The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-05-19


|
pleton, of Goldsboro and Father Butach
of Norfolk.
/ He is an imposing looking man with a
strong face. Tall, broad-shouldered, with
full beard bordered heavily with gray
falling half way down his chest, clothed
in his Bishops robe of black with red trim
ming with a broad red sash encircling and
with the Bishops cap he looked the Dig
nifty of his position.
The theme of his discourse was 1.-The
Unity OF the Church." and this he de-
veloped ably. There was no attempt at
oTatory or eloquence. His words were
short and to the point and the whole
was strong in its simplicity and direct
ness. He stated that he had not ex.
pected to speak at night, but that the
insstenee of the priest in charge had
led him to speak.
Yes, | am going to Rome said he
and not only to pay my personal re-
spects to the Father of Christendom, but
also to bear to him the love of his chill
dren, the Catholics of North Carolina. "
Continuing he said that duty imposed
on him by his oath when he became a
bishop was that each ten years he should
visit the Pope In Rome, as must all Ameri-
can Bishops, while those of Europe did
SO more frequently, the purpose of these
visits being ito make personal report
OF the diocese in regard to spiritual mat
tiers, but having nothing to do with secu-
lar affairs or politics. At the time of his
prdgious visit the Pope had asked for
no information as to these, except as the
oh,,y.el r1iOhf en- for narcao.f3nr
In political matters he said the Catho-
lies were absolutely free. In political
matters / am an American" said he, and
the only allegiance l owe is as an Ameri-
can citizen, and when l go to Rome it
is only to speak of spiritual affairs AS
far as government is concerned the Catho-
lie church does not care whether it is
an emperor, a car, king or a president,
for so long as these are just the Catholics
must obey. / make no report concerning
the Governor, the President or any other
officer, and it is possible that the Pope
may not know who is Governor of North
Carolina
Gods Kingdom on earth is one only.
The Lord has said, Father, let there be
one as you and I are one, was the text
OF his sermon. He said there was no di-
vision of God but that there was one
God, one faith, one baptism unity that
ran through the church, this being main
tanned his visit to the Holy See. This idea
he illustrated by saying the people were
represented by the priests, the priests by
the Bishop and the Bishop by the Pope,
an idea also carried out by the one head
of a family and the one head of govern
ment, State or nation, as beautifully IL
Illustrated in the United States, the con-
verse being in South America. where
olllmes revolutions came when two or
three attempted to rule in the republics
there
United we stand, divided we fall he
declared to be the idea of the church,
where unity was the requirement, this
beng the lesson taught when Christ gave
authority to one of the Apostles, Peter,
upon whom he had built his church, the
Pope being the direct successor of Peter.
the first Pope, and this unity being pre-
served in the Catholic church.
He spoke Of the great authority of Pope
Leo, who ruled in spiritual affairs over
two hundred and fifty millions of people.
"Over ninety years of age the old man,
the Prisoner of the Vat; can, speaks and
nc is obeyed for he the successor of
Peter" This unity, he declared, gives the
Catholic church the power which the
word admires. Except The White
Father called so because of his robes,
there is not on earth another man 20
venerated as is this Leo the Thirteenth,
God bless him.
Here he told that statesman listened to
him, that King Edward and the German
Emperor the War Lord visited him. In
| referring to Emperor William he said he
was termed THE War Lord" but that
he was verp peaceful fellow. 1t was a
great change from the old days for these
| to visit Leo. One Catholic had been
driven from England to France, where
they were received gladly, now it was
that they had to leave France and Eng
and received them while Germany, once
prosecuting them, had also changed.
Blackstone had said that the laws OF
Englantg against the Catholics would not
De repealed till the Pope's authority is
contemplate, but this has not been the
case 1.-THE world today" said he, lis
getting to recognize the one great con-
sentative power to be the Catholic church,
and it pays its respects to its represen-
tative, the Pope of Rome
Bishop Had said that it would be the
pleasure of his life when he met the
Holy Father, and that he would carry to
him the love of his children in North
Carolina, and tell him of the steady pro-
gress being made in the State, though of
all States it had the smallest Catholic
membership, one-fourth of one per cent. of
the people. pity it is so" he said, ard
asked that there be prayers for the Holy
Father and the universal church. The
church here had but little to contend
WITH said he. and in no land is the Catho-
| lie so free as in America" There is no
reason for its persecution anywhere sex
cept for miserable prejudice and the
spirit of the devil" he declared,
In closing he said that he would ask
/ the Holy Father for a blessing on all
his peonle in the North Carolina diocese
and that after his visit to Rome he hoped
to come back. for it was in America that
where his DAYS were ended that he desir-
ed TO be buried.
The remarks and sermon of Bishop Haid
were listened to with graf earnestness by
his congregation and it was felt by them
that there had been great benefit to
| them nv the visit of the RiShon whr