St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-12
PASTORAL LETTER.
A Synopsis of the Letter of the Bishops
and Archbishops TO the Clergy
and Laity.
Strong Plea in Behalf Of Catholic Schools
and the Work Of Temperance.

following abstract gives the main points OF
the leading matters which engaged the after
ton OF the council Reference is made &c
the great increase Of Catholic institutions in
the past eighteen years, especially in the
west The assembling, by Plus X, a
the general council at the vatican is alluded
to as one OF the most important events Of
our age, aud the detailed account Of its work
given. The Catholics of Prussia are com
mended for their good work in avail
ing themselves of every legal means tc
check the advances Of despotism, aud save
their own freedom and that Of their country.
! The letter then describes the laws Of the
church and this country IL the following
terms:
"We think we can claim 10 be acquainted,
both with the laws, the institutions and the
spirit of the Catholic church, and with the
laws, institutions and spirit Of our country,
and we emphatieally declare there is no an
tagonism with them. A Catholic finds him
self at home in the United States, for the in
huenee OF his church has been constantly ex-
ercised in behalf OF tine individual rights
and popular liberties. And q right-minded
American nowhere finds himself more at
home than in tae Catholic church, for no.
where else can he breathe that atmosphere Of
divine truth which alone can make US free.
We repudiate, with equal earnestress, the
assertion that we need 10 lay aside
any Of our devotion to our church
to be true Americans, and the insinuation
that we need 70 lay aside any OF our love for
our country's principles and institutions 70
be faithful Catholics. To argue that the
Catholic church is hostile TO our great repub-
. lie because she teaches that ''there is no
power but from God" because therefore
back OF the events which led 10 the form a.
ton OF the republic she sees the providence
Of God leading to that issue, and back of our
eountry's laws the authority Of God as their
sanction. This IS evidently so illogical and
contradictory an accusation that we are as
tonished 20 hear il advanced By persons OF
ordinary intelligence. We believe our coun-
try's heroes were the instruments OF the God
of nations in establishing this home
of freedom to both the Al
mighty and TO his instruments
in the work VIC look with grateful reverence,
and to maintain the inheritance of freedom
which God forbid, be imperiled. our Catholic
citizens will be found to stand forward as
one man, ready to pledge anew ''their lives,
their fortunes and their sacred honor" No
less illogical would De the nation that there is
aught in the free spirit Of our American in
situations incompatible with the perfect
docility 10 the church of Christi
The attempt to grasp the property Of the
propaganda is severely condemned, and our
government warmly thanked for the action
that saved the American college from con-
| iscation. 1t is declared in all wise circles OF
holy fathers that the great responsibility
| OF the progress of the church in
the United States forms, in a special
manner, both a source Of joy and an object
Of solicitude. A considerable portion of the
/ letter is devoted to the discussion of the edu-
cation Of the clergy and their pastoral rights.
With respect 10 church properties and church
debts the letter says:
properties are held In trust by the church
for the benefit Of the people. II often be-
| comes necessary 10 contract church debts
where the multiplication Of the Catholic pop
ulation has been so rapid, rapid work had 70
be done in erecting churches and schools,
aud If, under such circumstances, pastors
had 10 wait till all the funds were in hand
before beginning the work a generation
would be left without the necessary spiritual
aid, and might be lost to the church and TO
God. II is our earnest wish the existing
debts should be liquidated as soon as posi-
bic in order that the money now
consumed in paying the interest might be
employed in the great improvements which
shall be made, aud in helping on the glorious
work of Christian education. CThis latter
subject is treated at great lengthy Child
hood aud youth are periods of life when
character ought especially to be subjected TO
religious influences. Now, can we ignore
the fact the school is an important factor in
! forming childhood and youth, so important
| that its influence often outweighs that OF
home and church. 1t cannot, therefore, be
desirable or advantageous that religion should
be excluded from the schools. On the con-
trary, ii ought there TO be one of the chief
agencies for moulding the young life to ali
that is true, and virtuous, and holy. To
shut religion out of the school and keep it
for the home and church is, logically, TO
train up generation that will
consider religion good for home and church,
but not for practical business and real life
But more false and pernicious notion could
not be imagined. Religion, in order to
elevate the people, should inspire the whole
! life, and rule their relations with one smother
A life is not dwarfed, but ennobled by being
lived in the presence of God. Therefore. the
school which principally gives knowledge,
fitting for practical life, ought-pre-emineutly
ought-to be under the influence of religion.
Two objects, therefore, we have in view: To
multiply our schools and to per-
feet them. We must multiply them
till every Catholic child in the land shall have
within its reach the means of education.
| There is still much to be done ere this is
attained. There are still thousands of Cath
Ole children in the United States deprived
Of the benefit Of Catholic school. Pastors
and parents should not rest till this defect
be remedied. No parish is complete till II
has school adequate TO the needs OF Is
children, and the pastor and people Of such
parish should feel that they have not accom-
| plished their entire duty until the want is
! supplied. We desire that the history Of the
United States should be carefully taught in
all our Catholic schools, and have directed
that il be specially dwelt upon in the educa-
ton Of young ecclesiastical students in oul
| preparatory seminaries. So also we desire
that it form favorite part o. the home IL
b-ary and home reading. We must keep firm
and solid the liberties of our country BY
keeping fresh the noble memories OF the
past, and thus sending forth from our Catho-
lie homes into the arena Of public life not
partisans but pstriots.H
4. The subjects Of the cooperation of the
Christian home with the Christian school,
Christian marriage and the indissolubility
of the marriage tie, are treated upon, and in
this connection the havoc wrought by the
divorce laws Of the country is deplored- The
Importance Of home virtues, good reading,
especially Of the Holy Scriptures, and ofeup-
! porting thoroughly the Catholic nress Ia i'm