Year: 1873

MAI. III, lS7S.-QUADRUP
The Spirit or the sectarfsr '''


The chronic dulnsss of the 'lslouS ples'
is this week scarcely dissafpeo oy Single
ripple of live thought. The 'oieinn gloom Oh
great tomb could not r more iorDidding tnan
are the columns most OF the sectarian
journals and ca their rare comments upon
matters wb.n form part of the stirring every
dav ,;fe II the world still seem undivested of q
slea.y and dozed air that is like the appearance
;. the man who comes forth from dark and
dusty study into the broad light of MONDAY.
We find very little in them worthy of mention
here.


The Examiner and Chronicle takes occasion
to make the sweeping charge that most OF the
writer's Of secular newspapers belong to the
party Of intellectual workers who hold anti
evangelical ideas. It then. with what may
perhaps by some of its readers be taken for
the gusto of selt-righteousness, makes the
following statement


There are several reasons why professors OF re-
ligiOnn would feel out OF place the stan OF one
newspaper enterprise" that has come more and
more TO be recognized as legitimate requires some
sire 70 be excused With exceptions I6at steadily
decline in number papers are published daily. sun
days not excepted. The issue OF Monday morn
ing paper may require some work on sunday, but
daily papers are tending to ignore the sabbath
altogether. But we do not believe the religious
portion OF the community will long be satisfied with
the somewhat distant Difference or the courteous
orbearancc OF the more respectable papers, or will
be indifferent to the openly hostile tone OF others.
The time win come when papers, however 0enter.
priSing0 they are, or with whatever degree OF
ability they are conducted II they cast the weight
OF their influence in the scale against the Gospel.
will repel the support Of Christian people, There
must be daily well as weekly press ft to repre-
sent the Christian sentiment OF the land.


1t might well be thought at this time that
the silly question as to the morality or i'm
morality of labor on the Sabbath had ceased
to be open in any progressive and liberal mind
to doubt or discussion. Unlike it's Christian
contemporary, which supposes itself to be the
organ of later and therefore higher theology
than that of the Jews the Je,oish Times, in re-
lation to a distinct subject, utters sentiments
on this point exactly opposite and indicating
the outlines of kindly and broad iberality
that might be lesson to the narrow-minded
bigots who are still to be found in existence.
The Je,oish Times agitates the question
whether synagogues shall be open for religious
service on the Sabbath, and emphatically
favors such conformity to almost universal
custom. In this connection it makes the fol-
lowing remarks:-


Common sense and Jewish theology would de-
eide at once that every day, every hour, passed in
contemplation of the higher aims and objects of
life Is time well spent, meritorous and beneficial
whether tnat day Is called Sunday, Friday or Satur-
day. There are certain days set apart by religious
appointment Tor the performance OF worship, ex-
pressive of certain ideas and memorials, but we
out on which Divine service would be improper or
out OF place.


If this be true why should any day be
singled out on which labor beneficial to the
human race would be wrong and sinfulp


The reasons given by the Jeaoish Times for
the observance of the universal Sabbath for
worship rather than the seventh day of the
week, as of old, are substantial and striking
ones. They appeal both to the worldly and
religious instincts Of its readers, and, there is
no doubt, will ultimately be crowned with the
accomplishment of the reform which they ad-
vocate. The great convenience of having one
day of rest and devotion in universal observ-
ance is as apparent as that of common
monetary medium for all nations


The Catholic journals speak of the illness of
His Holiness Plus the Ninth with tender ex-
preston of confidence in his recovery which
cannot hide the real anxiety which is felt by
the whole world over the real feebleness of the
slight thread of life which may break at any
time and drop him back into the gloom of the
past. They also contain attempts to prove
that the cable dispatches which represented
him as being at the point of death were un-
scrupulous canards, gotten up by "a vile anti
Catholic conspiracy" The Heernan's Journal,
after branding these reports as the "'studious
continuance Of the Piedmontese usurpation
of Rome, meant for ON evil purpose" con-
cludes in the following rhapsodical manner
most settled thought and conviction among very
many Catholics, that this most wonderful OF the
Popes.who has outllved the "years OF Peter"
decree the Immaculate Vsen Conception e ouG
Blessed Lady as an Article OF the Faith
when Speaking r who has Declared te
honor TO st. Joseph, as universal patron of the
Church OF Christ, and set over all the family OF
Lord and Savi0ur-that this wonderful Pope Is
golng-helped by the prayers without ceasng of
the whole company OF the faithful, to live to see the
dawn OF bright and glorious revival OF Catholic
faith and Catholic practice and action throughout
the world. This is our very firm human conviction,
and therefore we recognize in all the antcipatons
OF his speedy death-otherwise than by martyr
dom-something, less or more distinct, Of delusons
insinuated among the faithful by the enemies or
the Church.


On Bismarck and the clergy the religious
papers are not yet silent The Catholic
organs still continue savage predictions that
the efforts Of the ruler of Germany's destiny
to rule the Catholic Church as well as the
State will result at length in demonstration
of the old adage of "Pride before fall" The
Methodist, however, has an article exactly op-
posite in tone and sentiment In the course