Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-07-24

the Supreme Pontfs. That line we trace bocl,
in an unbroken series, from the Pope who
crowned Napoleon in the nineteenth century,
to the Pope who crowned Pepin in the eighth
and far beyond the time of Pepin the august
dynasty extends, till it is lost in the twilight OF
fable. The republic Of Venice came next in
antiquity But the republic of Venice was
modern when compared with the Papacy and
the republic of Venice is gone, and the Papacy
remains. The Papacy remains, not in decay,
not a mere antique; but full of life and youth
ful yigor. The Catholic Church is still sending
forth TO the iurthest ends of the world mission
aries as Jealous as those who landed in Kent
with Augustin; and still confronting hostile
kings with the same spirit with which she con-
ironted Attila. The number of her children is
greater than in any former age. Her acquisi-
tions in the New World have more than com
pcnsatcd her for what She has lost in the Old
Her spiritual aScendcncy extends over the vast
countries which lie between the plains of Mis-
souri, and Cape Horn countries which, CEN
tury hence, may not improbahly contain a pop
ulatlon as large as that which now iuhabits Eu-
rope The members Of her community are Ger
tainly not fewer than hundred and fifty mil
lions and it will bc difficult to show that all
the other Christian sccts united amount to a
hundred and twenty millions Nor do we see
any sign which indicates that the term Of her
long dominion is approaching. She saw the
commencement Of all the governments, and of
all the ecclesiastical establishments that now cx-
lst IN this world; and we feel no assurance that
Shc Is not destined to see the end Of them all.
She was great ana respected before the Saxon
had set foot on Britain-bcforc the Frank had
passed the Rhine-Mhcn Grecian cloquencc
still tlourished at Authorization idols were
still worshippcd in the temple Of Mecca. And
she may still exist in undiminishcl yigor when
some traveller from New Zealand shall in the
midst of a vast solitude, take his stand on a
broken arch Of London Bridge to sketch the
ruins of st. Paul's.
We often hear it said that the world is con-
stanjly becoming more and more enlightened.
and that this cnlightening must be favorable to
Protestantism. and uniaNurablc TO Catholicism.
We wish that We could think so. But we see
great reason TO doub, whether this be we'll
founded expectation. We see that during the
last two hundred and fifty yeas, the human
mind has been in the highest degree active
that It has made great advances in every branch
OF natural philosophy it has produced in
Vulnerable inventions tending to promote the
convenience Of life--that medicine surgery
chemistry, engineering, have been very greatly
improved, though not quite to the same extent.
ct We see that, during these two hundred and
hiiy years, Professionalism has made no con-
quests worth speaking Of Nay. We believe
that, as far as there has been change, that
change has been in favor of the Church of
Rome. We cannot therefore, feel confident
that the progress Of knowledge will neces slrily
be fatal to u system which has, to say the least,
stood its ground in spite Of the immense pro-
greSs which knowledge has made since the
duys of Queen Elizabeth