NOTICES OF THE PAPAL CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES. The following article has been prepared for this work, by a gentleman of distinguished learning.* The principal source of information was “Annales de l'association de la Propagation de la Foi"-being a periodical continuation of the "Lettres Edifiantes," A Lyon et a Paris, 1829. Eds. The subject announced at the head of this article is one of great and increasing importance. Contemplated either in a civil or religious view, this is unquestiona bly the case; but it is more especially under the latter that it commends itself to the readers of this publication. We shall endeavour, in pursuing it, to bear in mind not only the imperious duty of the historian, to exhibit truth, but also that of the patriot and christian, to ascertain and feel its connexion and relations. for At the outset, however, it is to be distinctly and gratefully acknowledged, that, as in our own State government, every denomination of Christians, demeaning themselves peaceably, and as good subjects of the Commonwealth, shall be equally under the protection of the law; and no subordination of any one sect or denomination to another shall ever be established by law:** so likewise in the Constitution of the United States it is provided, that ' Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.'t Whatever remarks, therefore, be made in reference to that branch of the Church of Rome which exists in these States, it is to be considered that they have an equal right with our But in this paper it is not intended to enter at large into the long protracted and voluminous controversy with the CHURCH OF ROME. Such we style her, and are backward to admit her title to the usurped but ordinary appellation of 'Catholic.' This controversy has occasionally occupied, more than three hundred years, some of the most serious minds and able pens of christendom; and indeed from an earlier age there have not been wanting individuals who have successively borne testimony against the assumptions, spiritual and temporal, of the Roman Court, or Church-selves to their own views, and opinions, terms, in this case, commutable-her growing superstitions, preposterous claims, and absurd pretensions. and forms of worship, while they infringe not on the rights of others. And, as a consequence, they have an equal right with ourselves to publish their own opinions, and send out their missionaries to promulgate them through the Union, and multiply their converts-it being only the force of truth and sound argument, and the influence of a holy and useful life, which can Yet, while we waive, for the present, a professed entrance on this controversy, it is not because we are under no apprehension of evil, nor because we do not feel that it is matter of surprise that the evil should be extending its influence so widely in our country. For we cannot forget the appre-justly be allowed to sway the public sentihensions of our puritan ancestors, and their conscientious opposition; nor the sufferings of many who preceded them. And it is equally impossible to forget the invaluable privilege of possessing God's Word, translated and accessible in our own language with the liberty of reading, expounding and practising its requirements, with *Implicit reliance may be placed on its statements. ment, and establish the prosperity of any denomination: every tendency to the union of the Church and State, in establishments professedly religious, militating as much with our feelings, as with the spirit of our free constitutions of government. Nor are the Romanists to be regarded as interlopers in the United States. One * Constitution of Mass. Art. III. of the members of this Confederacy was indeed originally constituted, in great degree, by individuals of that faith. Mary- | land, settled by lord Baltimore, was intended by him as a place of refuge for such, and for their enjoyment of religious liberty. However strange, therefore, it may seem to us, that our ears are saluted with reports of the extension of the Romish Church in this Protestant country-we must be prepared to contemplate the fact. And why, some are ready to say, is this increase to be deprecated? Are we to charge on the modern professors of that faith the derelictions of their ancestors? Shall we hold the present Church of Rome responsible for the cruelties exercised against the Albigenses, six hundred years ago–and for the fires of Smithfield, the dragonnades of the Cevennois, the massacres of St. Bartholomew, and of 1641 ? Do we not find in that communion men of humanity, of elegant literature, engaging manners, sound science, and fervent piety? These questions would have weight, did we recognise in the acts of the Court of Rome any compunction for her past violences; did she express her abhorrence of the principle,' that no faith is to be kept with heretics,' and abjure the dogmas of Jesuitic morality. But until this is done, she must be held responsible to the world -as indeed she will be to God, when He maketh inquisition for blood. The refinement of modern manners, the withholding of objectionable articles of faith, in soothing conversations maintained with inquirers, the specious glosses put on expressions startling to the lover of Scriptural simplicity-all these might seem to say, Rome has changed, and is far different from that power which Luther and Zuingle, Melancthon, Calvin and Bucer, and the host of Reformers combated. But the high tone of her present publications claims* an unchanged and unchangeable character for her faith and her practice. It is not therefore to be wondered at, that this whole subject is awakening investigation. Indeed the wonder is, rather, that curiosity has slept so long-and that watch | men themselves have slumbered. Specially is it to be regretted, that that important part of our territory, concerning which we are accustomed to hear that it will speedily, by its abundant population, give law to our Union, has been left open so long to the enterprises of Rome; and has obtained from the elder portions of our population so scanty means of resistance to a persevering and specious hierarchy. How important it is in the sight of Romanists this paper will soon evince. Had it been in our eyes as important at the commencement of this century, and had those means been in operation, which our tardy zeal is now employing, how different the result from that we have reason to apprehend! We have before us the numbers of a French periodical publication for the year just closed, containing several deeply interesting statements. It is intitled Annals of the Association for the propagation of the Faith.' At what precise period the Association was formed, or what station it holds in the Romish Church, whether it has succeeded the 'College de propaganda Fide,' or is a new Body altogether, we are not informed. These numbers are from xv to xvIII inclusively, and we propose to gather from them a few of the facts and representations which bear on the subject of this paper. But, as the subject, in all probability, is comparatively new to very many of our readers, it will be necessary to take previously a eursory view of what had been done antecedently to this period, in reference to the Romish Church in the United States. For this we are indebted to a publication in 1822 at New York, exhibiting its condition at that time. From this we learn that a Jesuit priest accompanied the emigrants to Maryland, in 1632, and from that date till the period of the revolution the American Catholics in Maryland and Virginia were constantly served by Jesuit missionaries, successively sent from England.t The Rev. Dr. John Carroll having been elected the first Bishop, by the clergy, The Laity's Directory to the church Service,' revised and corrected by Rev. Mr. Power, a distin*See The Jesuit,' a periodical published in Bos-guished Romanist. ton, passim. ‡ Id. p. 73. |