The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-01-29
Lessons From the Lives Of Columbus
and Washington.
RAPID SPREAD OF THE RELIGION.
Catholicism, Says His Holiness, Keeps
Pace With the Rapid Strides Of
Progress in the Republic.

cyclical from the Pope. The most i'm
portant features relate to the American
delegate and his relations to the hierarchy
in this country and also. define the Pope's
attitude concerning societies of working
men. The letter begins as follows:
To our venerable brethren, the Archbishops
and Bishops of the United States of North
America-Leo XIII, Pope.
Venerable brethren: Health and apostolic
benediction. We traverse in spirit and in
thought the wide expanse of ocean, and al
though we have at other times addressed you
in writing, chiefly when we directed eneyelical
letters to the Bishops of the Catholic world, yet
have we now resolved to address you separately,
trusting that we shall be, God willing, of,some
assistance to the Catholic cause among you.
To this we apply ourselves with the utmost zeal
and care because we highly esteem and love
exceedingly the young and vigorous American
nation, in which we plainly discern latent
forces for the advancement alike OF civilization
and Christianity.
& The encyclical then refers to the interest
felt by the Pope in the recent American
celebration of the discovery OF America,
and says:
The barks of Columbus carried not only the
germs of mighty states, but the principles of
religion into remote regions beyond the seas.
The first solicitude of Columbus was to plant
| the sacred emblem of the cross wherever he
disembarked. The very names given to Ameri-
can towns and rivers and mountains and lakes
teach how the beginning was marked with the
footprints of the Catholic church.
The Pope refers to the fact that the first
Bishop set by apostolic authority over the
American church began his labors when
the great Washington was at the helm eff
the young republic. The well-known famil-
lar intercourse between these two men
seem to be an evidence that the United
/ States ought to be conioined in concord
and amity with the Catholic church.
"And not without cause" continues the
encyclical, for without morality the state
can never endure-a truth which that illus
trious citizen of yours, whom we have just
mentioned, with keenness of insight
worthy of his genius and craftsmanship,
perceived and proclaimed"
| The giant strides by which the public is
progressing is set FORTH and satisfaction is
expressed that Catholicism keeps pace
with the progress. The extension of the
clergy and the establishment of pious So
| cieties, parechial schools and mutual aid
associations are practically commended.
But while it is true that the church has
progressed under the republic, yet it would
! be erroneous to draw the conclusion that
in America is to be sought the most de-
sirable of the church, or that it would be
universally lawful or expedient for state
and church to be, as in America, dissev-
cred and divorced.
The Pope then sets forth the efforts he
L. Il A., b
serve and solidly establish the Catholic re-
ligion in America. To that end two spe-
cial objects have received attention-frst,
the advancement of learning; second, the
perfecting of methods in the management
of church affairs. The first end led to the
establishment under apostolic authority of
the Catholic University at Washington. 1t
! is urged that education cannot be complete
which takes no notice of modern science.
In the keen competition of talent, Cath
olics ought not to be followers, but leaders.
The success of the university in uniting
faith with learning is dwelt upon, and spe
cial mention is made of the generosity of
that pious priest for permitting the build
ing of hall of science and literature bear
ing his name (McMahon).
The Pope also refers to the beneficial re-
suits accruing from the third plenary
council at Baltimore. The vital portion of
the encyclical concerning Mgr. Satoli is as
follows:
When the council of Baltimore concluded it's
labors, the duty still remained of putting so
to speak, proper and becoming crown upon
the work. This, we perceived, could be
done in no more fitting manner than
h icr Inv no toIi
see of the American legation. Accordingly
you are aware we have done this. BY this ac-
ton, as we have elsewhere intimated, we have
wished, first of all, to certify that in our judg-
ment and affection America occupies the same
place and rights as other states, be they ever
so mighty and imperial. In addition to
this we had in mind to draw more
closely the bonds of duty and friendship
which connect you and so many thousands of
Catholics with the apostolic see. In fact, the
mass of the Catholics understood how salutary
our action was destined to be- they saw, more
over, that it accorded with the usages and
policy of the apostolic see. For it has, from
the earliest times, been the custom of the Ro-
man Pontiffs in the exercise of the divinely
bestowed gift of primacy in the administration
of the church of Christ to send forth legates
to Christian nations and peoples. And they
did this, not by an adventitious but an in
Christ has conferred ordinary and immediate
| jurisdiction, as well over all and singular the
churches, as over all and singular the pastors
and faithful and since he cannot personally
| visit the different regions and thus exercise
| the pastoral office over the flock entrusted to
him, he finds it necessary, from time to time, in
the discharge of the ministry imposed on him,
| to dispatch legates into different parts of the
world, according to the needs, who may correct
errors, make true ways plain and administer
| to the people confded to their care increased
meats of salvation.
| But how unjust and baseless would be the
suspicion, could it anywhere exist that the
| powers conferred on the legate are an obstacle
| to the authority of the Bishops. Sacred to us
! rnore than otherl are the rights of those
| whom the Holy Ghost has chosen as Bishops to
rule the church of God. That these rights
| should remain in every nation, in every part
| of the globe, we both desire and ought to de-
SIRE the more so since the dignity of the indi-
vidual Bishop is by nature an interviewer Dig
nifty of the Roman Pontiff, and any measure
which benefits the one necessarily protects the
! other. My honor is the honor of the universal
church. NY honor is the unlmpaired yigor of
! my brethren. Then am truly honored when
| to each one due honor is not denied. There
! fore, since it is the Office and function of an