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Southland’s history; but possess them
selves in patience, and be true to their
Principles in the future as they have
been in the past; and thus appealing to
them we commend to them and to all our
people the following noble words of one
of South Carolina’s most gifted and patri
otic son3 whose ashes now mingle with
the soil of his native State, but whose
memory will live evergreen in the hearts
of his countrymen and of all who admire
genius and patriotism, and whose words
will go down to posterity as a grand
heritage from the Present to the Future.
“accepting the situation.”
A short time previous to his death, Dr.
Simms wrote the following letter, which
wc ilnd in the XIX Century:
13 Society Street.
Dear Sir; —ln accepting the situation
we accepted defeat , simply, and, laying
down our arms, were at the mercy of our
conquerors. \\ e had no appeal to make
to their mercy or magnanimity. But, in
accepting defeat, we did not necessarily
accept dishonor as one of its conditions,
and could not be required to do anything
which should declare to the conqueror
that our condition was grateful to U3. It
is only among the mercenaries of our
miserable country that we lind any
wretches slavish enough for this. They
were eager to hug the knees of the despot,
that thrift should follow fawning.—
But the subject is very distasteful to me.
and I remain silent because speech is
inadequate, not only for any useful re
sult, but to declare the damnable horrors
of our situation. Language utterly fails
to deliver what we know of the wretches
who rule us, and the means they use.—
But lor this I should have long since
taken the held, making the pen do some
thing of the work of the sword, if this
were possible in my hands. I did, at
different periods, seek utterance through
the press; but, as in your case, was denied
admission. In respect to this Press Con
vention, it seems to me a most presump
tuous proceeding, on the part of a gang
of inexperienced editors, to call a conven
tion, confined wholly to their own
guild, which was yet to prescribe the
proper policy of the country to the fa
miliar and well known statesmen of the
land. But, as respects presumption and
impudence, lying and theft, nothing, now
adays, provokes my astonishment. It
remains to us, my dear sir, to maintain
our social moral; to yield nothing; but
resolutely and calmly as possible, to.
await the proceedings of our conquerors.
They have really lost the game, in their
lack of magnanimity and nothing can
save them but our unwise and precipi
tate concession to their claims of these
rights which, coerced as they may be by the
sword, are still inherent, still sacred, still
capable to save us, if we do not fling
them away in our eager haste after the
flesh pots, which are really the great at
traction in the nostrils of the mercenary
publican. Let us hold ourselves aloof;
touch not, handle not, taste not any
thing in common with our invaders; keep
up communion among ourselves, as well
as we can, in all the ancient circles;
meet and commune with the view to
proper attention, and do not overlook the
lact that it is by this process only that
we can establish any useful organiza
tion, upon which, hereafter, we shall be
prepared for whatever happens. The
solution of the whole problem lies reallv
in a castastrophe, more or less remote’,
which is yet inevitable.
Very much your obliged and obe
dient servant,
W. Gilmore Simms.
[From tbe N. 1. Herald.]
ST- PAUL’S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
RETURN OF FATHER HE*KER FROM ROME —
PROGRESS OF TIIE ECUMENICAL COUNCIL
DISCOURSE urox THE PRESENT STATE
CF AFFAIRS IN THE HOLY CITY—IMPRES
SIVE CEREMONIES.
The return of Father Hecker frora
Home, and die announcement that he
would deliver a discourse upon the con
dition of affairs in that city, attracted to
St. Paul’s yesterday a vast congregation.
Moreover, the solemn festival of the Forty
Hours Adoration was being brought to
a close, so that everything considered
the occasion was one of considerable in
terest to the Faithful, and long before the
proceedings commenced the spacious
though unpretending temple, which is
situated on Fifty-ninth street and Ninth
Avenue, was crowded to the doors. Hot
ter, it possible, than any day that pre
ceded it, the oppressiveness of the weath
er yesterday doubtless deterred many
from venturing out of door; yet during
the long three hours of worship at St.
