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

Conwell, the Bishop of the Diocese of Phila-
delphia, opposed these reforms as contravcn-,
ing the interests Of the Catholic Religion. By
the Dicipline 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
day School System and Bible INTO the Church.
BY the Charter Of the church, the Trustees
alone appoint Pastor. lie 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:
GAS my opinion in matter of law submitted
's to the Court, is in favor Of the Pastors of
&c this church, these Rcv'd gentlemen may
stpcrhaps not thank me for going out of my
way, when offer few words for their con-
GO 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 dihused throughout the coun-
.stry. II those who govern that church eX-
.'crcise their power with great moderation; if
g they are not too forward in assuming the
{: direction of temporal alairs if they consult
60 the reasonable desires of the laiety, both
8 in the appointment and removal Of Pastors,
:they may long retain their dominion. But
- if things are carried on with a high hand; if
"trusting to the authority of the church, they
s. disregard the wishes of their constituents,
&c it is easy to see how the matter will end.
That church possesses neither property nor ienl-
"poral po,cer in this couni,y," &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 exceeding in
number, three. Now as st. Mary's is the
90 cathedral church of the Diocese, the Bishop
" is necessarily one, and he has the nomi-
g nation Of two others who hold their officers
:by no other tenure than his pleasure. He
8! has then in effect, three votes out of eleven,
Sin the lay affairs of the congregation. We
"arc told by very respectable clergyman,
'swho was called by those who offered the
"amcnlments, that They ,ccre all bound to
".foliom him; that he ,ras their lcader. But the
GO Bishop himself holds his Office on the same
I" terms OF unconditional submission TO the Pa
''pai See. He at least derives his authority
"from that source. Here is foreign juris-
"dichon in its nature, political as well as &C.
" c!esias'icai, holding and exercising the pouer
g Disappointing to offices created by the gov
g eminent Of Pennsy lvana, for purposes en-
''tlrely Grill and DOMESTIC. Now can it be
:. said that the Legislature has so far divcst-
&c cd isslf Of power over this subject as to be
:' unable to resume the right Of appointment
g and place it elsewhere 7?
GEAR be it from me to counsel the catholics
90 of this country to shake of their spiritual
g allie glance to the Pope; that is their con-
GO ccrn, not mine, but do protest against the
"rght Of appointment, to civil office, ncau-
.: tionsly granted to a foreign Potentaie being
&c considered irrccovcrable by the govern
s.mcnt Of our country. With me it's no con-
:. sidcraton that the Catholic Bishop is elect
iced by the Catholic Clergy here and else
sswhcrc. Both he and they acknowledge
"thc Holy See, as the source from which
''they derive all their power, and as the
sspower to which alone they are responsible.
g 1t is enough for me that our citizens here,
"whosc interests are involved in the govern
cement of the Corporation, have no voice in
nominating or rejecting the Pastors who
&c are introduced into the Church."
This remarkable struggle between Catholic
and Catholic ended in fragrant riot and
bloodshed. Hogan was supported in his eff
forts to introduce the Bible inIo 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, flew 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 COM
mon school system crushed, if not kicked out
of St. Mary's Church in the year 1921. Thus
Mary's Church in Philadelphia was struck
the first blow at liberty of conscience in
America. AN AMERICAN.
(To be Continued.)