The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-12-14
Protestantism Played Out 4" in the Homo Of tho
Puritans.

&" Protsstaatism Played Out 4" in the Homo Of tho
Puritans
N1LURkoE OF THE CATHOLIC IRIsRMEK M
BoSToN-wHAr REMAINS TO BE GAINED.
Uox1espondsnee Of the cashslio ReviswI
BosroN, Nov. 23.-Ths Church is pro-
crossing with rspid strides In this ancient
homo Of the Puritans. Many of the most
thoughtful and conservative Protestants
acknowledge that New England 10 fast be-
descendants Of the Puritans are concerned,
."steady habits.h with all its sncisnt strict
ness In external morality, Puritan aystem
tended to materialism, and IL fast working
itself ont in that direction. shall not
deny that tho stern old Puritans had their
virtues, nor that their influence 10 still Selt
for good in many Of the traditions Of the
Fathers, which have survived In their
children, the faith that gave them birth.
But even th0se traditions are fast losing
their hold on the minds Of the people.
As a religion. Paritanism is fast going to
seed, As DR.. Stone remarked, the other
day, in his splendid address before the
Boston Catholic Union "Protestantism il
played out" Whether his impassioned
exclamation: "Oh, my brethren, it cannot
be that the people of New England are to
lapse into infidelity, and cynicism, and
immortality" will prove well:founded
prediction, remains to be seen. The pre-
sent tendency is, certainly, strongly In that
direction. 1t cannot be denied that our
Protestant friendsj of every name, are fast
losing the sense of the supernatural and
turning their almost exclusive attention to
the interests Of this world. Earthly hap
piness, sensual pleasure, voluptuous en-
true New Englander, and hence, ! am
sorry to say, the ideal New England home,
so beautiful and attractive in theory, is
fast disappearing from real life. The ma
tive population is running ont. The New
England mothers, with some few happy
exceptions, are too much devoted to plea
sure to find time OF inclination for the holy
joys and legitimate duties Of maternity
and now the rapid increase of the Irish ele-
ment, and, consequently, the wonderful
growth of the Catholic Church, as compar-
ed with Professionalism, has become fav-
orite theme, even with popular Protestant
writer's. The Catholic population Of Bos-
ton is noted at about one hundred thous-
and, and their influence 10 beginning to be
felt In the body polite. True, they still
labor under serious disabilities, especially
in the public schools and in the public in
situations of charities and correction. We
cannot deny that the public schools, which
are confessedly among the best In the
country have been managed with apparens
fairness to Catholics. Complaints Of mall
practice are generally listened to by the
authorities, and the evils complained OF
pretty promptly remedied. Still, there
are evils inseparable from the very nature
of these schools, which we all SEQ and de.
plore, and which we arc determined to get
rid of as soon as possible.
know from personal knowledge that
our good Bishop Is most earnest in his de-
sire for Catholic Schools, and have reason
to believe the example of parish schools
will be set in the Cathedral parish just 90
soon after getting fairly settled in the
splendid new Cathedral Church, now being
erected, 40 it can be brought about. In
lions Of charity and correction, do mot
FFshink the day is far defiant when satisfae-
tory concession will be made BY those in
authority. There 10 something 80 mani
testify unjust and even tyrannical, 90 con-
trary to all our ideas Of liberty of con-
avowed principles of our Protestant fellow
citizens themselves, in the idea of denying
Catholic inmates the services OF their own
clergymen and the consultations Of their
own religion, and still moro in compelling
them to attend religious services that they
cannot conscientiously approve, that my
own Impression is, We have only to bring
the subject fairly and candidly before the
minds of the people to secure all we want.
But If the sober, common sense, conserva-
tive feeling of the community will allow
itself to be Overridden by clamoring bigotry
and agitating fanaticism, if the people will
not do us justice, then we must take care
of our own. Thank God the increasing
prosperity of our people is every year rem
dering such a work more feasible. AZ pre-
sent we are very much occupied, hardened,
indeed, with the pioneer work of building
churches. We have fourteen new churches
now on hand, besides numerous splendid
institutions of charity, which ere in e
greater or less degree of for wardness, all
calling for help and multiplying ways and
means of raising material aid" But the
very habit Of giving increases our dispost.
ton and our capacity. "There In that
scattereth and yet increaseth." God speed
the time when every parish shall have its
school, and our poor unfortunates be ab-
undantly provided for:
st. Alphonsus Maria dc Liguori, Bishop, Confessor
and Doctor Of the Church, Founder Of the
Congregation Of the Most Holy Redeenser.
The life of this i1iustrious saint by member
of the Order of Mercy, authoress of the life of
Catherine McAuley, ETC., has just been issued
from the press by Mr.. P. oshea, Catholic pub