The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-03-22
VOLUME VII.
MernIng Star and Catholic Messenger.
HEW ORLEANS, SUNDAY, MARCH g. 1874.
THE CATHOLICS IN GERMANY.
ARCHBISHOP LEDocHowsKI.


THE CATHOLICS IN GERMANY.
ARCHBISHOP LEDocHowsK1.
We give below letter received from young
Protestant gentleman now travelling in Ger
many. We are not responsible for his senti-
ments, and merely give this letter as recording,
on Protestant testimony, certain infamous and
tyrannical acts of the German Government:
FRANKFORT oN-THE-M MAIN, Feb IA, 1874.
Mecilaus, Archbishop of Posen, whom we
have lately seen transferred from his Apos-
on the 10th of October, 1922, at Lublin, in
Poland he is from q very ancient noble family
which has furnished for years both able COM
kings his father, who died in 1859, was first
pri7y councillor to the king, and had, before
that time, always been in his favor: his title
of count and his being a large land proprietor,
demanded the attention of his sovereign.
Miecilaus' education, like that of all other
young noblemen, commenced with private tu-
torship at home, by means of which he was
fitted for the University of Warschau, entering
at the end of his thirteth year the Catholic
Seminary at the same place; having finished
! mated with wish to perfect himself in the
sciences in company of his mother, he repaired
TO Rome: here he fell into the favors of Pope
Gregory XVI, who gave him occasions to
continue his theological and canonical studies.
Cardinal Lambruschini, Secretary of State,
lent. him M, helping hand in giving him all
w.
secrated priest and soon after, receiving from
Plus *. the post of House-Prelate and Apos-
tolic Prothonatory, remained for several years
in the midst of his companions and associates !;
in 1850 Miecilaus entered upon his duties in
foreign countries; he was appointed chief
secretary to Monsgnor, later Cardinal Pietro,
who was then the Pope's Nunoio at Lisbon,
where he had opportunities of making studies
in q new field he took the highly educated
of affairs in the absence of the Minister were
such, that in 1856 he was appointed by the
Pope Apostolic Delegate to the South American
Republic of Columbia. His dispatches from
this place on the progress of the Catholic reli-
gion and the Inhabitants of the country, his new
regulations and institutions concerning the du-
in the course of reading required of the Young
theologiaus in their preparations for the priest
hood but his stay in the country was not
pleasant: revolution broke out, the govern
ment was overthrown and the Catholics were
oppressed the order of Jesuits was driven
away, the Bishops prosecuted and the Apos-
tolic Delegate was ordered to quit the country
within three days; he repaired to Rome after
having entered protests against such practices.
In 1861 Ledochowski was consecrated Arch
bishop of Thebes, but was soon transferred to
Brussels as Nuncio to the Pope; but here he
found at first no peace the Liberals had the
management of affairs in hand. and the Nun
clio received orders from them to leave he
still tarried and long enough to see Belgium
fall into the hands of the Jesuits, when the
Chapter at Posen unanimously made demand
at Rome that the Nuncio at Brussels should
be stationed at Posen this was accorded them,
the powers of Ledochowski being known, and
it already seeming evident that such a man as
he would soon be needed, therefore he was
consecrated Archbishop of Posen in 1865.
he visited Rome to give account of affairs in
Belgium, when he returned to Posen, where he
has since remained; during his stay he has
had many important discussions, but never
attempted resistance during the late years
the Government found it necessary to take
procedures against him, the consequence of
which was his transferral to Ostrowo, where
with no attendants, save those of the prison
itself, he passes his time.
THE ARHBIsHoP's LIFE AT osTRowo.
He is treated precisely the same as any other
prisoner in spacious cell, well whitened
with chalk to give it clean appearance the
Bishop eats, drinks and sleeps; his meals are
permitted to be furnished by canon resi-
dent in the village, and brought in at specified
hours through window at one end of the
cell he can see a small church, situated near
that he is able to hear the playing of the or
gan and singing of the choirs The furniture
in his cell consists of an iron bed q sofa and
few pine chairs like the other prisoners he
repairs to the wash-room to make his toilette
he is permitted to receive visits, but only in
the presence of the jail-keeper; he is permit
ted to read the Journals which are sent him
he has q few books perusing which, he whites
away his time; at certain hours in the day his
cell is opened and he is permitted to take ex-
ercise by promenading to and fro in corridor,
closed at both ends by iron gates the Bishop
has expressed a wish to have an altar erected
IN his CELL which the courts have refused him
his request for q canon and body-servant to
live with him, have also been refused.
OTHER CATHOLIC BISHOPS.
Now that the Government has taken
such steps towards furnishing her dsobed lent
bishops, it is impossible to retreat. The
BISHOP of Breslau was no doubt intended as
companion of the Archbishop of Posen but
he has escaped by emfgrating to village
eatisq Johannesburg, lying within his iUris-