The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1873-09-25
.WHAr rs THE TRUE CUREq
FROM SERMON By REV. Il. NJ. SIMMONS.

freedom when they come. We say to all, " w or
ship as you will.''
! Hence Romanists are organized all sides.
Their. theology is essentially orthodox Their
worship by rites and symbols is natural and help
full in the ir grade of culture. They need to be
ruled with some authority and such rule is furnish.
ed in priesthood. 1t is natural that priests should
sometimes abuse their great powers, as much az
our civil rulers do theirs.-even more if that were
Ipossible,-for they have the advantage of greater
secrecy. But the dangers from priesth are
offset by many helps from it, and altogether the
Romish religion seems about as well adapted to
it's adherents as most religious systems are to
theirs. .t8ss
| What til en- are the national dangers from Roman
ism First, it includes large class of ignorant
| people and ignorance is q dane erous element in
any state, especially SO In republic where it can
become power Second, Romanism covers a de-
gree of intolerance and intolerance is directly op-
posed to the human rights which our nation has
declared. EEL
What is the true cure for these dangers? G @#
! The cure for ignoranceiis of course education.
| Our hope lies in schools where knowledge is i'm
parted, and minds trained to think for themselves.
These are worth more than armies, for they are
quietly ccnque ring the worst foe of all What is
wanted is not to overthrow Romanism, but to tax e
the dangerous element of ignorance out of Roman
ism. Fl
How foolish then to put the least obstacle in the
way ofeducation How foolish 10 insist on keep.
ing the Bible in school, we tn ereby drive the Cath
olics out Of school The formal reading of the i
bic there has small influence nay, is opposed to
our natl onal principles To make men pay for q
religious exercise against which they have cCnsci-
enGOus prejudice, is precisely like establishing a
church by law. The Catholic demand was just; and
whether just or not, it infinitely more imp ort
ant that we keep the Catholics IN school than hat
we keep the Bible there.
The second evil of intolerance is more than al
cured by The removal of the first knowledge nd
mental strength always bring broader views Of
life and destroy the narrow spirit of bgotry But
besides the work of schools, we want the bro ad :
ening influence that comes from the mingling of
men ON peaceful and friendly terms in
ciety. Showing the Catholics that are their
friends, and keeping them friendly to US, SO that
the influence OF our life and institutions may have
full effect upon them, will soften the intolerant
spirit more than anything else Above all we
want TO shuu the hostile attitude Hostility makes
a W all through which no influence for good ever
penetrates Make o man your enemy, and that is
the end of good influences between you To xii,
or be killed, fight. For des tructive purposes
quarrel. But for all the constructive good work
of society follow after the things which make for
peace . The first principle Of relations with
the Catholics ought to be to keep fren dy terms
with them.
Such friendly relations have been generally kept
here in Kenosha. The last two years we have all
recognized the good work which the Ca ihocs
have been doing in the Temperance and other re-
FORMS We have often questioned whether any O
our other churches doing good work
Our rel ttions were cordial as they should be.
And now comes a travelling lecturer and scatters
dissenson among Us. To make the case worse
two of his lectures are in Protestant churches In
very unphosophic spirit he gives ouly one side of
the case, saying nothing in favor of the Catholics
But perhaps he will show US how much truth there
is In the common cry that they are aiming to
overthrow our institutions. He makes few oral
statements on this point, with authorities too
loosely quoted to be of much value But his
chief aim seems to be to prove the RIGHTEOUSNESS
OF the system. nd after long talk on this point
he announces another lecture exclusively to men,
in which the subject should be treated more ex.
haustively and immodestly, though many of his
hearers were already quite satisfied. The book
which he puts in circulation continues the samo
theme. The only point which we care to know
about the efforts of Catholics to get control Of the
government, is not discussed IN the book. Its
chief theme is tnat Of the lecturer-the lcentious
ness Of the Catholic system-andi it does no. at all
prove this. Suppoting it to be authentic, it only
shows, what we knew before in general way,
that the Catholic Church has interfered in the most
trivial and private family relations. The interior
ence may seem absurd to u.s. but that it is licen-
tous criminal is not shown in the book In
short the book does not appear to be written with
justice or with a moral purpose. It shows an in
tense hostility to Catholics. 1t ah WIS a dsposi-
ton to pander to the Yiiest taste of the commun-
ty. Itis unfair, toul book, that proves moth
ing.-written to make money and disturbance
would rebuke with all the force have the VIC
ence that was offered to the lecturer. fit is foolish
10 talk in such way, it is far more foolish, and
worse than foolish to try to stop talk by violence
We ought all to speak out boldly in rebukc Of such
scenes OF disorder
But such scenes chew the tendency of this meth
cd of interference. II tends to precipitate the
danger,-wbatever danger there is. 1t tends to
settle the catholic question by violence, and to
prevent its settlement by the more beneficial force
Of education and moral influence. Men warn us
of civil war. But such lecturng through the coun
try IS just what Sould stir up civil within i've
years. We know there is IN infammahe element
all about us, and hope is not in setting it on
fire, but in quietly changing it to something bet
ter. Irritation oAly tends to violence. Wedo not
want the catholic question settled by force. Force
was tried in Europe during over century of reg
ious wars. and its chief result was immense blood
shed and bitterness, and the final division of the