Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-08-27


general efforts of the church herself
At no time in hor history has the
| Catholic church been blind or deaf to
the evils of slavery. From the day
| that ST. Paul befriended Onesimrls,
down to the moment when Catholic |
Brazil, by stroke of the pen freed her |
slaves, the Catholic church has ever
stood for liberty. From the morning |
600 years ago, when st. Lawrence
O'Toole, archbishop Of Dublin, led
the Prelates of Ireland, assembled in |
national synod to declare that ireland
| was suffering Engand's oppression,
because of the numbers Of slaves held
on her soil, down to the other day
when Cardinal Lpvigeris aroused
Europe by his plea to blot out that
open sore of the world-the African
slave tralfic--the Catholic church has
always stood for freedom and the
abolition of slavery.
Unhappily for the culored race in
the United States the part In which
they almost all live, viz, the South,
is the least Catholic.
In fact negro slavery came on the
stage of this world when the Catholic
church had lost her plestige. African
slavery and the Reformation appear
together. Here in thb United States,
il is only sinde the late war that the
church has bsen. able to do anything
much for the ecolored race.
When in 1878, John DE Ruyter de-
termined to cast in his lot with the
colored missions the outlook for them
was dim and shadowy. But to-day all
over the south are evidences. in
churches, schools and institutions, in
, priests and sisters, of how The work is
growing. Hut The priests of the colored
missions have witnessed, during the
past 25 years, the greatest surprises in
) the colorsd race themselves. With
Father ID Rayter and myself this was
favored topic of conversation. We
Y often conplred notes. In 1s70-26
: years ago thu last of the three consti
tutional amendments affecting that
a race betane law The colored
i people ware then at the bottom of the
} ladder. Their development was
serious question. Would there be
o progress ol decline? Would they ad-
!. vance OF 70 backY Would they in
/ crease ar die out? That they have
!, made progess, and are now advancing
d with slow |ut sure steps in the path OF
8 civilizatios their worst enemies can
o not deny.
Their po|ition in the State to-day,
ie altcgethF better than it was quar-
- tor of a century ago. On the whole
q they have won the respect of the
. country. A poaceable, afTectionate
n race, Win very unusual tenacity,
q they will surely improve; especially as
q the Catholic church increases among
!, them. In connection with this pro-
4 gress of the doored race, Father De
= Ruyta's work here has proven one
n great Ioint veIyNeRsential to the better
!. ment of that people. 1t is that an
q honest mans etfof@ to help theeolored
i race win the approval of the COM
rs nunity. Every one in this city, with
Il out distinction of creed, sympathizes
n witt Father De Mytor's work, and
n mary very generously helped it along.
= IheCatholics OF Wilmington organized
N society called St ,pseph's League to
n aid in its support. Ald countless times
~ has Father DE RuytF assured me that
/. he vas overwhelmed with gratitude at
Ii the kindness shown him and his work
,r by the ladies' aad gentlemen of this
rs citJ who are not Catholics In fact
~ thi was a constant heme of his. Aud
ri hiseyperIence hero demonstrates that
10 a deserving work bn behalf of the
~ colSred race will via the approval and
i, obtain the support of their white
bEthern.
"a My own experienceis that the whites
Ia d the land wish will to our colored
j. ,eople, and if the after would only
is iollow Fred Douglls' advice they
il would do better. Ttb great negro ora
!, Itor used constantly to say, leave
"a 1polltics alone and buy land"
,eI OF course Father De Ruyter was a
dl man of tact, to which, in no small de-
II gree, is owing the hrjad, general char
d actor of his supper. But If / were
i asked his characteristic virtue,
d should answer, honesty.
II What sacred scripture calls ''just
o man." or as wo may say in homely
Epglisb, an honest man, John De Ruy-
O ter was an honest man and an honest
i, Christian. He was honest with mis-
!, Maker. He conjured up no god to suit
. his passions and desires. But be stood
o in the presence of the great Creator.
who made heaven and earth. With
II The Psamist he might say, Whittier
II shall | 90 from thy face, or whittier
d shall j fiY from Thy spirit Ii | ascend
s into heaven Thou art there; If ! de-
!, scend into he'll Ihouf art there also; ii
q / take my wings curly in the morning
b and fly to the uttermost parts of tho
Q sea, even then shall Thy hand lead me
a and Thy right hand conduct me-" Not
It a God who forgets US did no believe in.
Not God who created and then flung
Il us into space to shift fr ourselves.
o No, but d God OF loving kindness, who
IS employs every means, spiritual and
Il human, animate aud inanimate for our
!, good On tho blessed Providence OF
@ God Father De Ruyter placed all his
3 confidence. That was "his rock, and
o his horn of salvation. His whole
j. work was magnificent act of faith.
s His consciousness of how God uses the
o ground, the rain, the sun, the seed ;
o the farmer, the miller and the baker
,f in order to give us our daily bread; as
% we'll as the grass, tle sheep. the shearer,
the weaver and tho tailor to give us
IS our garments made him appreciate that
Is beautiful doctrine of the communion
b of saints. The church triumphant is
4 no alien to the church militant. Death
i is the door leading from the latter to
s the former. We understand, then. his
u great love and intense devotion towards
the two most glorious of the church's
8 saints--the blessed mother and st.
a Joseph, her chaste spouse. Father DE
r Ruyter recognized their power and inn
!, plored their intercession for his work.
Il Ills favorite devotion was the beads.
II To say them in difficulties and trials
t was his usual custom. All of YOU
n know of his love for ST. Joseph. In
i. deed the whole city has been witness
@ of great growth IN honoring him