that the power y
which prevails amid his co-reigionists aud
prevails most where his Church is most preva-
lcHt, as net rUtaons poreriy, the poverty
which is often made honorable and Venerable
by exalted piety and the rich treasures of
grace divine. On the contrary, it is that style
Of poverty which is made sordid liy ltziness,
BIZ uati1rift, and ny dirt and is allied TO t;ru-
tish sensuality, to vice, and moral ploasacy.
Let US pc understood. W., say not that there
are no upright rich men ameng Romauists; nor
DO we say that there are no virtuous poor
among them. We fully concede that there are
many indiri9aal Cases Of Gie one class or the
other But what We say is, that, as compared with
Protestant populations. there is a vast prepon-
dcrance Of low vice AMI crime of every grade
chargeable to the whole body Of Rqmapists.
In pursuing our remarks, we shall first state
the facts in the case, and then trace this state
OF facts to its origin and cause in Popery itself
as system of religion and morals.
As to the Jfaeis, we shall abide BY rule ear
ly learned and long practised by us, namely,
10 Be sure Of them. They will be drawn from
responsible aud reliable documents. - i'-' 70
The most conclusive mode Of treating this
branch of the subject would be, TO institute a
series of comparisons; as,ifol' Instance, between
the republics of Southern America and the
United States of North Americn; or between
the Papal cantons of Switzerland and the Pro-
testant eantons, all being under the same civil
government; or between Popish ireland and
Protestant Scotland, both Of these also being
under the same civil government; or even be-
tween those counties Of Ireland itself where
the Papacy prevails, and those in which the
Reformed religion predominates; or the COM
parison might be made between Popish Aus
t.ia and Protestant Prussia, lying side BY side;
or between Romish Belgium and Protestant
Holland, also next door neighbors But this
would require view so extensive as to take
mp volume in its description, and is atogeth-
er too wide scope for the space We can spare.
Whose wishes to survey all this ground will
end Il laid fully open TO him in most valua-
BILE work by Rev. Napoleon Roussel, of Paris
entitled, aCatholic and Protestant Nation.
Compared IN their Three-fold Relations tc
Wealth, Knowledge, and Morality;" translated
into English, and recently reprinted in thi.
copltr5 3s 2 dsneely-pripted sctaye II IS