decided thus. But it is the Council of State that this concerns; it ought not to surprise us to find that that body has ideas of what should arbitrarily trouble Catholic consciences-very different from the ideas of the Catholic Church on the subject. Here, again, is another demonstration of the opposition of views that exist between this (the Catholic) Church and the State." The Semeur concludes as follows: "The important point is not to 'give and take,' and so arrive, through fair and foul, at a sort of accommodation; but rather so strictly to define and firmly to maintain on either part such pretensions as though irreconcileable, are equally legitimate; that, at last, it may be possible to separate from public instruction all that may not usefully be united with it, and at the same time to enlarge the common law as regards the liberty of teaching; then no one will have cause to complain. But when will that happen ?"

CATHOLIC MORALITY.

O Catholic church, most true mother of christians, thou proclaimest that God Himself, the possession of whom is most perfect happiness, is to be adored most purely and chastely, presenting no creature to our worship, whom we must serve and from the idea of this incorrupt and inviolable Eternal Being, to whom alone man must be subject, by cleaving to whom alone the rational soul is not wretched, excluding every thing created, every thing changeable, every thing temporal, not confounding what eternity, truth, peace itself distinguishes; nor separating what the same Majesty unites: and not only this, but thou so embracest the love and charity of the neighbour, that every most powerful remedy is found with thee for all the variety of maladies by which souls are afflicted according to their sins. Thou trainest up and teachest children in a manner adapted to childhood, youth strongly, old men calmly, according to the condition not of the body merely, but of the soul. Thou subjectest women to their husbands in chaste and faithful obedience, not for the gratification of passion, but for the propagation of men, and for domestic society. Thou givest husbands authority over their wives, not that they may oppress the weaker sex, but govern them by the laws of genuine love. Thou subjectest children to their parents by a kind of free bondage, thou placest parents over children, to rule with affectionate authority. Thou connectest brothers with a religious bond, stronger and closer than the ties of blood. Thou bindest together in mutual love, relatives of every degree and friends, cementing the natural and voluntary relations. Thou teachest slaves to cleave to their masters, not so much through necessity imposed by servitude, as by the love of duty. Thou makest masters kind to their slaves, by the consideration that the Supreme God is their common Lord, and thou inclinest them to use counsel rather

than coercion. Thou unitest not in mere Society, but in fraternal bonds, citizens, nations, and men universally, by the remembrance of their first parents. Thou teachest kings to seek the good of their people: thou warnest the people to be subject to their rulers. Thou diligently teachest to whom honour, affection, reverence, fear, consolation, admonition, exhortation, instruction, reproof, punishment are severally due, showing that not all things are due to all, but that all have claims on our charity, and that wrong should be done to none.--St. Augustin, de mor. Eccl. Cath. 1. 1, c. xxx.

CATHOLICISM AND THE ARTS.

I implore those students in Art, who, far from participating in the general degradation, behold it with mingled feelings of sorrow and disgust, to reflect deeply on the facts I have brought forward; and, acting upon them as a foundation, carry on the research themselves. Let them examine, try and see if what I have advanced is not true. Let them reflect on these most important points: First, That it was by Catholic artists alone that all the most glorious achievements in Art have been produced. Secondly,-That the Catholic Church was always ready to give every aid which would enable the youth of promise to advance in the noble career of Art, munificent in rewarding the talents of those who were deserving, and incessant in finding the most noble occupation for genius, by employing it in the decorations of the sumptuous temples consecrated to her worship, and illustrating the divine truths of which she is the living testimony. Thirdly,-Let them reflect that the Established Church in this country has not only treated the arts with apathy, but has actually been the barrier that has opposed their progress; for its clergy have denounced the introduction of painting and sculpture into religious edifices, as part of the vile practices of 'popery,' and consequently not to be suffered. Only a few years since, when certain artists, members of the Academy, disgusted with the naked internal appearance of St. Paul's, offered gratuitously to decorate the church with sacred history, the Chapter refused to suffer them on this very ground; considering, as I sppose, that a whitewashed panel was more edifying than the death of an apostle; and to this day, the church remains as bare of decoration as a Quakers' meeting-house.

