Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-11-29
LEorURE AR rRE oArBEDRAL,


y nc CAAAtA n ~ AsCteAtAOA ~
Power.
Last Sunday night Rev. NJ. Meagher de.
livered lecture at the Cathedral on the
subject, ssfhe Church, in Relation 10
Civil Power The proceeds Of the lecture
are to be given for the relief of The poor
under the care of the society of ST. Vincent
dc Paul, and amounted, We understand, to
about one hundred and seventy dollars.
The audience was quite large, and Mr..
Meagher's remarks were received with
great attention and respect, of which we
present brief synopsis:
The lecturer remarked that, in our daily
intercourse with men, the most difficult
matter is TO get people TO attend exclusive
ly to their own business. And this princi'
pie of intermeddling affects corporate
bodies as web as individuals. II is exem-
plifed in the ordinary business of life; for
instance, two persons can hardly ever be
| appointed Joint administrators of en- estate
| without some dispute or understanding
as to the legitimate authority of each. And
| wherever the sphere of action is not clear
| " and distinctly marked, there will be con-
| fiict of authority, SO that between the
| Church and the State there is oftentimes
considerable conflict ia regard to the prop
or jurisdiction of each.
We ought, therefore, to go back to the
origin of each to determine its exact sphere,
for if we do mot know the origin and end
and aim of anything, how can we deter
mine its limits? -.o1 u 4
And, first: ell power comes from God.
The advocates of civil liberty and civil
power tell US that all power comes from
God through the people; and, hence the
expression Of the politicians, Voe p0puH
cor Del. But has no other power come
from God except civil liberty? Hasn't God
established church?
The speaker continued his remarks by
asserting that the church had nothing TO
do with developing the resources of q
country, building railroads, regulating
business matters between man and man,
but with regard to religions education and
matters of higher morality the civil power
must yield to the church.
He then instanced several cases in his
tory to prove his position that where the
State had recognized the superiority of the
Church in regard to matters of morality
and religion, then the State had prospered,
referring particularly to the history of the
Jews and the reigns of Constantine the
Great and Oharlemagne, King of France.
And when Numa Pompilius gave laws to
the Roman people he sought to Throw
around them the sanctity of religion to
ensure for them greater respect, and there
fore gave out that he had received the laws
from O goddess.
In conclusion the speaker said that the
Church had a mission from God and could
not be faithless to that mission; and wher-
ever morality is in danger, wherever the
State takes from her property that belongs
to her, she must raise her voice, even if il
should not be heard or her petition reject
ed. There are times when the Church
must interfere in merely civil affairs as
when tyrant puts his heel on the neck OF
the people, or when oppressive laws are
enacted, and also where bigotry is made q
party policy. When the country is in dan.
ger everything should be thrown into the
scale, and mans love of country should
impel him to raise his voice and use his
influence that his country may be saved.