The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-12-09
.GhtGtteltiqeu
The EeumenIeal COunelI aud the Pm.
pal ByIlRhuS-IlF. Fishers Scr.
mon and mr., RFann'S
70 tho Editors ofllo Intelliso nccr

The Rev. Henry A. Braun has ap-
pArenlly taken upon himself, or had
assigned 10 him, the championship Of
Catholicism hereabQutS during the alb.
sence OF the good Bishop at Rome, ]
observe that he has thus far published
TIRES communications upon Mr.. Fish.
et'S recent discourse In regard To the
ECumenical Council; and Il am NOT
mistaken he has also advertised 10 hold
forth still further and more exsenSiye-
~ on the same subject at q future time,
II 10 not here Intended 10 discuss the
tone Of the reverend gentleman,s com.
munlcatlons. The contrast between The
criticism and the sermon In this respect
ls Buthclently marked, I think, 10 speak
Tor lLHelf, and will not be apt To over.
look by q discriminating public, What
propose 70 especially call attention 70
is the apparent effort on the part OF
Mr.. Brann, by means or rldIoule and
sarcasm, 10 bellttle and Ii possible,
neutrAlize, the leading point OF MI.
FIsher's sermon, which point was that
the Papal Syllabus To-, Ia effect, an ar
rAlgnnent and indictment before the
world Of the light and liberty OF the
Nineteenth Century. This Ia the lead.
Ing point In that sermon, Rs YOU have
published It. Can the point be sub-
Stimulated Has Mr.. Brann reflted Il 7
There are, slrs, In the Syllabus-at
least In one copy OF it-elghty specih-
cations or counts Of indictment, settling
forth "a errors Of greater or less import
almost all the distinguishing features
OF the age In which we live, 30 lar aB
they Involve the freedom OF conscience,
the freedom OF the pulpit, the freedom
OF the schools, The freedom OF the press,
and, In short, the freedom OF man In
bis best relations 10 himself and 10 so
ciety. -.
l shall not, In support OF this, quote
ct length from the Syllabus referred 10.
IL 10 not necessary 10 do 80. The Syl-
lab1s haH. been Published and It can be
read throughout by any one desiring q
more satisfactory understanding OF the
reaotionary and medI@VIal spirit that
perVadeS the entire document. / desire
simply 10 submit TO the Rev. Mr..
BEAnn's attention the four concluding
specifications ofthe Syllabus, and ask
hun TO lay aside his attempts at sRr~
casm for the time being, and TO inform
the public by what process he recon-
Giles those specifications, TO say nothing
about others, with that freedom for 70.
llRious worshlp which Catholics claim
for themselves, not only In this cOun-
try but In England, and In all the SO.
called Protestant Countries OF the
World. The four errors alluded 10,
and which are denounced by the Pope
In the conclusion OF the Syllabus are as
follows. They are given by him In q
negative shape that at first sight con-
fuses the reader, but they can BIZ I'M.
derstood by q little attention. They
run thusly' ....
Error Tin the presentday II Is no longer
eXpedlent that the Catholic religion ahali be
held an the only religion oGthe State, 10 the
exclusion OF all other modes OF worship.
That IL 10 say, that It Ia still az expe-
dent as ever 10 deny federation 10 any
religion other than the Roman Catho-
llo, meaning thereby that any dissent.
ers from that religion are not 10 be III.
lowed to worship after the dictates OF
their own consclenceH. viii Mr.. Brann
inform us whether this is a proper In
depreciation OF specification n; and II
80, whether he comedies and sympa-
thizes with the Interpretation? ~.
Error 7S-Whenco It has been wisely pro-
ylded by law, in some countries called Catho-
Ito, That p0rgonS coming To reside therein
shAll enjoy Tho public exercise OF their own
worship. I.....
That IL to say that such provision
Of law IL not wise, is an error 10 be de-
nounced, and that dissenters from the
Catholic religion have no rights OF wor-
ship that are to be respected where
public opinion will permit their sup
preston. Does Mr.. Brann say Amen
TO this doctrine?
Error TO-MoreOVer. 1t Ia false that the
civil liberty OF every mode Of worship, and
the full power given 10 all OF OVerlly and
publicly manifestiuE their opinions and their
ideas OF all kinds whatever, conduce more
oaMly To corrupt the morals and minds OF
people, and 10 the propag alton Of the pest OF
indinGIentlAm.
The foregoing specification Is some
what jumbled and obscure, but It
means just the opposite from what one
0t the founders OF our Republic meant
when he said that all forms OF error
mhy be safely tolerated when reason is
left free TO combat them. The Syllabus
means that nothing Is tolerable that Ia
not orthodox, and nothing is orthodox
that Is not Papal. Does Mr., Brann so
understand the language OF specifca-
ton 70?
Error S-The Roman PontiH can and
ought TO re concIle himself 10 and agree with
progress, liberalism, and modem civilian
lion.
That Is to say, that the Roman Pom
I'LL cannot and ought not 10 reconcile
himself to, nor sympathize with, what
10 generally called civilization In this
country, and In England, and In most
or all OF the recognized Protestant
countries; such civilization, for In
stance, as is compTehended In the terms
free schools, free puiplts, free press, and
freedom 10 mems minds and con-
sciences from ecclesiastical dlctatIon
or influence. ..-s
Taking these four specifications as
specimens OF the Pope's Syllabus, will
Rev. Mr.. Brann tell US what would be
left Of modern civilization after we
should subtract the whole eighty
items from the Nineteenth Century 2
What sort OF s0cietywould we have,
political, social and religious? Would
II be Isabella her most Catholic Males
w. as she Is called,) roseAtsd on the
Spanish throne, and Protestant wor-
1Ahpf bho AateIy ptIO"eut hkHlH IOEUlu"
den In Madrid? Would 1t be Protest.
ants gathering on Sundays within the
privileged precincts or a foreign Minis
ter's quarters, as at Rome to-day
Would u be the complete subordina-
ton Of all the Pere 'Hyacinthes OF the
Church TO superior at Romef Wonld
y be condition Of civilization such az
is presented by any Catholic country
on this or the Eastern OonIinentH
IsubmlttheBe questions along with
my quotations from the Syllabus, 4
Mr.. Brann, for his respectful cOdslder.
alton. Perhaps he can tell us Just wha
the Pope had In view % q model con.
dition for society, and also furnish III
with some age or country as an illus
traLion OF what his Holiness desires L
bring about In the way OF better civ
iltzation for these degenerate times.
December 7, 1860. INQUIRER.
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