Year: 1873

The Church MiIItant-Her Endless Strug-
giles and VIctorics-Tho Successors OF
the Fisherman Reviewed by Bishop
Decentralization for tho Pope.


High mass celebrated yesterday by Father
McNamee. The choir under Professor G.. SchHitz,
rendered Genera!i's mass in @ major. 1t being
Trinity sunday q collection was taken up in aid OF
the Holy Father, which, owing to Bishop Lynch's
discourse. may be presumed to have far exceeded
any OF previous years. 1t speaks Ill for the de.
votedness OF the parshioners to have subscribed
only $500 on former occasions. Alter the chanting
OF the "yen Creator'' the Right Rev.
DR.. Lynch, Bishop OF Charleston, ascended
the pulpit and. having read the Gospel OF the DAY,
said that he would not speak on the great mystery
which the Church commemorated-the mystery OF
the Holy Trinity-but lie would say a lew words in
relation to the Holy Father. The grafton was
pregnant with historic lore and vivid pictures OF
what was achieved by the Roman pcnti1s in by
gone times. He alluded in very feeling terms to
the present Pope and was dignifcdly severe on


Tue LAWS or GERMANY,


which deprive Catholics of religious liberty. To do
justice to the discourse IL would be necessary to
report IL in full. From age to age the faithful have
substantially manifested their unity by supporting
the Holy see but never before did theather OF the
faithful make SO powerful or so tenuer an appeal
to the charity OF his children than he did on this
OCCASION. He appealed to them under circum.
stances OF heartrending Affections, which forcibly
call TO mind the ierce struggles OF the Church in
its earliest existence. Long centuries ago the ma
tions We're plunged into the depths Of paganism,
and the world fun OF t0llies and disorders and
inlquities. Everything was in confusion and men
worshipped images or metal and stone. In the
midst OF this disqualification the supreme God sent
His beloved son to recall men from their evil ways
and to leave behind Him theeholy Church to be the
guide of man until the end of time. Then the king
doms and empires


ARRAYED THEMSELVES AGAINST


this Church; national pride combated her in her
onward march. We know the history Of the for
midabe struggles which she was compelled to un-
dergo during the first three centuries The man
who sal upon the imperial throne OF Rome lifted
his arm against her; and, long and fierce though
the struggle was, she never let fall the banner OF
the cross. Constantine himself became q Chris
not yet at an end The proud rulers of the
pei her sY1s 70 change her laws % But the the Church %
could yield nothing to error, and her career
was one OF lncessant conquest. Amid all these
struggles against the powers OF darkness there
was one prominent individual who stood forth
the pastor OF the Universal Church. The very first
successor or Christ, after having Witnessed the
beheading OF Paul, was singled cut for destruction;
and, in sight OF the Seven Hills he was crucfed,
like his Master. In the sixth persecution, which
was the hitherto most bloody, the cruel Emperor


HUNT THE CHRISTIANS


through the caves beneath the ground, to annihi-
late them, to destroy the Pont and to prevent the
election OF a successor. DeciuS would rather have
a
cessor 70 the fisherman. And for two long years
the clergy were unable to come together but they
at length bsfied the designs OF their enemies and
kept intact the line OF pontiffs. From that day to
the present how many pious popes have there not
been cast into prison or sent into exile for their
Jealous laborsl But, despite ali opposition, the
banner OF truth which was raised on tile day OF
Pcntecost has never yet gone down. In this our
own day the Supreme Pontlf has witnessed the
establishment OF new empire IN the promulga-
tion Of laws equal to those OF


JULIAN THE APosTATE.


And even Italy, the land which ought to be the
protector OF the pastor, has had hand in wrest-
ing from him his little dominion. That dominion
Was only a small portion Of Italy, and
Italy is but small part or Europe. Its
government was the most ancient in existence,
venerable Tor Its dignity, venerable for the reputa-
tion of It's members, venerable for the justice of
its laws. In the face OF these facts might COM
bated right, and Is victorious, but only for the
not endure forever II ever % there pee was Vn day
which ought to have appeared dark to the eyes OF
politicians II was the day which ushered In the
Decius had returned. The Cardinals were forbid
den TO assemble, the preceding Pontln had ex-
q hostile hands Nevertheless, the Church eventu-
ally overcame all opposition. We need have no
fears as TO what the na Issue OF the present state
Of affairs will be. In Rome to-day


THE GOVERNMENT OF ITALY


is making laws, not only IN opposition to the laws
OF morality, but destructive, as far as possible, of
the Church ITSELF And the tender hearted pontif
is prisoner in the Vatican, and dare not put his
loot in the streets OF the city. Only few days





The iniuriated poplace are not content with this,
bur they are crying out war against everything
sacred-war against the religious houses, war
against God Himself. But the Holy Father remains
strong in


THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF RIGHT


and right must be triumphant in the end He will
also be strengthened by the knowledge that he has
the sympathy and support OF the entire Catholic
world IN these his days OF aiflicon. From this very
pulpit some time ago. went forth the soul-stirrng
words Of sympathy rom the glorious prelate OF
New York which were borne in print TO the re-
rpn ar anrf MI cnnf thrti
through the entire Christian world They evoked
a spirit and a feeling which are not yet extin-
gulshed, and which, the speaker trusted, will be
manifested not merely by pecuniary contributions,
but by continued and feryent prayer for the safety
or the venerable Ponti1, the restoration OF his
rights and the peace and prosperity OF the uni
versal Church.


COLLEGIATE REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH.