The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-02-01
Brownson and the Mirror.

Mirror, one of our most valued Catholic
exchapges-we regret to find an article
upon our venerable reviewer, from the con-
clusions of which we are forced to dissent.
In the last number of his Rsries, Mr..
Brownson notices at some length and in
the most complimentary terms recently
published biography of the late Archbishop
Spalding, written by his nephew, the Rev.
J. L. Spalding, of Kentucky. In that ar
ticle the reviewer naturally recurs to some
Of his own "reminiscences of the deceased
prelate, and to HIS own estimate of his
abilities.
That estimate may be wrong but we
know that human judgment 10 always
prone to error, and honest errors ought not
to be treated with the severity which We
find in this comment of the Airrsr. So
far, however, as We can perceive, after q
careful perusal of the article criticized, Mr..
Brownson puts the venerable Archbishop
on one of the highest pinnacles, if not the
very highest one, of the glorious structure
of fame which the American hierarchy ha 8
reared by it's labors. There is not pre-
late or priest, Of those whom he finds wor-
thy to place in comparison with him, to
whom we can find that he accords even an
eq ual position.
With those who had the honor of know
ing the Archbishop personally, as was the
case with the writer of these remarks, any
suggestion that there could be any offence
which he would not forgive, would be en-
tirely inadmissible. The genial, kindly
sweetness of his frank and loving nature
forbids the thought. Mr.. Brownson uses
one expression which would seem to en-
brace such charge. He says of him, che
certainly resented eur criticisms and, we
fear he never pardoned them" This may
| refer to the literary aspect of the offence.
If, however, it is meant to indicate per-
| sonal uncharitableness, we are forced to
dissent from Mr.. Brownson's opinion. In
any other respect, however, we find no CON-
| at liberty to make.
| His charge of a Gallican tendency on the
part of early American Catholics, and es-
pecially some of their most distinguished
prelates, may be incorrect, but we do not
doubt the reviewers sincerity in making it.
| Neither can it be considered a charge OF
the greatest gravity, considering the mum
bers of pious, Jealous and conscientious
Catholics who in those days were unfortu
nately tainted with that error.
In addition to these things, the Mirror
recalls MIR. Brownson's theological errata
and his political proclivities during the
late war. AS to the first, we have forgot
ten them we remember only the graceful,
humble, Christian manner in which the
| venerable reviewer referred to them, only
to condemn them, in his introduction to
the present series of his work. 1t would
almost be worth while to commit an error
occasionally, if one could do 80 innocently,
just to have the glory of admitting it.
The passions of the war may have carried
Mr.. Brownson far beyond the bounds OF
reason and of charity. Circumstances at
that time estranged US from his writings.
But it is as a Catholic, not politician, TIL at
We suppose him to be a reviewer. II
hereafter we should find him mingling the
baleful glow of sectional hatred with even
the purest light of orthodoxy in faith, we oil
the South should necessarily be obliged to
seek our illumination elsewhere. But we
|
article criticised by the Mirror, though it
is directly charged by that paper. On the
contrary, we find most kindly and flatter-
ing appreciation of the Southern character,
giving it credit, on his part, for noble
qualities which he would regret to see
passing away before the Yankeeizing' ~
influences of Northern immigration.
| We must confess, however, to great sur
prise on finding in the article in question a
really coarse fling at the Baltimore Mirror,
paper eminent for it's ability and discrimi-
nation. And we have no doubt that the
great RovieU, of which all American Catho-
lies have right to be proud, can remain
truly great and truly Catholic, only by
| avoiding sectional issues and local col
| lisions.
CHURCH OF THE HOLY NAME OF MARY,
ALGIERs.-The friends of the congregation of
this church will be pleased to learn that the