National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-06-23


republic Of Ecuador, who In his official capacity
has not hesitated TO protest, before the whole
civilized world, against the spolistions of the
Pontineal states, and TO assert the necessity Of
religion and virtue for the maintenance Of cfY1
governnent and national happiness.
have dwell 90 long on this part of the
subject unoer consideration that I an COM
PEELED to touch but very briefly upon the promt-
nent acts Of Plus TX, which have . more i'm
mediate connection with Christian fifth.
These actl were the solemn definition Of the
Immaculate Conception Of the Blessed Virgin
Mary, and the holding Of the EcumenicaI Conn-
Gil Of the vatican, IN which tho infallibilitY
of the Sovereign Pontiff, in his eharac-
ter Of universal doctor of the Church
was maintained. These important events,
which have created such q sensation
throughout the religious and political world,
were demanded by the circumstances Of the
times and It cannot be denied thas this clearer
and fuller exposition Of the faith has impaired
q wonderful efficiency to
TIE INFLCEEcB OF CATHOLICISM
In every region OF the globe. There is a philos-
ophy Of religion as well as Of history aud, In
fact, the latter is nothing else than the proyi-
DENTAL action Of God in the government Of the
world. According to this philosophy, there
WAS an imperative reason for calling the atten-
ton Of mankind more forcfbly to that great
truth, that as 4 woman was the mother Of Q
fallen and guilty race, 30 a woman must be-
the mother OF regenefated and sanity race
10 this age Of materislism, when the more ten
der, noble and generous sentiments Of the
heart are so easily and so powerfully quencned
By the pursuit Of earthly things, and when the
the union OF the family, and the interests Of
society at large, there was something required
TO arouse the better instincts Of humanity, to
purify and exalt the affections, and therefore
to exhibit for the admiration Of the Christian
world, the peerless beauty Of that illustriouA
virgin, who is described In scriptural language
as "the mother of beautiful love and Of holy
hope" It was necessary to display moro
prominently to the deTout mind the genial IN
fGence of that "star Of the sea-" whose bsz
nign splendor Is such beacon of encourae&
ment and strength for the Way-Worn pilgrims
of earth-and to hold out for the imitation Of
the Christian woman, whose Office Is to mold
the character OF the rising generation and 70
form them for the struggles of after life, that
sublime pattern which can alone teach her the
grandeur aud excellence Of her mission. All
this was effected by the definition Of the I'M .
maculste Conception, for we must admit that ,
i has stirred up the piety of the faithful IN
an extraordinary degree-it has developed
new forms of dsyotion-whils it has
opened in various places holy shrines consecray
ted BY the miraculous Manifestations Of divine
goodness, whittier pilgrims hasten from ever9
part of Chrtstendom to present their offerings,
ana to implore the Intervention of the Mother
of God for the interests of the Church and Of
society.
One word in regard to the dogma of
; 30 Csc. PAPAL INFALLIBuITY.
As you all know, this article of faith requires
US simply to believe that when the Pope ad-
dresses himself to the Church At large, as
teacher of faith or morals, be is providentiallT
rr-ad from Ia L. ;,,c,N H..
other matters or under other circumstances
We cannot bu: admire the admirable effects
which this declaration of the Vatican Council
has produced and win continue to produce:
1. In the domain of religious teaching, it set
ties with wonderful facility the doctrines Of
the Church, dffused a. It is in every region Of
the habitable globe, and cuts short. the cavils
or eyasions of those whose erroneous or doubt
full opinions might find some pretext, in the
uncertainty Of an infallible decision having
been given by the universal Church. 2. In
this age, which boasts so loudly of its scientific
achievements, and has so audaciously under
mined the Whole system of divine revelation,
by its absurd theories, pretending to be based
upon human reason and the investigations Of
science, II was well that the lines should be
drawn more sharply between faith and rational
inquiry, and that men who are apt to attach
too much Importance TO their intellectual specu-
lations should ne admonishej of their danger,
End that all should be put on their guard
against false philosophy by the utterances Of
an infallible teacher, ever ready to prescribe
error when opposed to the doctrines of reyela-
ton. II is much better for religion that DR..
