The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1885-01-28
pLENARY COUNCIL LETTER.

A Letter to tho Bishops and Clergy Of
North Germany Which has Been Kept
Secret That It Might Not bo stopped In
Its Transmission.
BALTIMORE, January 2S.-The following
letter, issued by the Plenary Council re-
Gently in session here, has just been made
public. The letter has been kept secret
until all danger OF the original being
stopped In transmission by the German
Government had passed. Its publication
has already been prohibited in Germany
To the Most Reverend and Most Esteemed
Archblshops and Bishops of North Germany
The ArchDshops and Bishops of the United
States send greeting and praise, love and
honor.
What we have felt singly, scattered as we
are over this broad land. dnrlng the last de.
cennium towards you in the very depth OF
our souls, wo wish now, assembled In the
Third Plenary Council Of Baltimore, to de-
Your merltorious sufferings, '.wherein you
endured a great fight" have filed us with
grief and sympathy, but your steadfast pa
tience, by which you were made IA spectacle
to the world and to angels and to men," In
spired us with no less Joy and admiration.
You were readyso become martyrs of Christ;
you have become In reality confessors OF the
Faith; for With unconquerable courage you
have borne all the injusticeB that were in-
flicted on yourselves and your beloved Hooks
-calumnies and threats, robbery and perse-
cution, Imprisonment and exile. In truth,
'your sound has gone forth unto oil the
earth and your words unto the world, ana
these words were words OF grief and com.
plant at the immeasurable trespasses against
the rights of the Church-the sacreligious
profauation, of the temples snatched from the
true worship OF God the closing OF schools,
colleges, semnaries and other institutions OF
Christian charity; the banishment Of rellg-
ious and the Imprisonment OF the clergy;
the unavailinR demands of the faithful for
the word of God even ut the hour Of death (;
words of strength and longanimity for every:
where and always, before the Kings and
Princes and people of the earth.
You have courageously defended the rights
and privileges of the Church, quailing before
no one and nothing, and yielding only 10 brute
force These, your splendid wCSds
and examples have, from the beginning OF
the painful struggle, produced the most salu-
tary fruits, for 10 them Is chiefly due that ad'
mirable fidelity of your fiocks and that inyin'
oible steadfastness OF your priests. Had even
one OF you allowed himself 10 be ensnared by
the wilos and soductions of your enemies OF
terrified by their threats and deeds Of violence
what Joy IL would have been TO your oppo
nents, what a sorrow to the children Of the
Faith. But on the contrary you have defeated
the aims OF the enemy and shown TO the world
as clear us day that you are genuine Apostles
Of Truth md Justice. and that the Church oi
Christ is the most solid basis of the worldly
power and the safest breastwork OF civil so
ciety.
Permit us, honored brethren, the glory and
the model OF the Epscopacy, worthy success
sors OF Clemens, Augustus and Martinus, "a
weep with you In your sorrows, and rejoice
with you in your Joys. At no time In this de
cennium have you been without Joy, hui
now Il seems at last that ''your sorrow shall
be turned into joy" Many of your churches
robbed OF their shepherds, have changed the
mourning robes Of their widowhood for the
bright wedding garment. Two OF your mum
returned again TO the clear light of day and
of love. Those OF you whom the precious
death OF the Saints has not yet admitted %
the vision of the Lord, and who
are not kept away by a glorious exile,
have gathered around the grave of the
immortal Apostle of Germany. who himself
II Is true, was martyred with the Gospel in his
hand. but who can never be conquered In hi,
followers. Your invincblc firmness ha:
shown clearly once more that the Church op
pressed is the Church victorious. That "li
would be easier TO eKtinguish the sun than tC
destroy the Church"
May your Joy soon be perfect; may tho
mighty ones OF the earth, overcome by YOU
steadfastness and guided by better advisors
recall entirely those most unfortunate laws
which were the cause OF your conflict and TN
fountain of your sOrrows; may the priests
and the people continue 10 hear your voice, u
follow your counsel, 10 initiate your example
so that at last perfect peace md perfect free
dom be restored TO your church.
JAMES GIDBONS,
Archbishop OF Baltimore, Apostolic Dele
gate. ."