Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1893-05-26

n"u piauteu Tue Fteur ue Las at FOrl
Duquesne, the present site Of Pittsburg,
commanding the best passes and valleys
OF the Alleghenies Thus the English
colonists seemed doomed to be hedged
IN by the Appalachian range aud the
Atlantic, and small was the prospect
that they should have any elbow room
TOR growth in the west
Moreover. from her Southern canital
New Orleans, France gave to Spain her
right hand in Florida aud her lefi hand
in Texas and New MEXICO and C.lif,r-
nia. Was the American nation. thus
surrounded in its very infancy 10 north
west and south by the two most now.r.
full nations of the world. TO be choked
10 its narrow cradle and swept ioto the
Atlantic Ocean? Il certainly looked
like il. Auy student of the yeo,r.obv
and politics of the world in the mijdl,
OF the eighteenth century would have
pronounced verdict Of doom for the
colonies and yet we know such has not
been the final event. Had il been such.
the Catholic Church would have lost
unique glory which now is hers and ours.
To make my meaning cloar, let me call
your attention to the religious condition
OF the thirteen colonies. In the North
Puritanism prevailed, grim. strict, ex-
elusive. Ia the South Episcopaliauism
prevailed as the established church, more
lenicnt perhaps to all but Catholics and
more fitted TO II slave-holding aristocracy.
Between them was small Catholic COM
munity vigorous in Maryland. stretching
timidly into Pennsylvania, New Jersey.
and New York. This was the leaven.
Had it power to leaven the mass ? II
Spain and France. Catholic powers
one the Eldest Daughter Of the Church,
the other the Most Christian Kingdom
had gained the mastery Of this land, to
whom, to what would history attribute
this glorious Church Of ours in these
regions
No doubt tho Christian historian would
answer to the truth and grace of God of
which she is the bearer but | much
fear the non Catholic historian and with
him the world-at.larpe would answer 10
the civil powers that brought with them
to this new world the Church and placed
her ministers wherever were planted the
flags of France and Spain. | do not mean
to saw that such mid and supnort from
tho civil powers are unwortl, of them
or of the Church To them il il a glory
and duty; 10 her il ia AN HOMAGE md
right. But there il n uobler birth. n
nobler expansion than this. Conquest
without allies is greater glory. Was not
the Church diyinest when leaning on no
human arm, when by her own innate
power and beauty she drew 10 herself In.
Roman world and its barbarian invaders?
Brethren, does il not seem as if Proyi-
dence nad designed TO renew IN tins land
tne miracle OF the early centuries OF
onristianity I May we not say That It
was perhaps Tor th's purpose that france
anu oPaih were not permitted 10 win
anu keep inc e.ritory % 'ne United
states oat OF tne Maryland mustard
SEED OF catnolloity mas grown the great
american oaurch' assimilating anu or
ean!z'ng as ,ney came 70 her the vast ac-
cretiops OF oa'noi'c enigrantS IRON Ire
iaud, france Germany, Italy Goa Tor
pid tnat should ignore the noble SER
vices Europe rendered tue Church OF
america Tue heroic missionaries OF
France and Germany and Ireland sent TO
work IN tniS new neid OF inc LORD LIDO
not peiittle individuals when | assert
that inc church OF the united states
owes us wonderful development and pro-
gress not 10 inc pro'ectlon OF Oathoilc
civii powers. put 10 her own Inmate, III
vine strengh' we were born ana grew
not out OF the union OF Church and State,
but purely and exclusively out OF the life
giving truth ana grace OF uod Himself.
As we were born and from infancy
moved into manhood. so NAV we con.
tinue TO be Here religion ia not per-
secuted /: on the contrary il IL protected.
since the Constellation without estab.
fishing any one church. guarantees to
all churches tho right TO live. 10 pursue
their work. with Inst that a.nonnt Of
protection guaranteed by law 10 every cit.
zen and Observation-Disclosures against
unjust might. Bv our Constitution
clasbiop between The Church and State
encroacbine of the one on the other
confusing of the two into one are foreyer
and eGectuallv preyonted. The result
is harmony between them. both moving
on parallel lines which never converge
nor cross both tending in the end 10
mans welfare. the State 10 his temporaI
the Church 10 his eternal welfare and
doing this bv means and anplianoes that
are 1roner and exclusive 10 each A
fair field md no favor and let tru,b
wherever Il H. prevaiIt Let Il ,reyaI
not BIZ force and commission but with
the weapons Christ has fashioned and
tempered. tho onlv veapons that can
reacb into the soul~psrsuasion ami
grace This GRANTED 20 nrod;c, ,h.,
Inc world sbalI behold on tbis coo,;osn,