THE PROTESTANT In the Chester Chronicle, Friday, Oct. 17th Inst. there is an article ironically, headed, "Roman Catholic Liberality" with the motto, "Ye know not what Spirit ve are of." 349 do not leave me much time, they wish to see me, and for the glory of God I refuse no one, since he has done nothing for me exclusively, but for himself and for his own. FRIENDLY VISITOR! and who is now not far from Piedmont, labouring to excite Christians to assist the poor Vaudois, has lately published a Sermon which he preached last April in Rome, in their behalf, from which, and the above acIt is taken from a small month-count, it is chiefly taken." He ly publication, by the Vicar of has also preached at Nice, for the Tunstall, and intitled "FRIENDLY same purpose, and collected nearVISITOR." The Correspondently £120. The writer solicits restates, that "20,000 of these silent lief for these people, which is to and unobtrusive messengers are be sent to Mr. Way, sent forth every month, to plead the cause of truth." After a short introduction, the article proceeds to occupy more than a column in describing horrible cruelties exercised on the Vaudois in successive ages by the Inquisition, who now form the united Churches of the Waldenses and Albigenses. They dwell chiefly in the vallies of Piedmont, between Italy and France. The writer says, that it is supposed they were converted by St. Paul, and that Beza regard ed them as the primitive Church. M. Lewis Way, stated to be the "well known friend of the Jews, THE CATHOLIC The Père Brydane, in 1751, preached in the Church of St. Sulpice, at Paris. His renown had preceded him; and the Temple was filled with the highest DIGNITARIES of the CHURCH and STATE, decorated with the various No. 10. 1 7 This silent and unobtrusive messenger admonishes his readers "Ye know not of what Spirit ye are of." We believe this to be but too true, of too many of this readers, who but little suspect that they possess a credulous spirit, ever prompt to swallow the grossest falsehoods uttered against Catholicity. "The spirit of the Friendly Visitor," when analysed, will, we apprehend, be found to resemble that Friendly Visitor, who was tremulously apprehensive fest our first parents should escape his fraternal-his eternal embrace. FRIENDLY VISITOR. insignia of their ranks and orders, The venerable man ascended the pulpit, cast a look of indignation and pity on his audience, remained in silence for some moments, and then began his sermon in these words: In the presence of an Y y 350 Extracts of Letters audience of a kind so new to me, to simple and honest bosoms, which I ought rather to have soothed and comforted:-But HERE!-WHERE MY EYES FALL ON THE GREAT, ON THE RICH, on the oppressors of suffering humanity, or on bold and hardened sinners; it is here,— in the midst of these scandals,— that I ought to make the holy word resound in all its thunders, and place on one side of me, death that threatens you, and the great God, who is to judge us all. Tremble before me, YE PROUD, DISDAINFUL MEN, who listen to me!-Tremble! for the abuse of favours of every kind, which God has heaped on you! Think on the certainty of death; the uncertainty of its hour; how terrible it will be to you! Think on final impenitence on the last judgment-on the small number of the elect, and above all, think on eternity! These are the subjects upon which I shall discourse to you, and which, with the feelings I have mentioned, I ought to unfold to you all, in all their terrors.” Extracts of three Letters of the Right Rev. Edward D. Fenwick, Bishop of Cincinatti, United States of North America, to the Rev. Stephen T. Badin, American Missionary, now at Paris, dated Cincinatti 20th May, and Bordeaux, ɛth and 11th August. 1 arrived here on the 5th inst. after a passage of 28 days from New York, and was happy to receive your kind and welcome letter, à l'Archiveché, three days after my arrival. I had left Cincinatti on the 30th May. Having in so many instances of my life experienced the fatherly care and protection of God, the bestower of all good gifts, I confidently hope that the same divine providence will continue through the remainder of my arduous under taking to accompany me. It has from the Bishop of Cincinatti, sun of about 1500 francs, now almost exhausted, I am really sorry, my dear Sir, that you cannot conveniently join and accompany me to Rome; my object in going, is to resign, if allowed, my dignity to better hands, and superior heads; if not allowed, to beg for means of subsistence, and all necessary supplies for the mission; especially funds to build a church in Cincinatti, and to pay for the lot I have purchased. I have already raised for my cathedral, at present, a wooden chapel, 55ft. by 30. I had not then a sous of money, all has been done on credit, and a great portion of the. expences remains still to be paid for. The object of my journey, is also to procure pecuniary means for securing in the vicinity of my episcopal town, the domain of a small tract of land, and a large convenient house, well calculated for a seminary. This place I now hold on a lease of six years, and it is engaged to me for 7000 francs, in case I can raise that sum; moreover, I wish to obtain a Bishop for Detroit, and a coadjutor for myself, and some good divines, in case my resignation be not accepted, &c. I wish you also, my dear Sir, to contribute your mite for relieving my distresses-I mean, and beg that you draw up and have printed, a short, and clear description of my forlorn and helpless condi. tion, of the extent and wants of my diocess, of the number and scattered situation of the poor Catholics, &c. When I came first to the State of Ohio, 9 years ago, I discovered only three Catholic families from Limestone to Whaling! (about 100 leagues) now the Y 351 In state contains no less than 8000 I think we may count two or three hundred converts since I reside in Ohio. Five wooden churches are actually built, and four more building. There are seventy counties in the Ohio alone; its population, according to the last Census, is computed at six hundred thousand souls, of all nations, tribes, and tongues (there have not been 25,000 for the last 25 years) now, Catholics are to be found in every county, and I have met with many Germans and Swiss, whom unfortunately I did not understand, still I have frequently to administer