The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-17

cal. Ny reasons shall be forthcoming whenever
demanded. The subject has been so thoroughly
discussed In all its points that regret the neces-
sity OF reviving IT, but 1t IL necessity. AS such
De IT, not welcomed, but accepted. PROSPER.
AVAILABILITY AND CIVIL ALLEGIANCE-coRRE-
sPoNDENcE WITH Mr. GLADSTONE Pom
THIcAL AUTHORITY FROM PETER DEFINED.
No. 80 UPPER WELLINGTON STREET,
DUBLIN, Ireland Dec. 10, 1874.
To TIE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
VIII you be 30 kind as 10 give enclosed corre-
spondence which took place between Mr.. Glad.
stone and myself on the Vatican DEGREES, a place
In your columnsY have always admired the bold
ness as we'll as the frmness OF your pronounce
ments on all topics, and l have only to thank you
as an individual Catholic for the manliness and
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES in which you have vindi-
Gated our unassailable rights. Coupled with the
| fact shat l am an Irsb-American, you will feel
an interest in publishing my letter with the ex-
Prcmier's reply, that coreligionists as well as
my friends, on your side OF the Atlantic NAV see
l was not lacking IN my duty as an Individual
Catholic. did not reply to Mr.. Gladstone seria.
tim or dwell upon his propositions Tor the "Home
Policy OF the Future" but answered on Scriptural
authority. lbased my argument fps0 Tacto the Pope
being the successor OF ST. Peter and in the cana.
city OF Chrisr's Vicar earth Is thereby entitled
to be infallible. Having it then decreed by the
Council makes II binding on us to believe him in
[alible. Civil allegiance evidently gave great rrl-
tatiOn to Mr.. Gladstone; but II Mr.. Gladstone
would only let his mind 90 back to the days OF
Lord Melbourne and william Pitt he would easily
find out whether the Pope exercised any author.
ity or not. The University OF Valadolld, without
speaking of the other five colleges, gave direct
answer to Pitt, which was to the effect that the
Pope exercised no Jurisdiction.
Mr.. Editor, you can see by the short reply OF
Mr.. Gladstone he IS evidently resolved to stand by
the expostuation; he, however paid s'attention,
to my letter. which, as I beforehand assured
HIM, came from the hands of an Irish American.
With great respect, your obedlent servant
RICHARD GEORGE WATERS.
THE LETTER TO MR. GLADSTONE.
To the Right Hon. w. f. GLADSTONE
SIR nave read your pamphlet treating OF the
Vatican DEGREES. their bearing on civil alegiauce.
It was with an ardent interest / perused 1.-THE
ardor any Roman Cathoilc would evince when he
found the dogmas OF ms Churcn assalled-assailed
that Council by which 1T was decreed, wonld not
be palliated for the moment but altogether re.
uted. 1t ~ very unwiSe ting to tilt with Papal
iniaDility. The laws oil my Church are so firmly
established. the DEGREES or 1t when gwen are
cOngregated bishops, and then, ali Roman
Catholics VINO are devoted to the doctrines OF the
ob auese 70 S 'ney accept the
Those who profess to be true Catholics and who
have never shrunk from their duty as members OF
that religion viii never find any difficulty either
in believing In tue lnialliDhty or the bearing OF
one toward their sovereign: For my part, yhile
address YOU tins letter, DO not venture upon
theological grounds; but may put one question
to yOu which may in sense dispose OF lnlallD-
ity. am Roman Catholic; as such submit
to all the DEGREES of my Church. When The
Ecumenical Council neld It's sittngs at Rome |
was told oy my religious advisers the Immaculate
Conception was TO be declared and the Pope to be
iniallibe: never argued with my religious su-
perior. submitted, ana recaed to my mind the
words oil Our Lord when He addressed ST. Peter,
'.Peter, on this rock thou shalt build thy church.
and the gates OF hell shall not prevail against it.'
was Christ's Vicar on earth : The successors OF
Peter were the Popes, and the successor OF these
heads of The Church Is our Holy Father. Pope Plus
When our Lord spoke thus to Saint Peter. did
He not speak to him as one competent to represent
Him on TINS eartni In speaking SO did not CHRIST
vest in Peter a certain autnority-a spiritual au-
tnorlty, 10 be exercised only within the domain OF
take the matter upon scriptural grounds@has
never been found to err. Just reflect for one
moment and reeolecs that he who represents
created this earth out OF nothing; created the
sun. moon, stars, the clouds above and the waters
being. Our Holy Father represents the
Almighty, ana you are the man who
on earth. The idea being so preposterOus. Is only
exceeded by the audaclty or the act. The infalli-
thority, without resorIing to theology Of bringing
10 those "humdrum" arguments which bring one
back to the days OfPOmpeii and when Ajax lowered
above the Greek hosts. TO come to the sum OF my
question 1t is this much Pope Plus H. being
the successor OF ST. Peter, Chrisr's Vicar on EARTH
representing as ne does the Omnipotent God,
ranks above and Is prominently above all other
human beings, consequent upon the heavenly trust
reposed In him. We submit to him, to our holy
Church, and accept whatever doctrines its coun-
ellis may define l. therefore, as article OF faith,
believe Pope Plus TX. to be infallible through his
being Chrlst's Vicar on earth. Mr.. Gladstone, 1t
strikingly reminds me OF what our Lord said when
He heard OF st. Thomas d0uDtng the cruclfiXlOn,
'He must see to believe" SO by you. You must
see the inialhbility before you can give credence
to IL.
Having ended the infalibiity question VIII
now revert to civil allegiance. During the strug-
gle for Catholic emancipation there were many
uncalled Tor modes Orted to IN order to enable
the government Of that day to find II in reality the
Pope exercised any authority otherwise than
spiritual over the subjects of His Majesty. After
the examination Of the bishops Mr. Pitt to further
the objects OF The party, put the question to SIX
universities on the Continent, and the answer he
got IRON each Of those colleges was TO the effect
jects, be they in prncipa'ity, state or Kingdom.
MY allegiance to my sovereign Is In no way shaken
by my being Roman Catholic; on the contrary,
it Is only strengthened, as 1t Is one OF the main
duties Of our station IN life and as members OF the
Church OF Rome.
nave the honor to be, str. your obedient SER
want, RICHARD GEORGE WATERS.
Mr.. GLADSTONES REPLY.
SIR-AllOw me to thank you for your letter and
it's enclosure which | have not failed to peruse
with that attention which IS its due. Your faithful
servant W. +. GLADSTONE.
HAwARDEN CASTLE, Dec. II.