Year: 1873

Right Rev. Bishop Lynch, OF Charleston,


on Church Persecution.


SCRANTON, Pa, Nov. 10, 1879.


The Right Rev. Bishop Lynch, OF Charleston,
s. c. who Is collecting funds for the restoration OF
the church wrecked in his diocese during the re-
cent civil war. delivered o mastery lecture here
this evening, in st. vincent's Cathedral, "Bis-
marck and the Church." The vast Cathedral was
crowded with persons OF different denominations,
who, having heard OF the Bishops oratOrical
powers, were anxious to hear him treat Of the
interesting subject in question The Bishop set out
by laying down the TACT that during the existence
OF the Catholic Church she has been the object OF
oppression and persecution under one form
or another. The Church was now going
through . crisis which three years ago
none would have looked for. In Germany,
where the minds OF men were taught by the sad
experience OF religious persecution nturies ago,
they ought to think it sweet to live in religious
peace and where OF all civilized nations religious
freedom seemed thoroughly established by consti-
tutional provisions, persecution has Unexpectedly
burst forth like hurricane and could tell the
extent to which the storm would 60. Bismarck, to
whose brilliant and successful career as states
man the lecturer gave due credit, seemed after
the wonderful victory over France and the eStab-
liShment OF the German empire to be


INTOXICATED BY HIS SUCCESS





power in his hand. He compared him with Trojan
OF old, who alter all his victories thought ne had
not full power so long as the Christians would not
obey his imperia ial edicts and worship the gods OF
heather mythology. The Bishop said Bismarck
thought his power was not complete unless 1t
in the matter OF religion. In founding the German
Empire he seemed to have taken the Russian En-
plre as model, with the Car as absolute head on
earth OF army, navy, civil government and Church,
thereby aiming to secure perfect unity OF the Em-
pire; so Bismarck desired that the imperial gov.
ernment OF Germany should have supreme control
even in matters OF religion. Tho Bishop spoke Of
the Efforts TO give some Importance TO the Old Ca
tholic movement-an effort which had failed and
then of the laws against the Jesuits, the Redemp-
florists and other religious orders of men aud
women; Of the prosecution OF bishops, clergy and
eminent lay men OF the interference with religious
worship and Catholic schools; OF the late law pro.
viding Tor SUPERVISION by the otfcers OF Catholic
strikes at the very life and being OF the Catholic
Church, and would reduce it In the German Empire
to little more than


SPECIAL DEPARTMENT OF POLICE.


What was the cause of all thisY Had the Church
done any act whatever to call for this attack
serving in the German armies during the late war
with France. Some had lost their lives and many
authorities Tor their heroic devotedness. The
Bishop asked what would be the upshot OF this
persecuton9 AS yet it Is confined to prosecutions,
threats OF Imprisonment and menaces. We
have but the commencement. The storm may
grow fercer in Germany, ior there seems
Church. 1t is seen in Switzerland. which denies
all its traditional lessons of liberty. 1t is in
Spain and in Italy, and is seen in the persecution
OF the Holy Father VINO Is prisoner at the vatican
but though the clouds were dark and menacing, the
Church OF God must stand, Tor He declared that He
Is with her and that she cannot fail She may be
tried by prosecutions, bat they will give her new
life. The blood OF martyrs is the seed OF Christians
and in Gods own good time the tempest would be
stlled.


Bishop Lynch, who is q venerable looking man,
of commanding presence with long, gray hair,
spoke with great ervOr and depth OF feeling which
lDteuSlneQ
vivid picture OF the devastatlons caused In his
diocese during the war.