War of antichrist with the Church and Christian civilization
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| War of antichrist with the Church |
The following pages contain the substance of two Lectures given a few months ago in Edinburgh. The selection of the subjects upon which they treat, and, indeed, the fact of their being delivered at all, was, it may be said, accidental.
The author, a missionary priest, was, after over twenty years' labour in Australia, compelled for health reasons to visit Europe; and during the past season took advantage of an opportunity to make a tour through Scotland. His object in visiting that historic land was first to gratify his Scotch friends and converts in Australia by a sojourn, however brief, in a country, and in several special localities of it, which he knew to be very dear to them; and next to satisfy his own desire of seeing the progress of religion in that as well as in the other portions of the British Islands which he had already visited.
The condi- tion of the Church in Ireland, and her advance amidst the adverse influences with which she has to contend in England and Scotland, are of intense interest to Australian Catholics; and an Australian missionary who visits these countries is supposed to bring back much information regarding the state of religion in each one of them. Scotland besides i3 so full of historic reminiscences, and so favoured by nature with splendid scenery, that a visit to Europe is incomplete without a look upon its rugged hills, its romantic lakes and lovely valleys, now made so interesting. by the works of Sir Walter Scott and other writers.
The land once evangelized by Columba and his bands of missionary saints, has an indescribable charm for a Catholic missionary. He went, therefore, with great pleasure to Scotland, and he cannot speak too highly or too thankfully of the kindness which the Venerable Archbishop of Glasgow, the Bishops and the Clergy he happened to meet with showed him. But, with the exception of a Sunday sermon to oblige the good pastor of whatever locality he happened to pass through, it was his fixed intention not to speak publicly during his rather rapid progress through the country.
It happened, however, that on coming to Edinburgh he found an old and very dear friend and College companion in charge of the most populous Catholic district of the metropolis, and in deference to the earnest solicitations of that friend, he departed from his resolution and gave during the few days his stay lasted, first, a lecture on Secret Societies for the benefit of a large and flourishing Catholic Association for men; and secondly, as a sequel to that, a lecture on the Spohation of the Propaganda.
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