The New York herald., 1879-03-09

whose special deleetation his letter evidently was
written. Calmly considering. however, what he had
the temerity 10 publish about the young Lieu
tenants" of the sanctuary. his own conseislee IN
his wiser moments must reproye him. and be will
feel every bit jus. good priests
those who rst preached the faith 10 the oneias
and the Cherokees- The times and circumstances
different that is all. The priest Is what he
then: now, then. he Is ordained q
Tor his mission asiS ana goes wherever ne :,
not in day be long his privilege TO lead
life OF adventurous hardship and self-denai.
If lie inclined 10 undertake some extra norti-
cation. The priest OF the day has mortidca-
tons of his own that the missionary TO the Indian
never dreamed of. Volunteers for the Indian
missions required have aud they did have ali
the adventurous character and courage OF explorers
with their vestments strapped on their shoulders
they penetrated our primeyal forests surveyed our
great lakes and rivers and often breasted the tor
rents in birch canoe. But the life after all.
life of poetry and romance and II they were destitute
OF the comforts of GENERALIZATION they had to wage
no against our vices either. Their people in
haoited the great. green waving forest; we
houses-hotbeds of filth and disease No
comparison can or ought to be instituted
between these certainly great men and our Lieu
tenants of the sanctuary because everything Is
different. To be they never troubled their con-
gregations for money and for good reason. From
whom could they expect get it, and if they had
what would they have done with IL: IN our day
money is necessary for everybody Why. even the
HERALD is not given away for nothing and ''Cathol
icus himself had to buy paper tor and pay postage
on his-w,th some ovcrzeaous stateineats-very
sance of money is such necessary evil all around
it should not be continually paradcd fling at
religion. This money feature in religious discus
sions. then could be very we'll suffered to subside.
and all would feel the better for it.
1t was really delightful. however. TO find some
body capable of the attempt-and Catholicus" seems
TO have all the intimate knowledge" necessary-at
length coming out and denouncing even in measured
language the treatment which poor priests have had
to suffer and still destined to endure from their
superiors. Many wish has been expressed 10
this question in the columns the HERALD;
fnr fha n "a n fhAr nPf-
vncial council and diocesan synod are just many
shams. and must necessarily continue to be shams,
Bishop to be often afraid to say that his soul is his
own. Nor will the late instruction OF the Propa-
ganda addressed to American bishops be OF
much or of any advantage TO the priests, because
those named on the commission in each diocese
will naturally be tho creatures of the bishops those
very individuals who. according to "CathoIicus. ac
company the bishop as his theologans to council.
and who looking for the mitre themselves. Tho
traditional packed jurics of Dublin Castle would not
be able to hold candle to these impending rowing
commissions Besides. any priest VINO has incurred
displeasurc would be million times safer in the
hands of his bishop-unless he were born tyrant,
qacd proca dbsit-than trusting to the judgments of
men who. far from sympathizing with him, might
Of the way. Why, let priest be even under the
temporary dspleasure OF his bishop, and his former
and most intimate associates i'll the ministry will be
Now why is this thus? Chiefly because priests
have no status. are nobodies aud seem to have no
rights which bishops are bound to respect. And
disabled priests as well as for disabled
character in his ordination the other? Out OF the
ministry Is not the one as helpless and as useless
member of society as the other? Has not the priest
the mark OF Cain" on his brow, as well as the
bishop? Priests work and worry and toll and grow
old in erecting churches and schools and converts
inirmity; they beg and they borrow; they strain
every to build up and to beaufy the house Of
Gods and yet for all this there is no provision made
for any accident or misfortune which may humanity
overtake befall themselves. No matter on the
other hand. for what reasons bishops may be disa-
bled. ample provision is always made for their
lordships. But the priest! Oh he may go
where Oliver Cromwell sent the Irish;
and il he rush right straight headlong to
old Noll's first station and stop there much the
better; he is one out OF the way. How many broken
hearts in the ministry to-day! How many have
sorrow to the grave! Thank God there some
noble exceptions among the bishops. and notably
in the State OF New York! There are bishops here
who feel that they men themselves-who never
fancied themselves knights of crusade against
priests. ready booted and spurred to ride the mo-
mont that they get the croz.er in their hands and
the nitre on their heads.
And this brings me to reflect that "Catholicus."
Ssh"p % bs 10
rcputed efforts OF the bishops have the
instruction modified In their own favor. That
is the unkindest cut OF all Because Catholicus with
his intimate knowledge of things ecclesiastical.
must have known that Bishop McQuaid had enough
might never concern him. "Catholicus" must also
have heard tho whisper that Bishop McQuaid am
bitions the coadjutorship OF the archdiocese. This
being so. the rumor that he is engaged ut Rome in
trying to rob the instruction OF whatever advantages
it might have for priests, would certainly not recon-
mend him to the "young lieutenants' of the sane
tuary in the metropolis As they could not admire
any such proceeding on the part of their coming
ings" and be likely to deprive him or the coveted
commission. All. 'Catholicus." that unkind!
The whole tenor and spirit OF the letter Of
'Catholicus' incline me to the belief that he liz o
sogyarM himself. and what he says about the
Baltimore Council and the open disregard of secular
priests for its requirements, strongly impress me
with the conviction that he is a monk u friar into
the bargains or, perhaps. he Is some 'ex for whom
community life was not strict and rigid enough. At
any rate whoever whatever he Is he has intimate
knowledge" plenty. of how things work in the
Church. But he is not always charitable and often
imprudent. Witness his fling at the "young lieu
tenants of the sanctuary and his drive at Bishop
McQuaid. Then he openly declares that the holy
rule OF the regulars usurps the place of the canon
Will not your "Cauonicus" riddle this startling aud
impudent declarationy In my innocence | had
always believed that religious belonged the Church
and were subject to her their holy rules
and themselves.
But "Catholicus" complains openly in the columns
OF the HERaLp-in paper that Is read wherever the
English language IL spoken-that tho 'secular clergy
violate" the laws, &C.. of the Council of Baltimore.
Nor does he stop at this 1.-THE regular clergy at the
Council did not interest themselves in what did not
concern them" What! the laws and regulations
made by the bishops in penary council assembled.
aud in the interests and tor the progress Of religion.
did not concern these holy fathers. who sat there
with sublime indifference to what was takp place
'Catholicus. the holy fathers will not thank you for
this. 1t will do argue that they look
ing for mtres, like the theologlans who accompa-
MED the bishops; tho interests OF religion ought
be, and, ''Catholcus" notwithstanding am sure
wcrc Just M dear to the regulars who attended the
Council to the theologians OF the bishops
who were looking for mitres by the way.
though. never heard that any religious except
one who was chosen to be bishop. returned the
bulls with noio eDiscopore 'Catholicus' en-
phgsizes abuses "thc absence the Roman col
lar" '.picncs" moonlight excursions by water. ;.
Does 'Catholicus'' remember the story of the wolf
in the fable. qui sprerit 3uas aungcre ofuif
he might be prevented from attending these harm
less fro;ics by his holy rule which never him
To be out late; by his conscience. which has
already warned him never to expose himself to
danger again; but when lie on that account cxclaiis
against Others enjoy wing what he himself s forbidden
to taste to handle everybody will out. IS
grapcs!" while / venture to affirm that 'Catholi-
GUS" whoever knows him. is just willing to pocket
'money taken at the church door," and ready,
when occasion calls. TO visit places where liquor is
sold' as the gayest young ieutenant' OF the sane