The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-01-29
ENCYCLICAL OF THE POPE.
His Holiness Addresses the AfchbiShops
and Bishops Of The United States.
LEARNING AND CHURCH AFFAIRS.
The Advancement of tho One and . Per-
fectiug in the Methods In the Man
sgement of the Othsr Are His
Subjects.

the encyciicai Of Pope Leo to the Church
in America is given to the public. II is
document of about 5000 words in
length, and opens as follows:
To our Venerable Brethren. the Arch
bishops and Bishops OF the United
states Of North America, Leo KILL, Pope.
Venerable Brethren, Health and Apos-
tolic Benedction:
We traverse In spirit and thought the
wide expanse Of ocean, and. although we
have at other times addressed you In
wrlting-chie1y when we directed en-
cyclcal letters to the bishops of the
Catholic world-yet have we now resolved
to speak to you separately. trusting that
we shall be, God willing, of some assist
ance to the Catholic cause amongst you.
To this we apply ourself with the utmost
zeal and care. because we highly esteem
and love exceedingly the young and vigor-
Gus American nation, in which we plainly
discern latent forces for the advance
ment alike Of civilization and of Chris
tianlty. Not long ago, when your noble
nation, as was fitting, celebrated, with
grateful recollection and manifestation
of JOY the completion of the fourth GEN.
tury since the discovery of America, we,
too, commemorated together with you
that most auspiclous event, sharing in
your retoclngs with equal good will Nor
We're we on that occasion content with
Offering prayers at a distance for your
welfare and greatness. IL was our wish
TO be in some manner present with you
in your festivities Hence we cheerfully
sent one who should represent our per-
son. Not without good reason did we
take part in your celebration. for when
America was as yet but new born babe,
utterng in its cradle its first feeble cries,
the Church took 1t to her bosom and
mCtherly embrace. Columbus, as we have
elsewhere expressly shown, sought as
the primary fruit of his voyages and Ia
bors. TO open a pathway for the Chris
tian faith into new lands and new seas.
Keeping this thought constantly In view,
his first soiicitude, wherever ne dsem-
barked. was TO plant upon the shore the
sacred emblem Of the cross. Wherefore.
like as the ark OF Noah, surmountinS
the overfiowng waters, bore the seed OF
Israel together with the remnants OF the
human race, even thus did the barks
launched by Columbus upon the ocean
carry into regions beyond the seas. as
well the germs OF mighty States as the
principles of the Catholic religion.
EQUITY OF OUR LAWS.
That your Republic is progressing ana
developing by giant strides Is patent 10
all. and this holds good In religious mat
ters, also. For even al your cities, IN
the course of one century. have made
marvellous increase in wealth and power
so do We behold the Church, from scant
..g..s, ,F.,s,a Ufi l.
ity 20 be great and exceedingly flourish
ing. The main factor no doubt, In bring
ing things into this happy state, were the
ordinances and DEGREES Of your synods,
and In more recent times were confirmed
by the authority of the Apostolic See. But
moreover "a fact which 1t gives pleasure
TO acknowledge thanks are due 10 the
equity of the laws which obtain in Amer
lea. and to the customs of the well-order-
ed Republic For the Church amongst
you, unopposed by the Constitution ana
Government of your nation. fettered py
no hostile legislation, protected against
violence by the common laws ana the I'M
partiality OF the tribunals, Is free to live
and act without hinderance.
Though ali this is true, It would be very
erroneous TO draw the conclusion that In
America Is to be sought the type OF the
most desirable status of the Church, or
that il would be universally lawful or ex-
pedient for State and Church 10 be, as in
America, discovered and divorced. The
fact that Catholic unity with you Is IN
good condition, nay, even enjoying
prosperous growth, Is by all means to be
attributed TO the fecundity with which
God has endowed his Church, In virtue OF
which, unless men or circumstances inter-
fere she spontaneously expands ana
propagates herself, but she would bring
more abundant fruits, If, IN addition To
liberty she enjoyed the favor OF the laws
and the patronage Of the public authority
For our part. we have left nothing
undone. so far as circumstances permit
ted 10 preserve and more solidly establish
amongst you the Catholic religion. with
this intent, we have, as you are weh
aware, turned our attention TO two special
objects First, the advancement "a
learning; second. perfecting In the
methods In the management OF church
affairs.
THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY.
BY a letter, therefore, dated the
7th day OF March, in the year
of our Lord 1889. directed to you, venera-
BILE brethren, we established at Washing
ton, your capital city. esteemed by ma
higher studies, a university for the In
struction Of young men desirous OF pur-
suing advanced courses. In announcing
this matter TO our venerable brethren,
the Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church,
In consistory, we expressed the wish that
Il snould be regarded as the fixed law or
the university to unite erudition ana
learning with soundness of faith, and
TO imbue its studenta not less with re-
liglou than with scientific culture. To
the bishops OF the United States we en-
trusted the task OF establishing suita-
BILE course Of studies and OF supervising
the discipline OF the students, ana we
conferred the Office and authority OF
chancellor az IL is called, upon the arch
bishop OF Baltimore. And. by divine
favor, quite happy beginning was made.
For without any delay, whilst you were
celebrating the hundredth anniversary OF
the establishment OF your ecclesiastical
hierarchy under the brightest auspices,
I'm the presence Of our delegate, the d.
yinity classes were opened. From that
time onwards we know that theological
science has been impaired by the dill
gence OF eminent men, the renown OF
whose talents and learning receives
fitting crown In their recognized loyalty
and devotion to the Apostolic See.
THE COLLEGE AT ROME.
We wish now, venerable brethren, TO
commend 20 your affection and 10 the
generosity OF your people the college
xybich our predecessor. Plus TX, founded
8, this city for the ecclesiastical training,
and which we took care TO place upon a
f,rm basis by letter dated the z5th day
OF october, in the year OF our Lord lssf.