Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-11-14

Om08 OF HuDuCdI1OQ, lZo-lZC WSet oeCOuU
sspeet, Los Angeles. Telephone No. 156
THURSDAY. NOV. Id, 1859.
The Catholic Congress.
Tbs convention of American Catholics,
which has just been held in Baltimore,
was one OF the most imposing and zig
ni6cant religious events that has ever
taken place in this country. All Of the
highest dignitaries of the church, both in
the United States and the Dominion of
Canada, as we'll as its intellectual clerical
leaders and its representative men in the
laity, participated in the pageants of the
centennial anniversary and in the pro-
ssedings Of the convention. There never
was q body of men gathered together
who more truly represented the Old
Church in all its aspects, in its
principles and motives, in its re-
lations to our institutions and
to the spirit Of tho age, than the body
which met in Baltimore. Therefore the
country will take its declarations and oct
givings as the e1-eatledr0 enunciations Of
the Catholic Church in America. Ger
tainly these declarations and outgivings
show that no church, no denomination,
is actuated by more liberal principles nor
higher patriotic motives than the church
which has just celebrated its episcopal
centennial. The addresses of its chief
dignitaries were all characterized by a
deep and fervent spirit of patriotic
devotion, and the platform adopted
by the Congress of Catholic Laymen
was pregnant with principles which, if
practically carried out, would enure to
the highest advantage of the country.
The declarations are signalized by a
broad and comprehensive liberality of
sentiment, instinct with the true spirit
Of Christianity, and they set forth in de-
tail the dangers that confront religion
and civilization. Besides taking its
stand firmly in favor of combating all
the popular vices and evils that are
undermining the morals of the people,
the platform boldly attacks the tendency
Of aggregated wealth to oppress and en-
slave the masses by unhallowed com.
binations and destructive exsctions.
These two planks of the platform will
meet the warm approval of all classes
and all sects but one:
We also recognize among the three
great educational agencies, besides the
church and school, the Christian home.
Whatever imperils it's permanency,
security and peace, is blow aimed not
only at individual rights, but is an at
tempt to subvert civil society and
Christian civilization. Therefore we de.
nounce the existence and development
of Mormonism and the tendency to mul.
tiply the causes of divorce, as plague
spots on our civilization, discredit to
our Government, a degradation of the
female sex and standing men.ce to the
sanctity of the marriage bond.
Another danger which menaces our re-
public is the constant conflict between
capital and labor. We view with regret
and alarm any antagonism between
them, because thereby society itself is
imperiled. With the church We con-
denim nihil;sm, socialism and commun-
ism, and we equally condemn the heart
less greed of capital. The remedy must
be sought in the mediation of the church
through her action on the individual
conscience.
The effect of this Congress and the
stand it has taken upon all patriotic
questions, will be to bring the work of all
denominations Of Christians into greater
harmony, and consequently into the
accomplishment of more effective results.
There is no reason why Christian
churches, no matter how they may differ
in their formulas, may not harmonic in
all the great works of beneicence and
reform that ought to be carried out. Oa
the broad platform of humanity they
must all stand, if they recognize the
leadership of the Nazarene Master. With
unity Of action there is nothing for the
betterment of the people that ought to be
accomplished which they could not &C.
complish.
The narrow prejudices of past age
are fast wearing away. Mankind ie
coming together. The nearer they gel
to each other, the more they wonder that
they should ever have been apart. II
we all thought alike and had the same
beliefs, we would be sort of wooden OF
Chinese race. 1t is in our diversity oi
opinions and beliefs as to forms and our
oneness of sentiment as to everything
that is elevating and humanizing that
the true spirit OF progress and national
advancement will find it's latent power
and impulsive force.