The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-09-14

WOuIu D0G lSaNc tS much Clothes the
vagabonds as would make O mop to swab
the carriage, and I'd bleak their necks into
the bargain"
The third reason to which attribute
this extraordinary spread Of Catholieity in
America is a certain attribute of the native
American mind, of which am very an
xious to speak, for feel very Intensely
about it. Strictly speaking, we must draw
broad line between the British Colonial
America, which ceased at the time of the
Revolution, and the new and glorious
States which sprung into existence from
that period. The British Colonies, as
they were called, were legislated for by
from London; and these laws were impreg-
mated with the spirit of religious bigotry
and intolerance, those statute books were
stained with Catholic blood. The moment
that America dashed to the ground that
unworthy banner, and raised up the ban
erosity to blot out all recollections of the
past by splendid legislation, aud declared
the great principle of Religious Liberty.
The consequence was that the American of
to day, that highly intellectual, that
grandiy gifted American mind of day is
NOT bit like the moro ancient opinions
and traditions of persecution. They are
free from them. AS more than one gen.
tleman in America boosted to me-"Fa-
Their, you must acknowledge our hands are
free from blood" The consequence of this
is a certain largeness of mind, freedom
from prejudice, certain willingness to
consider fairly the great truths of Rsvela-
ton, a certain logica! scumen which keenly
and logically perceives the truth. Nothing
struck me- more than this--the clear, un
prejudiced habit of mind I discovered
amongst Americans. I will give you u
case in point. I was called, during NY
stay in America, to visit a geltlemau VITO
snIr O. lou ~ mi, -
the Southern States-all the best families
are in the Southern States-a1d man
very highly connected. He was a man too
who had travelled in Europe and had read
a great deal. I went to him and found
him with all his senses, perfectly clear,
and spoke to him on religious truths.
The man looked at me. After a time I
felt the moment was come, concluded my
arguments, I rose from the place where
was sitting at the bed side, and saids "My
friend, you ara dying. 1t is necessary to
please God to have some specific form of
religious belief. You have heard my argu-
ments. / command yoa now, in the name
to be received into the Catholic Church,
and to consent to receive the Sacraments
at my hands. The moment put it to him
the man complied, and before left the
| room he was Catholic.
Aud now, my friends, such is the present
of America glorions Church, united like
one man. The Episcopacy, the priethood,
and the Catholic laity in America are the
most united of any branch of the Holy Ca
tholic Church, for they have less dissen-
sion, or appearance of diversity of opinion
amongst them. Obedience to the Holy
Church of God, love for the Church's head
and centre, the Pope of Rome; rational,
yet most loving obedience to every man
date of the Head Of the Church, and docile
nh fn onnurjafinn nf the
Church-tbeir mother-these are received
and acted upon as matters of course in
America. 1t is the most glorious in its
| unity of all the nations that have embraced
the truth and the Cross of Jesus Christ.
A glorious Church numbering to day fully
States destined to grow with that mighty
growing country, destined to leayen that
country with truth for all the converts to
Catholicity I have ever met-and / have
encountered many of different nationaliJies
the most intellectual, the most fervert,
the most simple minded and religious are
tho converts made to Catholicity from the
worst forms of New England Pnritanism.
They brought all the energy of the Pilgrim
forefathers with them into the Church of
God they brought their. dogged Anglo
Saxon determination that, having seen the
truth, they shall stand by 1T to the end, and
they will fight for it, and if necessary die
every year. The shrewd, keen intelligenc
of America has an insight into the truth far
keener than those nations whose youth and
childhood have been nurtured upon the
traditions of bigotry and intolerance.
Those converts are multiplying. Protest
aDtism is rapidly disappearing out of the
haunts Of Puritanism. In Massachusetts,
itself Catholicity has made such advances
that one statesman of America said few
years ago" In twenty-five years believe
the great masses of our population will be
Roman Catholics to man." believe it
for two reasons. One is supernatural, the
other natural reason. 1 believe it for 4
supernatural reason. The Church is the
salvation of the world. Every Catholic be-
lieves it-every Catholic must believe it.
If 1 did not believe that the Catholic
Church was the one necessity of the world
If did not believe that her mission was
to save the world, to save society, the hu-
man as we'll as divine society of her own
children, I would not remain q Catholic
The American mind-comiog to tho ma
tural argumeht-is beginning to recognize
this fact. They see clearly and distinctly
that it is necessary for tho salvation of
American society that tho sanctity of the
Christian family shOuld he preserved Thev