Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-12-13
A PASTORAL LETTER
Issued by the Bishops and Prelates Of the
Late Piensry Council.

Issued by the Bishops and Prelates of the
Late Piensry Council.
WASHINGTON, December 1.-The pastoral
letter of the Archbishop and the Bishops Of
the United States, composing the third
Plenary Council at Baltimore, to the clergy
and laitY of their charge, is made public
through the Catholic Mirror. It is q lengthy
document, but the following abstract gives
the main points of the leading matter which
engaged the attention Of the Council Re
ference is made to the great increase OF
Catholic institutions in the past eighteen
years, especially in the West The assem-
bling by Pope Plus IN. OF the General
Council Of the Vatican, is alluded to as one
of the most important events of the age,
and detailed accounts its work are given.
The Catholics Of Prussia are commended
for their good work in syailing themselves
ofeveiy legal means to check the advances
of depotism and save their own freedom and
tha, Of their country.
The letter then discussed the laws of the
church and this country in the following
terms: "We think that we can claim to be
acquainted both with the laws, institutions
and spirit OF the Catholic church. and with
the laws, institutions and spirit OF our
country, and we emphstieally declare there
is no antsgenism with them. A Catholic
finds himself at home in the United States,
for the influence of his church has con-
stantly been exercised ID behalf OF lndl-
yiduai rights and popular liberties, and
every right-minded American can no.
where find himself more at home than in the
Catholic church, for nowhere else can he
breathe that atmosphere of divine truth
which alone can make US free"
I'VE repudiate with equal earuestness the
assertion that We need to lay aside any OF
our devotedness to our church to be.true
Americans; the insinuation that we need to
Law aside any Of our love for our countrys
principles and institutions to be faithful
Catholics. To argue that the Catholic
Church is hostile to our great Republic be-
cause she teaches that there is no power but
from God, because, therefore, back of the
events which led to the formation of the re-
public, she sees the providence of God lead
ing to that issue, and back of our countrys
laws the authority of God as their sanction,
is evidently so illogical and contradictory an
assersiOn that we are astonished to hear 1t d-
varctd By VERSIONS Of ordinary intelligence.
We believe our country heroes were instru-
ments of the God Of Nations in establishing
this home Of freedom; to both the Al
mighty aud to His instruments in the work
we look with grateful reverence, and to
maintain the inheritance Of freedom which
they have left US should (which God for
bid-be imperilled, osr Catholic citizens
will be found to stand harvard as one man
ready TO pledge anew their lives and their
fortunes and their sacred honor. No less
Illogical would be the notion that there is
aught in the free spirit OF our American in
stititutions incompatible with perfect docility
TO the church Of Christ
A considerable portion of the letter Is
teyC,ed TO the discussion of the education
o. the clergy and their pastoral rights with
respect to church property and church
debts. The letter says the properties are
held in trust for the church for the benefit
of the people. 1t often becomes necessary
10 contract church debts. Where the null
tiplication Of the Catholic population has
BEEN rapid, rapid work had TO be done IN
erecting churches and schools, and II under
such circumstances pastors had to wait till
ali the funds were in hand before beginning
work q generation would be left without
the necessary spiritual aids and might be
lost to the church and to God. 1t is our
earnest wish that existing debts should be
liquidated as soon as possible, in order that
the NOR ey now consumed in paying inter
est might be employed in great improve
menis still to be made, and especially in
helping on the glorious work of Christian
education.
We desire that the history Of the United
States should be carefully taught in our
Catholic schools, and we have directed that
it be especially dwelt upon in the education
Of our Young ecclesiastical students in our
preparatory seminaries. So also We desire
hat it form q favorite part Of the home Ii
brary and home reading. We must keep
firm and solid the liberties of our country
BY keeping fresh the noble memories of the
past ana thus send forth from our Catholic
homes into the arena of public life not par
tisans but patriots.
Sabbath dissertation is strongly con-
demned aud a pure life commended.