Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1873-03-05

, the attention OF their HOOKS TO TINS, we
are sure our ever generous people VIII
supply the means, the more so. as they
and their children receive the benefits.
We were much pleased on our vista
J ton ofthe diocese, to see the kindly feel
/ ing that everywhere existed between The
priests and the people. and the yea! that
animated all, in h C Iuse oil God but
we were panied TO note that In some
places that laymen failed to know thelr
duty, aud the rights of the priests:
There is a false notion amongst some Oh
our people; thew assume powers whlch
they have not, aud undertake I" 40
what they were Fever appointed LOT.
Hereafter there are and VIII De no
trustees. The Bishop is the only truS-
tee in the diocese, and in his name All
property is held. Under no c~ircuntstan'
ces will we allow layman TO hold church
property. or in any way control II. IL
lies 10 church property, whether in the
form of deeds or land contrasts, shall be
made directly to the BishOy, This heirs
and assigns, > without qualification or
condition. Nearly all the troubles We
have noted in the diocese have arisen
from a failure to strictly comply with
the orders laid down in the RULES and
regulations for the administration of the
temporal affairs of the Church in the di-
! ocese." We hereby require every priest
to have a copy ofthem, read and explain
them to their congregations, then follow
them.
We have said there are no trustees,
but according IN the RULES and Regu-
latiOns'' above quoted councilmen shall
be elected in every congregation, whose
duty it will be to assist the priest-nOt
govern the priest. Councilman must
not forget that they are elected to coun-
I eel 0nA aecfgf-nnf ~ direct m nnuarn
Il priests; that is The bishops business (;
nor will they assume the right 10 control
or manage the money matters. of the
/ church, independent of or against the
will OF the priest. The priest and conn
cilmen must be one n when a differ
ence of opinion arise the priest must be
obeyed till the matter in dispute can be
referred tothe bishop, who's decision is
final. Pastors will carefully explain
this article to their congregations and
| see that its provisions are carried out.
We are .ruch in want of priests.
Many missions and congregations have
but half attendance, and, in consequence
young and old are growing careless.
Thank God there is no want of vocations
to the priesthood. Every where bright,
intelligent boys are ready to give them
selves TO the altar; but alas ! they are
poor and have not he means necessary
To hear the expense of the long and la
borious course needed Ia prepare a
priest for the duties of his Office.
at the Synod held last summer at the
close ofthe Retreat for the Clergy, it was
resolved to build a new Seminary, bet
ter suited 10 the ends and growing wants
of the diocese, and at the same time
make proper provision for its support.
For this purpose II was resolved to raise
or the building of the new Seminary,
ten thousand dollars annually for the
next ten yearSand ten thousand dollars
annually for its support; this snm TO be
raised by a tax levied pOn each cOngre-
CATION, according to the number offami-
lies in it, 1t wss also resolved to raise
a fitting support for the Bishop and for
those priests whose health has failed OF
may fail from the lsbOrs and fstigues of
the missions. These sums can be raised
in the manner as above.
Perhaps those sums may appear large
the more so as each congregation { en-
orally finds its home duties pressing
enough. But, my beloved brethren,
you must hot forget that nearly every
thing l. just now in its beginning, con-
sequentiy the burden is so heavy. Yet
If yOu compare the past with its Limited
means and what was done, with the pres
ent, and its increase of numbers u
wealth you will not find the burden so
heavy. Besides, the sum to be raised is
not all at once, but yearly 81 it will not
be so heavily felt. When, therefore,
your pastors will present this matter to
you, give ofyour means-remembering
that Others gave to supply you with the
priests that now minister to you.
There is some confusion and a good
deal of misrepresentation relative to some
of the societies in the diocese. Some of
them claim 20 be Catholic societies, sim
ply becauSs their members are Catholic,
and they insist to be so recognized by
the Church, claiming all the privileges
usually accorded to Catholic SOCIETIES;
such as the right to wear their regalia in
the church and have solemn funerals
for their dead. Yet, strange to say, such
societies OF ganize and manage their %
cieties without the priest, and only seek
the priest to make a show. Ifthey have
claims upon the priest, the priest has
claims upon them I; and if they wish the
priest to recognize them, they must re-
cOgniZe him. Priest and Catholic are
inseparable; the One contains and ever
accompanies the other. So if societies
claim TO be Catholic, or wish TO enjoy the
privileges usually accorded TO Catholic
societies, If they will enter the Church
as societies; wearing their regalis and
CloiLAAAh6 III dAlu dAAELiNA0hs ALCN
must do as Catholic societies do-put q
priest at their head. Ifthey ignore the
priest, they need not wonder if he ig
nores them. Nor is il enough to say be
cause individually the members are
Catholics. then that collectively the so
ciety is Catholic. There is a vast diff
ference between a society of Catholics
and a Catholic society. The latter al
ways has a priest at Its head, the former
NAV or may not There is no desire to
interfere with the management of any
society. The more Catholics are united
in healthy societies, the better. The
church will place no obstac e to any
measure that will unite Catholics either
for literary or beneficial purposes. But
societies canno be one day with the
church and the next day independent OF
her. Either as societies they are CAIhn-
lie, or they are not. If they are CathO
lie they must do as Catholic societies do
put a priest at their head if they are
not Catholic societies, they should not
wonder if they are refused the prIvi-
leges accorded to 'atholic societies.
The following are the conditions on
which any society within the diocese
will be permitted to enter any church
with its regalia on:
/. Their constitution must be approved
either by the bishop OF the priest.
2. Each so iety shall place a priest at
its head as spiritual director, aud receive
from him reasonable direction.
The acceptance or rejection of the
above r les will not inteIfe re with the
individual members of the societies. To
them.the doors of Il e church are open as
to all others and to them will the prizes
grant all the privileges usually granted
10 Catholics. But as societies their priv
ileges will depend upon the acceptance
or rejection of the above conditions.
There is much weak faith and many
loose notions on the subject of marriage.
Many of our Catholics act as ii they
thought it mattered little whether they
were married by the priest or the squire,
or whether they had Gods Blessing or
Gods curse upon.them. Marriage is a
sacrament instituted by J-sus Christ,
through which the married couple re-
ceIve grace and blessing. 1t is a griev-
Gus sin to get married out of the church ;
and ofteI such marriages are u ana
void in the eyes of the Church, because
of existing impediments. We most SOL
emily warn the faithful everywhere L,
avoid such abuses. Seek, dear children,
husbands and wives among the meInbers
of your own faith be published in your
own church, and married by your own
priests, and thus God may bless yon, and
your lives may be happy. Remember
that a bad beginning usually makes a
bad end.
And now, beloved brethren, we exhort
you to renew within you the spirit OF
faith to be earnest, to be jealous, know
ing not what the morrow may bring
as a thief comes in the night, so will God
| cqll. nprhaDs tO-uiohf