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Make Home Beautiful.
M your home beautiful—bring to it {lowers;
] iant them around you buil and to bloom;
Let them give life to your loneliest- hours —
Let them bring life to enliven your gloom,
yfalu: your own world—one that never has sorrowed
Os music, and sunshine, and gold summer air;
A home-world, whose forehead care never has fur
rowed,
And whose cb<‘<;k of bright beauty will ever be fair.
1.0; v „jr home b autiful- weave round its portal
Wreath.-- of the jasmine rani delicate sprays
Os red fruited woodbine, with gay immortelle.
Tin t bl< sses an 1 brightens wherever it strays,
-tier the blossoms, too—one little flower,
Varied verbena, or sweet mignonette,
vii’l >my bring bloom to your d< solate bower.
-till may be something to love and to pet.
Mk' vnur he ;<• autifUl—gather the roses
T’aat hoard up the sunshine with exquisite art;
Perch’nice they may pour, as your darkness dose:-.,
That s-est summer sunshine down into your lu-art!
TANARUS; .on can do so, O make it an I.den
Os beauty and gladness! remember ’tis wise;
Xv. j.l teach yon t long for that home you are needing,
'Phat heaven of be mty beyond the blue skies.
'.Tain- vout home beautiful -sure 'tis a duty;
Call up your little ones—teach them to walk
Hand in hand with the wandering angel of beauty:
icon rage their spirits with Nature to talk;
(Cither them round you, and let them be learning
be.-wons that drop from the delicate wings
Os tiic bird and the butterfly—ever returning
T , Him who has made ail these beautiful things.
a; ;k< home a hive, where all beautiful feelings
i luster like bees, ami their lxoney-dew bring;
MV. -it a temple of holy revealings,
And Love its bright angel with “shadowing wing. !
: e s all it be, when afar on Life’s billows,
,Vi in ver your tempest-tossed children are flung,
c will long for the shade of the home-weeping
willow,
Ami sing the sweet song which their mother had sung.
[For the Banner of the South,]
MEMORY.
As the sighing breeze o’er the parched
;ands of the desert, is memory to the
heart Faces long gone to the far away
laud, touched by memory’s wand, beam
in living beauty, and bring back once
again, the happy hours when those eyes
beamed happiness and love; when those
lips never opened but to chant the music
of the soul; and we hear once again those
fairy footsteps failing on the ear
gently,dike autumn leaves. The heart
that cherishes not memory is dead to all
that ennobles man ; nothing touches it;
but, closed to all grander emotions, its
portals open to admit thoughts that bring
not one kindly feeling.
Memory is the picture gallery of the
soul. Here, where the sunbeams arc
brightest, hang the pictures of childhood.
The mother’s gentle face, the loving
father’s form, the clustering happy group
of brothers and sisters, all, all arc there.
In a darker corner you see that gentle
mother’s face again, but, oh ! how changed.
Sits the angel of death on that brow, and
weeping friends are clustered around.
And is that scene—though darker —less
dear ? Ah, no ! it sheds a soft and gentle
radiance o’er the soul, and i.n the ear is
ringing the sad and sweet last good-bye
uttered by that voice that never spoke
but to caress. There hangs, in the mellow
light, the first love. What tender thoughts
hover about that image 1 Down,
and >wn, through the deep vista of the down
years, that face beams pre-eminent. Those
eyes still charm, and that little hand is
still felt, stealing softly, gently, into ours.
As we advance farther up the hall, as
year is added to year, it is true, the pic
tures often darken. But still a ray of
light darts in here and there. The man
of business, with brow corrugated with
care, is seen meeting at eve the cherub
forms before whose gleeful welcome
frowns are as nought, and smiles break
over the sternest face. No! no! Give me
memory, sweet spirit, dear comforter ; and
though oft she presents stern scenes to the
heart’s view, she has ever others which
iiood the soul with light. If the memory
of one day is sorrow, it is blotted out by
the happiness of the next. It one hour is
remembered with agony, the memory of
another chases it away with joyous
smiles.
Then, let Memory’s shrine be ever
bright. Let no profane lips sneer at her
name, but whisper it ever tenderly, and
when old age comes upon us apace, our
chief solace will be to seek some sunny
corner with Memory as a companion!
and with her aid fly back o’er the gone
years, till we are young again, and life’s
pathway seems once more strewn with
flowers. J.
From “Dor Katkolik.”
1367—’68.
NUMBER FOUR.
