THE LATEST ENCYCLICAL.

Evening Star, Issue 9471, 16 August 1894, Page 4

THE LATEST ENCYCLICAL.

The encyclical which the Pope issued in June was an appeal to the Christian churches to put aside their differences and unite in one body. After recalling the great demonstrations of loyalty to the Papal Sec, called forth by his recent jubilee, and testifying to the union between all Catholics and their devotion to himself the Pope says that, following the great example of Christ, who, on the eve of His ascent into Heaven, prayed that His disciples might be united, he also desires at the close of his life to make an appeal to all men, without distinction of land or race, in favor of unity of faith. First speaking of the unbelieving nations, His Holiness declares Xhat the church continues with an ardor that knows no slackening the work of propagating the faith which has lived through nineteen centuries, and he prays that God will provide even more missionaries devoted to its cause. His Holiness then addresses himself to the peoples who have received the Christian faith, reminding them of the religious unity which once formed the common patrimony of the nations, even in the midst of their strife and struggles for human things. The Pontiff expresses his grief at the schisms and animosities which have torn flourishing nations from the Roman Church, and trusts that the Divine mercy and omnipotence may bend the wills of men to bring them back to the one faith.

The encyclical next turns to the members of the Oriental churches, telling them that their forefathers recognised the Roman Pontiff, even as the Latins and Greeks acknowledged him at the Councils of Lyons and Florence. The Pope observes that at the present time the Easterns are better disposed than formerly towards the Catholics, and he invites them to the perfect union which Christ founded in faith, and the government of the church. His Holiness declares that ho will uphold their rites and their patriarchal privileges, aud concludes this portion of the encyclical by rehearsing the words of the Greek Liturgy in which a prayer is uttered for the ending of schism, and by a special appeal to the Slav peoples to return to that unity which Cyril and Methodius preached. Prosperity and greatness shall be their portion if they return to the Romau Church.

The Holy Father then addresses the Protestant nations, pointing out that there remains to them no certain rule of faith nor authority, so that some go so far as to deny the divinity of Christ and the inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, and end by falling into naturalism and materialism. Citing the cases of enlightened Protestants whom solicitude for their salvation has brought back to Catholicism, the Pope exhorts all others to return to the church, that all may have one faith, one hope, one charity, based on the same Gospel. The concluding portion of the encyclical is directed especially to the Catholics. The Pontiff exhorts them to put off their sloth, confronted as they are by the people who threaten the faith; to submit themselves wholly to tbe guardianship of the church, which is the one perfect society with a mission to teach and to make laws in matters which fall under its jurisdiction. Without being subservient to any or exciting envy, the church can pursue its aim—that of directing men to the accomplishment of their duties. Imbued with a spirit of accord towards the civil powers, it willingly concludes oacts with them. The Pope Jtoafi

goes on to denounce tbe Freemasons us the enemies of religious unity, and to condemn in particular the audacity displayed by them in Rome. He calls upon Italy and France especially to throw off the despotism of these sectaries in order that religious concord among the nations may exorcise the evils of war, the present condition of Europe offer* ing rather the appearance than the roality of pence, so that education, agriculture, arts, and commerce are in serious danger. In conclusion, the Pope refers to the social question, of which he has already proposed a solution in couformity with the teaching of the Gospel, and to the political question, with regard to which His Holiness Bays that the liberty of the people can be made to accord with the poworof the rulers, whatever the form of government may be, seeing that the right to command and the duty of obedience proceed from God, to whom the rulers have to give strict account of their stewardship. To the latter the Pontiff makes a strong appeal, abjuring them to foster religious union, and to strive I that the close of the present century shall not resemble the stormy ending of the last.