The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-15
FUTURE OF CATHOLICISM.
CARDINAL GIBBONS TALKS OF TIE
~ CHURCH,s MISSION.

L
the Beginninr In This Country-It. Work
In UphoIdinG tho Nations Institutions-
No Unity Excepting Under One Leader,
the Successor OF Petcr-Conversion-.
BALTIMORE. Oct. 14.-The jubilee celebration
| OF Cardinal Gibbons's priesthood has aroused
| much enthusiasm In this city. aud after much
| reluctance the Cardinal has consented to give
| an interview on the growth OF tho Catholic
Church in this country and her mission. lie
said to reporter to-day:
| 1T is by the light OF the Church's
past that we must read the future.
You must remember that tho Catholic
Church is the oldest institution in this coun-
try. Here. as in the Old World. with tho pas
snge OF time everything else has changed.
Her organization. her principles, her doc
trincs. her rites are precisely the 50 me to- day
as they were when Columbus first landed.
The forms OF government have altered. new
nationalities with now customs and new ideas
have come. There are n hundred now re-
ligions that have been started. and others are
constantly sprnging up. But the teachings.
the procedure. the forms. the structure OF the
Catholic Church are identically what they
were when the frat Catholic priest raised the
cross on American soil. We could have no
more absolute evidence OF truth. because
truth is in this world tho one thing that never
changes. and. as II proceeds from God. never
can change.
"Hi,her came our missionaries with the
command that our Lord himself gave: Go ye
and teach all nations Alone or two or thrive
together. they penetrated the unknown re-
gions. facing all dangers and enduring all pri-
vntions. until by degrees they left no part Of
the land unvisited. Silent testimony of their
work is left in the names they gave to the
rivara atr and villa and
towns. Not only did they lead heroic lives.
but many OF them paid the penalty Of their In
trepidity by dreadful suffering and death. No
mission but that sacred one which was theirs
could have inspired such courage.
Now" said the Cardinal. 'if we look at tho
humble beginning OF the Church in this coun-
try and what she had passed through and all
sionaries working ngle-handed-the strug-
giles against the obstacles Of nature. the hos
consider all this and how she has grown
s Fs" +. at sns ten S'fnn1s to o Gs h
olics to-day where formerly there were
3" few what may we not count upon; under
With our superior organization and the kind
ler view that i: taken OF us w became better
have reason to entertain tho brightest hopes.
My homes are also based on the fact that
people. eager to assimilate any element that
contributes to tho stability and perpetuity Of
civil virtues. and; on close study the American
Church. which upholds authority and law. |!
apart from her divine mission, is the most |
tanning our political institutons.s
me sa tbs 81 the 3nbdilee came
had the celebration were 1t possible to avoid |
it. as such public demonstrations are not to
f hsSs s q n
pressure brought to bear was very great. and |
aRed Thsn e tns soy Pnsr
to receive a gift Of money from my devoted
their hearts, would, contribute who could not
afford it. and thus the Jubilee might afterward
mot II ntefst =, 50 pleasant memory as
snt II the f tGes Sss1
said the Cardinal. You see the evidence
every day. The parliament Of rel eions was
head. and there can be no unity OF Christians
without p central authority. Our American
the ideal Of democracy than any other that
ever was established: but you see that even
there would soon be CONFUSION The successor
Christian faith. approved by our Lord Him
His Eminence was asked 4 there, were many
to te Gssos fath
oyer those who come In. because. in the first
place. we recognize that it is the work OF God
and that our priests are but the instruments.
and then it is distaste!ul to most OF those who
snter the Church to have the matter talked
of particular converts. There are everywhere
signs OF a return to the old Church not only
n the extraordinary growth OF rituaism but
u the proceedings Of sects formerly bitterly
Intagonistic to our institutions and prac-
ices Thus. for instance, there has
,hureh the Order Of Deaconesses: What is
his but a copy Of our once reviled sister,
foods? And not only have the Methodists
low their sisterhoods. but the Presbyterians
re also discussing the establishment OF SINH
ar orders and their formation is only a ques-
ion Of time The general tendency is toward
aka bly,. We should have many more con-
ersions among Protestant ministers who
you'd Ike to become priests but for one thing. |
he celinacy OF our clergy. There are men
onging to enter the fold OF Christ. but they |
ave wives and children to care for. living to
hoy arc true Catholics"
The arrangements for the celebration next
,eek OF the tweuty-lifth anniversary Of the
levation to the Episcopate OF tine Cardinal are
cry nearly completed. Every Archbishop and ,
ishop in the country will be in attendance.
lcluding the Apostolic Delegate. Mgr. SatollL
ne grand high mass in the Cathedral. This :
III be a superb spectacle. as all the distin-
uished prelateS in their vestments will be as
IN bled in the sanctuary.
me ceremonial will be according to the full
oman ritual and will last until nearly 2
shop Corrgan Of New York, After mass the
inner to tho Cardinal will be given.
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THE TRTp nv THE pTnDnun