The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-20
THE BISHOPS PASTORAL
1T Is CALLED FORTH BY FHE DEATH
OF THE PRESIDENT.
The Words OF Bishop ChRtard VIII he
Read in the Churches
Next Sunday.

The Rt. Rev. Francis Chatard, bishop Of
the See of indianapolis, has issued the fol-
lowing pastoral to all the clergymen in his
diocese to be read at all the masses next
Sunday. The bishop in his letter greatly
deplores the work of the assassin in muir
Gering President Mckinley. He also pays
a high tribute to President Roosevelt. Fol-
lowing is the text Of the letter:
Dear Beloved Brethren: A terrible
tragedy has been contaminated amongst
US. The President of the United States has
been stricken by the bullet OF an assassin
and has yielded up his life. We have no
words TO httingly condemn so atrocious an
act, committed under pretext OF paying
respect to the chief executive of the Re
pubic. The late President, in full conf
dence, in the goodness OF his heart and
hiled with a desire to advance the welfare
or the people,, falls a victim TO the preach
ing ana hate OF the Anarchist.
In the death OF William Mckinley We
Geplore the loss OF a President who had
served the COUNTRY SO we'll during an ad-
ministration that his fellow-countrymen
mad put the seal of approval upon his
course by electing him anew to rule them.
lie mad the welfare OF the country at heart
and did his best TO further it. We shall
Cherish his memory as that Of a faithful
pubic servant, OF a man distinguished TOR
his public career, whilst III private life he
was "a model or domestic virtue.
"Iha such a man should have fallen by
the bullet of an Anarchist should make us
lnllk. Inc very principle OF authority Is
attacked The apostle teaches, Let every
soul be subject to higher powers; for there
is no power but from God; and those that
are, are ordained of God.-Rom. Xiii, l..
The man who defies public authority-still
more the man who raises his hand to smite
the duly appointed minister of that author
ity-iS guilty of the greatest crime against
society, against the very order established
by God Himself. And this is the reason
why the taking of the life of a ruler has
always been held in horror and adherence
by a Christian people. We should eXecrate
such an act; and while we do, we should
endeaVor by every means in our power to
recall the unfortunate and misguided to a
just view of their duty to authority, which
is nothing else but the expression Of the
will of God.
I'm the midst of the sudden CONSERVATION
caused by the unlooked-for death of the
President, the Vice President has succeeded
by due course of law. it is a tribute to
the solidity and permanence of our gov
eminent that such a change should have
occurred with so little disturbance of or
der. The President. though young in years,
has been distinguished for ability in the
management of public affairs, for Valor and
eff cheney as a soldier and for his success
full career as Governor of his native State.
May his career as President be equally dis
tinguished. He will have no more loyal
and devoted supporters than the Catholics
of this country, who, whatever be their
political affiliations, will always remember
that ii is a command of God to obey au-
thority and honor him who exercises it as
the representative of God. 1t becomes US,
as Christians, to beg of God to assist with
His guidance those who rule, for ii is only
through Divine Providence that the desti-
mics of states are directed and brought to
a safe issue. Let us, therefore, pray God
to avert from us every calamity. to protect
in the discharge of his exalted office the
President of the United States, and to pour
out on all our people the treasures of His
mercy. SlLAS,
Bishop of Indianapolis"