The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-12-28
Religious Fairness.

Religious Fairness.
We cite the following incident as illus
trating the tendency to religious fairness
which is beginning to pervade this coantry
to q notable extent. The American Con
stitution is popularity supposed to provide
for religious liberty, but, as a matter of
fact, the paramount sentiment Of the pop
ulation of this country was, for many de-
cades after the formation of that Constitu-
ton, utterly opposed to the spirit of
liberality theoretically adopted in it. Big
otry reigned supreme. Catholics were
virtually ostracised in every walk of life.
The avenues of public employment were
almost closed to all who were known to be
practically faithful to their religion. Hck::
DRY Catholics did not fare quite so badly
and good many of them might be found
in Office, affiliating with Free Masons and
other inveterate enemies of the Church.
But an earnest, faithful Catholic, seldom
made his appearance on the stage of pub
lie affairs.
We all know that of late years this has
been changing. The bigotry which was
imported in the Mayfower aud which so
thoroughly permeated the American char
aeter, commenced to lose it's vital force
Professionalism weakened its hold on the
popular heart, and in the same proportion
fanaticism disappeared. AS men grew to
despise the puerilities and canting pre-
fences of false religion, they turned the
more willingly patient ear to the claims
of another religion wich they had hated
but could not despise.
Nothing will better illustrate the wonder
fol progress in this direction made by Ame-
ricans than such incidents as the following.
We republish it verbatins from the Macon
(Ga.) Telegraph of December 10Th inst:
COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.
REGULAR MEETING,
Council Chamber, Dec 16, 1873. 5
y
The following communication was received ::
MACON, Ga, December 16, 1873.
To the Honorable Mayor and Council Of City of Macon
| GsntlsMen--We have been appointed COM
mittee of the citizens aud taxpayers of this
! city to present to Your honorable body the pro
position Of Bishop Gross, tho Roman Catholic
fully urge the aame upon your prompt consid-
Grafton and adoption.
He offers to establish in Macon, or it's imme-
diate vicinity, q College of his Church, of high
order, upon the simple condition that q proper
site for the buildings are donated bp tho city.
The property owned by Messrs. J. w. and a.
s. Orr, in Vineville, will meet all the require
ments, and we are assured that the same can
| be bought at reasonable price; or if not,
other places equallyeeligible have been tender.
ed for tho purpose.
| In addition to establishing frst-class col
| lege, where probably from two to three him.
dred boys will be annually assembled, the
| Bishop also proposes to establish in connection
| Herewith an in6rmary, house TO care for
| the wants of the sick and poor, than which no
two establishments could address themselves
J with moro favor to the city authorities, in the
| opinion of the undersigned.
| Most of us Professionals, and in no wise
connected with the Roman Catholic Church,
citizens and taxpayers in q mere business
point of view, as we believe, for the good of
the city, and also believing that unless We act
promptly in the matter, some other place will
avail itself of this offer.
Very respectfully, etc,
c. A. NUTTING, Chairman.
WIN; R. SINGLETON, :. J. SIMMONS,
W. b. JoHNsroN' DENNIS DAILY
The communication of c. A. Nuttipg, A. w.
Reese, I. j. Simmons, Deuuis Daily, Charles FL,
| Rogers, w. R Singleton aud w. b. Johnston
asking the City Council to make an appropra-
! tlon sufficient to purchase the grounds for the
purpose of building o Roman Catholic College
[ on, was taken up.
! Resolved, That $4,000 be appropriated to pur-
chase suitable grounds for the location of q
| Catholic College, in accordance with sugges
| tious Of tho committee.
! Passed.
Now observe the contrast. In Spain and
1taly-.Catholic countries--the civil gov
| eminent has fallen into the hands of bad
Catholics, Hngrateful children. of the
Church, who are engaged in plunderipg
their own venerable mother. They are
men who do not make any sanctimonious
pretext of PrOtestan tism, but are. open and
avowed Infidels, Free Masons or ibertines.
They do not propose TO replace Catholicity
by better religion. On the contrary, they
all expect to die good Catholics, this very
lnfidelity being merely assumed as q tenn
porary mask for an immoral life. These
men are robbing the Church to the great
delight of all Simon-pure Professionals.
They are, by violence and force of arms,
taking awaY from relioioua commnnikiaa |