the sacrament to then. I offer to God many prayers for some zealous and disinterested German Priests, yo 352 to an American Missionary, I say disinterested, for all missionaries must entirely depend on divine providence. Although a Bishop, I have no revenue but the rent of 25 or 30 pews in the Cincinat Chapel, which produce, at most, a yearly income of 900 francs! You know a little of my exertions, sacrifices, and labours in Kentucky. That I devoted my whole paternal estate, and all I could collect, scrape up and save. That I really debarred myself of comforts, and even necessaries. That I underwent long and painful jaunts to found and promote the establishment of St. Rose (a Dominican Convent in Washington county,) and behold, I am now deprived of all right and claim on the Order, being taken out of it, Assumptus ex Ordine ad épiscopatum! I was obliged by my rule and vows to render an account of all property, even of books and furniture, that I had been allowed to use. When I took possession of the Diocese, I had to rent a house to live in, and to send to market for the first meal we took in the Episcopal town: no provision whatever having been made for the maintenance of the Bishop. I had not a sous, but what the good people of St. Rose's congregation Kentucky had given nie by subscription; to wit, four or five Hundred dollars in paper money, which was depreciated to one half in the Olio State. I had but six congregations when (18 months ago) I first went to reside in Cincinatti, now there are twenty two at least, that I have visited. The number of baptisins I have administered I cannot ascertain, as I frequently had many at once, sonfetimes 20, and in one instance 28. It is remarkable that I baptized almost as many children of other denominations, as of Catholics, for many parents prefer the baptism of Cattiolic Priests even before that of their own preachers. The people of the Ohio are generally moral, steady, and thoughtful, fond of instruction, and inclined to be religious. Their docility and respectful conduct towards myself, and all the Priests, have always afforded me consolation, pleasure, and almost vanity. It is no small satisfaction that slavery is unknown in that State, and we have but few free negrões. You will conceive how great is the want of missionaries in my extensive diocess, when you learn that I possess only seven priests, and have neither Seminary, Professor, nor Schools. The Rev. M. Ganils, whom I obtained with your brother (Vincent Badin) from Bishop Flaget, and who since your absence had raised e school in your house in Kentucky, might probably be useful in that way, but then I must devise means to support the poor, though hopeful youth, whom I could gather, and should educate gratis, during the course of their classical and clerical studies. The Rev. Messrs. Hill, and Stephen Montgomery, O.S. D., are charged with the western congregations and all scattered Catholics, as far as Vivay in the Indiana, Fort St. Mary, Lake Erie, Chilicothe, &c. The Rev. Mr. Young, my nephew, and two confreres, (i. e. Dominicans), ordained by me, extend their rides and misionary duties on the East, to Marietta, St. Clairsville, New Lisbon, &c. Your brother is at Detroit, with Mr. Richard (a Sulpician), I hope at Paris. he will continue there, although Bishop Flaget allowed him only two years to remain, but I have and shall continue to take suitable measures to keep him as long as he pleases I was at Detroit with those good friends two or three weeks-last year, I went with Mr. Reshaw to St. Francis' parish on the Huron river, where I gave confirmation three times, and was much pleased with the civil and generous citizens of all denominations. I was comforted by the prospect of a numerous and flourishing church in that wild country, where there are also many Indians every way capable of improvement. He The venerable Archbishop of Bordeaux is Vicar-general. with other gentlemen concur in advising me to postpone my quête here till I return from Rome, in the meantime they will do what they can for me. I shall appoint the Rev. Mr. Rigagnon, my Vi 1 353 car-general for the purpose of collecting in these parts, and shall beg of you, my Rev. and Dear Sir, to accept of the same charge for me at Paris, and withersoever you go. I must request the favour of you to have a report made, and inserted in the Ami de la Religion et du Roi; or in any other publication. For feeling anxious to arrive at Rome as soon as possible, in order to know my fate, and see the Holy Father, I cannot at present attend to that business myself. I intend to return from Rome in three months, and shalt pass through Paris, Flanders, (where I was Professor in the Bornheim College,) England, &c. before embarking in the United States. Accept the assurance of my affectionate regard and gratitude. Your cordial friend and most obedient servant, EDWARD D. FENWICK, It is difficult to conceive a case more interesting than the above, or one that better illustrates and enables us to decide where the preference should be bestowed, in selecting among good works, a deed of mercy. The labours of the Missionary, and those of our Lord and his Apostles, are precisely the same. Fleeting and unimportant are every evil in the power of malice to inflict, or patience to endure, compared to the evil of sitting beneath the shade, of darkness, and of death. Those, therefore, who have received a legitimate mission to impart that Light of Heaven to others, which we have the happiness to enjoy, have the first claim to our benevolent sympathy. The pious artisan, whose zeal is roused at the insults offered to his religion by its traducers, but whose scanty means will not allow him to divide the succours he has to bestow, between its advocates and its missionaries, will not hesitate to endure the lesser evil, that he may promote the greatest possible good:-he will spare his breath and his pence from the pursuit of the curs who bay at, but cannot obscure or obstruct Heaven's luminary in its course, to snatch from the fangs of the proselytizer, or the snares guilt spreads for the ignorant poorthe forlorn orphan the destitute child, and his pennyless and Pastor less parents, by contributing with his mile to extend the light of the gospel, and the benefits of redemption, to those of his brethren who sit in the shades of darkness and of death! C. S. |