The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-06-27
The .nctity of wealth.

os Draced that hesy. Look at England, the
say in triumh see how mighty an,
in. wealthy. she Her banners have BEEF
Sc planted on evg coast and her Golfers hav,
l. been filed wit great treasures by Protest
lie antism. Loolat America. See her rail
1; roads and steaboats, her cities and com
It merce, her property and wonderful de
i. velopment Its all Professionalism. They
n forget the nonetities of States ranged OIL
!, their side, suchls Norway, Sweden, Den,
.. mark and Hollah. They forget also thai
the most prosperous nation. is Catholic
that is Belgium, nd that the mightiest il
Catholic, that is rance. 1E
Assuming, thenthat material progress is
on their side, theyexult in it as an assured
mark of acceptancewith Cod Protestant
ism is wealthy, Therefore it is holy it is
prosperous, therefor orthodox. How they
scott at Catholicity lecause there are beg
gars in Naples and because the railroads
miss connections in Spain If the Church
| was everywher accompanied by wealth,
enterprise and luxury, then they would
| respect it, then they would acknowledge it's
| divinity, then the Messiah would be that
| temporal king whom the Jews wanted to
make them rich and prosperous, and of
whom Professionalism demands the same.
But occasionally an acknowledgement not
much in accordance with this theory is
forced from the Protestant press Thus we
find in the last issue-the 10Th inst-of the
Methodist organ in this city the following
candid statement as to the condition of
things in Massachusetts: " 1t seems while
she has increased in goods that she has not
increased in faith" This follows mention,
in connection with the respected common
wealth named, of ''the incredible amount
of gold-bearing bonds she managed to
secure while the rest of the country was
fighting" Even gold-bearing bonds, there
fore, are not necessarily sanctifying.
But this is not all. The journal from
which we quote goes on to attack even
Boston itself in the following irreyerent
language, either original, or adopted from
the New York dependent-equally good
authority:
Old DR.. Beecher, the Napoleon of polemics,
used to predict that Boston could not remain
in condition of reputable, moderate Unita- |
but would end in being Evangelical |
or Rationalistic.
perceiving that during the last year, at least |
religious radicalism has held high carnival in |
1Soston. Twenty years ago the city had one
Theodore Parker. Now there has sDrun " mn in I
Boston a hole generation of religious radicals,
lmong whom it is common criticism on Theo-
lore Parker that he chung too much to the
lame and forms. They control pulpits con-
entions, parlors and periodicals. A movement
o strong and established cannot be winked
ut of sight
Now let us note this admission, that there
8 at least ono rich community, one State
ull of prosperity and loaded with interest
caring bonds, one city claiming pre- emf
ence for intelligence and enterprise-the
cry hub of the uniyerse-where funds and
nth are not identical, and where theology
J not improved by thrift.
One such admission is an entering wedge
may be the means of opening the door
truth. When a man is once shaken
| his theory by such patent fact he may ;
D further and remember that he has known =
ANY rich and prosperous men, many en-
withdrawing citizens, who r
ere not moved by the spirit of God, but !,
n the contrary were very wicked, and =
lat after all it might be the same case witlff !
Sotntnahlel VI nIIIoH. nc ilitX- go Oh a
20 and remember that he has known many .
ous, humble Christians whom the Lord =,
griexonsly- beeause-He- leved
em, who were poor and sick and afflicted, .
en- OF courage, industry, intelligence and ~
'nesty, whose brows were furrowed with T
e cares of hard necessity, and that per- q
ps nations too may have the faith and h
t be for awhile under an eclipse as to 8
'rldly prosperity either in punishment of q,
nae offence or as preservation against M
,ral evil. NJ
is not increased by riches, nor
arity by luxury. Let us not require the &C
rit of God to manifest itself in temporal 80
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