I will assert that it is from the Church alone that the arts can look for real protection and advancement. The court may fill the pocket of a flattering facepainter; the government may occasionally require the representation of some national achievement; the public will buy what is cheap; but the great efforts of the artist's skill are suitable only for ecclesiastical purposes. Such being

the case, how lamentably small are the hopes of reproducing such works, while a mercenary church monopolizes the wealth, which pious men of old had destined for the glory of religion, and with it that which is the natural result,the advancement of the Arts. The Church is, indeed the spring which nourishes them. Placed under her influence, they flourish and send forth wondrous fruit; but, deprived of her protection, they wither and die. Let those, who would deny this, look to Italy in the 16th century, the centre of Catholicism, pouring forth talents without end; let them see what a host of gigantic men in art she produced, who so filled her with astonishing productions, that even excellence became common. In Germany and the Low Countries, we find Albert Durer, Rubens, Lucas Leyden, Vandyke, Rembrant, Jordaans, and many more, carrying on the most glorious works: Murillo, Valasquez, Riberira, and others, in Spain; in France, the same. Every Catholic nation in Europe was giving birth to artists, the memory of whose wondrous talents will live while time lasts. England-Protestant England-alone remained barren and unproductive; and, during the whole of this golden age of Art, she could not produce even one individual worthy of ranking with those great masters, who were flourishing around her. All the decorations that embellished her palaces, and even the portraits of her illustrious characters, were the productions of foreign artists; nor, from the establishment of Protestantism, under Edward VI., till the reign of Queen Anne,—a period nearly 200 years, -was the slightest thought bestowed on promoting the arts at all: and truly, as I have shewn, no great credit can be attributed, on that score, to the present generation, notwithstanding the mighty boastings that are made on the subject. The only men who have obtained real eminence in historical painting, in this country, are Hogarth and Sir Joshua Reynolds. The first of these was undoubtedly one of the most acute observers of human nature and, I may say, powerful censurers of its vices and follies that ever lived: but, unhappily, the absence of proper religious influence over his mind caused him to disgrace himself indelibly by publishing a filthy caricature of St. Paul before Felix,a subject which, had it been treated by an old Catholic artist, would have been overpowering by its impressive grandeur, but which Hogarth selected as a fit subject even for ridicule! As to Sir Joshua Reynolds, great as were his talents, possessing, as he did, so many of the highest qualifications of art, yet he was quite unequal to the illustration of sacred subjects. His 'Holy Family,' in the National Gallery, will fully illustrate this assertion. Beautiful as is the colouring of the picture, lovely alike in touch and composition, it does not possess one spark of that sublime feeling which forms the soul of ancient art. The general effect is ravishing: but we look in vain for the placid dignity of the Virgin Mother, or the mighty spirit of the Godhead in the child beside her. These were achievements which even Sir Joshua could not accomplish. I do not say this in disparagement of his great and justly acknowledged abilities; I even believe that he possessed all the requisites, except religious zeal, for as

cending to the highest pinnacle of Art: but he lived in a land that suffered his greatest powers to lie dormant. Had he been blest with the faith of Raphal and Angelo, and had the Vatican been the theatre of his exertions, what splendid results would he have produced!—Pugin.

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

Catholic Statistics of the Indian Missions in the United States.

OREGON TERRITORY.-St. Mary's.-The Central Mission-House of the Jesuits of Missouri is situated on the bank of a river called "Bitter Root;" west of the Rocky Mountains. This site was chosen on the Feast of the Rosary, first Sunday of October, 1841. It is a pretty large establishment, containing a Chapel, dedicated to God under the invocation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, an Academy for boys, a residence for the Fathers, and various workshops, where the Indians are taught some mechanical arts by six LayBrothers of this Society. The Mission is situated among the Flathead Indians, the whole of whom, about one thousand in number, have been converted to Christianity. The Fathers, five in number, have found Missionary Stations in various parts of the Territory, principally among the Kalispels, Nez-Percés, Pointed Hearts, &c. The number of converts is estimated at 2,000.

