New Iberia enterprise. (New Iberia, La.) 1885-1902, 1899-04-08
A Warning to Golden ReIigionism.

|
advanced thinkers of the Catholic Church
preached a sermon in New York City lately
| that might proiitably be needed by those
| for the benefit of whom il was delivered.
We make from it the following extract;
My dearest brethren. when men who
have received a Divine commission to
spread and defend tho truth desert the
highest duties of their vocation, then truly
"the lamps of Jacob are extinguished and
the salt of the earth is putretied; then the
standards of morality and truth are low
cred; then the social evils are removed
from powerful moral restraint and control,
and places of worship become religious
clubs of fashionable people, and many
churches become emphatically 'dens of
thieves "
Don't be surprised at my plain and open
presentation of existing conditions. Call
to your mind your own daily observations
and experiences. and if you find that am
exaggerating or stating fanciful facts do
not be afraid to tell nae. There is nothing
more to be offended at with my Christian
preaching than there was to be offended
with in the preaching of the saints and
fathers of the Church st. John Chrysos-
tom, addressing the people of his diocese,
said TO them: My brethren, my joy and
my crown, if you happen unfortunately to
be guilty of the social crimes am denoun-
cling then exhort you to betake yoursel-
YES to true profession and practice of
Christianity. II your conscience bears
you testimony that you are not contrib
utory or accomplces to the social evils
4 hot icnr ninIl fn tal al
ing as warning of the temptations that
surround and besiege you on every side.
History makes 1t very clear to us that
when nations and individuals separate
themselves from the Church founded by
Jesus Christ and nevertheless pretend to
teach Christian truth and Christian moral
ity, these nations sooner or later become
religiously enslaved to church of kings
and parliaments. They reject the liberty
of the children of God and embrace the
license of error. They sink under the de-
grading national and spiritual bondage.
Jesus Christ did not commit the govern
ment Of His Church to temporal rulers.
She was to be Church free and indepen-
dent the depository of eternal truths and
the guardian of morality. He built His
Church upon rock-Peter and his fellow
apostles became Himself the corner
stone of the building. He did not pretend
to make His Church a social agency, the
for political purposes, to be used
by earthly rulers for their purpose, He
made His Church the pillar and founda-
tion of truth, and bade His disciples to
obey god rather than men, and anticipating
their terrible struggle with the corruptions
of this world, he strengthened their minds
and their hearts with these memorable
words: "Fear notr The golden religion
ism of so-called society surrenders religi |
GUS truth to worldly expediency. They
submit the conscience to the power of
money, and the preaching of the gospel
becomes lucrative profession by many
in the ministry of Churchianity. And all
this at the expense of divine truth, which, |
far from being asserted and sternly defen |
1ed, is frequently accommodated to the |
views Of golden religionism on the side of
so-called society. Hence religious athe
ism is the growth that breeds innumerable |
evils and bears upon the masses Of the |
people. Golden religionism is an intoler-
able curse. On Sunday we see its profess |
,ors devoutly attending church services
and other days of the week leading lives
,ruly pagan. The Christianity of Christ s
Church places justice to man above all
;hings; the lives of golden religionism's
pretended professors are marked with in
Justice, selfshness and oppression of the |
multitude. The great aim of its professors
seems to be to accumulate enormous
Profits and fortunes in the shortest posi-
Die time. They employ workmen at star
ration wages, and the love Of the brethren
s to them unknown except in pretense.
The religion of Christ teaches brotherly |
owe, teaches men to look upon their fellow
men as brothers. Golden religionism
makes OF its fellow men carrion prey.
t revives pagan morals and makes man,
IS paga,,s did, the wolf of his fellow men.
teaches sympathy-sympathy
The followers of golden religionism have
et up in their business places an unjust
ystem of usury, and when half ruined
merchant or an ill-fated professional man
alls into their clutches he is literally
trangled to death. Christianity teaches
hat we arc bound to use our superhuous
means in the relief of the worthy poor
{ does not force us to give away that
which may be necessary for our family
ignity, but it does command us to
void excessive luxury and covetousness,
which is mortal sin. As minister Of
eligion, let me sound warning in
harity and justice to the golden religious
don't cares" of our day. Louis XIV.
laiming to be Christian king, would not
ear the warning voices in his seventy
our years of administration. When his
Louis XIV, came to the throne
e shocked even the sensual by his brutal
nd animal degradation, and poor Louis
[VI., who tried to act justly, became the
ufferer for the crimes of his predecessor.
Is minister of religion, let me say TO the
MUST and the covetous. Beware, lest the
Judgments Of history may fall to your lot
nd the last judgment OF God be not for
our glory. The working classes are
Lately school of labor has
'een founded at the University OF Oxford,
nth one of the Regius professors at its
cad. They are beginning to recognize
nd realize their power and the wrongs
erpetrated against their rights and the
lights Of their children. Tomorrow they
nay anticipate the judgment of history
nd the last judgment Of God. They may
rraign the saints Of golden religionism at
he bar Of public opinion, and thunder in
heir ears Enough. You have been the
rutal force Of money, they may say; we
re the oppressed, and we seek our rights.
Tou have been our unrelenting persecu
ors; we are the conscience. You have
'een tyrannical, and as pampered beings
nth the fruits of our labor. You have
ndulged in every luxury; we shall be free
nd independent. You are passing wave
I calamity; we, the people, are perma-
lency.
In conclusion, let me say to all the men
I capital and the men OF labor; speak
n both your interests: You are both
'od's children, redeemed by the blood
( the savior, and with the charity of
esus Christ say to class and to mass.
Brethren. we pray and beseech you in the
ord Jesus For this is the will
4 God. your sanctifcation; that you
hould abstain from fcrnication; that every
ne Of you should know how to possess his
essel In sanctifcation and honor, not in
he passion Of Inst, like the Genties, that
lew not God; that no man oyerreaeh nor
bso t~-x4kuu n...a.-u~.. l.. |