The New York herald., 1877-12-10
THE CHURCH AND THE STATE.
LECTURE AT ST. AIMS CHURCH By REV.
FATHER THOMAS s. PRESTON.

LECTURE AT ST. AIMS CHURCH By REV.
FATHER THOMAS s. PRESTON.
ST. AIMS Church, Twelfth street, vast last evening
crowded to excess 1t having been announced that the
Rev Thomas S. Preston would devcr the second
lecture OF his Of four, entitled, rne Relations
pt the Church 10 the State" Tho preacher said that
Notwithstanding tho constant assertion that tho
Church sought to control the temporal powers,
ma that they necessarily conac,ed, he was
sure sintegcnt people would bear witness that
the Catholic Church always counselled obedience
20 every just law OF the magistrates. "Rendcr 10
Cnsar tho things that Cnsar's and 10 God tho
,nngs that belong to God" That what tho Cath
olic Church had always done; yet no man could tell
10 what degree the persecution against Catholics
may 20. They have driven the Church, SAID he,
Into the Catscombs, ana have made our priests
captives nevertheless We have mover refused TO pay
tribute lawful rulers to render unto Cesar the things
his, but not 10 give up that which belongs TO
God. The family, tho Church ana me state nc sara,
they must be preserved. People do not rise against
Proiestantism and lis schsms, but misguided and am
bilious men battle against the Church Of God, be-
cause she will not yield one Jot or tttlc of
her risn. to instruct government as 10 ,ts
duties. They tell people they must beware OF
that old Catholic Church. which while seeming to be
harmless q dove has the wisdom OF the serpent
other things Of Which thcy who speak know nothing
Tho Church Is the founder and copzervStor OF civil
order and 20 understand the reations peween y ana
tho State. about which ignorant people SO glibly
talk, Is the highest wisdom. Tho speaker then
defined 10 clear manner the temporal
and spiritual powers, and traced the history oil Chris
tanity and IFS influence on mankind from The earliest
ages lie said In early Gays tho rclns OF govern
held by patrarcbs or the heads oil iamillcs
aiterward by prophets when the Jewish theocracy
was established, but when the Master came on earth
He became the arber of the spiritual power OF COD in
the world, and this power Is precminent in It's own
domain. What is It's domain To preserve
the spiritual life Of man. aud 10 conserve
the duties that flow from the revelations of
truth. 1t Is lar above the temporal power; ono
existence These powers should be exercised u accord
and harmoniously each lett 10 Its proper junction.
The absorption OF the State by the Churcn would be
possibility. but u would not be against the word
State Is contrary Holy Writ, and the Holy Catholic
Church has always fought against H.
OTHER COUNTRIES.
We see in Russia to what condition 1t has reduced
the Crock Church, which clngs ike tho roots OF
s,cky vine to the State. In England whore the king
queen the head Of the Church. and where all the
vitality oil the Church is derived from tho STATE we
find another example What has such union led 10?
The widest theories, the most abandoned doctrines
fact, anarchy. Tne idea that the authority OF our
Holy Church has nc spiritual derivation Is nothing
else hut universal atheism.
The reverend gentleman then reviewed the rise and
fall of the rulers who had dened and prosecuted tho
Church. nniling Napoleon l., his nephew, Napoleon
ILL.,, and at the present moment Bismarck, Of Ger
many, who, ho said, had driven tho monks and nuns
exilo order hat the power OF the state ht
be extended, but, like Napoleon l., who was bound
like vuture TO the rock OF 81. Helena, ell the
mics OF tho Ch ur,h must TALL
.'Arc wen the preacher asked, "enemcs to the gov
eminent under which we lvcg No. But Cabinet
Minister OF this country who by some inscrutable
way has attained his honorable position, and whose
ignor lncc IS palpablc every page oil book he
written, That our Church Is contrary TO tho spirit
oi civil and religious liberty"