The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-19
YORKE TO WENDTE.
The Catholic ChanCelIor's Con-
tinued Answer to the Uni
tartan Minister.
Writing in answer to DR.. Wendte, the
Rev. Father Yorke says:

Writing in answer to DR.. Wendte, the
Rev. Father Yorke says:
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. Is. 1s96-To the
Editor II the CdR-DEAR SIR: Up 10 the pres
ent, IN dealing wit DR.. Wendte's charges,
have paid no attention 10 the arguments based
on the relations between the Pope and tenn
poIal soXerelgns during the period known as
the Middle Ages. Ny object has been TO sepa-
rate the theoretical from the historical.
wish 10 lay down those principles which bind
to-day because they always bind, and keep
distinct those principles which arose from a
peculiar condition of affairs and which be-
came obsolete when that condition OF affairs
passed away.
THE PAGAN EMPIRE AND CHRISTIANITY.
Al the period when Christianity came into
the world the Roman empire was at the height
OF its power. For the first time in history a
race OF organizers had founded a stable do
minion- The Roman language and the Roman
lsw ruled from the borders of Caledonia to the
cataracts OF the Nile From the pillars of Her
culeS 10 the Euphrates the majesty OF the Ro-
man peace broOded over the eSrth.
For 800 years the church was in conflict with
this great power. II was q foreign superst IL
non. The same cslumnies which are circu-
lated against Catholics to-day were circulated
against Christians then. Whenever the
pagan priests saw their temples deserted
they raised the cry that the Nazarenes
were plotting against the empire. If newspa-
pers were published in the days of Diocletian
they would bear startling resemblance to
some OF our metropolitan dailies on Monday
mornings when the preachers have spent the
Sabbath in humping the drum ecclesiastic 10
stir their followers against the errors OF Rome.
THE FALL OF TIE ENTIRE.
In the beginning OF the fourth century two
great events took place One was the triumph
OF Christianity and its official recognition as
the religion OF the empire, and the other was
the transference OF the seat of government
from Rome 70 Constantinople. Theimportance
OF this second event was accumulated by
the fact that a tendency TO disruption
which had already manifested itself WAS
given full rein 10 serve family interests and tho
great world organization was splIt in two
That part which had its capital al COnstAn ii
nOple was called the Eastern or Greek empire
The part which retained Italy and France and
Spain was known as the Western or Latin
empire.
This latter portion, however, was nenaced
the marshes and forests of the north poured
tribe after tribe OF barbarians. Whole nations
forsook their ancient seats and swarmed Ike
bees on 10 the fertile regions of the south
Great chiefs led their hardy soldiers TO the
loot OF cities where generations of peace had
stored untold wealth. Rome herself
that for generations had never seen a
foreign foe al her gates given up to
plunder, a score of kings paraded their petty
dignities where once the DEGREES OF the senate
were the only law, and toward the end OF the
nth century an insolent Goth dethroned the
last Emperor and sent the useless insignia OF
the empire 10 ConStantinople as a sign that in
the west that empire was no more.
THE CONDITION OF EUROPE.
AS we read of these occurrences in history
we find it very hard TO realize what il all
meant to the people who lived then. Let US
suppose that these United States have
existed for over 400 years, and that
their power has been extended even
TO Patagonia. Let US suppose that enervated