St Vincent Seminary - Symposium Yearbook (Latrobe, PA)

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glnuunlug gllli glwli :glue . Q-fy serenely picture to ourselves that little Colony, the only place under the Hag of England where Catholicism enjoyed even com- parative freedom a public chapel where Mass was regularly offered and where the people were grounded in their faith by instructions from their spiritual guides. . see this excellent state of affairs was not to be long-lived. The difficulties that were to arise would come, however, not from within the Colony but from without, the chief instigator of which was to be Clayborne, the Virginian. In February 1635 the Colony of Maryland convened for legislation and all the freemen were present at the opening of this strictly popular assembly. The most important business confronting the body was the necessity of vindicating the Jurisdiction of the Province against the claims of Clayborne 3 nmmr Peace and prosperity indeed seemed assured, yet as we shall 9 7 flllllli glg-I who had established a trading-post in Calvert's domain and re- fused to submit to his authority. This was deemed worthy of general deliberation and of decisive action, for the intruder resolved to maintain his stand by force of arms. Indeed, this determination was the cause later of a skirmish near the Isle of Kent, in which Clayborne's men were defeated. Lord Baltimore thereupon took possession of the island. During this time Clay- borne was in England prosecuting his claims before the King. Because he scorned the powers of the Proprietary, scattered jealousies among the Indians, and instilled a spirit of disobed- ience into the inhabitants of Kent Island, the Colonial Assembly at its next convention passed an act of attainder against Clay- borne. Being absent, his estates were seized and forfeited to the laws which he had declared invalid. In England he procured though only for a time, the favorable disposition of the King However when the matter was referred to the Plantations Com- mission It was learned. that the King had the right to confer the S011 and the Jur1sd1ct1on of Maryland could not be contested that the earlier license to traffic did not vest in Clayborne any rights which were valid against the charterg and that, therefore the Isle of Kent belonged absolutely to Lord Baltimore who alone could permit the establishment of plantations, or conduct com- merce w1th the Indians within the limits of his territory In 1639 a third assembly convened and framed a declaration of rights It acknowledged the duty of allegiance to the King and secured to Lord Baltimore his prerogativesg it also confirmed to the inhabitants of Maryland all liberties which an Englishman SMcMahon History of Maryland. gunning gllillli sllls Q I llllllll ll' 1 L r . I u 0 , . . v 1 . . . . 1 . . . . . , I . . . . 7 -llnuuum , A 5 E GIIIBIIIIIIIIIU sllls ' ' ' - . . : wmv um: . . 3' . SZ ll29ll

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all llllllllllg alll: Qllllllii alll: Rl!!! IIIIQIIIH I ' 9 s . - . . Y ' Y - . 5 ' tl 1 . . Y 77 - - Y . - 7 ! ' . - ' H . illli :IIIIIIE Ellli 'A ik! gf sailed up the St Mary s River to the Indian town of Yoamoco. Thirty miles of territory were bought from the natives and their good will obtained. The name of the town was changed to St Mary s. An Indian hut was converted into a chapel and this marked the first shrine of Catholicity in Maryland The natives were conciliated, and the new settlement began with both Catholic and Protestant living together in peace and harmony neither attempting to interfere with the religious rights of the other and religious liberty obtained a home, its only home in the wide world, at the humble village which bore the name of St. Mary s. if Fear and suffering were unknown. And so with the beginning of the little town of St. Mary's wa.s laid the foundation of the peaceful and happy Colony of Mary- land March 27 1634 Bancroft says this settlement progressed more in six months than the neighboring Colony of Virginia did in as many years St. Mary's was the home, the chosen home of the disciples of the Roman Church. The fact has been gener- ally received. It is sustained by the traditions of two hundred years, and by volumes of written testimony. I Every other government at the time had laws persecuting members of certain faiths. Such was not the case in Maryland, however. Truly, this was a safe and contented asylum for Cath- olic and Protestant alike Care was taken by the Lord Proprietary to maintain the equity of religious rights The Oath of Office taken by the governors from the very outset proves thlS2ilAHd I do further swear that I will not by myself or any other person, directly or indirectly, trouble, molest, or discountenance any person whatsoever, professing to believe in Jesus Christ, and in particular no Roman Catholic, for, or in respect of, religion nor his or her free exercise thereof within the said Province, . . . . . nor will I make any difference of persons in con- ferring offices rewards or favors for or in respect to their said religion but merely as I shall find them, faithful and well de- serving of his Lordship and to the best of my understanding endowed with moral virtues and abilities . . . and if any other officer or persons whatsoever shall molest or disturb any person professing to believe in Jesus Christ merely for or in respect of his or her religion or the free exercise thereof upon notice or complaint thereof made to him I will apply my power and authority to relieve any person so molested or troubled whereby he may have right done him Q We can Bancroft History of U. S. IDavis Day Star. .g-Z. ' Xa, ummmmg if -Sllli I III4 Ill l Q ' Q Ellllllllllllr .IIIIIIIIIIIIIE -III: qlllllllllllli . . . I . . . . . . .... , s 1 1 1 . . 7 v , . . . . . . , , .... . . . . . . . . . , s r 1 v . . . ,, , . in D I 1 :lllllllllllill 5'-XX - ,, f . 4 5 . f I 5 D ' : ' l III' . , lllllllllllulll X , lI28l

