The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-03-15
Mexican ProtestantS.

in Mexico, coming through the medium {
the New Orleans Christian Adrecafe. 1t
impaired through the correspondence of
Rev. J. T. Dawes, from the city of Mexic
undertake of the 23d ult. Mr.. Dave
o and adds that the population are very def
q y cient in the same regard, still he has man
0 aged to pick up a couple of columns o
information.
He does not find the number of Protest
ants large, az appears in the following
extract:
In the midst Of tow ering cathedrals, til,
rented halls, chapels and churches seem insig
hihcant. Compared to their immense throng
OF superstitious attendants, the Protestant
congregations look small Indeed.
Our people must not expect wonders in day
am satisfied in this comparative sense the
work will be slow one. These people have
q Will of their own. They are naturally ci--
GGumspect suspicious, shrewd and cautious.
| They are also largely selfreliant whero they
break away from old restraints
That is to say, they break away from
Catholicity, just as wicked men do every
where, but Professionalism has no power
over them. They dislike old restraints,
but have no idea of taking up with sys-
tenn which has long since lost all vigor, all
that capacity for deluson which is only
possible when coupled with novelty
Then again the few Protestants who can
be found there are not of the right sort
We quote again
There are thousands who havo thrown of
the corrupt priesthood, and who are in ono
sense Professionals, and yet who are not in our
sense, Protestants at all. There is for instance,
IN this city, large congregation-there may
DC morc-under the guidance of native, call
ing themselves Protestauts, aud very much
doubt whether preacher people have the
first idea of true spiritual religion. And yet
they are firm and self-reliant.
Brother Dawes is not only hard on the
quality of Professionalism which he finds in
Mexico, but he speaks very encouragingly
of Catholicism, as for instance:
Your readers must not imagine that the
Catholic Church is dead in this country that
priest pr ana people are not at work. They are
az WORK. lhey are vigilant and watchful.
lhey are as panstaking and laborious as in
our own country. Though all Jesuits have
boon expelled from the country and the charm
broken, though converts and churches have
peen coniiscated, and though the ringing of
bells and foolish professions are interdicted.
yet Catholicism, with its old spirit mu ed and
NODDED, Is still alive and at work. Myriads,
firm and unshakc sincere bow at her shrines
yet. The prestige of the mellow past is with
her. f'O' - 'N
This is strong evidence that the innate
and imperishable vitality of the Church is
not wanting in its Mexican member. In
no country does the Church exist, or has it
ever existed, by the grace of man. 1t is
never dependent on national pap for sub
slstence. On the contrary, too much pat |
ronage by the Government generally
"eakens and, to some extent, corrupts it.
sometimes for this reason, sometimes for
other reasons, the Almighty permits per-
secutions, robbercs, injustice. The Church
is despoiled and Inundated. But it flour
lshed only the more thriftily afterwards for
this pruning, and its roots but strike the
deeper and more widely, by reason of the
agitation of storms.
ana so IN Mexico, as MIR. Dawes naiyely
ellis us, the confscatons of churches and j
onvents, the expulsion of Jesuits. the Q
oppression of the Church in minor matters
uch as professions and bell-ringinc, all c
ie hostile legislation which the rancor of
rec Masons and the malignity of recreapt e
'ns could evoke-all this effects nothing. o
ne Church is not destroyed, is not, even. p
oppressed by it. AS elsewhere ON sueb n
'casions, her faith but burns the more
rightly, her energies are but the more fullv
oused to activity.
Mr. Dawes does not find as easy custom 8,
in the Mexicans as he NAV have OK. h,
cted. lie says: p
IL must not be forgotten that while nm n,
armed, coarse and rough in appearances and "
ality, That they are strong in their conyic. W
'us and tenacious of their opinions thot ~
ey are naturally jealous and susnicious of
reigners. Va hi
The fact is that Mr.. Dawes il destined n
grlevous disappointment, if he simply al
cans the preaching business in Mexico sc
,otestantism is too old and dry plant to
ke root in new soil. 1t will not bear in
ansplanting. 1t is not the work of God. HI
10 the Church which epioys immortal al
uth because Ct her divine origin. 1t is c.
work OF ma. aided very materially bv m
DEVIL 1t Is tue, but still it is a human Ell
'rk and therefore subject to the nniversaI he
OF decay and destruction. To think Fl
en- OF terminating the decrepit old vale. is
alnarlan with youth and vigor, in this era tn
It's decay, to expect it to appear sud RI