The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-08

false gods and following evil ways. Vi
to the time of our Lord men had faile'
to battle againstevil or to do much good
The twelve poor fishermen stood in tn,
polished cities of Athens, Greece ant
Rome, and their ascents conquered phi
losophers and others, who followed the
pursuit of science. A new philosophy
then arose, which, if schooled properly
enabled men to enter the Church. AL
though they were opposed at the time
these poor fishermen were successful fol
q time.
They induced men to give up the or
binary callings of life in order to obey
the word of good. Said an ancient
writer, ave Christians are but of yes
terday, and yet we fill your armies and
ships" Soon the Christian Church was
spread everywhere, and men were
brought up in accordance with the light
of truth. Ignorance and evil have been
receding before Gods holy truth. This
has been wrought by the hand of God
but by what means? BY means of his
Church which he established for the
Christian world. Under the old law
there was no church, but each father
OF the family was high priest of that
family, and there was no bond of union.
but Christ established fold into which
all might come, and he prayed that ali
his followers might be one; one faith.
one Lord, one baptism. He established
in it an organization as in the body of
man, every portion having its own OBJ
legations and its own sphere of action.
Hence it was that victory was obtained.
BY the teaching of the Church nations
have received light and strength and
wisdom. ~
Eighteen centuries have seen her in
the world. For three centuries the
Church was prosecuted almost until
death. Who can tell how mnch the
Christian suffered in those days-how
many driven into dungeons, how MANY
were put to death by every torture that
mans ingenuity could devise? Some
were tied in sacks, while others were
tied to horses; Others were smothered
with pitch and put to death in flames.
But there she stands yet, giving praise
to God for the vile leprosy that has been
taken from Christianity.
But there came time when the
Church battled, through her doctors
and through her councils, at Nice. win
ming victory after victory; and she still
continues now to strengthen our weak.
nesses, and disclosing to as a bright
glimpse of that glory, to which God des
tines US, If we be true to his laws: she
stands in the world miracle of history.
stands, because she Is and established
by Christ our Lord. She will ever con-
tinue, even to the contamination of the
world. Yes, she stands, though the
Roman empire has passed away; she
stands ever the same, because she is not
OF this world, but of the kingdom of
God. lie need not refer to the recent
events that have just closed to show that
men may differ, nations may crumble.
but the Catholic Church never. Her
rites are the same in China as thew are
here; and although the ministry there
may not speak the same tongue. thew
will celebrate the holy mysteries as thew
are celebrated elsewhere. The Church
has a kingdom of Heaven. She was
born of God. The first practical work
of the early Christians was to aid one
another; to aid the widows and orphans
of the land. The dearest letters which
we have beside the Gospel itself, were
through ain ancient bishop, which were
sent in acknowledgement of these chart
ties.
The reverend bishop then referred to
to the education of the people of his
own diocese, and said he had come to
plead their cause to their brethren of
New York. They had already heard of
the condition of things in the South,
bui they should see them to appreciate
them. He had come, therefore, TO plead
The cause of Jesus Christ who had taught
charity, and who had made it incum-
bent on us to aid one another. Shall I
rehearse the sad story of all we have
/ shall not, for / might de-
tain you too long. The first bishop of
Charleston had obtained an enviable
and they were all familiar
with the history of Bishop England who
had done so mnch for the Catholic
Church. There were but two priests at
hat time in the diocese, and two strang-
ers who were abiding there for a short
lime. They labored assiduously for
'ome time, and most of them had heard |
If the success with which their labors
were attended. Bishop England had |
earned name among the Catholics of |
he world, and he deserved it, for he was |
! noble man. There lived no son of |
Grin truer than he, and whose heart |
would not throb with sensation when he |
leard the name of Bishop England
But he has gone, he has at
asst been laid in the tomb. He laid
broad and deep, of vast pro-
'Ortions, predicting the course which the
catholic Church should take in this land.
But there came another who labored
With great success, for eleven years and
Who ended this life, worn out by his in
ense application to his duties. 1t then
LEASED Almighty God to select him tthe
everend speaker) nworthily though
e considered himself. He had been
aught by the side of the first, and now
e had little more to do than to follow
ut the plans they had undertaken.
low promising things at the South
BOXED even six years ago, when the
bishop ofNew York the lamented Bishop
hughes, came to Charleston for the
urpose of regaining his health. Bishop
hughes had given him counsel and adj
ice, and it was not the first time he
ad done so, for he had been father to {
i'm in the Church. The reverend ,
1eaker would tell him his difficulties. :
nd when sadder days came he knew {
lat Bishop Hughes would not cease !
lat interest. And at his last visit how
Iir things looked. Then the speaker 8
as engaged in building, churches and /
her religious institutions which were ,
estined for the service of God and to q
ing souls to Heaven. But how do /
lings stand now? The Cathedral once I
magnificent, is now in ruins. The t
minary, too, is in ashes the boys Q
ylum also. The free school for moor 4