The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-12


olics was survival of Puritanism and Of
a spirit of prescription from which Catho-
lies themselves have not been entirely free
But the world is outgrowing IL. 1t should
find no place In this country, where Cath
olics have contributed freely of their
money and blood to the support Of the gov
eminent In every war In which we have
engaged, from that of the revolution to the
war with Spain. If there is a more pa
triotic clergyman or true American IN the
United States than Archbishop Ireland,
who served as chaplain of Minnesota
regiment during the civil war, the Journal
would not know where to look for him.
At the beginning of that war, when the
government was trying to strengthen itself
in every direction. President Lincoln's ad-
ministration requested the appointment OF
Archbishop Hughes, of New York, as
cardinal, on account of his influence over
the turbulent classes in that city. He was
a frequent adviser of President Lincoln
and Secretary Seward relative to war
measures, and in 1851, at their request, he
visited Europe to exert his personal infiu-
ence for the benefit of the Union cause.
These things are matters of history, and
should not be forgotten.
AS the Constitution and laws of the coun-
try place all churches on an equal plane
of religious liberty. their doctrines are not
a matter for secular discussion, but all can
unite in admiration of the efficient organ
ization and working machinery of the
Catholic Church. Perhaps the finest tribute
ever paid to the organization and vitality
of the church was by Macaulay, the Eng
fish historian, himself a Protestant of
the Protestants. In the opening passage of
his essay on Ranke's History Of the
Popes'' he wrote:
There is not, and there never was on this
earth, work of human policy so well de-
serving of examination the Roman Cath
lie Church. The history Of the church joins
together the two great ages of civilization.
No other institution is left standing which
carries the mind back TO the times when
the smoke of sacrifice rose from the Pan
theon, and when camelopards and tigers
bounded in the Flavian ampitheater. The
| proudest royal houses are but of yester-
| day, when compared with the time of the
supreme Pontiffs. That line we trace back
in an unbroken series from the Pope who
fury to the Pope who crowned Pepin in the
eighth; and far beyond the time of Pepir
| the august dynasty extends, till 1T is lost In
the twilight of fable. The republic OF
Venice came next in antiquity. But the re-
| public of Venice was modern when com.
pared with the Papacy; and the republic OF
Venice Is gone and the Papacy remains
antique. but full Of life and youthful vigor
The Catholic Church Is still sending forth
TO the farthest end of the world mission
Kent with Augustin, and still confronting
| hostile kings with the same spirit with
| which she confronted Attila. The number
of her children is greater than in any form
i er age. Her acquisitions in the New World
have more than compensated what she los
in the Old. Her spiritual ascendancy ex
tends over the vast countries which lie be-
| tween the plains of Missouri and Cap,
| Horn, countries which, a century hence
may not improbably contain a population
as large as that which now inhabit:
Europe. The members Of her communion
are certainly not less than hundred an(
| fifty millions: and ii will be difficult Il
show that all other Christian sects unite(
amount to hundred and twenty millions
that the term Of her long dominion is ap
preaching. She saw the commencement O
all the governments and Of all the ecclesi
| astical establishments that now exist IL
| the world; and we feel no assurance tina
| she Is not destined to see the end of then
| all. She was great and respected befor
| the Saxon nau set loot on Britain, bef0r
| the Frank had passed the Rhine, whel
| Grecian eloquence still fiourished in Anti
och. when idols were still worshiped in tn
temple of Mecca. And she may still exis
| in undiminished vigor when some travele
| from New Zealand shall, in the midst of
| vast solitude. take his stand on a broker
| arch of London Bridge to sketch the ruin
of st. Pauls.
AS a portrayal Of the indestructibility O
a church organization and Of it's inexhaust
| ible vitality and energy. nothing could sur
pass this from the pen of Englands grea
historian