St Vincent Seminary - Symposium Yearbook (Latrobe, PA)

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Attempts to deprive Catholics of the credit of this decree proved futile, but Gladstone's endorsement of their efforts gave rise to a triumphant Catholic vindication. It was the last Catholic act confirming the policy obtained from the founding of the Colony and maintained so long as Catholic Proprietors were in power, ceasing only with Catholic influence. The religious toler- ation which historians have so much extolled in the Catholic colonists and founders of Maryland did not originate with or derive its existence from that law of 1649, but on the contrary, it existed long anterior to, and independent of it. This great feature in the Catholic government of Maryland had been es- tablished by the Catholic Lord Proprietary, his Lieutenant- governor, agents and colonists, and faithfully practiced for fifteen years prior to the Toleration Act of 1649. From 1634 to 1649, it had been enforced with unwavering firmness, and pro- tected with exalted benevolence. I To preserve the Catholic missions among the natives, which had attained splendid successes since the founding of the Colony, Lord Baltimore, in 1651, set apart ten thousand acres of land at Calverton Manor, for the remnant of the neighboring Indians. The Assembly recognized his constant efforts to Christianize the natives and thus the first Indian reservation was founded by a Catholic and under the direction of Catholic clergy. In 1652, Clayborne and Bennet, as Commissioners of the Com- monwealth of England, overthrew the Proprietary Government and when Lord Baltimore prepared to restore it, they convened an assembly and prohibited any Catholic to vote or sit as a delegate. In place of the peace and benign policy which had existed under the Catholic rule, was now substituted a reign of terror. Anti-Catholic power was gaining. After victory on the Severn, the Puritans proceeded to St. Mary's County, spread disorder and ruin and attackedthe homes of the priests, intending to kill them. Fortunately the good Fathers had already escaped to Virginia. Lord Baltimore, however, soon again recovered his authority, and liberty of conscience was once more restored. An act was then passed making it a felony to disturb the order which was re6stablished. I-Ienceforth, no authority was to be recognized except the Assembly and the King. The light of peace promised to dawn anew upon the land. Thus was Maryland at the epoch of the restoration, in full possession of liberty, based upon the 1Shea, The Catholic Church in Colonial Days. lI31l

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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

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Q Jlllllllllllll: , A A Ellllllg ' . iflllllllllllle ' ' if practical assertion of the sovereignty of the people. The Colony developed The population increased steadily so that in 1660 there were between eight and twelve thousand souls, at peace with God and man determined to spend the remainder of their lives in that Maryland dear to the hearts of each and everyone. These then were the contrasting conditions existing in the realms of Puritamsm and Catholicism in Colonial times. We have seen in the one, bigotry and prejudice, nourished by hate and ill will, in the other, tolerance and brotherly love. We have seen how the Puritans, apparently unmindful of the sufferings they formerly experienced in England under prejudiced sover- eigns, now administering similar persecutions upon those at variance with their beliefs. On the other hand, we have noticed how the Catholics, having undergone the same afflictions, and remembering the terrible penalties that were exacted from them, now cheerfully opening to all not only their Colony but also their hearts. Indeed, a genuine Christian charity was here dis- played. Truly, Maryland was a haven for the oppressed, an abode of religious freedom, a state constructed along the very teaching of Christ: Love thy neighbor as thyself .viii ttlmraoysiyr awe Xl ll32l gmnnu ll alll I 1 ! I . illlllllllllll 'I I I