, 1879-03-24

The Rev. John ". Hickey, c. NJ, lcct,,rcd
last night at St. Pntrick's Church, corner Dus-
PLANES md Adams streets, for tho benefit Of
the parisl sclloois OF 81. ratrick's Parlsh.- As
tho attendance wna largo a handsome sum was
realized. The reverend speaker chose for tho
subject Of his discourse, "Thc Catholic Church,
the Basis of Civil and Religious Liberty" 1Io
commenced his address BY saying tlat of late It
l,ah been frequently said TINT tho Catholic
Church could not exist did IL not deprive
Its children OF their Intellectual un,
j. measure ter pyscal ,inery ts b.
inquired as to what liberty ,was, and
argued that there sas no such thing rs nb.
soute freedom from restraint, nor could there
md nlways would be In all races, classes, trihes
ind conditions Of people certain restraints I'M
posed BY, nid for tho protection OF, those So
cictfes. Otherwise the ,yorso would DO chaos.
Of liberty or Freedom from restraint: The peo:
pic OF no two countries or nations Of the world
cu|oyed exactly the snme degrees Of individual
or civil liberty. There had been tircs when
der der tie ancient flrccian a'!a Roman Coy
ernments was tllis tho cnso. The Gov
crnmcnt was protected by laws mud customs.
but individuality was lost sight Of III t1lat nro-
which tic Government WAS hound to respect.
II was tic mission OF tlie Catholic Church to
cstablis foster, ursI teach thu doctrine of civil
liberty. Almost the primary doctrine ot Cath
sislit Of God. The Catholic Church had taught
unt! spread TINT doctrine through the known
world, nuh BY means Of It the countries nnl
pconle Of Europe hal been elevated nnl rvs.
taurtt the doctrines Of equality md untversnl
fraternity, md to its tcachng tho civilized
| cnuntrtes Of tho world weto indebted for
their enlightenment md tl'eif 5rcelo,n.
avnnss Il wss sat e4ise'f ostne 'tf'' & equality SS f
which prevailed IN tho codes Of the civilized
nations Of to-day. That doctrine freed tho
10 was but man iIko the lowest Of his sub
| jccts, md impressed upon the master TINT hn
stood upon tho same footing with l.is bonds
man. As In ciylllty,. SO iii religion, there
Wcro aII men allowed TO believe us they chose
an,! to act upon their own beliefs, then would
there be Hurocr. at'a theft, md the indulgence
ia ecnsualty, oil Justified, supportel, anl CON-
veil IS slvii restraint. Tile Catholic Churc'!
eSsdsaso asdns this to 's''se' aws ' Of f'' Cod d
ana man. And not only was TIC 10
It's teacl,lngs, but by ihe results 81 a prastlsal
application Of It's teachings. The Catholic
Church Ind, in addition to tic teaching Of the
doctrine OF equality and universal fratcrnity,
/ LlEEtb} pohCA " OPp4toof0
| Governments, hcatcn bnck the tide Of uagAn
immigration from Asia TINT Threatened to over
run alll ovcrturu the countries IT Europe. It
| Ind hecn sai.i thAt the Catholic Churcl, WIS ro'
sponsble for the bioodthrsty scones ni!,l events
Consequent upon tic Spanish. 1nqnlsitson
nols. History lid not warrant any such
assertions. Tie spaniel, 1nQulsttnn was planned:
executed, md fosterctl by Ferdinand, WHO nsctl
some Cuthotc prlpsts, md even some Bishops,
In tho furtllrrance Of Ills designs. But the en-.
tire lnquts!tun was political munsurc with
wh!ct, tic CllEchhad nothing to d. md for which
the Church was not responsible. The rcspoIst'
billy MID tho udium shnull bo lald Ut the toord
| Ut tho chtrf actors In the torlures. The same
could bs said OF tho hutchcFY ot. tbs llugMennts
Tint Was . political feature, not religious
fnnaticism. Ii was trt.s tint some OF tho par
tcIpatprs nld abettors Of tho massacre were
Catholics, but they did not oct under Tie
direction Of their ruligious aMpcrtors. They buI
served the Instructions ~ tlIeir political rulers
and ta Church Knew nothing Of it, l,atl no llall
IN Il, did not aliylso u or support 1t. The shInt
might ho snIL Ut MI similar expressions, tht
ulum Of which had been Gust upon The Catho
liz Church. ln conclusion. the speaker inststet
that the Catholic Church WIS the basis Of al
civil ai religious 1ihetty, and the friend Of TIL
! ropr Abd the oppressed.