In conclusion, we will now give the
resolutions passed by the Catholic As
sembly held at Mayence on the 2lst of
November. These resolutions may be
considered as a lasting document of the
feelings and the wishes of the German
Cad;olio people in regard to the so-called
Homan question :
“1. Divine Providence has constituted
the successor of St . Pet l r the sovereign
of the Homan States, in order that he
might reguiate, with perfect independ
ence, the religious affairs of all Christian
nations, wi -.aunt being subject to any
political powmr, or guided by any national
interest. r lhis light of sovereignty,
granted as it was by God, and consecrated
as it has been by the history of the past
one thousand years and over, can neither
be surrendered by the Church, nor taken
from it rightfully by diplomatic agree
ments or revolutionary plebisciha of the
masses. Hence the unwarranted arid
chimerical demand that Rome shall be
made the capital of Italy, can in no wise
be granted, inasmuch as any such action
would be in direct opposition to the rights
and interests of all Christendom.
“2. The assertion that the Pope, as
Priest, cannot be also at the same time
the head of a political Government, and
take a proper care of the temporal inter
ests of his subjects, is a falsehood which
Las evidently been proven as such by the
history of a thousand years. Therefore,
the support and total re-establishment of
the political authority of the Pope, in all
its bearings, is the only means by which
Italy may be guarded against that cor
ruption with which secret societies, on the
one hand, and the policy of King Victor
Emmanuel on the other, are now threat
ening it. To have the Pope throning in
its principal city, is, to-day, as it has been
during the whole Christian past, the
highest honor, the true greatness, and the
real blessing of Italy.
“3. It is the duty of princes, and, in
fact, of every sovereign power, to protect
the independence of the spiritual head of
their Catholic subjects, and Catholics of
all nations have the right to demand a
compliance with this duty of their rulers.
A Government which aids or abets a
violation of the rights of the Holy See,
becomes by that very act a participant in
the Italian revolution. Moreover, it is an
undermining of the first principles of
common law and justice, if the Govern
ment of Victor Emmanuel is permitted to
continue in aiding and abetting such un
dertakings as art' directed against the
security of the States of the Church.
“4. The free, unanimous and indefatiga
ble devotion of all Catholics, must en
deavor to secure to the Holy Father, by
private contributions, the necessary
means for the government of the Church,
at least so lon£ as vile deceit and brute
force deprive the Church of those posses
sions which were granted her in centuries
past for the commonweal of Christendom.
To effect this purpose a universal organi
zation is necessary. Hence the introduc
tion, without delay, of the already, in
many places, quite flourishing Confrater
nity of St. Michael, is most earnestly
recommended to the various Dioceses.
“5. In view of the present dangers, it is an
imperative duty, binding upon all parts of
the Catholic world alike, to keep up and
support that army which is necessary to
protect, not only the person of the Holy
Father, but also those of his still remain
ing subjects. It is an honor for any and
every nation to be represented in this
army—as for Germans, their lives could
not be devoted to a nobler or holier
cause. 57
Thus far the resolutions of the Catholic
Convention at Mayence. Other Con
ventions, in other places, and at other
times, all over the fertile plains of Ger
many, France, and Switzerland, have
i spoken in a similar manner, each vicing
with each to put on record the fact of
! their intense and unwavering devotion to
him whom the world, by common consent’
7 •/
calls Papa, Pope, Father. And now they
are going to prove their words—they
are going to act as never before. From
East and West, from North and South,
men and means are pouring in upon the
Holy Father to aid him in his difficult
struggle, while those who send these
offerings never cease to lift up their hands
in prayer to the Father of mercies for
him who wears with such inimitable dig
nity and meekness the triple crown of
Pontiff, Priest, and King. Can such
devotion of high and low, rich and poor,
young and old, go unrewarded ? No,
indeed ! Surely, God from on high is
looking down with complacency upon
these endeavors of His children, and He
shall certainly bless, with a yet unheard
of success, their strenuous efforts to estab
lish and maintain firmly and forever, so
far as in them lies. His everlasting' king
dom of truth, justice and right all over
the face ot the earth.
[For the Banner of the South.]
THE CHURCH IN AMERICA.
BY ESPERANZA
[CONCLUDED.]
Nor are we behind-hand in regard to
our institutions—whether literary, reli
gious, or charitable. Already, no less
than thirty ecclesiastical seminaries, sixty
two incorporated universities and colleges,
about two hundred and thirty-seven female
academies, 134 orphan asylums, sixty
hospitals, and a countless number of pa
rochial schools, bless our land. And such
is the renown already gained by some of
our educational and literary institutions,
that you may frequently behold scholars
flocking to them, not only from adjacent
counties and States, as for instance, from
Cuba or Mexico, but even the trans
equatorial Empires and Republics of South
America vie with each other in being
largely represented thereat by some of
their most promising sons and daughters.
