The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-10-25
F.1THER HYACINTHE.
His Sayings and Doings in New York

His Sayings and Doings in New York.
Father Hyacinthe has very sensibly declined
public welcome in New York. Nothing can
be cleaned from him in regard to his inten-
tions, more than has been already stated.
Being requested By personal friend to give
statement in his own writing as to his pres
ent position toward the head of his order ana
of the church, he states that he intended to do
so ere long, but was unable at the present, as
he was waiting letters from Italy, which will
influence his course He passes much of his
time in meditation and study, and in writing
letters to everybody who writes letters to
him. Except the ceremony Of saying mass,
the monk adheres strictly to the rules OF
priesthood inhis church, and openly proclaims
his intention to live and die Catholic. In
the course of Tuesday he sent for Father Hec-
ker, superior of the Paulists, in Fifty-ninth
street, and spent the evening in his company.
Father Hecker has sailed for Europe to attend
the council.
FATHER HYACISTHE'S REAL POSITION.
The New York Sun editorially remarks:
That Father Hyacinthe is right in opposing the
reactionary tendencies Of the Papal Court all
Protestants, and probably many Catholics will
readily admit; but the particular way he has
chosen to manifest this opposition, and the Cir
cumstances under which he has done 1t, are such
as place him at considerable olsadfantage pe-
fore the public.
TWO things are clear. The reverend father has
not renounced his allegiance to the Catholic
Church nor his faith In her doctrines, While ne
has plainly broken his VOWS OF obedience as
monk. In his published letter, giving Ills reasons
for Withdrawing from the pulpit OF Notre Dame
and from his monastery, he makes the excuse that
the dogmas sought 20 be enforced upon tne Catno-
lie Church by the powers at Rome are false and u-
christian and that he was fettered In his preach
ing by the orders Of his superors. The frst ailega
tiOn, II true, might be considered good one Ior
withdrawing from the church but as ne mas not
done so 1t is useless for him to offer 1t In eXcupa
tion OF his refusal to return TO his ministry when
counseled to do so by the superior OF his order
Unless, therefore, his second point be made good
by the facts Of the case, he remains without de-
fence.
What, now, are the facts? For some time the
reverend fathers utterances had been viewed
with distrust by eminent Catholics. He nad
taken sides in doctrinal disputes, written letters
against the sentiments OF the Pope, and finally
made an address before Peace Congress whlcn
gave rise to much unpleasant talk. In conse-
qucnce OF these manifestations, the head OF ms
Order OF Carmelites addressed to him, In July
last, letter forbidding him to print any letter or
discourse; to preach anywhere but In church;
to attend the sessions Of the French Chambers or
OF the Peace Congress; or to be present at any
reunion not OF q purely Catholic and religious
kind. It Is asserted distinctly that these were
the only restrictions laid upon him, and that
they do not amount to an exercise OF tyranny Is
evident The father has put himself In the lalse
position OF being rebel against legitimate &C.
clesiastcal authority without suflicient grounds
for the rebellion, and without having taken the
proper steps to relieve himself, In dignined way,
As tn the protestant ministers who seem anX-
ious to distinguish themselves by welcoming
what they regard as an important convert from
the enemy, we advise them to hold back little
while till they see just how far they have secured
the prize and what 1t will be worth after they get
1t. As an orthodox Catholic preacher to French
audiences, Father Hyaclnthe was celebrity. he
has not yet ceased to be Catholic, and when ne
does, and when the support OF the cnurcn Is
Withdrawn from him, he may not prove to be the
power he has been. He is no theOogian and no
controversiallst, and we very much fear that IN
Protestant pulpit even with the command OF tue
English language, he would have but little sue
cess.
FATHER HYACINTHE AND THE AMERICAN CATH
oLICS
elsg, The ~ New M OK ieset contains the loo"lhs
all other Catholic papers that we have seen
adopt substantially the same tone:
If he has come or shall come here expecting to
find sympathy among Catholics with the views
expressed In Ills lcLler 10 lIlc Reuclhi MO VI
der. he is destined to woful disappointment
Catholics In this country are In general DelieV-
ers in republican government, and ardent de-
tenders OF civil liberty and the freedom ana IN
dependenre OF the church; but they are equally
stern defenders Of the Divine authority OF tue
church to teach and govern all men anu nations
in all things pertaining to the spiritual duties;
relations and end OF man. They are 100 wen
acquainted with Professionalism TO nave sympa
thy with any Protestant or anti-Cathollc tenden-
cles The American Catholics who he may have
regarded as working for the ends he proposed 10
himself. he will find to be behind none In their
sincere and earnest censures OF his spirit ana
conduct The distinguished American Catholic on
whom he may have counted, since he Is hell! by
Pr6testants TO be Liberal Catholic, assured US
personally, nearly two years ago, that ne feared
for Perc Hyacinthe, whose views were very un-
sound, and who was evidently yielding to ten
dcncies the nature OF which he did not under
stand and which, il not resisted In time, would
lead him out Of the church.
This Is q poor country for shaky, especially
renegade, Catholics. II Pere Hyacinthc comes
here expecting TO induce any considerable mum
ber OF Catholics, or even single Cath0ic, 10 ac-
cept him as a leader or to follow him III MS most
Incorporate and silly attacks on the authority OF
the church. he will find that he has come on
FOOLS errand. II lie comes as q Protestant seek
ing sympathy and glOridcation from the enemies
of the church, he will no doubt be welcomed, out
not with much warmth or respect; Tor lhey see
that he comes without any following, anu mas
only his bare self to offer them. They already see
that by leaving the church he has lost MS power
to serve them, and that they have no iurther Use
for him,