Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1885-04-02

| his words How free as the rivers that poured
their waters into the ocean None knew
better than Father White what havoc OF
faith tyranny had made.
A site for city was chosen and st. Mary S
was the name given TO it, But the city has
passed away, for in days when travelling
through county was like journey across
continent, it had to be abandoned as a
capital for a place more accessible to the in
terror of the colony. Annapolis, its success
sor, though it has never grown TO be giant,
is not without its title to fame. The author
Of Old Maryland Manors says, "it was at An
napolis that soft crabs, terrapins and canvas
back ducks first obtained their renown as the
greatest delicacies of the world" He quotes
from French traveller Of the last century !;
ain that inconsiderable town at the mouth of
the Severn at least three-fourths of the houses
may be styled elegant and grand. The
State House is very beautiful building---I
think the most of any have seen in America.
Female luxury exceeds what is known in
France. A French hairdresser is man of
importance among them, and it is said that
a certain dame here hires one of that craft
at one thousand crowns year"
In 1888, Father White wrote to his superb
or in Rome "By the spiritual exercises of
st. lgnatius we have formed most of the in-
habitants to the practice of piety and the
sick and dying have been attended in spite of
the distances of their dwellings," His labors
were equally fruitful among the Indians. 1t
is an honor Of Maryland not shown by the
other colonies that from the beginning friend
ly relations existed between the white men
and the Indians. Need it be repeated that
Father White and his missionaries were
Jesuits2 AT that time the order was in the
zenith Of its glory. The superiors of the
order, true to their sagacious principle of
sending the best men to missions like China
Japan and Paraguay, appointed for Mary
land men of great learning and ability. The
history of the Jesuits shows that the most
gifted men were the best for this humble
work. Xavier, Ricci, 0rtega, Father White,
were all men of distinction in the great
schools of Europe. The first history of
Maryland is from Father Whites pen in
Latin. Will anyone wonder that the Jesuit
loves Maryland He has lived here two
centuries and a-half and is not likely soon to |
move. st. Ignatius was the patron of the
Ark and the Dove and the State is still un- |
der his patronage. The proprietary govern
ment Directing to the requirement of certain |
lands by the Jesuit Fathers, petition was
sent to Rome making charges against them
and asking for their recall. The order was
about to be issued, when the Fathers state
ment of the case was received, and they
were allowed to remain. To dispose of the |
difficulty the provincial of the Society gave
up to the proprietary the manors of Malta
poni, Immaculate Conception and st. Greg
Dry.
The act Of religious toleratioH of 1913 10 q |
cherished memory. II was passed in the AS |
sembiy sitting In st. Mary's City. But what
is religious federation? The question is per-
tinent because 1t is said the church's teach
ings are inconsistent with liberation. There
Is right kind of liberation and wrong kind. |
The wrong kind advocates the doctrine of be- |
lieying just what man chooses. Revelation |
has fixed beyond the right Of man to change |
1t just what we shall believe. He must sub |
init to slavery and death rather than yield |
up that truth. But there Is kind of tolera-
ton consistent with Catholic principles. While |
we hold In the abstract that unity of religion |
would conduce best TO the best interest Of nan,
yet there may be conditions of society when |
freedom of differing In religion is altogether |
necessary for the happiness and prosperity of |
the State. In such conditions of society, the |
Catholic says; | will not force you to believe |
as do; will not debar you from any posi-
ton of honor or gain because you are not a |
Catholic. This was the character of religious
liberation In Maryland and this kind Of toler- |
alton is necessary for the well being of our |
Republic. Other colonies were colonies of |
men prosecuted for their religious opinions.
Maryland was a colony of prosecuted Roman |
Catholics. 1t Is not to the purpose to say that |
there were Professionals on the Ark and the |
Dove. II was emancipation of Roman Cath |
olirs that inspired the emigration from the
mother country. Maryland alone-a Catho-
lie colony-Rranted freedom to every man
The charter granted 10 the first Lord Balti-
more secared religious freedom long before
the act Of liberation was passed The second
Lord Baltimore (Ceciius) was most earnest
10 carrying out the charter. Not one case of
intolerance can be cited against Leonard CAL
vert. ''Peace to all, persecution to none,n
was his hvorite motto. He convicted John
Lewis, an ardent Catholic, fer forbidding his
Protestants servants reading their Protestant |
Bibles. The same chapel was used at one boar |
for Catholic sacrifice, at another hour for Pro- |
testaut prayers. In the memorable Assembly
of l649 while the Catholics were in the ma
jority, the Proies,ants acknowledged the act |
of federation was adhered to, and passed a res
olasian TO that effect, which was sent to Eng |
land. These were glad tidings to every ma
ton of Europe and where religious dissensious
prevailed
The lecturer argued that to attribute the |
liberation in MARYLAND 10 motives of self-in-
lerest in Lord Balti,Aore and the Catholics |
was to give him no nobler views and motives
than Yankee pedder might claim. But
Lord Baltimore is safe In Protestant as in
Catholic hands from such an imputatioR. He
quoted the historical review Of the circum-
stances of,hose times by Gea Bradley I john
Z.