The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-10-29
Pope Bismarck

the Rhenish provinces of Germany. Some
time since it was reported that there bad
been an apparition of the Blessed Virgin TO
a number of small children, shrine was
erected and pilgrimsges to it were set on
foot. In fact quite an impulse to reli GIG Us
fervor was occasioned by the event AID, al,
| together, it was about to rebound to the
| benefit of the Catholic faith. Bismarck be-
came alarmed for the morals of the people
and cent a gard of soldiers to see about it.
Along with them was spy who took the
character CT correspondent for the New
York Herald, aud as such introduced him
self to the social regard OF the clergy OF the
neig bort God. After having sufficiently per
fected his preparations, this individual sud
denly dropped his assumed character, 80 d
as governG lcnt agent arrested the gentle
men With whom lie had been associatiDg
on the most friendly, terms. The charge
was tia. they were encouraging supsrsti-
ton.
Superstition is altogether spiritual of
fence. There is no such crime oa tie
calendar of offences recognized by the civil
power. Ia order to know whether or not
certain belief is superstitious it ID necessary
to decide whether it is true. 1t would ap-
pear that this is a question to be decided
solely by the persons called on to believe or
disbeieve. II they recognize a certain
spiritual tribunal as in faliibly correct in the
investigation of such matters, they can
safely follow it's decision aud receive the
assertion as truth or dismiss it a. super
stision accordingly. If they have L" such
tribunal, every man mast examine the
proofs for himself aud decide for himself.
What, then, has the Government to do With
it Does it claim or does any body concede
to it, the right and ability to decide con-
clusively as to what spiritual phenomena
are worthy of credence 7
1t would certainly seem that Chancellor
Bismarck has claimed such Jurisdiction n
the Marpingen business. II is true, he
mixes up the charge of fraud in the general
allegation OF " fraudalently encouraging
superstition" Still, it is none the less in
cumben. on lin to pronounce positively
that it is superstition. But who gave him
the right to say that it is, any more author
itatively than citizsn of Marpingen speaks
in saying that it ia not, superstition II
Bismarck can condemn it RS such, he can
put in the came prescribed list the belief
that Christ appeared on earth, or that God
created all things, or that there ID God.
If he can say for you that the apparition
of Marpingen is superstition, he could say
for you that your religion is one.
Now, the charge of fraud by itsef is a
tangible one. If Mr.. Bismarck and his
gertlemanly spy can prove that any priest
bas been guilty of fraud in creating proofs
even of a truth, then they are dealing with
acts and lot with thoughts. They are then
! within the province Of wicked deeds which
violate civil as we'll spiritual law, and ws
sincerely wish them God-speed in bringing
the offender to justice. But this would
still leave the question of superstition o.
no superstition an open one for the people
and that is pre- cisely the thing that Bis
~ rck is opposed to.
The fact is that the great Chancellor ha
undertaken too big job. Ii he has en-
tered upon war with the humble Virgin
his defeat is assured in advance. His is on
of those scornf1l spirits that refuse t
the anu ecu ever,
religious belief as "seperstitiop." 1t ia
moreover, Jealous spirit which, not con
tent 18th its own conviction, burus t
enforce it upon others. He is an apost
of unbelief. Too cautious to attack reli
: gion in its stronghold, he begins the wa
upon the outskirts, and moves upon
point by point. Julian the Apostate dit
the came thing before him.
The way for Catholics to meet such wa
is by prayer. Revolution, revolt, blood
shed, is not the way that Christ adopte,
: for his own safety or our guidance
Pre- yer ia the weapon of the Catholic. GO
knows how to fight and conquer the wicke
with their own internal dissensions an
bloody feuds. He does not generally Re
B quire bis children to dip their hand
in blood in defence of merely religion
rights, heroic as he makes them in defenc