The Progress., 1893-02-18
GOD IN GOVERNMENT.
WITH A PRELUDE ON THE MISSION
OF THE PAPAL DELEGATE.

man
aFree Agent, So Even the Worst Rulers
Are His Unconscious Instrumental Our
Government an Ordinance.
New YORK, Feb. 12.-Rev. Thomas
Dixon, Jr., preached the sermon of the
morning at Association hall today by a
review of current events devoted to the
appointment Of Archbishop Satolli, a
prominent apostolic delegate for the
Catholic church in America. He said:
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 conflict 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 a 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 a bitter
war OF 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, cu toms, ideals
and foreign priests upon American fields
Upon this scene of confusion and i'm |
pending, disaster, with dramatic empha- |
sis, the voice of the pope himself is sud
denly heard, and it is heard to some |
purpose.
Leo NH has shown himself in many |
acts in recent years to be tie greatest |
pope of modern times. He has swung |
the great Roman Catholic pewer 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 cf true prophet.
In nothing has he more signally dis
played his profound wisdom and the
broad sympathies of a really Catholic
soul than in his handling of this Ameri-
can crisis
Though he had excommunicated DIR.
McGlynn, and the doctr had been a
most grievOus sinner against "au thor
ity" for years, the pope reyerses a 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 on line policy
on the school question that must result
In bringing the Catholic chuIch into per
feet harmony with the spirit of our in
stltutions. He has saved us from long
and htter controversy frauglIt with car
tain disaster to the Catholic church and
peril for the nation. He has pointed tbs
wayto loyal American Catholic church.
lie has shown that Gibbons and Ireland
are the men who embody his conceptions r
OF true progress in our Dation-in short, Il
he has pronounced emphatically in favor
OF America for the Americans" in the
government of the church. Upon the
of Satolli in Washington {
upon such a platform our people are to
be congratulated. The American Cath {
olics may well rejoice in the dawn of
brighter day, and intelligent Protes- :
tantism will join in that rejoicing. May
God hasten the day when all religious I
and wars shall end in a fraternal
rivalry to outdo each other in doing good,
In the Christlike worship of God-the
service Of man. Ii