The San Francisco call., 1896-06-26

father ended with q plea that his
hearers would not forget that the
man of whom this tribute had been
written was a Roman Catholic He was
once interrupted by deafening applause
while reading the article at a paragraph
empasizing the fact that Magma Charta is
the direct predecessor of the American
Revolution and the Declaration of Inde-
pendence.
"Now,n he continued, 81 am not eager
to draw the deadly parallel III matters re-
Iigious, but it might be apropos under the
circumstances to ask what those on the
Lutheran side of the fence have to say for
themselves during the years that have
elapsed since the Reformation"
The manner in which Father Ferguson
asked the question was so inimitabe and
the slight, sarcastic emphasis he threw
upon the word reformation" so fetching
that the audience was instantly convulsed
with laughter.
"What have they performed2 l ask
Has not the English Parliament passed so
many bad laws that the fair pages of
history have been sullied by numerous
'redresses of grievances
"If Catholics are such enemies of liberty
WHY did they stand in and assist this re-
public in the days of its infancy, when it
was hardly able to stand upon its feet?
"How about the Protestants during
those stirring times? Did they assist the
Americans To be sure they did"-this
ironically.
..All those Hessians that were shipped
over to keep us under the iron hand OF the
tyrant were Catholics, weren't they ?"
Father Ferguson's tentative tone, and the
comic expression of his features when he
made this query, again brought down the
house.
81 defy any man to show me-" be thun-
shipped over to help subdue this country.
No, they are too liberty loving a people
for that. There were enough Catholics in
Washington's army alone to disprove any
such assertion.
what nations were they that gave US
recognition III those times? Compare the
reception of Franklin at the court of
France ana of Prussia. AT the former he
was welcomed. At the latter Frederick
told that eminent philosopher, who
snatched the lightning from the skies and
the scepter from the hands OF tyrants, that
he was born to rule, and did rule, and
didn't intend to lend any assistance that
would harm the trade.
"Then how about the republics of Genoa
and the surrounding territory, as well as
the cantons of Switzerland, who owed
their existence to the favor of the Popes?
Instead of fostering them they might have
taken away their liberty had they so de-
sired.
"What was the results produced upon
the Governments of Europe by the refor-
nation? For fully $50 years absolutism
reigned, and it was not until the year 184S
that the tyranny of the ruler of Prussia
was hedged about with restrictions. 1t is
about the same with Sweden and Den
mark"
Hereupon the lecturer paused to quote
from historical authority to prove that the
condition of the people of many OF the
districts Of these countries is, in many re-
spects, as crude as it was hundreds of
years ago.
'As the great Cardinal Newman said, !"
he continued after reading certain ex-
cerpts, "There's not d tongue that wags
against the Catholic church to-day that
doesn't owe it to her that it can wag at
ALL
1.-THE fabric of freedom in this country
was first reared by Lord Baltimore,
when he came with his faithful band of
followers and worked for the establish
ment of peace liberty and happiness.
Jefferson, when he wrote that para
graph in the Declaration of Independence
stating that the attributes of all men are
life, liberty and pursuit of happiness,
was foreshadowed by Fenelon, great
French archbishop, who used nearly the
same words in requesting an English king
to allow his subjects greater liberty.
"In conclusion, let me say that the Gath
olic church will ever be found in the van
guard OF progress, holding aloft the torch
light of liberty and reason, that the
nations may see their way clear 10 higher
planes of thought and existence"
The gathering was dismissed with the
announcement that grand patriotic dem
onstration would be held under the aus
pices of the Young Mems Catholic Union
in Metropolitan Temple on the evening of
July g. at which all were invited to be
nreSent