Morning journal and courier., 1884-12-12
News by Telegraph FROM ALL QUARTERS. PASTORAL LETTER From the Council At
 Baltimore. A VARIETY OF SUBJECTS For the Catholic Mind
 To Digest. THE TREATY WITH SPAIN. Its Advantages Shown By
 FrelimghTEysem.
THE VOICE OF THE CHURCH.

THE VOICE OF THE CHURCH. A Letter to American CathO1ics-The
 PIenary Council D1scOurses on Var1-
 Ous Matters of Church Discipline.
 BALTIMORE, Dec 1.-The pastoral letter of the archbishops and bishops of the United States assembled in the third plenary council to the clergy and laity of their charge was given to the United Press this evening for distribution The letter, which is of great length, is signed by James Gibbons, Arch bishop of Baltimore and Delegate Apostolic. The following is synopsis of the letter, and embraces the most important points con- tained therein:
 After referring to the second plenary coun- cil held eighteen years ago and the whole some experience by which the prelates, clergy and faithful of the present time have been taught to appreciate the zeal, piety and prudence that inspired the decrees of the venerable fathers who took part in that council, the letter says that since that time the ecclesiastical body of clergy has grown to wonderful dimensions, the Catholic in stitutions have been multiplied tenfold with a corresponding increase in the members of the faithful laity and the territory over which they are spread has been greatly en- larged, referring more particularly to the West. In view of this great progress it has been judged wise if not absolutely necessary to examine anew the legislation of their pre- decessors, not with any purpose of radical change, but to preserve and perfect its spirit by adapting it to their altered circumstances. The general council assembled by Plus Tx. at the Vatican in 1869 like the council of Trent was interrupted by the dis turbed condition of Europe and the council adjourned leaving the work of it's delibera tions unfinished. However, during the seven months session of the Vatican council utter ance was given to some great truths which the church has held from the days of Christ, but which she found it once more necessary to recall and inculcate against the widespread skepticism and unbelief of our day. It is a fact that teachers of skepticism and ire ligion are at work in this country to-day. They have crept into the leading educational institutions of the non-Catholics and there are daily signs of growing unbelief. The letter says: "To you who possess the treasure of Catholicity we safely address the reiter- ated injunctions of the Lord to the chosen leader of his people: Take courage and be strong; take courage and be valiant. Fear not and be not dismayed because the Lord thy God is with thee'" Our Lord com manded his apostles to teach mankind the truths they had been taught by him. What they wrote and taught was Gods word and was committed to the keeping of the church and to him on whom the church was built, the only apostle who yet lives and rules in the person of his successors and who imparts the truth of Christian faith. In regard to the education of the clergy the pastoral letter says that when so many misleading theories are put forth, when every department of natural truth and fact is explored for obiec tions against revealed religion, it is evident how extensive and thorough should be the knowledge of the clergy, that they may show the beauty and necessity of Christian re- ligion. F'It is@ur duty therefore to see that the course of education in our ecclesiastical colleges and seninaries be as perfect as pos sible. It is recommended as especially use ful that scholarships be founded either in the diocesan or provincial seminarles or in the American college at Rome or elsewhere. Much attention was bestowed by the council on the rights and interests of the pastors and of all ranks of the clergy in this country. The rights of the their exercising the sacred ministry in their missions, to the fxity of their tenure of office and to the invlolability of their pastor al authority within proper limits. It is the spirit of the church that the various grades of authority in her organization should in no
 1---L ,lz-.J- ! harmonious. It is obvious that in countries like this where our organization is only grad ually advancing toward perfection the full application of the canon law is impracticable, but in proportion as they become practicable it is our desire not less than that of the into effect. We heartily rejoice at every approach toward perfect organization in this country. This has to some degree been accomplished by the regulations enacted dur ing recent years and still more by the de- crees of the present council On the conduct of the laity the happiness of the clergy chiefly depends.
 in speaking of church property and church debts the letter says that whether the title be held by the bishops or by boards of trustees the properties are always held in trust for the church and the people. In acquiring church property it often becomes necessary to contract church debts, the responsibility for when rests alike OH Cu0 clergy duu 1d1Gy It has been the endeavor by careful legisla tion to prevent the contraction of debts; still it must happen that the burden imposed by the task of providing for the spiritual wants offhe present and rising generation VII always be heavy.
 treated at great length. Not only the phys ical and intellectual, but the moral and reli- gious well-being of people should be pro noted Take away religion and morality will soon follow. Morality gone the physical con dition will degenerate while the intellectual | attachments would only serve as light to guide them to deeper depths of vice and ruin. Education, to foster civilization, must foster religion, The three great educational agen- cies are the home, the ehureh and the school Religion should be in the school to be one of the chief agencies for moulding the young life to all that Is | true and Virtuous All denominations Of l Christians are now awakening to the fact that | the only way to secure Christian people is to 1 give the youth Christian education. The letter says all Catholic children should attend Cath \ olic schools and the objects Catholics should l have in view are to multiply the schools and I to perfect them. The iqea that the Catholic | schools need be inferior to other schools is repudiated.
 l On the subject of marriage it is stated that
 mixed marriages, when sometimes permitted by the church, are looked upon by her
 With regret anQ WlFh t5etttS TT etii!!4AtPtA tOf | the future happiness of such a union and for the eternal salvation of it's fruit. Divorce is
 disposed of by saying "Let 1t be well up-
 derstood that even adultery, though it may | justify separation, cannot loose the marriage ties so that either of the parties may marry
 again during the life of the other" It is
 claimed that the masonic and kindred societies
 although the offspring of the ancient guilds 1 Whichs aimed at sanctifyfng trades and
 tradesmen with the blessings of religion, have gone so far in many countries as to ar
 ray themselves in avowed hostility against
 Christianity and against the qathoiiie church l as ffs Anabodffnent. The church consequent
 " forbids m her children to have any eonnec- ton with such societies. The church does
 not desiFs ta ae, iplBgatiee ta apE asseaia-
 society will take every preoaution to ascer- 1 tain it's true nature.
 A Banquet to Senator German.
 BosroN, Dec. 11.-A banquet was tender