American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-04-19
"THE CHURCH AND THE REPUBLIC.

4
"THE CHURCH AND THE REPUBLIC"
DR.. Brownaoas's Fieaos Of american
Poltttcs--Hts ideas Of tie compati-
JilHy Of the Catholic church vstA
Rcpublicanisns.--TnE Mission OF
CATHoLrclTY IN AMERICA.
The following Lecture on "The
Church and the Republic, Was dcliv-
cred at the Tabernacle, Ncw-Y York, on
Wednesday evening, February 13, by
0restgs A. Bro,r3,so',, one of the ablest
oracles of Roman Catholicism in the
United States, who is high authority
in the Church as an cxpounder of the
dogmas, civil and ecclesiastical, Of the
Romish Church in this country. We
commend this lecture to the candid pc
rusal of every Protestant reader, as
reitcration from Catholic authority of
what Romanism seeks in this Republic,
as schargcd by Americans jealous of the
growth ofits principles.
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
He said : thank my friends that so
many HlNve come on, to greet mo in this
very cold and unpleasant evening and
for the very kind aud catering rerep.
iion which they have given me. il is
now nearly four years since ! have had
'he honor Of addtossng an audience in
New York; and as this is the first limo
that have ever appeared before them
asaresident ofthis City,, hope may
now be pernsitted To speak as one oi
yourselves, as though | was in my own
home, in my own Town, and with my
'own friends.
THE SUBJECT.
The subject which has been announ.
ced for my lecture this evening is the
Church and the Republic have cho-
. sen this subject because it is one that
just now occupies the attention ofa large
portion oF our countrvmen. You we'll
know thatlhe most prominent obiec.
tion brought to the church al the pre-.
sent moment in our country is, that she
is Incompatible with our republican in.
siiiutions. From the press from The ros-
trum, from Legislative halls, and from
pEipits we have it proclaimed, that the
Church ought not 10 be suffered in this
country, because she is onti.republican
and ifpermitted to gain foothold here
saho will work the destruction Of our
free institutions.
HIS PURPOSE.
Such, believe is the objection fairly
and honestly stated; and my purpose
this evening is to show tho value of
this objection, by showing the relation
which Catholicity has to Republican
ism. must however begin by saying
that am almost humiiated whom | au,
called up to defend religion against OBJ
Joctions that arc drawn from politics, or
the spiritual against objections drawn
from The temporal.
THE SUPREMACY or RELIGION OVER Por-
JTtcs.
Religion, ifanyihing, is the supreme
law. tits that which is highest. 1t ap-
peals to that whichis highest in man,
nnd its very purpose is to introdoce into
tho government Of human affairs the
Divine Law; and the object of the
Church, whether it be tho Catholic
Church or any other, if pretends TO
be Church, is to introduce and main
tam the divine authority in human SO.
ciety and III human relations. If poll
tics and religion do not harmonize It is
not religion tha' should givo way. No
man, care not who bo is, whether he
he Catholic, Il Protestant Mahome-
danor Pagan, if lio has any conception
ol religion at all he places it first and
holds that a'i else in his life should be
8u6ordipated to it. in obedience with it
and shoald obey it. [Applduso. If
my religion ard my politics Hre opposed
10 eoth other, il Is my politics, not
my religions, that must yield. if liayo
any ferso of religion. Aud that man
aenics morality, denies the divine law
hn9 asserts political atheism, who would
s1,Wett his religion to his politics, or
"ojcet 10 aroligion because it was in.
consistent with bis political theories.
,APplausc. There is another reason
Wy attn not pleased with objections
p.it MS sort, why | d. 20, like III This
,"iheteebill Century, after Christianity
nas been preached for oigbloou hondrod
yoarg. and wo will ptofsss iu some form
y, oihor 10 DO Chrisiiaps 10 meet that
"" ohJGrtion that was brought by the
T,1afnai Jews against orr Lord himself
or What 5fer all is the essence of this
cry Objection am considering III
."9o look ut the staie hfthe public mind
NWh fegaf0 u ID Yoo viii find tha, our
--Igion is NOT nhi.clrl Lu no Il lol zinn