The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1873-03-14


manist," in order not to come in conflict with
special laws in those several countries. This
India rubber conscience may be very conven-
lent but not very consistent and would en-
tertain grave doubts of the patriotism of its
owner, no matter how loud his professions of
loyalty. If it be wrong then to follow the
! voice of conscience, what think you of the
Pilgrim Fathers of whom we boast so much?
Certainly, they would not tamely obey the
law of the land, if they considered it in con-
fict with their consciences.
You ask further on: "When the State re-
qulres service, who shall decide7 First the
Priest, then the Bishop, then the Archbishop,
and last Of all the Pope" Now, sir, you must
have very bad memory. 1t was only few
years ago that parties, (not Catholics, howev-
er,1 both North and South, endeavored to de-
stroy this Government which you 60 cherish.
The Estate then required service" but tell
me, did Catholics wait TO ask the PopeP Such
straining as this requires no serious answer.
might retort in an equally silly manner by
enquiring, "When the State requires n SER
vice [of Protestent] who shall decidep First
the Preacher, then tho Bishop, then the
Synod, Assembly or Conference, and last of all
the Bible," which, according to Protestant
private judgment, does not strongly advocate
obedience of any kind, either ecclesiastical or
civil
But, you add "the head of Catholicism is
In Rome and to that head the Catholic must
yield his first allegiance" Now, n religion.
IKE any other society, must have some head
unless 1t is n monster. Catholicism" has in
deed head in Rome, but if the head of
heiiglous Denomination be dangerous per-
sonage' the farther away he is, the better
But the heads of your Protestant Denom;na-
tons are in our midst, and to them, in Bisbop
etllmour's sense, their adherents Weld tbsir
"hrst allegiance" Are not these therefore
more dangerous still? Now 1 believe everv
Frotestent in full membership with his
Ohurch respects and Obeys his ecclesiastical
supcriors In spiritual or ecclesiastical things
de mast do SO, otherwise he is cut off from
his connection with the church But this
obedience is of d! d!tfersnt kind and order, and
In an entirely different sphere from the alIegi-
ance he owes to the State. q So also with the
Catholic nothing more, nothing less.
The Bishop has districtly stated that lin all
that does not conflict with the law of God, We
owe an unqualified obedience to the State. at
seems to me this ought to satisfy the most ex-
acting patriot yet it would appear, dear sir it
Is not loyal enough for you. You would have
us violate the law of God; you would strangle
tie voice of conscience. But should YOU sue
ceed in ostensibly causing one to rebel against
his God and despise the admouitions of con-
science would the State be the gainerp Such
one msy indeed be loud in his professions
ofPatriotism and in his canting hypocritical
piety until some fat government contract or
'Credit Mobilier" speculation would offer, and
then
be assured, dear sir, the man who does not
recognize the principle that he owes his first
duty to God, is dangerous citizen. Thank
Godl the Constitution of the United States
provides for this, and does not compel us TO
the ordeal which you would introduce. It
was for obeying, in act, the principle enunci-
atsd by Bishop Gilmour, that the three youths
were cast into the fiery furnace in Babylon.
that Daniel was twice cast into the lions den,
that the aged Eleazer and the mother of the
Machabees, with her seven sons suffered ex.
cruciating torments and death, that the Apos-
Ties suffered so many and so great persecu-
tions, and that millions of Martyrs, the world
over, enriched the earth with their blood. If
there occur, a conflict between the law of God
and the law of man, then the Christians
motto is ave ought to obey God rather than
man." Acts, V.
1t IS indeed almost incredible that towards
the end of the nineteenth century this funda-
amental doctrine of Christianity, as well as of
Judaism, should be secuted by the moralists
of the Press among Christian peoplel If
anything were needed to confirm the truth of
the Bishops statement that "the question of
the day is no longer Catholicity and Protest
antism, but Cathohcity and Rationalism or
Infidelity," VIC need only refer to the howl
that this declaration of the Bishops has caused
among the press of Ohio. It would require no
great sketch of imagination to believe ourself
IN Pagan land, and hear the alarm its first
enunciation from the lips of one of the Apos-
ties had caused amongst the patriots OF those
days.
1 trust, Mr.. Editor, the days of Knownoth-
ism have passed, never to return, when every
bugaboo asserted of Catholics was sufficient
to convince many that they were doing God a
benefit in exterminating such pests be-
heve you would not desire the return of those
times, and yet you contribute your need to
excite pregudices against US. But whether
Catholicity is good or bad for the country BE
assured the State would suffer fer greater evils
from the society which you would inaugurate,
and in which God sh ould take q back seat.
E. n. OCALRAGHAN.
Fremont March sth, 1873.
T. S. 1 have not referred the School
Question, but 1 may do SO hereafter, with
u011r rza,-uoissiap