New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1855-12-13
BISHOP HOPKINS SIXTH LECTURE.

BISHOP HOPKINS SIXTH LECTURE
The sixth lecture of Bishop Hopkinssnd last of the
serieswas delivered last evening at Odd Fellows Hall
The usual large and respectable audience attended The
subject chosen BY the Bishop upon this occasion WAS
true character of the temporal power claimed by the
Pope Of Rome.
He had been glad the lecturer said learn that the
papa power had been subject of consideration by the
last American Congress; the time had arrived when il
had become recognized element in cur politics and
influence of the greatest Importance upon elective
franchise He had considered with attention the
questions involved in the idea of Pspai supremacy for be
himself although adopted in early childhood-was
citizen Of this great Republic and held it duty to make
himself acquainted with subject of such vital inpor
lance to his country.
The lecturer then proceeded, by quoting from the Ro-
man Catholic creed, proclaimed by the Council of
Trent to show the true character of the temporal
claimed by the Pope The book of Charles Buterrecog-
nized by Roman Catholics in this country in Europe
faithful Interpretation creed defined the spr-
tua temporal powers of the Pope as the highest on
earth The convert to that faith must acknowledge the
Roman Catholic the mother of all churches and of all
apostolic power and must swear true obedience to the
Pope who held supremacy of rank supremacy ursdc-
ton and supremacy every matter in which decision
to be rendered. tina. the final conclusion must in
vsraby be-" Rome has spoken, an the matter deter
mnedn According to the faith, expounded by this
author the head of the church is the only recognized
nal tribunal in the world and if question could arise
regarding its powers the Pope who is that head would be
the only judge to decideit. How power more de-
poc be imagined than this where the potentate his
own judge
In regard to the extent of these powers and to the
question Of what is true obedience the Pope differ
Of opinion had existed among Roman Charlottesville
side claiming them in the most unlimited sensseyen
to the right Of depriEing sovereign of his crown-snd
the other dissenting therefrom but practically the
difference amounted to nothing The convert In all cases
obedience to the creed Of Pope Plus w. that
asserts the supremacy and infabity of the head
Of the church Therefore if the Pope be personally nfal-
lble, who shall say that his decisions ever wrong p?
If he is above all laws and canons how be said that
temporal soveregnties not subject to him. or that
bounds may be set to bis power EARTH From the time
of Pope Gregory VII the founder of the Romsh Church
down to the time Of Pope John, who communicated
King Louis of France the Popes had arrogted to them
selves this extreme supremacy; each had in turn
steadily maintained the doctrine that all earthly power
must be subject to his own the ycegerent Of God on
earth and that empires and soveregnties must be de-
pendent upon his will After struggle Of nearly four
centuries for complete spiritual and temporal power the
creed of the Council Of Florence had been enacted re-
affirming and establishing these assumptions.
Can 1t be said that these powers not claimed
From the time Of that Council up to the present day.
events have proved that Papscy has idea Of
dering this supremacy, and his opinion the learned
Bishop sustained by citing instances in which
it had been arrogated and pernaciousy adhered to in
later years.
What reply, then, should be made to those French
English and Irish Catholics, who assume that the
head of their church does not now interfere with
temporal affairs, at least not with the attributes
Of temporal sovereignties? The claim to the right
of doing so has never been abandoned True. it
has not been exercised for the that political
expedency would not warrant it, and the inability to do
well understood. Who then would say that were
1t expedient, this claim would not be enforced and
where de eccleascs and writers obtain their authority
for asserting that the Catholic creed has In this
undergone change! France had adhered to that CON-
sructon of the creed which refuses to the Pope these
powers and had not fallen under the pspa introduction
this because it feared that she might follow the
example Of England and shake of the yoke but the faat
had led muudes to believe that the construction which
did not recognize the Popes political power author
lied by the church ITSELF This great error Never
yet had Pope been found admit that he yielded
oa Of the ancient prerogatves and the only reason
why the Pops Of later years do not assert and urge them
was that they dared not.
He had doubt that such Of our American orators and
statesmen as are Catholics would deny to the head of
that was merely personal opinion which concerned only
themselves they might indeed resist any attempt to
establish it history furnishes numerous presidents of
Resistance to by men whose oath to this Church had
acknowledged it. few hundred years ago the Pope
universally recognised the great sovereign and spirit
ual and temporal head Of the world but times had
ehanged-that tremendous power had declined-but the
u light of history the assertion in their creed of its nm
,hangeabless the fact that Pope up the press Mt
lime has renowned his prerogative proved that the
Slain to the right Of exercising supreme jurisdiction still
existed.
And who might undertake. to goresee the
hst may result to this country from blind Indifference
the future of this question Let Europe continue TO
pour her millions among let the papal power continue
increase here aided by foreign Catholic governments
who nstinctively hate republican prncipes-and who
'hail say that few years may not see cur country
ieuged with the blood of civil war brought about by
,igotry and intolerance and carried with the saugui
fury characteristic of Roman Catholic persecution
He did not think such probable bnt it might bs
possible. The power OF the Ronish Church was by no
to be looked upon not dangerous when welded
or temporal harm It held absolute dominion over the
FOULS and bodies OF 100000 human beings.
Want Of space compels to to omit the concluding
portion Of this able and interesting lecture
-
A farmer in Nebraska declares that the
pumpkins in the fields large endanger the
ives of his entire household few DAYS since one of
lis family had, by means of rope ladder climbed to the
Top OF tremendous squash, when he seized with
ort OF dizziness and falling of fractured both his arms
broke his leg, and hurt himself besides. Exchange.
We had before some vague feeling Of respect that
I'D