Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-03


pies it is easy to understand the Church's
course in the recent controversy con-
cerning the Knights of Labor. She drew
clear distinction between the prin-
ciples involved in that question and
the special methods or form OF or
ganization by which those principles
were sought to be enforced. For the
principles avowed she could have only
sympathy and kindness, but to the special
form of organization and to its practical
workings she could not commit herself,
and she never gave any approval, for
the fact could not be ignored that large
masses Of men thus seeking to vindicate
their rights are apt to be led into error,
violence, and injustice. But the Church
would not on this account put the or
ganization under the ban of ecclesiastical
censure she wisely preferred to leave
its future to experience and to practical
good sense and she felt sure that the
conservative wisdom Of our country's in-
stitutions and the strong arms of her
legal authority are quite competent to
keep the action OF such organizations
within the limits Of law and order.
THE Pores AFFECTION FOR AMERICA.
The Bishop then dwelt upon the spe-
cial affection manifested by Leo Nil.
for America and Americans. lie sees IN
our country the truest development OF
the legitimate spirit of our era re-
public which is a rebuke and a lesson
both to absolutism and to red revolu-
tionism. He sees Church and State
here going side by side peacefully-not
indeed US closely harmoniZing as the
body and soul of human society ought in
the nature of things to do, but In the
very best manner which, considering the
existing state of things, could reasonably
be expected. He appreciates the con
trssts between the freedom which re-
ligion here enjoys and the condition of
insult and outrage to which it Is else
where subjected by Cessrsm or red re-
volutionism. He loves America and her
straightforward, broad-hearted people,
and he would rejoice to sec such a spirit
of freedom as ours giving tone to the
future of the world.
From this it must not be supposed that
Leo XIII. approves that esprit OF the
age which Plus TX. condemned. They
both condemn that false and counterfeit
spirit Of the age that asserts mans self
sufficiency, glories III materiaIism, and
rejects God and religion. But they both
approve the true spirit of the age. For
our age is an era Of freedom, OF mans
inalienable rights-of rights which are
inaienable because they were not given
by man and cannot be taken away by
man. but were bestowed on him, as our
Declaration of independence declares,
by his Creator. Now intidelity doubts
or denies the Creator, and therefore con
cludes that rights are not God-given but
man-given. This is the foundation of
that absolutism which Christianity de-
throned. The Pope, therefore, by con-
demningintidoIity and proclaiming Chris
tian truth asserts the Divine basis of hu-
man rights, the only solid foundation for
an era of popular rights and true free
dom.
ITALY's CONDITION.
The lecturer then pictured the sadness
in the heart of Leo XIII. owing to his
alienation from his own beloved Italy.
This alienation is owing to the party of
infidels who at present dominate the
Government of Italy, who take every op-
portunity to insult religion, who Danish
Christianity from education, who tram
pie on rights of conscience and do tier
best to train mp generation of intidels.
With such a policy and such party
how could the Pope be reconciled
Again, the temporal power is q grave
difficulty. A manifest providence had
preserved it for more than 1000 years
as the guarantee of the Popes freedom
in the exercise of his spiritual Office.
The spoiler seizes it, wipes out its sacred
and historic charity, Incorporates II
with his own dominions and turns the
capital Of ChristendOm into hot-bed OF
the worst blasphemers against Chris
tianity. How can the Pope say amen to
all this? But his recent negotiations
with Germany are sufficient assurance
that if the circumstances of the times
ever permit it the Church will know how
to accept any modification IN external
circumstances not incompatible with
principle and with spiritual duty.
INNER LIFE.
The Bishop then entered into the con
sidcration of the inner life and character
of Leo XIIL-his purity and honesty Of
heart, his disinterestedness, his gentle
ness and winning sweetness, his accessl.
biIty to the least and lowest of all
classes. He showed how his wisdom and
fortitude were the outgrowth Of his spirit
of prayer, of his daily and constant com
muning with God, and he concluded with
the prayer that God might long spare tc
as such a man and such priest to be an
honor to the Church and blessing tc
mankind.
..a-n nCnnU