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I L. 5lIIlll5 Zllllllt 1UlIlllllllllf' might enjoy at home and established a system of representative government These assemblies by their actions never manifested any timidity or treachery whatever in upholding the interests and liberties of the people. Maryland s Constitution had as yet no fixed form the government was merely a democracy under a hereditary patriarch. The act constituting the assembly marks the transition to a representative government. From then on the Governor might summon friends by a special writ, and the people were to choose as many delegates as the freemen should think good. Domestic union, harmony between all branches of government, an increasing immigration, fertile soil, irrigating rivers, all contributed toward making Maryland the prosperous Colony that it was. In Virginia, the Puritan settlers from New England were treated harshly by the authorities, including Clayborne, To anmuumu DIIIINI IN' - . - 3 alll: glllg - u ' ' .. . : : : 5 . I 'lllllllllllllfl 1 I 1 l . I u 0 . , . r r . 1 . . 9 afw X l 'X lll luul H lll 1 az . . 7 . . Y . . nv u ' . . 1 . 1 1 li guimmung , Z-R , - . , 1 E 5 ' ' : z . . : : : : Wllflflilllblf these, Calvert offered refuge and many accepted his hospitality and settled in Maryland. Unfortunately, however, this kindness was later repaid with ingratitude and treachery, for when civil war broke out in England and the Royal Power fell, these very men aided Clayborne, their former foe, in overthrowing Calvert and spreading destruction throughout Maryland, truly, a base in- gratitude. Lord Baltimore, however, gathered a force in Virginia returned, and recovered possession of Maryland. Peace was con- firmed and the Province rescued from the distress following a short but vindictive and successful insurrection. The controversy between the King and Parliament grew. The overthrow of the monarchy seemed about to confer unlimited power in England upon the enemies of the Roman Church Scenting impending danger, the Catholics in Maryland resolved to enact a decree upholding religious freedom, ever held sacred there. And whereas the enforcing of the conscience in matters of religion hath frequently fallen out to be of dangerous conse- quences in those commonwealths where it has been practiced and for the more quiet and peaceable government of this Pro- vince and the better to preserve mutual love and amity among the inhabitants no person within this Province, professing to believe in Jesus Christ shall be in any way troubled, molested or discountenanced for his or her religion or in the free exercise thereof 'F The passage of this act IS one of the proud boasts of Maryland and its exact execution until the government was overthrown by the Puritans and from its restoration till the Protestant revolution forms one of her greatest glories. 1' Bancroft. TMcSherry. ' V ll30l ' ll llllll. ! . Y Y . ' 2 fhili E : - :lll . . 'IIIIIIIIIIIIIF