The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-09-11
In a circular handed to me today it

Please explain what this means.
The handful referred to in the ques-
ton advertises the lectures of Pastor
Russell. The general tenor of his teach
ing is to destroy all existing creeds
and to establish religion of his own,
an improvement, of course, on the one
founded by Christ, which, in common
with other teachers, he pretends to
base upon the Bible. According to his
words he will let the Bible interpret
itself, whatever that may mean, for
it passes our comprehension how a
book can interpret itself; but, at the
same time, Pastor Russell is very care
full to read into the Bible the meaning
that is most consonant with his own
views, his new religion. AS part of
his work Pastor Russell must destroy
the Catholic Church. He extends his
heartfelt sympathies to all priest
ridden people, whose liberties are
measured by the whims of pope. In
Napoleon Bonaparte he finds the hero
of the world who defies the Pope and
thereby breaks from these poor blinded
creatures their letters of slavery and
gives to them the liberty of serving
Pastor Russell. 1t is true that Napo-
leon def1ed Pope Plus VII; but he
defied also all other constituted au-
thority. He was a wonderful military
genius, the greatest, perhaps, the
world has ever seen. Certainly the
power to gain for himself the venera-
ton of men, of winning and holding
them at the cost of every sacrifice
through their personal love of him
was the greatest But his splendid
talents had no master, save his am
bition; and his ambition was without
law, without limit. His repeated sue
cesses made him thirst for further
glory. He became master of all
Europe and his great power, his exces-
sive pride made him drunk. He defied
the Pope and his defiance was against
both the civil and the ecclesiastical
power of the head of the Church. In
each contest the Pope though a
prisoner was the hero. Napoleon in
later years, when he came to his
senses, acknowledged this. "Alexan,
der the great" he said, called him
self the son of Jupiter, and in my
time l find a priest who is more
powerful than / am" The world even
gave to the Prisoner of Savona the
victory over the Emperor on his
throne; What a power is religion
which gives strength to the weak
0I1 hot cts hos 1nct g
strength"
The political principles that Plus
VII defended against the Emperor
at the cost of all that he possessed
ciples that today have filled the world
with admiration for the little country
of Belgium. Napoleon was at wal
with England and he demanded that
the Pope should declare himself his
ally. This Plus VII refused, claiming
very justly that he had no war against
England; but, because he refused to
acknowledge the suzerainty assumed
by Napoleon, the French soldiers in
tested Rome, took prisoners the Pope
and his Secretary of State, deprived
them of their revenues and scattered
to little villages the other Cardinals
who remained faithful. Would moi
every judge proclaim the Pope the
victor? Napoleon had attempted tt
establish in France his own plan fol
the government of the Church. This
of course, implied that the Church
would be subject to the state even il
matters ecclesiastical. He introduced
the same code into Italy Against eacf
the Pope protested. Was not his pro
test justified?
On two occasions that affected Ma
poleon the Pope was the defender o.
matrimony. In one case Napoleon
wished to put away his wife; in the
other case it was Jerome, Napoleon:
brother, whose wife was to be dis
carded. 1t is true that Jeromes wife
was a simple American girl, affiliated
in no way to the royalty of Europe
and that they were married in far of
America and further, Jerome at the
time of his marriage had not attained
his majority. Yet the Pope defended
the cause of Elizabeth Patterson
against the wishes and commands O
the great Emperor of Europe. In the
other case, that of his own wife 10
sephine, the arguments of Napoleon
we're equally specious, but Withou
avail. The Vicar of Christ suffered in
justice, cruelty, Imprisonment anC
was willing to suffer even death tt
defend faithfully his Masters cause
the truth of God, Whom would jus
tice honor, Napoleon the tyrant OF
Plus the prisoner?
! was born May is, 1896. Please tel
me what day Of the week this was.
May Is, 1896, fell on Friday.
Have a girl and boy who are thirc
cousins the right TO marry each othel
In the Catholic Church?
The Church forbids the marriage o.
those who are related within the
fourth degree of kindred, inclusive. AS
third cousins are of the fourth degree
of kindred they are subject to this Law
of the Church. 1t has happened, how
ever, that the Church, for sufficient
reasons, has made exception to hel
own law. This dispensation is more
readily granted as the relationship i:
more remote.
10 II too late for father to apply
rarnoraI nr,aie by,an& 80 n co., ar e.,yr,t,