Three Ideals. 105 



In America we see before us undeniable evidence that 

 the Church can not only exist, but grow and thrive, in the 

 freest political atmosphere shown more by the multi- 

 plication and spread of religious orders and the up-growth 

 of a native-born clergy, than even by the augmentation 

 of the episcopate. There (in New York) has arisen a new 

 religious congregation the Paulists the founder and 

 head of which, Father Hecker, is a typical example of 

 the Church of the United States ; not less conspicuous 

 for love of his country and admiration of its politico-social 

 system than for unhesitating and unquestioning obedience 

 and loyalty to the head of his Church. 



The United States have also supplied us with a crucial 

 test of the power of the Church to resist the strongest 

 secular influences hostile to its integrity. 



During the late memorable war almost every uncatholic 

 form of Christianity became split and divided into a 

 northern and a southern, an anti-slavery and a pro-slavery 

 body. The Church alone maintained its unity perfectly 

 unbroken, and was thus enabled more efficiently to aid in 

 healing the moral disunion, and allaying the heartburn- 

 ings which remained after the victory, by which unbroken 

 unity many earnest minds in the great republic have been 

 deeply impressed. 



In Belgium, again, we see how the Church can not only 

 prosper under free institutions, but have so energetic and 

 vigorous a life as to provoke a violent, though groundless 



