Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-10-11
LETTERS FROM MGR. sAToLLI


At the meeting in Baltimore yester-
day evening of the st. Peter Claven
Union letter was read from Mgr. ST.
TOLL in regard to the question of racial
equality in the Catholic Church. Mgr.
Satolli wrote as follows:
"From the beginning of my residence
in America I have shown on many oc-
casions my sympathy for the colored
race. Because of the religious and
moral needs of this numerous family in
the United States, I have been attract
ed to them by sentiment of Christian
charity, and l have never ceased to de-
sire that, not only Catholics, but all
honest men, should cooperate for the
improvement of their condition. | can
not dissemble my conviction That. if the
civilizing influence of Catholics had
been exercised more widely and zeal
ously upon the colored race from the
happy day of their liberation from the
yoke of slavery their condition would
be better to day than it is.
"Any institution tending to give in
struction and moral education to the
masses co-operates with the govern
ment in the great work of civilization.
l mean that instruction and moral edu-
cation which teaches everyone his re-
lations to God, to his family and to So
ciety, and which teaches man The prac-
tice of his duties and rights, in order
that he may attain temporal welfare in
this life, and chiefly the high end, to
which Providence has destined him.
Anyone not atheist must admit that
God, the creator of all things, cares for
all things in proportion to their nature,
and, therefore, exercises special prov
idence over mankind, over every ma
ton, over every family, and over every
individual.
cit is certain that in Gods govern
ance of the human race very much is
done through Christianity, of which
the various denominations existing in
this country are expressions intrinsical-
ly and extrinsically more or less def
Gent, but of which the Catholic Church
is the only complete and perfect ex-
preston. 1t is enough to read the his
tory of the past to recognize what has
been the thought and action of the
Catholic Church in regard to the slave
trade" He then refers to the devo-
ton of ST. Peter Claver to the colored
race. He wrote that history will con-
secrate many page to relating how
Leo XIII. has had at heart the aboli-
ton Of the slave trade in Africa, and
the civilization of the colored race.
He wrote that he did not intend to dis
cuss how much good has been done to
the colored race by the Protestant
sects, nor what advantage the race has
derived from the civilizing action OF
Protestants, but he did maintain that
the Catholic Church is still more pro
ductive OF the same results, as is evil
denced by what she does within her
own body, etc. He emphasized the
usefulness of instruction and moral ed
ucation, and urged the necessity OF
adopting the proper method for the
same, writing that ito talk to man OF
nothing but his obligations. and to ex-
aggerate and continually harp on his
duties, does not elevate his character,
but tends to render it servile. For a
man to talk exclusively of his rights,
and to exaggerate his claims on others,
tends to license. The way to civlize a
man is to teach him at the same time
what are his rights and what are his
duties towards others. This is the funda-
mental principle of Catholic pedagogy"
Closing his letter, Mgr. Satolli wrote as
follows :
"As every art has its proximate and
final end, so, according to st. Paul,
civilization is of such 9 nature as to tend
to secure mans temporal welfare in
this world, and through religion to in.
sure his eternal happiness in the world
to come. To this every man should
aspire and strive to attain it with all
the ardor of his soul. Besides the
Catholic institutions of various kinds
already established for the purpose of
promoting the welfare-civil, moral and
relgious-of the colored race, con-
crosses of laymen, aiming at concerted
action for the same noble purpose, must
be of great value"
The birth of Father Matthew was
celebrated by temperance people at
Chicago yesterday.
The committee having the mass meet
ing in charge received the following
letter from Monsignor Satolli to letter
complimenting his stand for temper
ance, and invited him to be present !:
II am pleased To hear that my recent
decision has produced so happy an
effect. 1t is matter of deep regret
that so many Catholics are engaged in
the saloon traffic, which, by its abuses,
is the cause of so much harm to their
fellow-men and scandal to the non
Catholic brethren. fondly trust
that this abuse may be mitigated, ifnot
obliterated, and this cause of reproach
may be removed from the Catholics of
America"