Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-12-12
PASTORAL OF THE PRELATES.
PLEsARY coUNcI1s ADDRESS.
The Preeress and Grewth or the Chnren-
III. Relation. Between the church aud
state other Interesting und Gratifying
TELEGRAM, 70 u,e Dispatch. !

! Tie Relations Between the Church a"'
| state other In,eresnrg and Gratifying
Exhibits.
fI;y telegraph to The Dispa,ch'i
/ BALTIMORE. December H. The pastoral
/ letter ~ the Catholic prela.cs. composing
I The third Plcnary Council, 10 the ciergy
/ and laily nhdcr their charge. Is mahe pun
he. II covers two pages OF the Ctthohcc
Mirror, and cannot well te condensed
i within tie limits OF a Geographic ITEM
Some OF ITS points are given herewith.
1t opeus with an expression oil gratitude
/ for the work Of the preceding Council,
/ eighteen years ago, and says; "since 'hen
our ecclesiastical body Of clergy md reli-
/ eion has grown TO wonderful dimen'i ms.
] Our Catholic institutions have been multi
/ plie1 terfol1, with q corresponding in
\ crease I'm the members Of our faithful
I l,iiy. The territory, likewise. over which
l tbey arc spread has been greatly
| enlarged. Tie land OF the far Wesi,
that was once desolate aud impossible,
/ through Gods pro'ldtntlal mercy. now
! Iejoices and nourishes like the lily. Under
! His guiding hand 1t has been taught t.
/ bud forth and blossom and rejoice wi,h
! Joy ard praise. The wilderness h. eX'
| changed lis solitude for the hum Of busy
]
sicnalles and Catholic settlers hive iIva-
riably either preceded or accompanied the
/ westward progress OF civilization. Forests
! have given way TO cities. wncre Caiboli"
| temples r, echo the praises Of the Most High;
where the priceless perfume OF the "cleIr
/ oblation.v foretcld by Malachi, daily as
| cends TO Heaven. and where the life-giying
sacTaments Of the Holy Church are dis
| pensed by devoted clergy. In view OF
! This great progress OF our holy religion,
/ this marvellous widening Of the tabernlclrs
/ Of Jacob. it has been judged wise and eX-
pedient, il not absolutely necessary, 10 eX-
| anime anew the legislation OF our predeces-
sor.. not with any purpose or radical
/ change. much less OF anrOgatiOn, but 10
preserve and perfect its spirit hy adlp.ing
| IT 10 our altered circumstances; and a.
| every day gives birth TO new errors AMI
! the lapse OF time or distance OF place allows
abuses 10 gradually creep into the regular
| discipline. we have judged It the duty Of
| our pastoral Office 20 check the later by
recalling and enforcing the established law,
| and TO guard our flock against the former
by timely words OF paternal admonition.
| Such. too. has been the expressed wish OF
! the Holy Father. Leo Kill"
The assembling OF the General Council
OF The most important events OF our age,
and its work and utterances are reviewed
at considerable length In connection with
the oppression Of Catholics in Germany.
the Prlissian Catholics are commended for
having stood up like wall OF a1amlnt
against The tyranny OF their country's
rulers while proving themselves most de-
voted and faithful to It's laws.
ni.ons.ipO tho relations nj the ltIVs az
the Church with those Of the country, the
letter says:
We think we can clam n be acquainted
| both with the laws. institutions, and spirit
OF The Catholic Church. and with the laws,
institutions, and sDiri, OF our country /;
aud we cmpbqticaly declare that there
| Is no antagOnism between them. rhe
Catholic tnos himself at home ~
the United States; for the inilu-
encc OF bis Church has constantly
been exercised in behalf OF individual rights
and popular liberties. and the ri .ht-minded
American nowhere finds himself more at
| home than in the Catholic Church. for no.
where else can he breathe that am )sphere
of divine truth which alone can make us
| free.
We rcpudia,c with equal elrnestness the
assertion that we need to las aside any oi
our devotrdreSs 10 our Church 10 be true
! Americans: the insinI-tijn that we need
| TO lay aside any OF our love for our
couniTy's principles and institutions 70 be
! faithful Catholics. To argue that the
! Catholic Church is hostile TO orr great re-
public. ecause she teaches TINT There i
! no power but from God" because. there
| fore. lack OF the events which led TO
/ tie formation Of the republic. she
sees the providence OF God leading to that
issue, and back OF our cOuntry's laws the
authority OF God rs their sanction, is evil.
! IDENTITY 20 illogical and contradictory an ic-
/ cusatIon. that we ere aslon,hed TO hear il
! advanced by persons OF ordinary III
/ teIlieence. We believe that our coun-
tvs heroes were the instruments Of
the God Of Nations IN establishing
/ this home of freedom. To both the
/ Almighty and 10 the instruments in the
woIk, we look with grateful reverence :;
and 10 maintain the inheritance Of freedom
which they have left us. should It ever
I which, God forbid--be Imperlled, our
4 Catholic citizens will be found TO stand
forward, as one man. ready to pledge anew
"thcir lives, their fortunes, aud their 81
/ cred honor
B Ono less illogical would he the notion
that there is aught IN tee free spirit Of our
/ American institutions Incompatible with
/ perfect dQciity to the Church OF Christ.
The spirit OF American freedom is not one
/ Of anarchy or license. II essentially in
wolves the lOye Of order, respect for right
/ full authority. and obedience to JUS,
J laws. There is nothing in the character
/ OF the most liberty-lOying American which
could binder his reVcrential submit sion TO
a IL - I la.
Ike authority delegated by Him 10 His
apostles and His Church; rOr are there IN
the world more devoted adherents OF the
F Catholic Church. the See OF Peter. the
/ Vicar Of Christ. than the Catholics OF the
+ United States
The letter condemns the spoilti0n Of
/ propaganda condemnation by the Italian
/ Government; thanks our GOycrnment for
/ the action that saved the American College
/ from couliscation. and hopes that the pro-
/ test and apNeal Of all governments and poo
/ pies that &" love justice and bate iniquity -
may vet shame the S30iler into honesty.
II speaks hopefully and trustiuly Of The
/ negotiation, bctv ern the Holy Father and
| the Governments OF Europe, which prOmi o
soon 10 bring peace TO the Church, aud
says: A" But in an the wide circle of =
! great responsibility. the pro srcsS OF tn
/ thUIch in these United STATES forms in q
| special manner, both source Of Joy and
| an object OF Soiicitude TO tue Holy Father.
! With loving care his predecessors watched
| and encouraged her frs, feeble be sinnngs.
| They cheercd and fO>tered her deycl3pm nj
in the rure atmosphere II freedom, when
| tie name Of Carroll shOne with eQuh
lustre at the head Of her newborn
hierarchy and on the roll Of our country.
patriots. slap by step they directed
her progress. as with marycllou, RI.
pidiiy the clergy and dioceses have
multiplied. Hundred, Of The faithful have
increased to thousands and 10 millions;
her churches, schools, asylums. hospitals.
academies, and college. have covered tine
land with homes OF divine truth and
| Christian charity. Not yet century has
elapsed since The work was nauguratcd by
the appointment OF the hrst bishop Of
Baltimore, in 1889; and As We @lze upon
| the results already reached we must cX-
claim: =" BY the Lord bath this been done,
| and il u wonderful In our eVe.."
The letter then treats upon the education
Of the clergy and pastoral rights and duties.
! In connection with the litter subjec' few
words are said concerning Church prOp'r-
ties and Church debts. II says: "rhc
manner Of holding legal title to these
! properties is different in different places,
according to the reQuir' ments Of the local
and civil laws; but WHITTIER the title he