The Portland daily press., 1866-08-07
Bishop Bacon. sermon.

We had something TO say few days ago
about Bishop Bacon's discourse to the Roman
Catholic congregation of st. Joseph's church,
New York, on Sunday, 22d ult. The sketch
of the sermon which we copied, was publish
ed in the New York Post. Bishop Bacon
claims that the reporter did not reproduce
accurately that part OF the sermon which he
attempted to give, and that the conclusion,
modifying essentially what had gone before,
is omitted altogether. We have now before
us copy of the Boston Pilot of the 18th inst,
containing much fuller report, which the
Bishop regards as more satisfactory, though
not entirely correct. From the Pilots report
we learn that Bishop Bacon reverted, as the
Post says, to the circumstances under which
+ eleven years ago he entered his bishopric.-
The absurd Know Nothing movement was
then at the height of its sbort-lived fury, and
one of his clergymen wrote to him, after hear
ing of his appointment, III very much fear
that you will enter your episcopal city through
the blood of many of your spiritual children"
This passage Bishop Bacon quotes as illustra-
tive OF the state of feeling then prevailing
But he proceeds, and of this there is no men,
ton in the Post, to say that the intense pre-
JUDGE has been now, thank God, in great
part removed, and better, kindlier feeling
substituted in its place." The allusion to the
state of feeling eleven years ago, though cal
culated, we think, to give undue importance
to the prejudice which then existed in some
quarters, was designed to pave the way to an
acknowledgment of the very liberal liberation
which now prevails. The Bishop says, what
between Catholic or Protestant in minister
ing to the wants of the sufferers by the fire.
II he were to complain of anything, he would
complain that his people had been treated too
literally, and allowed to impose upon the be-
nevolence of the committees, though the
clergy have done everything in their power
to prevent such frauds.
AS to the impression that the Catholic con-
tributions are to be used simply for rebuilding
the churches and schools, Bishop Bacon says
it is, like most rumors, partly right and part
ly wrong. Archbishop McCloskey saw fit on
that particular Sunday to cause collections to
be taken up in the Catholic churches of New
York for this special purpose. Other reli-
gious bodies have done the same thing. 1t
was proposed not long ago that all the Sun
day schools in the country should send dona-
tions to the suffering Sunday schools of Port
land, each sending to school of its own de-
nomination. A Baptist church in Hartford
took upa collection one Sunday, to assist ii,
rebuilding the First Baptist church here. The
Swedenborgians of Boston and many other
places have sent contributions to aid their
friends of like faith in Portland. 1t has been
understood that these special contributions
have been in most cases supplementary to
other gifts for general distribution. But SO,
says Bishop Bacon, have the Catholics of
New York contributed to the general relief
fund. Hedeclares that a large proportion of
the names on the roll of the General Com
mittee of New York, were the names of Cath
olics.
This presentation of the matter will, we
think, relieve the public mind of some erro-
neous impressions which have been afoat and
which found expression in our former article.