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VOL. XXIV.
PHILADELPHIA JANUARY,
1896. NO. 404
aRinty'S SOURED
PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY
: 7
MARTIN I.J. GRIFFIN,
711 SANSOM STREET,
‘
PHILADELPHIA,
Devoted to
Church and Country.
TERMS:
40 Centsa Year im advance.
COUNCIL OBLIGATIONS.
A Catholic council of Baltimore made
it of obligation to reserve a place in the
church for the poor of Christ. It also
forbade the taking up the collections at
the front door of the church a practice
which keeps thousands away from divine
service on Sundays.
So The Catholic Times says.
It wouldn’t dare tellof churches in
Philadelphia when these Council obliga-
tions are unheeded, Neither would I.
Council obligations are for publication
not for practice unless they are such as
keep the laity in order.
To Mr. Griffla,
Dear Sir:
In the last issue of your JOURNAL you
ask why I did ont strike at the Union
and. Times of ‘alo.
ou. had waited two days, for an
answer. T’ wo! have sent you one
which would have satisfied even you.
Bat “you
You appended an answer of your ow:
a foregone conclusion—when you added: :
“*Ifhe bad struck his Bishop’s organ,
protest against your implied slander that
most likely our Bishop would turn any
priest into a tramp for no other reason
than the one you allege.
Respectfully You urs,
Rev, (George Zurcher,
When an offended can only call it
“implied” slander it isn’t likely to have
even alittle of ‘‘ implied” in it.
Father Phelan once said a priest’s con-
cern should be to keep in good health
and in the favor of his Bishop.
I think the latter the more important.
Ifhbe loses that he will surely lose the
other. A priest who told that his work
against sum got him work at mortar
mixing may well have been thought to
have learned to be very discreet. So
when he struck at Rum = advertising
papera he was reported as passing by the
one his Bishop holds the most stock in
and whichis his “organ” and to have hit
Rochester whose Bishop had condemn-
ed hisown Bishop’s organ as unfit for
Catholic homes. It is always dis-
oreet to go from home for examples to
be criticised. That the JouRNAL waited
until within two days to know why Fr.
Zurcher hadn’t hit his own Bishop’s
Paper shows bow near the right time we
get when we don’t strike the bull’s eye.
The good Father now has a better place
than when he bad to mix mortar. I be-
lieve he wouldn’t if he struck his
Bishop’s organ.
Bishop’s are human and I would like
an example of one ever promoting a
Priest who made a reflection upon any-
thing a Bishop had to do with. No one
expect them to do so and they don’t do
it. Priests know that right well and if
@ Bishop says it is likely to rain a priest
isn’t going to say out loud there are no
Signs of that.
So will Fr. Zurcher tell if it is true he
did not castigate his own Bishop’s
“organ? asa Rum advertiser. Why
didn’t he?
“FEELING Good.”
— Father Mathew Herald.
did not care for an answer. ,
LETTER OF JUDGE HORSMANDEN TO
CHRISTOPHER COLDEN.
From on board Admiral Winne near the mouth of the Highlands. :
August the 7th 174].
Dear Sir :— :
After a long cessation of correspondence, I take the liberty of resiming
the pen, partly with design of apologizing and also not without view of pro-
yoking you to renew the combat which may be engaged in with honor,
without loss of blood. Ever since the fire at the Fort, which wasou the
18th March, I’ye been engaged in perpetual hurry, insomuch that I’ve been
forced to dedicate part of my resting time to the public service in prosecut-
ing an enquiry into the rise and occasion of our late disorders in the city of
New York ;but Ithink the labor bestowed has not been in v: in 3 for.
though the mysteries of iniquity have been untolding themselves: by very
small and slow degrees, it has at length been discovered that Popery was at
the bottom, and the old proverb has herein also been vertified that there is
scarce a plot but a priest is at the. bottom of it. was the like pert priest
Eury said upon his defence at his trial (thougn sarcastically) ‘* according to
the vogue of the world, when thereisa plot, the fi.st and last link are
especially fastened to the priest’s girdle,’’ but he must excuse us in his case,
if the last link be fastened to his neck: for he is convicted as one of the
principal conspirators, and is condemned to be hanged on next Saturday
Se’n night.
