The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-09-21
CHURCH IN AMERICA
Cardinal Gibbons Compares
1t With the Church of
the Old World.
GOSSIP OF THE PARISHES
Successful Mission at st. Paul's in
Greenyille-St. Bridget's Tenn
perance Cadets.
GOSSIP OF THE PARISHES

Cardinal Gibbons in a recent address
before a large congregation in the Balti-
more Cathedral had a number of inter
esting things to say regarding his re-
cent European trip. He said in part
1.-The first subject which naturally oc-
ours to me regards my several visits to
the Pope. Represent ito yourself a
man in his eighty-sixth year, pale and
emaciated, with a pallor almost of
death upon him. His body is more bent
than it was eight or ten years ago. But
his eye is bright and penetrating; his
voice is strong and sonorous; his in
tellect is remarkably clear and lGmin-
Gus. his memory is most tenacious. He
has also an astonishing power of physi-
cal endurance, which enables him to hold
audiences for several consecutive hours,
treating on most important subjects
with Cardinals and foreign representa-
tives as well as with private individuals,
and passing with ease and elasticity of
mind from one subject to another. He
is remarkably familiar with public
events of the day.
The Holy Father naturally ~rejoices
at the religious progress of the United
States. and takes a deep interest in
our political and social institutions,
and admires our republic-where we
have authority without despotism and
liberty without license. and where our
strength lies in the intelligence and
patriotism of the people. For eighteen
years the Pope has lived Within the
walls of the Vatican, except when he
takes some recreation in the Vatican
gardens. He sometimes retires 10
those gardens and resides in the sum
mer house during the heated term"
In speaking especially of the condi-
tions of the Catholic Church in France,
the Cardinal said
BETTER THAN IN FRANCE.
IF We compare the relations of the
Government of that country and our
own Government to the Catholic Church
in particular, the result will be, on the
whole. in our favor. The Bishops and
clergy are not permitted to build a
church or schoolhouse or a presbytery
or an asylum or a hospital without the
previous permission of the Government.
They cannot even make any repairs
without the civil sanction. / once was
the guest of a Bishop of rance who
occupied a paiatial mansion. He was
honored with a military guard, who
paced up and down outside his palace.
I congratulated the Bishop ON his splen-
did appointments and the honor paid
to him. He shook his head in reply and
said to me:-MoGsigneur, all is not gold
that giitters. 1 cannot even construct a
e~aoristy without the previous permission
of the civil authorities, who give the
plans and superintend the building. If a
clergyman exercises his gospel freedom
by eriticising the conduct of the Gov
INNER he is liable to have his salary
withdrawn, or to be fined and irnprison-
ed, or be subjected TO other pains and
perIalties.
Thank God, we enjoy in this country
the anpIest liberty of worship apd free
dom of conscience. We have a fair field
and no favor. We can build churches
and schools and parsonages and hosp
tals a asylums without asking the per-
mission of the Government. The only
restriction imposed upon us is the limit
of our purses. The Government holds
over us the aegis Of its protection with
out interfering with OUT God-g1ven hb-
critics or intermeddling in church mat
tiers. We h, are quite Toe e content qbs Go Wa5n rn1f
undertook to build our churches and to
subsidize our clergy it might soon die
tate to US what doctrines OF rens1oh we
should preach"
No LARGE ARMIES TO SUPPORT.
Speaking of the enormously heavy
taxation of the people of Europe for
the support of the great standing ar
mics. the Cardinal said
All the powers. no doubt. are most
anxious for a general disarmament.
but none of them is disposed to take
the initiative. Whatever complaints
may be made about taxation among
US. the burden is propertionately light
in comparison with the countries of
Europe. We nave no large standing
armies. unless we consider as such
Claims for their patriotic service win
expire some time in the next century.
Happily for us we have nc ~entangling
alliances We AVE no formidable or
The day that a monarchy would be
established in close proximity to US
on the American continent would be
the beginning of our troubles"
In the towns and villages and coun-
try. districts of Europe the Cardinal
Clothed. happy and contented. The
people of the agricultural districts are
not yet infected with the fever that
of hurrying from the country to the
city and fastening to get rich. This.
he said, is a serious misfortune with US.
Another cause of the contentment Of
the people," he continued. lies in the
religious faith which they profess. In
every village and hamlet through which
ing a central position. with its cross as
cending to the yskies. In that Church
people are taught to be contented with
their condition of life. They learn there
that the kingdom of God is not meat
and drink, but justice, peace and joy in
the Holy Spirit
I'm making these comparisons be-
tween our European brethren and our
selves, it cannot be denied that we have
to correct, and that there are some vul-
nerable spots in our political and social
armor. But after making these admis.
sions We have reason TO be proud of
our nations past and hopeful Of our ma
fion's future"
JERSEY CITY CHURCHES.