Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-01-29

was as vet but "a newborn babe. uttering
I'm it's cradle it's first feeble cries. the
Church took II 10 her bosom and motherly
embrace. Columbus. as we have elsewhere
expressly shown. sought. "a the primary
fruit Of his voyages and labors. TO open
a pathway for the Christian f1ith into
new lands and new seas. Keeping this
thought constantly in View, his first solicit
tude. wherever he disembarked. was 10
plant upon the shore the sacred emblem
Of the Cross. Wherefore like as the ark
Of Noah. surmounting The overfnwiuT;
waters. bore the seed II Israel. together
with the remnants Of the human race,
even thus did the barks launched by Co
lumbus upon the ocean carry into regions
beyond the seas a. well the germs Of
mighty States as the principles Of the
Catholic religion
That your republic is progressing and
developing by giant strides Is patert to
all and this holds good in religious mat
ters also. For even as your cities, In the
course Of one century, have made 2 mar
Vellous increase in wealth and power so
do we behold the Church, from scant and
slender beginnings. grown with -apidity
to be great and exceedingly hourshing.
The main factor. no doubt, in bringing
things into this happy state were the orli-
nances and DEGREES OF your synOds, in
thority Of the Apostolic see. But, more
over "a fact which il gives pleasure 20
acknowledge. thanks are due TO the equity
of the laws which obtain in America
and to the customs Of the well-Ordered
republic. For the Church amongst you.
unoppOsed ly the Constitution and gov
ernment Of your nation. fettered by no
hostile legislation. protected against vio-
lence by the common law and the impair
,.If 1
act without hindrance.
CHURCH AND STATE.
Though all this is true it would be very
erroneous TO draw the conclusion that in
America is 10 be sought the type Of the
most desirable status Of tie Church; or
that II would be universally lawful or ex-
pedlent for State ana Church to be, as in
America discovered and divorced The
fact that Cathoicity with you is in good
conditon-nay, even enjoying a pros
porous growth, is by all means 10 be at
tributcl to the fecundity with which God
has endowed his Church; in virtue Of
which. unless men or circumstances in
toriere, she spontaneously expands and
propagatcs herself. But she would bring
more abundant fruits IT, in addition TO
liberty she enjoyed the favor OF the laws
and the patronage Of the public authority.
VI NAA Htilt W. nave lfll iDlhlIE Hll-
done, so far az circumstances permitted
to preserve and more solidiy establish
amongst YOU the Catholic religion With
this intent We have. as you are well
aware. turned our attention to two spe-
cial objects-ilrst. the advancement OF
learning: second. a perfecting of methods
in the management Of Church affairs.
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY.
BY letter. therefore, dated the 7th day
Of March, in the year OF our Lord, 1872
directed to yOu venerable brethren. we
established al Washington. your capital
city. esteemed by a majority Of you Il
very proper seat for the higher studies
university for the instruction Of young
men desirous of pursuing advanced
courses. In announcing tnis matter TO
our venerable brethren, the cardinals OF
the Holy Roman Church, In consistory
We expressed the wish that II should be
regarded as the fixed law OF the uni
Versity 10 unite cruiition and learning
with soundness Of faith. and to imbue
its students not less with religion than
with scientific culture. To the bishops or
the United states We entrusted the task
Of establishing a suitable course Of
studies and OF supervising the discipline
OF the students. and We conferred the
Office and authority Of chancellor. as IL
is called, upon the Archbishop of Balti-
more.
And. by divine favor. quite happy
beginning was made For, without any
delay. whilst you were celebrating the
hundredth anniversary OF the establish
ment Of your ecclesiastical hierarchy
under the brightest auspices. In the pres
encc OF our delegate. the divinity classes
were opened From that time onwards, we
know that theological science has been
impaired by the diligence OF eminen;
men, the renown OF whose talents and
learning receives fitting crown in their
recognized loyalty and devotion 10 the
Apostolic see.
COLLEGE IN ROME.
We wish now, venerable brethren. 10
commend to your affection and TO the
generosity of your people the college
which our predecessor, PuX IN. founded
IN this city for ecclesiastical training. and
which we took care TO place upon Il firm
basis by a letter dated the 18th day OF
October. In the year Of our Lord 1854. We
can make this appeal the more conf
de,tly, because the results obtained from
this institution have by no means reached
The expectations entertained.
The love which we cherish towards the
Catholics OF your nation moved US. like
wise. 10 turn our attention at the very
beginning OF our pontfflcate to the con-
- "A tala a