Haul's the crowded a-sembiage paid sin
cere tribute to the Creator with unmis
takable earnestness. Every one seemed
to appreciate the grandeur and solenmi
ty of the ceremonies, and with a reverence
and respect that spoke volumes for their
feelings the congregation bowed in heart
felt devotion, while the burning rays of
a dazzling sun streamed through the
windows of the Church. At half past
ten o’clock
THE rROCFSSION
issued from the vestry. The spectacle
was highly imposing and when the
strains of the organ broke softly upon the
ear as the long* array of clergymen,
acolytes and assistants slowly surrounded
the altar the effect was such as to arouse
the religious feelings of those present.
Solemn High Mass was then commenced,
the Rev. Father Spencer ofliciating as
celebrant, the Rev. Father Lake as dea
con, and the Rev. Father Dwyer as sub
deacon, and the Rev. Father Brady as
master of ceremonies. The altar was
brilliantly illuminated with many lights,
while its handsome architectural beauty
was much enhanced by a tasteful display
of the choicest flowers. Haydn’s Mass
No. 2 was performed with tine effect, a
large and efficient chorus giving a splen
did interpretation to those portions of the
composition where strength and harmony
were most required.
FATHER IIECXER S SERMON.
At the termination of the first gospel
the Rev. Father Flecker ascended the
altar, and, amidst the most profound
silence, proceeded to deliver his discourse.
The reverend gentlemen took his text
from the gospel according to St. Luke
xiv., 16 to 24, which sets forth the ex
cuses made by those who had been in
vited to supper, one having bought a
farm, another having purchased oxen and
a third having married a wife, and des
criptive of the master sending forth his
servant to the highways and bringing to
the banqhet the poor aud maimed and
the halt and the blind. The concluding
verse of the text being “For I say unto
you that none of those men which were
bidden shall taste of my supper.” Father
Hecker also added a text from the Acts
of the Apostles, xv, 7, “and when there
had been much disputing Peter rose up
and said unto them, Men and Brethren,
ye know that how, a good while ago God
made choice among us, that the Gentiles
by my mouth should hear the word of the
Gospel and believe.” In his introductory
remarks Father Hecker returned thank's
to the congregation for the prayers which
had been offered up for him during his
absence of nearly eight months. He
trusted he had returned renewed in zeal,
renewed in his resolution to labor more
faithfully, and he hoped with more
strength to perform his duties. His pur
pose now was to make a few remarks—
few remarks because of the heat of the
day and the length of the ceremonies—
and those remarks would contain some
reflections concerning
TIIE PRESENT STATE OF THINGS
in the Holy Council. If any one should
have said fifteen or twenty years ago
that a great eveot, one of ’the greatest
events, perhaps the greatest event of out
age, would be the General Council of the
Catholic Church in the city of Rome,
such a man would have been regarded as
an idle dreamer or a religious enthusiast.
At that period or about that period revo
lution was triumphant in the Holy City.
The Pope was in exile, sectarian ministers
were predicting the downfall ol the whole
Church, and her enemies had begun to
sing the song of victory and joy over the
dead body of Catholicism. But the fact
now stared one in the face that no event
of this day had so taken hold of the pub
lic attention, absorbed its interest, as the
Vatican Council in the Holy City of
Rome, opened by Pius the IX. on the
Bth of December, 1869. And was this
to be wondered at ? He thought not
when the limits that constituted it were
considered. Some imagined they could
pass by the Council of the Holy Church
as something insignificant. Rations
dreamed that it was of no importance,
but somehow they had entirely changed
their tactics. Even Protestant Nations
had thought so much of
ITS GREAT SIGNIFICANCE
that they had even ventured to threaten
the Council, in case it should undertake
to abridge the liberty of the Holy Church.
And no one took more interest in what
was going on in the Holy City than the
Prime Ministers of Protestant Nations,
and especially the one of England. Had
they considered the limits of the Council
they would not have been deceived, be
cause if they Rooked at the numbers of
the Council; it they’ looked at their edu
cation, supposing they had a common
amount ot intelligence ; if they looked
at the great interests the members of the
Council represented—if they regarded
the number of persons and the extent of
territory they represented—it must be
acknowledged that the Vatican Council
was
THE MOST AUGUST ASSEMBLAGE
that there was any knowledge of in the
luistory of men. No other assemblage in
the present Century could bear any com
parison with it. Consider, then, the ele
ments of the Council; consider, also, the
work in which its members were en
gaged. Putting those matters together,
the Council had done already a very
great and important work in removing
the tendencies to scepticism. They were
occupying every avenue of imparting
knowledge to the world. Concerning
the Council, at Rome, the press was
teeming with books and pamphlets dis
cussing questions before the Council.
