The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-11-25

tor said that the wonder Is that the revolu-
ton was accomplished without the loss of
a single life. 1t required seven years of
conflict for the people of the American col
onies to secure freedom from the domina-
ton of Great Britain. But Brazil has been
more fortunate. Sixty-seven years ago she
threw of the yoke of Portugal without
war. and in 1871 she started constitutional.
peaceful methods to free her slaves. while
to tree the slaves of the United States led
to a four years war. and a cost OF billions
of treasure. I'VE nave not thought one
half SO much" said the Doctor, about our
sister nations in South America during the
last fifteen years as we will think about
them during the next half century. Self
interest alone will impel us to do this.
More nations are now just coming TO man
hood, and breaking off the chains OF des-
potism that have bound them. and of super
stitions and ~prejudices that have bllghted
them. They viii have much to say In the
councils of the nations, and their say must
be needed. They are no longer children"
The Doctor said that Christian citizens
should pray for such a mutual under
standing and close fraternal relations be-
tween the seventeen nations OF North and
South America as will forever put them
above the necessity of maintalng standing
mics to preserve an artificial balance OF
power. The wicked system OF standing
of the vast resources of South America.
and especially of Brazil. that ought,
by the natural laws of trade be also of
great benefit to the United States of Amer
lea. He extolied Dom Pedro and his adj
ministratiOn, and traced the growth of re-
p~ublicanism, not only in Brazil but in Eu-
rope. He said that in fifty years he be-
lieved that Europe would be republic n
from END to end. "But we need" he Con-
tinued. "and our neighbors IN the sister
republics need, to be reminded that the
success and p~ermanence of free institutions
is conditioned upon two things-the intel
ligence and morality of the masses of
the people. Whether Brazil is yet
ready for self-goyernment is 'qnes-
ton that doth give us pause. 1t is
possible that the present experiment
may be a failure. We are not yet willing
to admit New Mexico as IN indspeBdent
State to our Union. and large portions of
Brazil are no better intellectually and
if the Christian people of the United States
had a clear understanding of the Ignorant
and degraded moral condition of great
masses of the inhabitants OF Brazil they
would give 81 ,0c0 where they now give So
to enlighten. uplift and save those peoples.
The population is an a~malgamated mixture
of Indians, negroes. Portuguese and Span
ards.n
Following these remarks, Dr.. Haines
ave an interesting account of missionary
work of the Presbyterian achurches in
Brazil, and closed with the reading of 4
recent letter from q missionary stationed
there. The religion of Christ" wrote the
latter, has such a foothold in this prov
ince that in the next ten years, If the
people of God are faithful and the work is
ollowed up. it will leayen the whole EN-
plre, if not the continent"
Indiana's Religious History.
At st. Joseph's Church. yesterday morn
ing. Rev. Father Alerding delivered a dis
course upon the early religious history of
Indiana. He took no special text, but pre-
faced his remarks with the quotation, G
forth into the world and preach the gospel
unto all nations He referred to the en-
thuslastic admiration one feels when he
reads of the men who have done great
things for the nations of the old word.
But this country. he said, also had a heroic
history, dating back only q few hun
dred years. but that history is full
of sentiment, full of the noblest
acts and of noblest resolves. I'VE
have neglected the glorious history
period of success" he continued. ut
is almost a blank in the minds of the
Catholic people. We do not know
the names of those who have gone before,
men, and as history tells us, of holy women
too, who went where there was no civiliza-
ton. nothing but paganism. nothing but a
trackless wilderness. Not to know the
names of these men and women is an I'M
pardonable offense of ours.
1--WE read upon the pages of this young
history" the reverend Father said. that
On Indiana. of which We boast SO much, 81
which we are so proud, that the first white
man who set his foot upon the soil was one
of those much-revered and much-maligned
men-a Jesuit. He did not come TO drive
his stakes into the ground for possessions,
nor to search for wealth. but to live with
the children of the soil. We know that this
man labored daily in the midst of the In
dams. He became like unto one of these
wild Indians, and had left the civilized
country behind HIM. He did not enjoy the
sympathies of his kind, and that a man
great self-sacriice. History has been too
ungrateful to record the facts, and We de-
generate children of noble forefathers are
too degenerate TO remember them.
''In 1874 we find our missionaries suffering
untold horrors. They had no home. they
had no friends. yet they never complained,
never once saying it is too much; never
once turning their backs upon their labors.
They were firmly resolved to carry the be-
hests of their Master and preach the gos-
pei"
Father Alerding then dwelt upon the life
of Father Petit, whose work was among
the Indians of northern Indiana, and who
died in the midst Of his labors.. He was SO
DciONcu Uy III III tndb Oucy WOuiQ
not allow his body to be buried until they
were persuaded to do so by a priest.
''The question has been recently raIsed,v
continued the preacher. "abOut c%anonizing
some of these holy men, for example.
Father Petit and Jour first Bishop Brute.
This missionary bishop had no home. but
visited his children north and south. east
and west, of this great State of Indiana
Our mind can hardly conceive the great
things that were accomplished by these men.
''Tfe Catholic men and Catholic women in
the early history of Indiana were all of
noble extraction. None were of low birth.
they were noble men and noble ladies from
the old countries who had enjoyed the very
excellence of civilization and %pOliteness of
society. You may easily understand the
arduous task hat 10 mean mind or mean
person could ever attempt to accomplish.
1t required the noblest soul and the best
ability to 60 into such work. Let us then
be glad that God has given us such n brill
liant history; that He gave such a spirit to
the fathers and founders of our churches,
and that He may take possession of us,
more and more faithful and loyal to our
church and to Him."
The Growth of the Methodist Church.
The Rev. w. A. Spencer. ID. D.. of Phila-
delphia. filled the pulpit at Meridian-street
Church yesterday morning. He is one of
the secretaries for the Methodist Episcopal
Church Extension Society, and spoke to the
~~-rocct;oc m <ho< ects.ok obooe,,- E..