The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-09-13 00:00:00

THE REV. W. F. TAYLOR'S LECTURE.

ROMANISM nr RELATION TO ART AND SCIENCE.

On Thursday evening, pursuant to advertisement, a
lecture was delivered in the Concert-hall, Lord Nelson-

IIV to th

delivered by I/

Mr. Geo. Nickson, warden of Si
platform we observed the Revs.
ley, Messrs. Brakell, 0. Willi

,nd and J

Gwatkin, &c.
The hall was filled in every part, and shortly after the

for want of accommodation. After a few preliminary re-
marks, the rev. lecturer stated that he had felt called upon
to deliver a lecture on the subject announced by placard,

more so, because Dr. Wiseman had lately an

)eared in this

town, and before a Liverpool audience, and sought to con-
vey the impression that his church was favourable to ad-
t and progress in every sense, than which nothing

vancemen

not the lecturer's intention so much to discuss the various
statements in detail, made by Dr. Wiseman in his lecture
at the Philharmonic-hall—this had been done in several

of the local papers, and with considerable ability—he
was more desirous to demonstrate that the character
assumed by Dr. Wiseman, as the advocate of education,
and art, and science, and commerce—inaugurating a
so-called Catholic Institute—was a false position for any
Romanist to occupy ; that so far from Romanism being,
favourable to progress and advancement, it was notorious
and patent to the world that she was identified with igno-

ranee, and vice, and poverty, all through Europe, and
must be so from the very necessities of the case. The
mask, therefore, should be torn from Dr. Wiseman, and
the real objects of his visit to this town distinctly appre-
hended. It was, no doubt, in part, a money-making spe-
culation. Perhaps he thought that many foolish, curious
Protestants would pay seven shillings and sixpence to get
a peep at the cardinal and his red stockings—(applause)—
but he was rather disappointed.
Dr. Wiseman came to this town to make it appear that
his church was favourable to education, and to the ad-

, -
going to take the mere assertion of a Romish. cardinal.
(Hear.) Protestants are accustomed to reason, to demand
argument ; they will not be content to be priest-led,----and,
"my brethren" (said the lecturer), examine what I say—
try it—weigh it—test it. If it stands the- test of argu-

ment, receive it ;if not, reject it." (Applause.)
Now, first, be it remembered that there is a great dis-
tinction between art and science. These terms have not
been sufficiently distinguished ; they have not been used
with sufficient discrimination. Art and science are so
frequently classed together, that it is usually supposed
that where the one is, there is the other also. Rome takes
advantage of this loose way of speaking ; and as it must be

