The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-03

Lecture by the Right Rev. Dr. tynch, BIshop
Of Charleston, 8. C-The Danishment Of
the Religious Orders from Germany
Parallels from History Bismarck
Compared to Trsjan.
The spacious Church OF the Holy Innocents, on
Thirty seventh street, near Broadway, which, with
the adjoining schoolhouse, stands as O test-
m0nial to the perseverance OF the Rev. Father
Larkn, was last evening crowded to repletion, the
occasion being a lecture by the Right Rev. Bishop
Lynch of Charleston, in aid Of the schools attached
TO the church. The venerable prelate chose for
his subject "Bismarck and the Church." which, 1t
is almost needless to say, was discussed in most
learned and eloquent manner. He said:-
The Church OF Christ during the eighteen Gen.
Itures and half OF its existence has encountered
many storms; 1t has been exposed to many at
tacks; Its whole existence has been contin ual
battlei has been called to resist assaults from
one side the other, and no history in the world
could give such lifc-like testimony to each
succeeding age as those records in her an
nails which were written at the time
and on the spot. The earliest, the first
record we have OF prosecutions recorded by Chris
tans consists of the story OF that which was
visited on Ignatius Bishop of Antioch. the second
successor of ST. Peter the Apostle. A good and
venerable bishop was he, revered alike by his 1ock
by the clergy and by the Gentle world. 1t is said
OF HIM that he was the very little child who was
brought by his tender-hearted mother into the
presence Of our Saviour In Judea; that our Divine
Lord looked on the child, int his fair eyes, and
drawing the little one to Him, caressed him and
blessed him. and then, turning to His disciples sad
"UDless they become like this little one they shall
not enter into the kingdom of Heaven" This little
n WA IN lqd wi I'D hot In
up In grace, followed the apostles became their
pupil and was made bishop-next after Amodeus-
OF the See Of Antioch, of which st. Peter was the
first bishop. Many years rolled on; he continued
in childlike simplicity and all Antioch honored
him. There arose then In
THE MIGHTY EMPIRE OF ROME
one who was also hOnored-Trajan. He was re-
garded as wise, great and powerful ruler. He
ruled well, as the world speaks; he pushed the
armies of Rome against the barbarians northward
and eastward; he conquered everywhere and
when that was done he commenced the persecu-
ton. The Christian writer who was deputed to
write OF the martyrdem OF Ignatius opens his &C.
count by saying that Trajan in the ninth year OF his
reign, had conquered the Dacians Scythians and
other hostile nations and had the world - his feet
One thing only was needed to spread his power; it
worship God as he commanded. An edlct went
forth to the effect that all who wOrshipped the true
SdCfluCc
sent, among the first, to the sanity Bishop Of An
tOch, and he remaining firm sentence was pro-
nounced. He was sent captive to Rome, and there,
In the great Amphtheatre, was cast to the wild
beasts TraJan's motive 1t appears, WIS pride, IN
ordinate PRIDE How often In the history Of the
against the Church Even now, in the nineteenth
century, persecution has begun In Germany, the
story Of which might 9 Te in the same
Of Germany had been victorious even to degree
unexpected by the Germans themselves, when a
II nfNtra hnA ofaII OBJ
Pr mier, Bismarck, saw all things completed which
his heart had been set on. Only one thing was
needed for the perfection Of his power, and It was
that
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH SHOULD BOW DOWN
before him; should yield obedience to his man.
dates: should worship God in the mode in which
he commanded. The struggle Is going on; great
persecution ls progressing. 1t has not yet reached
persecution, -paralleed by many prosecutions in
times past. The world looks on In wonder Who
three years ago would have looked for It TWO
centuries ago war arose into which the question
Of religion entered. After thirty years OF civil war
both parties laid down their arms that both might
breathe. peace was established on principles of
mutual respect. They found the passage from war
to peace bissiu that year after year and decade
Finally 1t passed into the constitution. and free.
dom Of RELIGIOUS thought and action was generally
The reverend lecturer then sketched the history
OF the war against the Jesuits in France the sup
preston Of the society in 1878 and its reestabsh-
present Emperor undertook some years ago to
manage the religion OF the Empire. He found the
Protestants divided into Lutherans and Calvinlsts
he preferred they should be united and he devised
MEDIUM RELIGION.
The Lutherahs We're to give up some things and
gether. Thus he established what Is called the Evan
gecal Church. Many obeyed him, and he he.
edicts teaching the Catholics their religion. how
they should act how the sacraments should
be distributed; but he found no one willing to
listen to HIM. The bishops, clergy and laity
stood together, and the venerable &rchbishop Of
Cologne was most emphatic in his denunciatton
Of the edicts, and declared that he would not obey
He was seized by soldiers and thrown into prison.
thrill went through Germany; thrill went
through the Empire and through the entire civil.
lied world. The Emperor found he had entered on
false path; that evil counsels had guided him.
the Archbishop was set at liberty; he was soon
Minister who had advised against him fell into dis
grace.
Bishop Lynch went In to show that in Prussia a
constitution was given on which were two articles
which maintained and secured
THE RELIGIOUS PEACE OF THE GERMAN sUBJECTs
One was that the Catholic Church should he free
and Independent In her ecclesiastical acts and the
other secured religious freedom to ali, and it
therefore came to pass that up to three
years ago the freedom Of the Catholics in
Germany was one Of which they boastd
superior to those which she enjoys even In this
country. Such was the situation In 1870 Now what
standing back and the government srrayed IN con.
nict against them. passing laws-not laws, but
avss-aRaAns1 tueni. why ulu tnls come ab0utY
There can be no other cause save the cause which
acted In the heart Of Trajan Bismarck guided for
years the policy OF Prussia and established the
German Empire. He was successful and his sue.
cess intoxicated him. He forgot much OF his past
life he forgot much Of what he HAD formerly said:
he turned his back on his former prOfe ssions and
placed himself IN q position all much wonder at SO
contradictory and 80 certain to come TO defeat and
confusi0n carried away by the satanic pride !
which seems to have taken possession OF mis- heart
he must rule Germany; he must rule the minds the
hearts and the conscences Of the German subjects.
HA md man fn<NV oIv ia an.
his former lie he had been most relentless foe |
10 the so-called "nberals: he had battled against
them and had cast their leaders into prison. Now
they who would have camored for his blood bowed |
down and were most obsequious to him. He |
wanted the Catholic Church to bow He wanted /
TO make Germany az the Gar had made Russia
to make the Empire one. Civilly he has done this,