THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND THE AMERICAN UNION.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 15, 9 August 1873, Page 12

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND THE AMERICAN UNION.

Wb clip the following from the.Lebanon 'Advertiser' : — " Rev. Joseph O'Connor, of Beading, Pa., delivered a lecture on this subject, on Wednesday evening, in the Catholic church of this place, to a very large and appreciative audience. Ho referred to the New England style in which, all our school-books are written, the fulsome praise bestowed upon the passengers of the May Flower, Plymouth Rock, and tho general glorification of puritanism, to the exclusion of all other classes j while the discovery of this country, and the troubles, anxiety and sacrifices attending that momentous era in our history, and the heroism of (Christopher Colombus; a Catholic, in undertaking the hazardous enterprise, were dismissed with a mere recital of the facts ; and the Catholic Church which had instigated, promoted and carried out this project to a successful termination, received not one meritorious word* The difficulties encountered by the early settlers, the establish-! mentr of Missions, by the Catholics, and the gradual development of the country were graphically-sketched. The active and substantial aid rendered by Charles- Carroll, of, Cawolton, a Catholic, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and others of the same faith, and Washington's- letter acknowledging the prominent part taken by Catholics during the war of the Revolution, and in the establishment of the United States Government were next dwelt up^n. He paid his respects to ' Harper's Weekly,* that phenomenon of the newspaper world, by saying that no respectable man would take such a paper ; that its offensive caricatures and reckless assertions, particularly one during the war, to the effect that now the Catholic Church would seize the opportunity to stab the Union in the back, were contradicted by the noble position and conduct of Catholic citizens on questions affecting the stability of the Government, and should place that sheot beyond, the pale of recognized journalism. Tho late war has abundantly i testified to the active friendship of the Catholic Church, as proved by assistance supplied in treasure, in blood, for the maintenance and perpetuity of Liberty and Union. The universal dominion of tho Church was illustrated, by instances of Union and llebel soldiers meeting and forgetting the animosities of war and relieving each] other's wants, succoring the wounded and the dying, and the unostentatious work of the Priesthood and Sisters of Charity. The false impression prevailing among Protestants about the worship of images ; the Confessional and tho power of the Priest were spoken of. The silk stocking churches with their cushioned so.-its, purchased pews, and exclusion of all but well dressed people, from--hearing the word of God, were handled without; gloves. Ho pointed with pride and satisfaction to the large number of poor people who were in daily attendance upon, and took part in the Catholic religiou* services. After commenting upon the corruptions existing in-tha country in public places, he<believed that the influence of the Catholic Chuvcli alone could prevent it, because of the strict- accountability to which every good Catholic was hold. The divorce system ; the absance of Chvist in tho pulpit and the substitution of political preaching j th&> spread of debasing doctrines and literature,weroia turn touched *upon;' uiiii t! c lecturer concluded with a, beautiful aud stirring appeaMor the Catholic Ouurch.