The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-02-04
MONDAY, FEBRCARY 4, 1867

the POntittcal otaJeS, because Ol bhe pIOhioi-
ton of the Papal authorities against ProteS'
tant worship in Rome, is one which will re-
ceiye the hearty Endorsement Of all citizens,
without respect to religious creed. While
the fact that the American chapel had been
officially forbidden is well known to our
readers, the circumstances OF the case are
unfamiliar. A letter from the Rev. DIR.
Prime, of New York, and the accounts
given in few foreign journals, enable us to
give a pretty correct idea Of the reason, or
at least the mode of operation, of the autho-
rites. 1t would seem that the laws OF the
Holy See. established when the POntif
ruled above all kings, when the lnquisi-
ton was a tribunal from which none could
escape, and from which there was no appeal,
forbid all worship in Rome except the Catho-
lie ritual service.
Founded in an age when personal rights
were unrecognized, when, by invoking the
name of a God ofpeace, the bloodiest murders
were made holy, when religious differences
were offenses OF state, and freedom of thought
heresy not to be tolerated, these laws have
naturally fallen into disuse, and until the
present year were "rotting away with rust in
antique shades" 1t is reserved for the time
when the temporal power of Rome was totter-
ing, and when the enlightened freedom ofthe
age cannot stand the least check on individual
liberty, when day by day we are growing
more tolerant, and fanaticism is OF the dead
past-it is reserved for this moment for the
Holy Father to strike a blow which would not
have been tolerated by Prussia in the
eighteenth century, and will certainly not be
mildly assented to by America in the nine
teenth. The facts Of the case appear to be
few.
Over two centuries ago the British Gov
ernment recalled her Ambassador from Rome,
and since that time there has been no Eng
lish embassy in the city. THIS virtual refusal
to recognize the Roman States as a temporal
power did not, however, deprive English men
of their rights; and tor many years the
English chapel, located just beyond the city
walls, has continued to flourish, with its Pres
byterian preacher. The other Protestant
Governments gradually established chapels
at their embassies, and the American chapel.
by the Ambassador, has been winked at for
nearly century. The same is the case with
the Russian and Prussian chapels. 1t would
seem, however, that, while pretending not to
notice the fact that worship was held, the
Papal Government was really only prevented
from stopping these services by the presence
OF foreign bayonets. The withdrawal of the
last of the French troops has once more left
that Government free, and, not profting by
the lessons Of the past Plus determines to
play the Gregory, and has had the prelimi-
nary circulars sent to the various chapels,
English, Prussian, Russian, and American.
The one to the British-Scotch chapel is a
sample:-
RRITIsH CONSULATE AT ROME, December 81,
l866.-Sir:-lt is my official DUTY TO inform Won
that Monsignore Randi, Governor of Rome
has just communicated to Ee that you are hold
ing illegal religious meetings in your house.
which, you must know, are prohibited Oy the
Roman law, and that you have thus placed your.
self IN the pOlDeT of the INQUIsITION both tor
arrest and imprisonment.
But as the Monsignore permits me to give you
this notice, | would seriously advise that you
at once put an end to these innovations, anC
that you visit Monsignore Randi at Monte Cito-
no, and assure him that you will never agar
you may possibly suspend your exile which i
now hanging over you.
] am, sir, your obedient servant
(Signed) JOSEPH SEVERN British Consul.
To Rev. JOSEPH LEWIS.
Our readers will doubtless be surprised a
the information that there still exists sue
an institution as the Inquisition. Associate
with the days of Philip OF Spain and tn
Duke of AlVa, of Lorenzo de Medici and tn
Sforza, of Henry the Fowler and Mar
Tudor. it seems as though the centuries ha
rolled backwards, ior it seems impossible ths
the free air of our age should be pollute
with this foul record of murder, which
condemned alike by Protestant and Cathol
historians The same prohibition has bee
extended to the American chapel, and tt
flag can no longer secure to a citizen IL
right to worship his God as his conscien'
dictates. Under the circumstances, we al
reioiced at the action Of our Congress. Wi
a determination which does it credit, al
which is but an exposition OF the spirit OF o.
institutions, the recall OF the American Amba
sador is ordered, and all diplomatic relatio
between the two countries dissolved. 1t
not impossible that Prussia and Russia W
do likewise, and the Roman States be reco
nized only by the few powers which st
retain the Roman religion as that OF the Sta
We cannot but believe that if such be t
nolicy of Plus and Antonelli, the strength
the temporal Church will be seriously Il