New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-17
great congregation in language understood by the


great congregation in q language understood by the
people. .....t ................
From the oid Library, without waiting for the
mon / pushed on to the Electoral building Here, NJ
on all perm sslbe dead walls OF the city, wero posters
exhorDg tho Catholic voters TO their dutya green one
and a yellow one-assuring them that they had been
crushed and outraged and their liberties taken away
from them by the law authorizing them TO choose their
own pastors and that their only under this
oppression was dignfed and contemptuous Qn large
capitals) abstenton :; and two scarlet ones,
ing them TO rally at the polls Beside these
smaller one in crimson, containing the spirited letter
Of the Abbc Marchal highly respectable and able
priest To his late ordinary the Bishop OF Nsncv. resign
ing his benehces in that diocese and announcing
his adhesion TO the Liberal Catholic Church OF
Geneva or course, under these oircum-
stances things pretty dull and peaceabe at the
polls. made haste TO High Mass at Notrc Dame, the
fine church built by Mermod the exiled bishop, with
view TO its being his cathedral church when he should
have carried his point of making himself Bishop of
Geneva There q large congregation present.
hardly less than that at the Old Library and in the cir
cumstances II could not but be pretty serious one.
Nothing but miracle stood between them and speedy
election from their churches. But IL beautiful
hibtion OF faith when young priest assembled the pull
PIT and began to read list OF appointments for the
various ey churches for the week and for the next
Sunday He then read OF IN high monotone paper
which had already distributed in print at the door
the Public Declaration and Profession OF Faith OF
all the members OF the Catholic clergy OF the
Canton Of Geneva" The declaration is
a sharp protest against the new law as
schismac, the work OF Protestant majority accepted
only by those who Protestants n dsguise that no
Catholic Clergyman can have anything 10 do with 1t,
whether by taking the oath or by election active or
passive; and that any who would consent TO be
elected under Is thief and robber" To this pro-
test is added the Profession of Faith signed by the chap
ter Of the old diocese of Geneva IN 1885, when they re-
fused accept the civil constitution Of the clergy" inn
posed by the French Revolutionary Government, and
went with dignity into Punishment. 1t is sturdy
enunciaton of high papal doctrine-the supremacy OF
the Pope all bishops and priests, that whatever
power these possess by virtue OF conservation or ordna
ton can exercised only by express commission de-
rived from the Pope Consequently, the only persons
having the right to bapze absolve marry, shriye and
bury Christians, they win stay with their flock ard do
twhiCh by the way, there Is now nothing In the world
10 hinder.
The little sermon that followed on this document was
worthy of the text II expatated bRehy on the rights
of the Church, dated the herosm of the two priests
who had returned from Punishment in 1898 TO minister
10 the spiritual wants of the faithful and had suffered
maryrdom in consequence; and asseverated the read
ness Of their successors to follow their example,
declaration which no doubt sincere but winch lost
much IA point OF ron Ih 5 Iet Lai
two points Of exhortatiOn: That his should
take care 10 have kind OF fellowship with any Of the
heretcs schismacs, but look upon them al with
horror 1.-THE children OF the devil" 2 Ihat tney
should continue instant in prayer.
The whole trouble out of the Mermillod affair.
That clergyman having finally provoked the Govern
ment into withdrawing nus authorization cure at
last by pretty high handed procedure Vanished from
the canton. . The Government, with sundry Catholic
marshes vacant resolved to leave the whole matter OF
the of pastors to the Catholic citizens them
selves done in the case OF the Pr0testints me
bill introduced for this purpose was scrnlGu-Y amend
according the suggestion of the Catholic deputies
EVERYTHING which would have been hlnderance 10 the
free voting OF conscientious UltramOntaDe was eX-
pusged The authority OF the bishop recognized.
The full liberty of thOse who were discontinued with the
new gme TO withdraw and naiutan curcnes OF their
proYidedfOr And nothing remained but 10 SUD
init 10 votes OF the faithful ana let Them
manifest their loyalty 10 their priests by sohd
vote for their reelection. just here however,
arose the great difficulty. Up TO this point the
In ordiDary times. the Church and the state would
nave wFanged through II aud come out at some sort or
aodug rtreHdi the end But the Church has BEEN TINS
time nnldcky in the time of picking its quarrel Upon
Catholic chstendomsOc confessed and depiored by the
best Catholic writershId superYened the deep dscon-
tent arising from the alliance, sealed in the Vatican
Connc between the Church ana despOtisIn ana " re-
action" generally and tnen, under the fervld elo
oueuce OF Hy0cInthe. stirring all hearts in Geneva
had grown up positive and earnest religious organiZl-
ton which holds the sympathy, tO-day's election
proves of more than half of the Catholic voters Of
fine CITY All that the Canton OF Geneva has said In that
when the Catholic community divides the Church prop
erty and privileges shall with the major part and
not with the minority,
As aln about 10 close the letter the result OF the
voting s announced Hyacnthe and his friends, 1856
scattering5 Henceforth, then, the Liberal Catholics
are before Jaw; the Catholic Chutch OF Geneva ana
the Ultramontanes are voluntary association OF dis
seDters.