The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1893-02-23
GOD In GOVERNMENT.
WITH a PRELUDE ON ff1E MISSION
or THE pApAl DELICATE.
God wosks by Means. Leawfmg Each sxas
Free Age.f. So Evsa the wsrss kai~xs
Are His Unconscious 1sssram~ns&-<oar
Government an Ordinance

NEW YORK, Feb. i2-lsv. Thomas
Dixon. Jr., preached the sermon Of the
morning at Association hall today by o
review Of current events devoted TO the
appointment Of Archbishop Sasolh. .
prominent apostolic delegate for the
Catholic church in America. He saids
The situation within the Catholic
church in America has been growing
more and more critical for the past 10
years. Upon the surface there was uni
ty. Beneath the surface there has been
waging an inexpressible confiict between
two determined factions. One Of these
contending parties represents the liberal
and progressive spirit In theology, and
is imbued with patriotic devotion TO
America and American institutions. The
other has represented the reactionists.
traditionalists and foreign ideals.
The liberal party has sought TO adjust
the ecclesiastical workings of the church
to q harmonious life with American
thought and ideals. The traditionalists
have sought to array the church against
the new world ideals. This faction, led
and animated by men hostile In tradition
and training to everything American,
have sought by every possible means to
destroy the free school system, On which
the very foundations of the republic
rest. They have sought to suppress ag-
gressive thought with the priesthood.
They silenced Lambert, excommuni-
Gated McGlynn and drove Burtsell into
the country.
And they were preparing to precipi-
tate the Catholic church into q bitter
war of a politico-religious character over
the school question, which could have
ended only in overwhelming disaster for
their church, for the free school OF
America is intrenched behind the con-
science, the reason, the heart and the
muscle of the nation.
Linked with this was the attempt to
force foreign languages, customs, ideals
and foreign priests upon American fields.
Upon this scene of confusion and Inn
pending, disaster, with dramatic empha.
sis, the voice of the pope himself is sud
denly heard. and 1t is heard to some
purpose.
Leo XIII has shown himself in many
acts in recent years to be the creates,
pope of modern times. He has swung
the great Roman Catholic power from
its position as friend to kings and EN-
perors back to the Christlike ideal of the
friend Of the common people. Upon the
great social issues of the age he has
spoken with the voice of true prophet
In nothing has he more signally dis
played his profound wisdom and ths
broad sympathies Of really Catholic
| soul than in his handling of this Ameri
| can crisis.
Though he had accommodated DR.
| McGlynn, and the doctor had been {
most grievous sinner against "author
| ity'' for years, the pope reverses hun
| dred precedents, goes out of his way and
leads back with his own hand the wan
dering priest into the fold.
| He proceeds further to outline a polio,
on the school question that must resul
In bringing the Catholic church into per
feet harmony with the spirit of our in
stitutions. He has saved us from Ion,
and bitter controversy fraught with Ger
tain disaster to the Catholic church ant
peril for the nation. He has pointed th'
way to loyal American Catholic church
He has shown that Gibbons and relant
are the men who embody his conception
of true progress in our nation-in short
he has pronounced emphatically in favo
Of America for the Americans" In th'
government of the church. Upon tn
establishment of Satolli In Washington
upon such platform our people are II
be congratulated. The American Cath
olics may well rejoice in the dawn Of ,
brighter day, and intelligent Protes
tantism will join in that rejoicing. Ma,
God hasten the day when all religion
hatreds and wars shall end in fraterna
rivalry to outdo each other in doing good
in the Christlike worship Of God-th
service of man.
NATIONAL HISTORY A DIVINE REvELA
TON.
And he made of one every nation Of men TO
| to dwell on all the face Of the earth, having dc
termined their appointed seasons and tn
bounds Of their habitation.-Acts xvii, %.
The recent death of so many Of the his
toric figures of this nation brings int
sharp emphasis the fact that God is open
ing a new chapter in the history Of a ma
ton. These historic figures have stoo
through their generation for period @
development and of transition and Q
national life whose story viii be writtel
by the future historian. The removal O
| these men from the scene OF action en-
phasizes with even a stronger distinct
ness the fact that new men in new er
"a ty
the history of our nation.
General Sherman was right. When
friend spoke to him of the falling gene,
ais, one by one, and expressed wonde
what they would do If crisis shoul
arise, he replied: MY friend, If cris
should arise. would not lead the armie
of the nation. Younger men, with newe
!, life, would rise with the new generatio
and lead and direct" God has brougt
our nation through this epoch in a mos
marvellous manner and for some marve
ous end The old regime Is passing, an
!. q new life is dawning for the nation
ST. PAUL's MESSAGE
Paul, an ambassador OF the Hngdo1
Of God. stands on this occasion before
nation. They took him to the Acropol
to the center of the life of Athans-an
; the representatives OF the Greek peopl
. said, .'Tell us your message" And Paz
spoke to the nation. and through thz
! nation to all nations. divine message.
, What seds Puurs message to the ~
, tionsS
The message Is clearly this:
,i First-That God reveals himself IN tt
history of nations. God reveals himse
! In my soul by that inner light throug
bis spirit and through nature. Pa
! said to those Athenians, 'tIn him ye
] live and move and have your being
: God also manifests himself through Il
} history Of nations, whose boundaries
has marked out, whose seasons he b
I appointed. Every nations history is
} revelation Of God unto men.
He has revealed himself in the pas
I This Bible Is the history of Israeli
I history of nation for 900 years, vii
: all their sins and wickedness and sho1