The telegraphic lines and cables across
the Atlantic, the newspapers, the pulpits,
all the avenues of imparting knowledge
were in a good measure occupied with
religious truth. Aud if the Council had
no other effect on the outside world than
that he augured from it a happy conclu
sion. Aud why ? Because men’s intel
ligence was made for truth. Once get
a man’s mind turned toward it, once get
him to recognize it, and that recognition
would bring the aspiration to his will
and the affection to his heart, and might
it not be hoped that
ONE OF THE GREAT RESULTS
of the Council would be great conquests
outside the fold of the Holy Church.
Again, when the great work that was do
ing was considered, the great fruits borne
to the bosom of the Church were appa
rent. One of the greatest works before
it was to discover, to divine and to dis
close those truths which the blessed Lord
once and for all had given to His Church
and left in her keeping Now for that
work what was done ?—investigation.
And why ? First to find out whether the
truth was contained in the written word
of God; and, secondly, whether it was
confirmed by the belief of all the faithful
during all time and everywhere. Now,
imagine for a moment seven hundred
men of education, their whole attention
directed to and absorbed in this great
work. People could easily imagine what
amount of intellectual nativity and what
amount of light must all flood on those
questions before them. What had they
to do ? They read, they studied the Holy
Scriptures. He could assure the congre
gation that from his own personal experi
ence that the Holy Scriptures were read,
were studied with care and with the
greatest earnestness and sincerity by the
Fathers of the Council; aud if there were
any Protestant friends now present in
the Church they would at least approve
of the fact of the Council reading the
Bible as a most hopeful event. Sccond
ly, they studied the early writers of the
Church—all the Fathers. They studied
the doctrines of the Church, the Theolo
gians of the Church. And why ? Be
cause they all had had their light from
God. They all had had their light from
intelligence, and, living, as some of them
did, nearer to the beginning of the Church,
these works were consulted as aids in
order that the true meaning* of the Holy
Scriptures might be ascertained. They
took testimony of Churches concerning
every belief. They were not, however,
finding out what this one and that one
fancied. They were not finding out what
might be their various convictions, but
THE DIVINE TRUTH
revealed by the blessed Saviour, com
muuicated to His Church from the begin
ning and from all time. Considering the
great intellect involved in the investiga
tion, he thought he was safe in predict
ing among the results of the Council
would be anew era in theological science.
Some complained that the Church had
lost its grasp upon the active intelligence
of the age. But the very contrary was
the truth, since the Church was the very
centre of progress. Again there were
those who asked were there no disputes
in the Council—was there no opposition ?
Why, of course there was, and none for a
moment should have imagined otherwise.
Consider that the Fathers came from dif
ferent nationalities. They had been ac
customed to different ways of thinking,
and many of them had been accustomed
to think their own way. They had dif
ferent interests, different habits. There
were seven hundred of these men together,
and could it be imagined that all at
once there should be harmony and unan
imity? It was most absurd. No one
for a moment could think that once a
man became a Catholic he at once lost
his human nature. It was no less true
in regard to the hierarchy. It was true
in regard to the Priest, the Bishop, the
Cardinal or the Pope—all carried their
weaknesses and imperfections. There
were some, doubtless, whose faith was a
little tried when they discovered that
those to whom they had looked up dis
puted with each other on the great ques
tions before the Council. But there was
no other way to ascertain the truth.
Some had their faitli shaken, hut men
passed from a state of infancy to maa
hood in their faith. He must confess,
even if it were a fault, that when he
heard those disputes and those discussions
he felt a certain degree of joy. The op
position to truth made one feel strong
and the Church could not be
KEPT IN A BANDBOX.
