The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-05-16
An Honest Admission.

: high q testimonial the most ardent Catholi
II could wish, to the indefatigable zeal and I'M
selfish devotion of our clergy and religion
orders to the cause of God and humanity; an,
is . gratifying admission OF the rapid progress
and benifcent influence of Catholieity IN tn,
United States. What adds more weight TO tn,
admission lis the fact that the ChnrchniGn has
heretofore manifested strong spirit Of hostility
to the growing influence OF the Catholic
Church; and contained in itsissue Immediately
preceding that from which we quote, n leading
article violently opposing Catholic doctrines.
| We are glad tosee, however, that Our neiehbor
| has cast off the shackies which bound his mind,
and that one of the first acts of his new found
| liberty is to administer an antidote to the
poison he served his readers. Here is the
article, H. 4
1t is quite within the memory of many of us,
when the sight even of a Roman Catholic
clergyman, at least in villages and rural parts,
was unusnal: And as for nuns, they were
esteemed to be altogether European, and that
it was wholly impossible for them to be brought
to American shores and live here. The children
of that generation, our ehiidren, have far
different experience. They have been born to
soc adherents to Rome OF the head Of all the
streets at every turn, and almost within eyery
house. Their eyes behold the Romish Chapel,
Church and Cathedral everywhere over the
telling out to every passer by, that the Romish
reli giOn is in the;: midst. They see these with
the over open door of invitation to enter in,
and it is not an empty Invitation, for crowds
are continually pressing into them, and that
ever 6 O'Clock, and IL o'clock, and evening bell
symbolizing the Trirsey in the thrice three
summons, day after day, year in and year ont,
over the whole land from every belfrey and
church tower, is their testimony Of perpetual
presence in our midst. The eyes and ears of
Our children have become wonted to all this
they are no longer startled ct seeing the
Father in the street, and in the car and even
to hear him talk, much as do other people
Nor is it only tho priest that is seen, there is
also the Sister of Charity, and the Sisters of
Mercy, and the Sisters of the Sacred Heart,
and Sisters of many other Orders, even to those
of the strictest rule, found in every city and
centre of influence from the Atlantic to the
pacific. And our eyes have become used to
their peculiar habit, and we look upon them
now as one of the institutions of the country.
But 1t is not only in this wise that we have
become accustomed to them. We have found
them useful to us in many particulars, in the
care for our orphans and though we pay for
this care, yet we are willing to do it, because
nowhere else could they be SO will cared for.
But they are employed by the Professionals in
other ways, and those the most intimate to
ourselves, such as arise between persons who
are mutually interested in an object of great
concern to them, and what surely can equal
such an interest the care of our soma and
daughters, which are committed to their daily,
nay hourly culture for years the tenderest and
most impressible years of their. Lifetime. We
akin to awe. IF they were : our colleges, OF
sepiparies, or hospitals, or asylnns, Il & would
be with admirationl We thus see the remark
able cleseness wherewith the Romanist and the
Protestant have been brought Into contact
with each other. - -. =. 49, 5.......4,r
!, The benefit To Rome has been considered in
our previous paper and now we wish to exhibit
the mutua1 benefit which it has been to the
Protestant. The doctrine Justification by faith
nfone has been mistaken and abused by the
PRptestant He has almost universally failed
to discover st. PaaEs meaning of it, and he has
had such a, bias towards salvation without
works that he has been almost ready w tn
Luther to count st. James Epistle to be one of
straw. The incoming of Romanism, with all
It's vast organism for pious works, has SO i'm
pressed Professionalism that it is really begin
ming to believe that there is something
necessary to be added to faith, ito give It
vitality. The argument of sRotlanisrs from
this point of view has been SO IMMENSE as to
view quite the greater part of ali
THAT'S obnoxious in its system as q theological
yet Professionalism too has gained. 1t has been
taught that faith aCithoat irorkS is dead" that
We cannot say BE ye tcarmed and filled /; and
yet gire dhea not thosc things ,rhieb are a,eefui to
me body :" for what. says the Apostle, doth
this profitY TO Romahism is due the tribute
of grateful praise for having taught-,ia= the
a OF this lesson. Where was the Protest
ant Asylum or the Protestant hospital before
Rome planted their own in the land Here
and there was ons of tho State, but such were,
Hithont religion, SO cold and heRCtleas rs to be
most aa4iffYitffg to enter..fhe kindly aspect
Of Christian asSlam cnrries with it tho sense
Of home and its tender care for us. But
private hospital or asylum may too be heart
less, if furnished only with hirelings for
attendants and for nurses. And herein, too |
Rome has taught the Protestant that woman
may consecrate her energies to the cause of
the helpless and the afflicted, through love for
Christ. and without aaE4diy-Ee>a%aeFatie II
is trne that this order of Christian women was
found everywhere in the early Church, but it
g also true that, With many other good things, |
trotestaHtsDt at the Reformation cirtaaIg IGNORED
he influence Of 'cOmeH; miHistc,ing spirit, |
beyond the precinct Of the domestic freside
One moro lesson to be named, wherein |
Professionalism has been taught by Rome is to |
De found in distinctive Christian education
Religion and learning has become divorced in !
our land Rome set her face against this, and |
has succeeded very far in having her own way |
even with the multitude of poor children |
which belong to her ranks. Professionalism has /
seen the fol- wing isslser Gaotsteps
Dy found 3Dt op1S ths6lDg ioafschdEls, but I
,nd s s SaTEa S6 soliSas
'trict g4fistfVh SEFtegosE ist Pc hpped fhat !