Besides all this, who will undertake to
enumerate the children who receive their
instruction gratuitously from the various
religious orders, all of which exert them
selves to the very utmost to imbue the
youthful hearts of our American children
with everything that may be useful to ad
vance their temporal or spiritual welfare ?
And last—but not least of all —the people
themselves ! How lively is their faith ;
flow exemplary their adherence and sub
mission to our holy mother, the Church
—and that, too, in a country where inde
pendence of all supernatural restraint is
so often preached as the only true destin)
of man ! Again : how active is their
charity! Where is there another country
which could boast that its inhabitants
contribute such extensive means for the
erection of churches, the instruction of
youth, the maintenance of the orphan,
and the care of the sick, as do our people '(
And this, too, all of their own accord, im
pulsed only by the gentle and persua
sive force of religion. Where is another
people, whose youth of both sexes,
after a most careful preparation, are
so frequently and edifyingly approach
ing the sacraments of Penance and
the Holy Eucharist ? "Where, among
all classes, high and low, rich and
poor, literate and illiterate, do we
find a greater attachment of the people
to their Pastors, ora greater desire to aid
them in spreading a knowledge of the
Church of God? Besides this, #what
faith and charity, what vigor and activity,
do not all those spiritual Betreats and
holy Missions indicate, whose number
everywhere is so largely on the increase,
and whose object and tendency is calculated
not only to augment the zeal of the Pas
tors, but also, and principally, to renew
in a wonderful manner, the piety of the
faithful. Are not our papers, week after
week, full of glowing accounts of the
good that is constantly being done in this
manner ? Nor are these accounts mere
“puffs of the press," or “tricks of the
trade,” as some might suppose. On the
contrary, they are facts, known to thou
sands, and easily verified on the spot, il
necessary.
At the same time, ol course, it is true,
< that we have, as yet, quite a large number
|of Catholics in this country who seem to
possess no energy of faith, and give no
| external signs of spiritual life; but this
| apparently stagnant mass dwindles into
'■ utter insignificance before the vast num
bers of those who are really and thorough
ly practical, while each succeeding day
bears glad witness to the penitent return
of one or more of their stray sheep, also,
to the one fold of their Master. Hence,
we may confidently hope and predict that
their entire number will again eventually
return and help to swell the onward tide
of our ii resistible progress. Let not this
seeming drawback, then, discourage us in
our endeavors ! We are not instructed
to lo:k for any complete earthly victory
over heresy, schism, or indifference ; nor
should we excite ourselves with undue
expectations of impossible or unwarranta
ble achievements, It must needs be that
scandal will come, and oppositions bitter
and trying will exist co-equal with the
world ; for the life of the Church, like
that of her founder and prototype, is des
tined to be a warfare upon earth to the
very end. In fact, it is far better that
it should be thus, at least for The present
Loot: back over the past ages of the
C i lurch! When did it attract greater
attention, spread more rapidly, or flourish
more wonderfully than in the very midst
ol some dreadful persecution i W hen were
its members more fervent, or its converts
more numerous, than in the dark and
bloody days of Nero and Diocletian ? In
stead of deploring, we ought to thank
God, then, for the obstacles that we meet.
They arc a special work of God’s favor.
Indeed, they arc the very means which
God is evidently employing, as id the
days of old, to do still greater works, to
insure still more wonderful progress, and
to bring thousands of onr countrymen
and countrywomen into the fold of His
only-begotten Son. All that we must do
is wait and work; work patiently, work
pcrsevcrmgly. We must show the world
not only who, but also what, we are. We
must come out in our full strength, exert
every muscle, avail ourselves of every
means to remove the still lingering pre
judices concerning our numbers, our in
fluence, our standing in life, our faitly
and our practices. Hitherto, either from
ignorance, or malice, many have looked
upon and represented us in the light of a
beggarly, ignorant, and superstitious class,
while our holy Church has been consid-
ered and denounced as a drawback in
the department of science, a check on the
flights of genius, a stumbling block to
the onward march of intellect, an enemy
to liberty, and a hotbed of political and
religious despotism. God knows how far
this caricature is from awarding with the
the truth ; but we must convince thenon-
Calholic American mind of the fact that
our Church and faith is not and cannot be
liable to such imputations. What we
want, therefore, is the means of showing
forth and recording the actual progress of
the Church upon that incredulous mind.