INDIAN TERRITORY.-Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.-This Central Missionary Station is situated on the left bank of a Stream, called Sugar-Creek, a tributary of the Osage River.* It is under the charge of the Jesuits of Missouri, on the lands appropriated by the United States Government to the Pottowatomie tribe. The Fathers attend Missionary Stations among the Osages on the Neosho, the Chippeways and Ottoways on the Marais des Cygnes, the Missouries on Bull-Creek, and the Kickapooxs on the Missouri River. Number of Converts 1,500.

IOWA TERRITORY.-Two zealous Missionaries of the Diocess of Dubuque, labour with great energy and signal success among the Sioux, divided into three small bands, each numbering about three hundred souls. This mission is placed under the invocation of St. Francis Xavier, and is situated about two hundred and fifty miles above the falls of St. Anthony. These Indians may be said to be in a fair way to conversion, on account of their free determination to join the Catholic Stations.

WISCONSIN TERRITORY.-Two Priests of the new Diocess of Milwaukie, attend the flourishing missions at Duck-Creek, Rapides des Peres, Canton and

• See a minute description of this Mission in No's. 7, 8, of this Periodical.

Little Chute Cockalin, among the Menomonie Indians. But the best organized mission of this Territory is that of St. Joseph's, at La Pointe, on Lake Superior, among the United Ottoways and Chippeways, under the direction of the indefatigable missioner, Fr. Frederic Baraga. This Apostolic man, who has laboured for a long series of years among the Indians, has laid the foundation of nearly all the flourishing missions among the Ottoways and Chippeways in Michigan and Wisconsin Territory. Having perfectly familiarized himself with the manners and language of these Indians, he has a powerful influence on their minds, and his zeal and virtue, no less than his sagacity and learning, have ever been productive of much spirital fruit among them. His Otawaanamie-Misinaigan,* (Ottowa Prayerbook,) and his Jesus obimadisiwin ajonda aking (The life of Jesus here on earth) will for ever endear him to the gratitude both of the Chippeway, Ottowa and Pottowatomie Indians, and of their missionaries. There is also a Catholic Station among the Winnebagoes, attended from Prairie du Chien.

MICHIGAN.-Arbre Croche, Middletown, La Croix, St. Ann in the Isle of Michillimakinac, St. Ignatius, Sault St. Marie, Grand River Rapids are Catholic Indian missions and Stations, attended by three Priests of the Diocess of Detroit. The Indians belong to the Ottowa, and Chippeway tribes. There is a Catholic Station among a small remnant of the Pottowatomie tribe at Pokegan's Village, near the boundary line of Indiana. The brothers of St. Joseph have a school here, and the mission is attended, we believe, by the Priests of the Holy Cross of Southbend, Indiana.

MAINE.-St. Ann at Indian Old Town,' and St. Ann at Pleasant Point,' are small but edifying missions, composed of the remnants of Passamaquoddy and Penobscot Indians. They are attended by the Clergy of Maine.

ST. LOUIS.-On the 8th of January a new Free School for male children, attached to the Cathedral, was opened by the Brothers of a Religious Community, called "Les Clercs du St. Viateur."

NEW CHURCHES THROUGHOUT THE UNION.-The Cathedral of Natchez was dedicated to Divine Service on Christmas last, by Rt. Rev. Bishop Chanche, assisted by two Priests. On the 1st of January the new Church of Nicetown, in the Diocess of Philadelphia; and on the 7th a new Church of Springfield, Ky., were opened for the same purpose. On the 7th ult., the cornerstone of a new German Church was laid in Lafayette, adjoining the city of New-Orleans.

CINCINNATI. The following are the names of the German Clergymen who have come recently to labour on the missions in this Diocess:-Rev. F. T. Brunner, Rev. Antony Meyer, Rev. Martin Bobst, Rev. John Wittmer, Rev. Jacob Ringle, Rev. Peter Antony Capeder, Rev. John Baptist Jacomet, Rev.

• A third edition of this Indian Prayerbook, with fifty Spiritual Canticles, and a complete Catechism, has lately been published in Detroit.