The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-12-29
THE FIRST sIGNER OF MAGMA cH1RTA
GREAT ARcHBIsHoPs WORK FOR HUMAN
LIBERTY.
By Hon 8. s. Cox Of New York.

Six hundred and fifty years ago, on the
9th of July last, the spirit of Stephen
Langton left the body. He had been
Archbishop of Cauterbury, Cardinal OF
the Catholic Church, 4 learned scholar and
author, philosopher and theologiao ; and
above ali practical friend of the people,
and a lover of liberty aad law.
| HIS theological and scholastic works are
no longer extant; his dnst, though coffined
in rugged stone, has long since mouldered
and mingled with that of others less con-
spicuous the insignia of his rank, the
may be forgotten !; the very place of his
birth is disputed by three English coun-
ties, but his memory will be cherished 80
long as liberty lives, as the first signer of
| Magma Charta- He was the most efficient
promoter of it's principles up to November,
l2l4, when it's bases were.drawn and in
June 1915, it's leading champion, when it
was contaminated. Indeed, it was in its
best sense, as popular charter, his paper.
He watched over its observance, as if it
were bis Offspring.
That charter never lost it's emphasis. 1t
gave freedom to the serf. To the law it
added reverence. 1t made habeas corpus.
1t made the tumblest house of the citizen
his castle. Hsllam calls it the keystone
of English liberty. 1t is more. 1t is the
arch of human freedom. 1t not only span
ned the land, but the sea. 1t assured lib
SACiOc uuhuO"H W anu
suited to all the varied and novel relations
OF our new world! 1t made the American
revolution, and the Declaration of Inde-
pendence. 1t is ergrafted on all our con-
stitutions. Our "bills of rights" are cop
led from it's catalogue of liberties. It is
the foundation of our rising empires. It
is q protest against exclusive privileges
and prerogatives whether in lands, bridges
or fisheries. 1t made the last will and tes-
lament sacred. 1t gave dover to the
widow. 1t prevented frauds in weights
and measures by making uniformity. It
brought justice within the reach OF al, by
courts of assize and circuit. It made bor-
oughs and cities sure Of their charters. II
added new impulse to trade, and gave
wings to commerce, by giving to them
freedom from exactions. 1t gave glory to
the realm by exalting right above the
and powerfNss while it gently placed the
hand of liberty within that of law.
Well might Tie Deum Laudamus be sung
in Westminster for such charter! Well
might censers swing and music swell in it's
praise and even laundering anathemas
abridge it's blessings or darken its splen
dors.
For this great charter, let the organ
renew It's swelling peal let new songs
ntertwine their harmonies and among
arcades, aud pillars, and inches, and
shedrals of a new hemisphere, where lib
orty loves to worship, let the divine efflu-
ence stream in, through religious forms of
'aint and apostle, from the Father of all
Light, as seven centuries ago it streamed
n upon the august presence of King,
Lords and Commons in Westminster
Abbey, when Stephen Langton, the great
,rmate and statesman of Western Europe,
TODD up in their midst to hallow the great
harter, in the name of the ever blessed
Tod and His Son, Jesus Christ.