Ile appears to have been a principal promoter and encourager of this
most horrible and detestable piece of villainy, a scheme which must have
been brooded ina conclave of devils, and hatched in the Cabinet of Hell;
so bloody and destructive a conspiracy was this, that had not the merciful
hand of Providence interposed and confounded their devices, in the one
and the same night, the inhabitants would have been butchered in their
houses fy their own slaves and the City laid in ashes: ‘and this, ‘was to be
under ligat f an to the con-
spirators (most negroes and some soldiers and other whites, more’s the shame) _
by John Hughson, now in chains, and this Eury the priest, by whose craft
they were perverted, and in expectation of a (fool’s) paradise, baptised into
the most holy Roman Catholic faith, and under color of absolution and
pardon of sins, past, present, and to vome: and while they were going to
sacrifice to the devils, were made to believe by destroying of heretics, they
would do God good service.
Santum religio potuit suadere malorum !
And though we have been so successfulin prying into this scene of
darkness and horror as to bring to light near 60 negroes and I think about
a dozen whites engaged to be actors in this black tragedy ; of the former 30
odd have been executed and this priest makes the 4th white. And though
the town were well pleased with the first fruits of our labors and inflicting
“the deserved punishment on the offenders it comes bometo their own
houses aud is like to affect their own properties in negroes and cousinship
jn others, then they are alarmed and they cry out, the witnesses must needs
be perjured, and so we come under a necessity of making a sort of stand
for the present, and it is almost incredible to say that great pains has been
taken by some among us to bring a discredit upon Mary Burton the origi-
nal witness, whom Providence, one would think had designed for the happy
instrument of all this discovery and whose testimony has been confirmed by
several negroes in flames, who obstinately denied their guilt ’till they came
to the stake to be burnt. So soon have her services been forgotten! And
a stop affected to be put to her doing any further!
‘As to the characters of other witnesses who have been accomplices in
this wickedness designed against us, what can be expected to be said for
them ? They are such as the wisdom of the law allows to be legal and good
evidences and that from the necessity of the thing. For how can a dis-
covery of such works of darkness be expected but froni some of the con-
federates themselves ? And if the witnesses are kept apart, and examined
apart as'most of them have been in most instances upon most, if not all the
trials, their respective testimonies tally and agree, what better evidence
can be desired, or expected ? .
And though Mary Burton has from the beginning been an unwilling
witness through the terror of having her life threatened both by blacks and
whites, and though she has declared from the beginning, that should she
tell all, she knew people would not believe her; aud though she has been
prevailed upon after being threatened to be imprisoned upon her standing
mute and obstinately refusing to name any names, though she confessed
she knew more, yet, when she did name them, we could not but be shock-
ed, the persons mentioned, being beyond suspicion; and the consequence
followed that great clamor bas thence been raised against her, and now by
some, she must be esteemed a person of no credit. 1 do think her case is
attended witb singular hardsbips and at the same time, the things she says
cannot but stagger one’s belief in some measure ; but I must observe this
isnot the first time, her examinations have had that effect upon me, but
several times from my first taking her in Land; yet till now, every thing
that has come from her, has in the event been confirmed ; but here must bea
suspension of credit for a while, and time, only, can clear the matter up,
Imustown Iam gladIhave got an opportunity of little relaxation
from this intricate pursuit, though at the same time from the length of my
letter you may take occasion to imagine I’m not quite tired of it ; but if my
design of this imperfect narrative, by way of amusement may bethought to
answer that intention, it will at the same time in some measure apologize
for former defects and also vindicate my sincerity.
And now it is almost time to release you; but afew more words and I
have done.
Peter Winne desires me to inform you, tbat as to the land at Anthony’s
Nose he forgot to carty down the Indian deed with him for want whereof,
he could not get the certificate which he was to send to you, but he’ll send
the deed down by return of the vessel, in hopes that you will soou be at
York, and that the Governor may see it, and the business be forwarded.
