True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-01-18

oughly Christian; because the intellect,
knowledge, and ideas of mankind were not
sufficiently penetrated with the spirit of re-
ligion." 1t is truly lamentable to look
back on these periods, and knowing thence
from whence all these evils originated, con-
template the arrogance withwhich the sue
cessors of these men assume now to be the
exclusive guides of faith and reason. Ca.
tholicism truly has yet many errors for
which she has to atone--errors which in
the aggregate cover its whole past history
but here we scarcely know whether.it is
most an object of commiseration or censure.
When the Catholic church shall first eman-
cipate from the fetters of ignorance her
own long ensavcd millions, when she shall
appear to be less jealous supporter Of
church than of public education, she may
then lay some reasonable claim to her pres
ent unreasonable pretensions. In the mean
time her different theories on the subiectof
education, not to advert to her uniform
practice, mutually refute one another; and
we may plead the authority of one against
the authority of another
Those who believe in the sincerity of
her former professions and practices, when
ignorance was regarded to be the adjunct
of religion, must disbelieve her present
pretensions. The great problem to account
for the origin and maintenance of this new
theory of papal propagandism may fall
within our present design. That the end,
however unworthy. Or whatever the steps
taken to accomplish it, (sanctifes the means)
is, we believe, an avowed papal doctrine.
All intermediate derelictions from correct
morality are adjusted in making up the ag-
gregatc. Then education is in this coun-
try popular subject, and none object to
the Catholics receiving due proportion Of
its benefits: 1t is also demonstrated that
these appliances are indispensable to de-
nominational success and influence. The
masses are daily becoming more and moro
enlightened, and it is quite necessary that
there should at least be the external ap-
pcarance of zeal in its behalf. Tetzcls in
dulgencies have been converted into equally
remunerative scholarships in Catholic SEM
inaries and colleges, and the surplus favors
are dispensed in learned degrees and char
ity hospitals. Far be it from us to impugn
the motives with which many of these sub
ordinate laborers and teachers engage in
these enterprises, as we have only to remark
concerning the obvious, combined, ecclesi-
asticaI motives for which these institutions
are endowed and maintained.
Intellect was awakened in the great re-
formation, and Protestantism starts out
claiming kindred with learning and science.
If indeed she has sometimes appeared to
forget her mission-t0 neglect literary men
or perhaps for the time, to join in the
sometimes popular outcry against the i'm
provements of the age-it is not to be set
down to the injury of religion. Young
Professionalism everywhere suffers vastly
from previous influences, and it required a
heightened experience to fully invest her
with all her Holy Bible elements. 1t is
at all times personally difficulty to break
the force of old associates and habits; to
act consistently with renewed professions.
Yet how much more perplexing, when
as in the transition from Romanism to
Professionalism, systems undergo an entire
change, and when whole communities sud-
denly assume to act from changed and re-
newed motives and impulses. 1t is quite
common to set down the early errors of
Professionalism to its own account, when
those errors are obviously chargoable to old
bigOtry and superstition. We admit that
the early refomcrs were not immaculate,
that they were sometimes intolerant and
inconsistent, that they did many things
which ought not to have been done, and
which they themselves would not have
done had they lived longer; and yet that
only shows that their errors are to be ira
ced to their former associations. Who
has not heard of Calvin and Servetus, and
who does not perceive that if half that is
attached to the great roformer be Justly
chargeable, he was rather more on object
of commiseration than censure. In like
manner we also account for many of the
errors in Protestant theology, not only in
the doctrines themselves, but in their
modes of augmentation, and in the undue
stress laid upon certain doctrines and prac-
tices, to the exclusion of others. In the
early ages of the church she sustained
great injury from the mingling in of the
various systems of philosophy, and Prot
estantism in turn suffered from equally
obnoxious influences in the Catholic
Church. The reformers discovered one
new truth and got rid of one old supersti-