Ler certain

:ations, patronised

and music, she would lead you to infer that she is fa-
vourable to science—(hear) ;—and I know nothing can be
more fallacious than this course of reasoning ; for, observe
the marked distinction which obtains between art and
science. By the arts are evidently meant those produc-
tions of human genius or skill which are addressed to the
sentiment, the taste, the imagination, the fancy ; whereas,
science is knowledge,—depends on reason, investigation,
experiment, observation, and is addressed to the discussive
faculties.
Art calls forth the exercise of the imitative faculties.
Science the inventive. The one (art) may be in a tolerably
high state of perfection, with but, comparatively, little
knowledge of the principles of science. Care, attention,
repetition, practice, will go far to produce some valuable
specimens of art, particularly if a slight acquaintance with
the principles of light and shade be added ; but sci-
ence requires the knowledge of the principles of
natural philosophy, the knowledge of causes and ef
fects, induction, analysis, separate examination of
particulars, and thence a deduction of general con-
clusions ;—in fact, science calls for the exercise of the
higher faculties of the soul, the purely intellectual com-
bined with oft-repeated experiment and observation. Art
depends on the powers of imitation, the imaginative, the
fanciful, the sentimental, which, though beautiful and lovely
when in strict subordination to the stern requirements of
principle and truth, are yet vastly inferior to the former
in sterling quality. In fine, art may be found in the in-
fancy of the human mind—science only in the manhood.
It may, then, be easily seen why Popery patronises art
under certain restrictions,—that is, as long as she makes
its creatures subservient to her own idolatrous purposes..
Romanism is a religion of sentiment and every imagina-
tion, and she adopts every means to keep her unhappy
victims bound in her mystic spells.
Hence her beauteous paintings, her chiselled marbles,
her noble architecture, her exquisite music, her waving.
incense, her gorgeous ceremonial, her priestly vestments,
all conspiring to strike the imagination and fascinate the
senses ; but, in all this, there is no appeal to the reason or
those nobler faculties of the soul. (Great applause.)
There is a passage in our Homilies which bears so fitly
on this point that it would be well to read a few lines
from it :—" Now concerning excessive decking of images
with painting, gilding, adorning with precious vestures,
pearls and stone, what is it else but for the further provo-
cation and enticement to spiritual fornification ? which the
idolatrous church understandeth well enough; for she
being not only an harlot, as the scripture calleth her, but
also a foul old withered harlot (for she is, indeed, of
ancient years), and understanding her lack of nature and
true beauty, doth paint and decorate herself with gold,
and pearl, and atone,—that the shining with outward
glory and beauty may please the foolish fantasy of fond
lovers, who, if they saw her but in simple apparel, would
abhor her as the foulest and filthiest harlot that ever was
seen, whereas the true church of God, as a chaste. matron,
espoused, as the scripture teacheth, to one husband, our
Saviour Jesus Christ, is content with her natural orna-
ment, not doubting, by such sincere simplicity, but to
please Him who can well skill to discern between a painted
visage and a true natural beauty." (Tremendous. ap-
plause.) It will be seen that art, such as above described,
may exist, aye and flourish too, under Romanism ; but as
for science, it may be demonstrated that it can have no
footing wherever Popery reigns. In fact, they bear to each
other an inverse ratio. Science and Romanism cannot co-
exist; for this reason, that that condition of mind whereon
science depends cannot obtain in Roma countries.
Science can only flourish where the mind is free to expa-
tiate amid the wonders of nature, where thought is un-
trammelled, investigation unchecked, where the individual
is free to examine, to prove, to conclude, without regard
to consequences. If the mind be held in leading strings,
to prevent it coming into collision with established theories,
theological or scientific, then science cannot advance.
(Hear, hear.)
Now it may be shown that it is the genius of Romanism
to repress thought, to fetter the mind, to cramp the intel-
lect, and thus to destroy that mental condition out of
which alone science can arise. (Hear.)
Take, for example, her doctrine of unconditional sub-
mission to the teaching of the Church. The infant mind
of the Romanist is taught, from the earliest years, to re-
ceive with unquestioning credence, unhesitating confi-
dence, the word of the priest. Thus a habit of mental
inactivity is engendered, and that in those matters which,
above all others, should occupy the thoughts of an ha-
mortal being—namely, matters of religion ; a habit which
speedily communicates itself to all the other processes of
thought ; when the mind is accustomed to indolence and
inertness in reference to the greatest of all concerns, it
will not be readily moved to concerns which are in com-
parison but trifles. (Hear, hear.) Take also into con-
sideration the fact, that their priests are bound to read
their Breviary every day. And, what does the Breviary
contain ? A collection of lying legends and absurd stories,
the constant perusal of which must impart an imbecility
of mind to the peruser of them. We all know what effect
would be produced on the mind if, from earliest infancy.
a child were accustomed to read nothing but the edify-
ing history of such heroes as "Jack and the Bean Stalk,"
the story of " Cinderella and the Glass Slipper," &c.; and
pray what different effect can be produced on the mind
accustomed to read, as its daily aliment, the lying marvels
of " St. Dennis, who carried his head under his arm, after
it was cut off, for two miles ;" of "St. Nicholas, who,
when an infant, would suck only once on Wednesdays
and Fridays, and that in the evening ?" The mind, in
such case, must be stereotyped in infantile imbecility.
(Loud applause.)
Once more, the practice of the Confessional has the same
effect on the mind. Suppose, for example,' an individual
was to investigate the science of astronomy, and even to
Arrive at some such discovery as Galileo, that the earth
revolved round the sun, and not the sun round the earth
—suppose that doubts were excited in his mind as to the
way in which this fact could be reconciled with those pas-
sages of Scripture which seem to affirm the immoveability
of the earth—as "He hath laid the foundations of the
earth that it cannot be moved at any time ."—that he
came to the priest in the Confessional, told his reverence
that he had some doubts on the point. Now, if that priest
were, as nearly all are, grossly ignorant of science, and
unable to solve the difficulty, he would repress the spirit
of inquiry, warn the penitent not to indulge these doubts,
so that the moment any one doubted, that moment he be-
came virtually excommunicated from the body of the
church, and that, therefore, he had better give over his
investigations lest they might lead him to heresy. Simi-
lar remarks might be made on the science of geology,
which, until lately, was thought to clash with the Mosaic
account of the creation of the world.—(Hear.)
Now, on the other hand, Protestant Christianity gene-
rates science, because it emancipates the mind, elevates
the soul, sets all the faculties of the intellect in active
operation, opens a wide field of research, unfolds the broad
page of revelation, familiarises the mind with the great
and momentous truths therein contained—truths concern-
ing the Creator and creation ; man—his state, his relation
to his fellows and his Maker ; redemption, with all its
thrilling associations ;—thus, that condition of soul is
created which most efectually gives birth to true science.
The individual who is conversant with these truths, and
who is taught to think and judge for himself, becomes
distinguished by boldness of conception, originality of
thought, breadth of intellect, vigour and manliness of
mind. Free to ransack the arcana of nature, he makes
it yield to him its choicest treasures. Hence the wondrous
inventions of modern times. (Applause.) These conclu-
sions, thus arrived at by independent, and, so to speak,
a priori reasoning from the genius of Popery and Protest-
antism respectively, are borne out by experience and the
facts of European history.

How can
Science has no-
- lore sublime dis-
nursued under the infiu-
ion."—Wisetnan's Lee-

Science was non-existent in the dark a
this be accounted for, if it be true that
where flourished more, or originated

coveries than where it has bt,
ence of the Roman Catholic re.e,—
lure at Leeds.
In the dark ages, i.e. from the 6th to the 16th cent
speaking in round numbers—Rome was sup4ei.me

And and the , -,,r Popes
trate souls and bodies of

had it all her own way. Hildel
sat with their feet upon the pro
the serfs of Europe. There were comparative
tics. Why, then, when this was the condition
did not science expand under the genial influences of
Romanism and the fostering care of the Popes—those
patterns of virtue and learning ? And yet scarce one
scientific name can Rome boast in the long: period of a
tIiQuISP.II4 yew, WhYa according tQ Dr, Win g-0,01 (speech