Drlinger, with his friends, should leave the
pale of Cathofcity than to remain IN 1t secretly
sowing the seed Of a pernicious liberalism,
while protesting to be in communion with the
Church. 8. In the first encyclical letter which
Plus X addressed to the Catholic bishops
A. - ~
to the enemies of the Church: ave
shudder with horror, and are bitterly
affected with sorrow, when we reflect on all
the monstrosities Of error and the various and
multiform arts, snares and Vaccinations OF
mischief by which these haters of the truth
and of light and most skillful
ARTIFIcERs or FRAUD
labor to queneh In the minds Of all men every
inspiration sfter piety, justice and honesty; to
corrupt morals, to eonfound all rights, human
and divine, and, if possible, to overturn from
their foundations both the Catholic religion
and civil society,"" This picture of the pride
and rebellious spirit of the age shows oSyond
all dispute the opportunsness Of the dogma
of Papal infsllipility; for, when Governments
and people, under the meridian splendor og
Christian truth, would not bow down befoge
the teachings OF q diyinely-s appointed Church,
but, on the contrary, in spirit Of self-deihoS-
ton, place themselves IN > direct ahtagopism
to her authority, then the providence OF God,
instead Of making any concessions to human
pride, brings out The voice Of his earthly repre-
Sentative In a stil1 more authoritative tone.
Ths attributes of the SuPfeme Psntth, the
Vicar OF Christ on earth, are more specifically
defined, and 1t is proclaimed to the world:
"You who have not been willing to hear tia.
Church know and understand that II you do
not accept the declarations Of the successor Of
pafar-tha nook ON Uhfch 7 have huf1t Ahak
Church-you viii take this stand at the peril
ofyour souls" 4. But the most admirable re-
suit of Papal infallibility is to be seen in the
hrmness and unity of faith which IL has pre-
duced among the members of the Church
throughout the world. There never was
time since the first PRONUNCIATION Of Chris
tianity when the advocates Of the true faith
we're more thoroughly Catholic, or more
solidly organized as q spiritual society, rally
ing with the most marked and unequiyocsl
evidences of respect, submission and love
around the supreme pastor than, they arc
at the present day. Like the glorious
luminary, the centre of the planetary system,
to which all the heavenly bodies are attracted,
and around which they reVolve in their steady
and peaceful orbits,
" Plus TX
Is the mistaken centre OF the moral world,
towards whom the minds and hearts and
SyInp1llleS OIL the SrcdL ulSyOlANy VI
lied world, of two hundred millions of Chris
tians, are constantly directed. Clergy and
laity are alike earnest in the testimonials Of
their generation and affection. He teaches,
all believe; he wills, and all obey; he suffers
persecution, and all eondole with and pray for
him; he is robbed of his possessions, and dep
utations from all parts of the world wait on
him with their munifcent offerings; he is held
in captivity by his enemies, and the courage
and Hrmness which he displays under trials
are the support and comfort of all who, Ike
him, are battling for the truth, showing forth
in these days of revived Paganism, the spirit
of the confessor and the martyr that VIII
eventually triumph over it. .,li
The reflections which have presented to
YOU this evening, ladies and gentlemen, with
view to give some extraordinary insight into
the extraordinary mission of Plus TX, are
Amply sufficient to warrant the conclusion THAI
he NAV be placed on level with the most
illustrious Pontifs that ever sat In the chair Of
Peter. Like Leo the Great before the ferocious
Atilla; like Gregory WI before Henry Of Ger
MANY, IN q rude and dissolute age, Plus TX con-
fronts Victor Emmanuel and Frederick William
IN this age Of materialism and impiety, fighting
unto the death for the rights of God and His
church, and, therefore, necessarily for the
cause of virtue, liberty and true civilization
In all his Official denunciations of the errors
which characterize our times, he invariably