She must go into the world and meet the
intellect of the age, and if there was a
contest at the beginning so much the
better. And what had the contest al
ready done? It had caused men to speak
out freely, and to give utterance to the
convictions of their hearts. lie admir
ed that, for How were men to be convinc
ed if their thoughts were concealed—
how win them truth unless they were
openly asked? He was also pleased for
another reason. Some said that Rome
was the centre of despotism, lie said
to himself, “Here within tins very city
of Rome, here within those walls of St
Peter, here men got up and speak out
freely their convinctions in opposition to
the great majority and even to the Pope
himself.” Does not that prove that the
holy Church fears no freedom of speech?
Where 3*ou find such men truth is safe
in their hands. Certainly it is. He
argued from this conflict, this trial of
faith, strengthening of the heart, a re
newel of that hoty faith and increased
energy in the Church The blessed Lord
gave the world an example of how faith
was increased one day when going across
a lake with His disciples. The\ r were
together on the borders of the lake, and
went into a little boat, and when they
got some distance from shore the wind
came down and the result was a storm.
Ihe disciples began to fear, and at the
time the Lord was asleep. They awoke
him, saying, “Save us, or we perish.”
The Lord rebuked the winds and waves,
and everything was calm, and, turning
to his disciples, addressed them, saying,
“Where is your faith?” And he (Father
Hecker) felt that those words had ap
plication at this time to those who seem
ed as if something was shaken within them.
Although the Holy Church was in dan
ger, although the storm was threaten
ing, the Lord was not aware of the dan
ger. He believed it not. He opened
the eyes of faith. Although the Lord might
appear to sleep 3*et when the real danger
came—if it should come—He would be
there to calm the waves and still the
rage of passion, bringing them to that
harmony and unity which belong to His
Holy Church, awakening acts of faith.
Let there be no fears for the Council.
The children of faith look above those
disputes and contests for thejblessed Lord
was always in the sleep oftbeHoly Church.
According to the text which had been
read there were disputes among the
Apostles who were diviuely inspired. It
was in the nature of things, and there
fore, there wsa no reason to*be discourag
ed. That very fact set aside many of the
arguments that might have been made.
Suppose the Council had
MADE ALL THE FATHERS AGREE,
unanimously, perhaps by acclamation, to
all that had been proposed. What
would have been the crime? It would
have been that Rome crushed out all
independent support; that she admitted
of no freedom of speech, and then dra
gooned her members. She had brought
them into a senseless unanimity. (What
was the cry now? The cry was that
disintegration had begun; but unheed
ing the clamor, the Holy Church went
on with her work. Among the objects
of the Council was to divine and declare
the truth, whilehhere were other ques
tions to be determined, including the
whole question concerning the discipline
of the Church. The Council might yet
last for one, two, or perhaps three years,
and not the least important aim was to
win, not conquer the whole world to the
fold of Christ. Those were some of the
reflections he thought proper to make
to the congregation. There were other
matters concerning the Council on which
lie would speak on another occasion.
He alluded to the erection of basilica in
honor of St. Paul convenient to the
Church, and in concluding remarked
that he was exceedingly glad the con
gregation had got on so well. He saw
the Church crowded, and the surround
ings disclosed a healthy religious feeling.
He was’ grateful for having been allow
ed to make the voyage to Rome, for he
now returned a firmer Catholic. The
reverend gentleman, who throughout was
listened to with great interest and de
vout attention, added that countries a
broad looked towards America as one of
greatest bulwarks of the Catholic Church.
Let this congregation by their earnest
ness prove worthy the name and the holy
Church would find her future a joy and
a glory.