What we need is, to herald, from time to
time, the learned and eminent men and
women, artists, inventors, statesmen, ju
rists, scholars of every description, who
have lived and died in communion with
the Church during the past, or who are
still practical and edifying members of it
at the present. What wo require is, to
publish and circulate the statistics of
Catholicism in this country, and thereby
show, in incontrovertible figures, that not
only in numbers, but also in wealth and
influence, we have already grown to be
the Church of America. What we must
do is to convince outsiders that the Church
not only has been from her very begin,
liing, but is still the chief patron, pro
tector, and friend or learning, art, and
liberty, iu every land under the sun, but
nowhere more than iu our own America,
where she is left, untrammelled by secular
influence, to grow and expand as she
| chooses.
Now, it is evident that this can be
! effected only in one way, and by one
| means, and that means is the press—we
! have not Priests enough to canvass the
| country, nor can we get them. Besides,
! even if we had, they could not obtain ad
: mittance into every household. Books
and papers, on the contrary, w il be read
everywhere, for our people are eminently
a reading people, and never decline being
instructed in that quiet andj unobtrusive
way. Os this fact, the Catholics of this
country are well aware: and hence, it lias
always been an object of especial solicitude
< ll! v< ‘’:eryb](» and illustrious Bishops,
uudothm leading men of the community,
to encourage such as ventured on a lite
rary career by everv means Tin their
p wei. Nay, many of these men, al
though kept busy from morning to night
with official duties, have, nevertheless,
spent a portion of their time in writing
books of a character tW does honor to
the men by whom and the country in
which they wore written. Hence it
comes, that Catholicity in this country,
though comparatively of recent date, has
already it" native literature and its organs,
whose power is felt throughout the laud
felt so much, that outside
writers and speakers are day by day
growing more timorous'of breaking a
lance with our noble and fdaring defend
ers. We have, indeed, already men in
Toe editorial and author’s chair whose
power is universally acknowledged. Dr.
Brown son, a philosopher of extraordinary
ability, has fur years past, in his Quarterly
Review, handled every question of pre
sent interest with skillful learning and
the depth of genius; Archbishops Ken
liex, Hughes, and Spalding; Bishops
England, McGill, O’Connor, and Lynch,
amid 1 Heir laborious duties, have victori
ously defended the Catholic cause, and
given to Catholic doctrines and practices
that lucid and forcible explanation, which
leaves the maligner no ground for a pre
text of ignorance ; while the Rev. Drs.
White, Pise, Heckcr, Purcell, and Sestini,
in various periodicals, and the talented con
verts McMaster, Huntington, Major, Bur
net, Chandler, and others, in the editorial
chair, have each given us, or conducted
for the time being, fearless and able
organs of the Church, and contributed great
ly to the dissemination of Catholic truths
and Catholic principles. Indeed, a culmi
nating point seems to have already arrived.
For science, to-day, except with the shal
low and superficial, is universally re
cognized as the handmaid of the Church
of Rome ; in politics, especially since the
late war, Catholicism is acknowledged
on all hands as eminently conservative;
and, on the score of national prosperity,
no one who has an eye to see and a mind
to judge, can say that she is opposed to
laudable and legitimate advancement.
What then, we may ask, what is the
prospect of the Catholic Church in Ameri
ca ? Will she prove herself equal to the
task of evangelizing and converting the
land, or will she gradually wither and
die away like some exotic plant that finds
the soil and climate unfavorable to its
growth ? What do the signs of the times
indicate? What, judging from the past,
are we permitted to conclude for the future?
What do the statistics of the land say in
response ? From one and all sides we
hear this encouraging answer : the num
ber of Catholics, even without foreign
accessions, will continue to increase in
the future as they have done in the past;
their number will almost double itself
every twenty-five years; month after
month more numerous and more perfect
institutions for the young will be founded;
our extensive missions will incessantly he
enlarged and better supplied with men
and means; our magnificent cathedrals,
and our more humble churches, will he
almost daily multiplied, while the number
of our pious, learned, and zealous Priests,
will receive regular and strong reinforce
ments of young, active and energetic men,
whose zeal will be co-ex tensive with these
superior advantages and the benefits of a
still more and more thorough system of
religious instruction and training in every
town, village, and hamlet, of the land.
With the presence of more Priests looking
after the spiritual interests of the people
and numerous bands of devoted Sisters
and Brothers educating our youth, the
prospect is that the coming generation
will even far excel the present in a j er
fect knowledge of their holy faith, and in
the devout practices which that holy faith
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