The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-12-24
THE POPE'S Wall.

Iue dispatches the other day which
brought to US the almost piteous wall of the
rope OF Rome in respect to the conduct OF
the enemies of the Romish church remind
US OF what marvellous revolution has
taken place IN respect to the influence of
the supposed successor OF st. PETER. The
Pope complains that the enemies of the
church ruthlessly encompass it on every
SIDE Not content with displaying hatred
in words, they proceed to acts of violence
against peaceful foreigners who go to
home actuated by hlial piety and free from
political aims. He says the liberty Of the
pontiH to communicate with the outer
world is becoming more and more
curtalled, and the situation daily be-
coming more, difficult. He charges
that by waging war on the
papacy, its enemies hoped to weaken and
prescribe the name OF Christianity; hence
ne appeals to the heads of states to give
earnest consideration to the position of the
church-of Rome, of course - and thew
would then understand II was to their in
terest to uphold the authority of the
church as the greatest moral power in the
world. lie concludes by saying that it be-
moves all Catholics, acting in unison with
MIN, to form perpetual league against the
assaults of the impious.
is THIS the man who once made the.earth
tremble: That did shake empires. This
Is he; that is, this is the Pope and the
Pope once had power to shake kingdoms to
place his proud foot upon the necks of
princes ana keep them waiting like lackeys
at his door to hear his good pleasure: the
Pope who once disposed of states
and empires as his will determined and
who shook the terrors of his eycommunica-
lions and anathemas over their rulers until
they were glad to yield to his dictatiop.
how have the mighty fallen! How has
the naughty language of command been re
auced to that of complaint and entreatv.
Where he once commanded, he now en-
treats; where he threatened, he now be-
seeches; where he dictated, he now coun
sells. There was time when all was the
church, and the church was the Pope,s.
but that day has gone, aud doubtless gone
forever. Yet, in swinging the pendulum
from that extreme where the head of the
church was all powerful, the master of the
world is there not danger that we. in what
we call happier times, shall go to the oppo
site extreme and not reverence sufficiently
where our fathers reverenced too much 3
Ii the Pope would say that the heads of
states would find it to their interest to nm
hold religion as the greatest moral power
in the world, instead of combining spch :.
remark TO the Catholic church. we
would say hearty amen; for it would be
true. Whilst we say the church ought to
be independent, unnoticed in the state
that the state has nothing to do with her
and the temporal power ought to take no |
notice of religious creeds, it should letthem |
or separate, let them GO on |
ana govern themselves as they think best: |
that it has no right, and no occasion Tn |
interfere with their affairs, yet rulers of
states and empires will do well to foster
religious sentiments; for, say that we will. |
those sentiments are the true foundation |
IL all righteousness and where they are
tostered and encouraged the people will be |
all the easier governed; or, where per |
nltted, viii the more wisely and righte
'usiy govern themselves. Even in pagan
1ome this fact was recognized. While the
'eople believed all religions equally true.
md the philosophers believed them all
qually false, the magistrates, with
wisdom worthy of Romans and of the ex-
'erience Of ages, held all religions to be
equally useful as the religious sentiment
hen as now, and as it will be in all time
o come, was the chief source of moral
conduct and respect for constituted
authority; and, therefore they wisely
ostered and encouraged all religions. Our
ulers of this age will do well to follow
o far, their examples.
Not that we would see church and state
United in our country. No; we believe
hey live happier apart; therefore let the
ecree of enforcement pronounced by our
athers be perpetual, but while thew are
istlnct societies, the church and the state.
nay not religion and government be con-
idered close neighbors, each interested in
he welfare of the other though not per-
1itted to cohabit together. Religion will
ertainly give her aid to government, build
p the partition wall as high as you will be-
ween them; should not government in re-
urn so far manifest her appreciation of
hat aid as to protect the devotees of re-
gion in their religious rights and liber-
ess We think so; and while that NAV be
onsidered limited assistance it is as mucl,
the state may safely give, but that
hould be given willingly and in such
pirit as to prove that the state is friendly
, the religious sentiment.
----------
NATURAL GAS.