THE CEREMONIES. *
were then resumed, and the immense as
semblage bowed in solemn silence. The
scene was magnificent and well calcula
ted to inspire awe and reverence. The
Credo was well rendered by over fifty
voices, and at the offertory a very beauti
ful selection was performed. Nothing
could surpass the appearance of the al
tar and surroundings. To the right and
left rows of appropriately attired assis
tants blooming with the roses of health,
mild and pious looking young men—
some joining in the responses, some hold
ing large and handsomely shaped can
delabrrs, having lighted tapers; others
lidding thunfers, from which curled forth
the incense; but all had some office to
fill, and reverentially did they perform
their tasks. Solemn high mass having
terminated those participating departed
in twos from the altar, which immediate
-I}’ after their retirement was rendered
additionally imposing by increased illu
minations. The remonstrance, of solid
gold, containing the Holy Eucharist,
was placed on the tabernacle, and, amid
the solemn peals of the organ, the pro
cession, now largely increased, again is
sued from the vest 17, and having sur
rounded the altar all knelt in the deepest
reverence. The Rev. Father Desclim,
bearing a large cross, accompanied by
two acolytes, headed the procession, and
was followed by a long train of Clergy
men and others. Being within the oc
tave of the Feast of Corpus Christi it is
the custom in the Catholic Church to
carry the sacrament in solemn procession
through the aisles. Having been ar
ranged in order the cross-bearers, with
the acolytes, led down the centre aisle,
followed by a beautiful baud, which
consisted of brass instruments, and which
in conjunction with the grand organ,
played a beautiful, S3 r mpathetic and most
appropriate chant, Then came a large
number of acolytes in twos; these were
succeeded by choristers, who at intervals
sang the responses incidental to the chant.
And behind them came young maidens;
wearing wreaths and attired in spotless
white, having baskets of flowers, which
they strewed upon the way. The thunifers
were next offering ince:se towards the
Eucharist, which was carried by the cele
brant, Bev. Father Spencer, accompani
ed by the deacon and sub-deacon. Two
acol3*tes immediately preceded them and
two were in the rear, while the members
of a religious order carried the rich satin
canopy under which the celebrant walk
ed. Behind was a long array cf young
men, wearing badges and bearing light
ed tapers. The spectacle inspired the
deepest awe, and as the procession mov
ed down the aisles the congregation knelt
down in pious worship. Having slowly
traversed the Church the procession re
turned to the altar, where
THE SOLEMN BENEDICTION.
was given to the assemblage, after which
the proceedings were brought to a close.
Altogether the display was most im
pressive. The music, under Mr. Eben
hard, the organist, was efficiently ren
dered, more especially were the services
of the chorus brought into requisition.
The ceremonies did not terminate till af
ter one o’clock, and although the day
was exceedingly hot no inconvenience was
sustained, owing to the excellent'ventila
tion of the Church.
A Terrific Leap. — On the evening
train from Sacramento on the Vallejo route
yesterday a tragedy was enacted that for
ever puts Sam Patch’s Niagara leap in
the shade —makes it only aside-show won
der. Tho train, it is stated, was about ten
minutes behind time, and was making it
up at the rate of twenty five miles an
hour. When about five miles above
Suisin the passengers in the smoking-car
were astonished at seeing a man, who had
been sleeping in one of the side seats,
spring to his feet, and, with one bound
plunge head foremost out of the window
on the opposite side of the car. The
window was up at the bine, and the man
went through like a dart, showing that he
was an expert diver. He threw his heels
up when he made the plunge, and then
came in contact with the sash, shivering
the glasii to atoms. The alarm was at
once given that a maD was overboard, and
the train was stopped and hacked up to
th§ place where the terrific leap was made
for the purpose of picking up the mangled
remains of the man. Instead of finding a
ghastly corpse, they discovered their lost
passenger sitting on the ground rubbing
his eyes and trying to collect his scattered
senses sufficiently to ascertain where he
was and how he came to be there. He
wa3 handled tenderly at first, but it was
soon ascertained that the only damage he
had sustained was a slight abrasion of the
skin on one of the elb oW9,—Alta Cali
forma, 17 th.
The Recorder states the total population
of Miliedgeville to be, 2,313, divided as
follows: White males, 571 ; females,
hi- total, 1,123. Black males, 527; fe
males, 663—total 1,190. White voters,
249 ; black voters, 215—total, 464.
As far down the Southwestern road as
Americus, crops of all kinds on fair land
and well tilled, look finely, and there is no
complaint ; but we understand that in
Sumter, Lee, Dougherty and Mitchell,
cotton is diseased from excessive rains, and
a good deal of it is perishing.
5