New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-03-18
LECTURES.
The RnformntIon and It's ELECTS


By REV. ). LORD.
Mr. Lord gave the last Lecture Of bis course on
the Reformation aud its Heroes on Thursday
evening, to crowded and attentive audience
The subject was the connection of Protestant
ism with Civilization. He FIRST defined his mean
ing of Civilization, which WAS not merely Art and
Literature and National Glory, since that existed
in considerable perfection among the Ancients
but those great ideas on which the true progress
Of Society is based.
Both Catholics and Protestants claim for their
respective Churches higher and nobler develop
ments of mind and character than were ever seen
in Pagan States Both admit that what is vatua-
BILE in life and human ustitutons is TO be traced to
the power Of great renovstng principles
Mr. Lord does not deny that the Roman Cath
Ole Church, in the Middle Ages, bestowed bene-
fits and advanced ideas which proved blessing
10 the wsrld inasmuch as Christianity was not
wholly suppressed, and, though corrupted, re
tanned some great truths, and truths whore I'M
portance is admitted by the most bgOted and
bitter Of Protestant sectarans at the present day
Mr. Lord admitted that all that was beautiful
healthy and benehcent in the Middle Ages came
from Catholicism-call it Romau or any other
name whatever that If Christianity was vital
anywhere it was in the bosom of this corrupted
Gh%Sh ne Tau6 her 70 SSt. %e s R0 66a
rians from rudeness and ignOrance-thats she never
obscured some great orthodox doctrines,-that
She always enjOined some great cardinal duties
that she was never in6del.-thst che encouraged
son,e glorious objects Of benevolence,-th she
incucated hospitality and charity,-that she gave
the only education which the times Afforded
that she welded men of genius, rewarded merit,
and advanced many of those arts which we now
value-that, in that, she taught some great ideas
and Christian ideas, which raised the poor from
DO dot nd n
the people, ground down to the earth by political
slavery and social despOtism.
But in admitting these things for truth and
Justice sake, Mr.. Lord mentioned that IN these
vely things Professionalism has done more-that
il has favored civilization in all those points
which both Catholics and Protestants, when en-
ligttened, claim to be the essence Of civilization.
Professionalism has done more for popular
Education-knowledge in Protestant countries IS
more generally diffdsed, illustrated by cOmpsrl
son between England and lreland-Scotland and
ItAly-Prussia and Austra-Canada and the mi
ted States, aud which cannot be denied, except
ny man Of brazen and impudent audActy. And
Protestant countries have not only favored educa
ton among the people more than Catholic coan.
tries, but have produced more illustrious men OF
letters and science, which the lecturer amply Il.
Illustrated.
Again, as to industrial habits, Mr.. Lord main
tanned there could be no argument, since it is a
countries are comparatively lazy and poor, and
miserable which cannot be attributed to Govern
ment so much as religion and the social institu-
tions which sustained by it, And the candid
Catholic is generally willing TO admit this, on the
ground that his religion thinks more OF the lmma
terial soul than the material body-for what shall
il profit a man to gain the world and lose his soul
The Catholic abEorbs wealth in gorgeous church.
es, in useless cere mOnies-has too many holidays,
and seeks too many aAUsemehts-loves the orna-
mental rather than the useful, and despises ma
teTiRl thrift.
Catholicism claims greater spirituality, bat this
claim is unfounded. What is spirituality Is it
idolatrous veDeration for pictures and statues,
and an imposing service, and unreHectng ODE
dience to the priesthood, rather than a reverence
for the sacred oraces and respect for the reasons
which God has given Have the Catholics a more
scrupuous morality, or Steiner sense of sacrifice
than their Protestant brethren Are jesuit Mis-
siouaries more devoted than New. England Mis-
sionaresl Are those helps TO devotion which
they use indication oflofty spirituality than
the worship of God without them! Is it an evi.
dence Of deeper pety TO believe the voice of the
Church than the written Word of Godl
Mr.. Lord then proceeded to show the IN.
measurable superiority of Protestant coun
tries and influence, to the Catholic in the
spirit and developments Of talents-not mere
" by contrasting all the countries of Eu-
consequences Of that principle which the two
churches have respectively cherished. The right
OF private judgment is the elemental principle Of
Protestantism- the denial Of it the genius of
Romanism, which, on the other hand, maintains
the authority Of the Church in opposition to the
Bible, which opens the door for clerical usurpa-
ton and most degrading des acknowledgements
actually seen in any Catholic Country ia Europe
IN temporal and in spiritual matters, if we except
France where Catholicism had given place to Inf.
deity. And is DOT the right Of Judgment percep-
tlble OF indefinite applicatons-to liberty in po-
htical governments as well as 10 ecclesiastical
matters, as manifested in the United States whore
ProteItsntism has achieved its nobleat triumph
seen not in government merely bat 10 every form
Of social life, and the unbounded scope given to
energy and enthusiasm. Mr.. Lord expanded this
head TO considerable length, which our liaits for.
bid us 20 insert-showing how liberty, whether
blessing or curse, icas the grand peculiarly Of
Protestsntism, and how it could not thrive where
Protestantism did not exist He showed the great
triumphs Of liberty wherever Protestantism was
islry planted, giving tone and vigor to all the
enterprise Of man, and favoring everything which
pertsired to progress and philanthropy.
81 concluded by panegyriziDg the institutions
OF freedom, and by expressing the most sanguine
hopes Of the progress Of our race In spite OF the
slow progress OF society, and those disorders and
revolutions through which their progress has been
seen.