And as to Sackendagat affair the Governor said, that could not be pro-
ceeded in till he was informed of all the names in the petition, which he
was not able to do by memory.
I am dear Sir &.,
My humble service to Mrs, Colden and all the family.
Lhear you are returning soon upon the business of the commission to
Conrecticut, sv I’m afraid, I shall not have the pleasure of seeing you till
after your return, being going to Albany vpon a commission of goal deliv-
ery. I hope to be down in less than three weeks,
A new Governor I presumé is no news to you. «
Me [ From Shea Collection, Riggs Library, Georgetown College.]
‘The above letter relates to the so-called Negro Plot “for burning the city of New York
the inhabivai “Bury the priest’ was nota Roman Catholic as was
8 and tales accept asa fact. He wasa pon-juring
minister of the Church of Eagland: | Betwoen May ilth and August 29th, 1741, 14 negroes
re burn stake, 18 were hanged aud 17 transported and 4 whites were executed
fore senate Ina a plot whieh ‘probably had no real existe
Mion Ya rds published ©" Journal of the Proceedings.”
‘bbe Ms. ou sale in New York. Price $550,. a reprint of 1810, eau be had for $10. |
\
HISTORICAL RESEARCH.
‘We desire nothing,”
about a reformation which is due to the honor of the Church and which
says his Holiness, Leo XIII, ‘save to bring
favors the progress of true science. We know how ardent in historical
research are the men of our time, and how eagerly they strive to reach
the hidden causes of events. Nor are we ignorant that the enemies of
‘religion ‘have ‘ abused these tendencies to obscure the light of _history,
giving credence to ventions the most false, calumniating the innocent,
and casting hatred and obloquy on men worthy the admiration of all
posterity.
«¢ Now, utterly to destroy such falsities, nothing is more proper,
nothing more efficacious, than to bring them face to face with the truth
itself as revealed in the irrefragable testimony of texts and documents,
And asthe Vactican is, in this respect, admirably provided, we have
judged that if we wished to have knowledge and strength to discover
the truth to all, to defend Catholic institutions and combat error, it was
necessary to avail ourselves of resources of every kind.’
REV. JOHN THAYER “ TO ARRIVE AT BOSTON IN THE.
CHARACTER OF A POPISH BISHOP,”
THE ANNEXED AQTICLE I3 TAKEN FROM THE FREEMAN'S JOURNAL
OF PHILADELPHIA, SEPTEMBER 24TH 1788.
Portsmouth, September 4th 1788,
We are informed on good authority, that Mr. John Thayer a Protest-
ent Minister of the Puritan sect, in Boston, but who publicly embraced
thr Roman Catholic Religion at Rome, onthe 25th day of May 1783, is
shortly expected to arrive at Boston, in the character of a Popish Bishop,
He has been offered a handsome living as Minister toa chapel in France,
but he declined it, prefering (as he says) poverty, and visiting his relations
and countrymen, hoping to convince them, ‘that as there is but one faith,
and one baptism, so there is but one church,’ which has been preserved
from the days of Jesus Christ; and that we ought to obey her, under pain
of being regarded as heathen, and risking our salvation, by being separated
from Christ and the Church he has promised to be with unto the end of the
world. He is become very near the Pope, and all the ecclesiastics of the see
of Rome, He has visited Madam Louisa, (Aunt of the present King of
France, who was the darling daughter of Louis XV, but has now become a
nun of the order of the Carmelites,) and will return to his country, with all
the prayers and benedictions of the charch of Rome,
The history of America never produced an instance of the kind before
—his reception will no doubt be becoming a country to elevating and pro-
tecting all religions, Heexults muchin the surprising revolution in
America, and predicts that it will be followed by a much happierrevolution
_ in the order of grace.
However the Rev. Mr. Thayer may flatter himself with success in prose-
lyting his American bretbern to what he calls the true faith, we may ven-
ture to predict that the number of his converts here, will notin any
measure compare for the very great trouble he has taken to qualify himself
for so important a mission! The very simple methods which induced him
to apostasize from the religion of his country, will prove but feeble, very
feeble arguments to induce his brethern to follow his example,