The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-08-13
A Converts Reconversion.
A SON OF MRS. HEMANs RENoNvERTED TO PROTEST
ANTISM.

A SON OF MRS. HEMANs RENoNvERTED TO PROTEST
ANTIsM.
The conversion to Catholicism of Mr.. Charles
Hemans, son of the poetess, was announced
many years ago. The Paris correspondent OF
the London Guardian states that Mr. Hemans
has recently returned TO the English Church,
and adds:-'When he first went over to Rome
Mr.. Hemans exhibited all the tervent zeal OF
new convert. He spent at least ten years in
Rome, during which he published, lew years
ago, Catholic Italy and her Sanctuaries.' He
began careful investigation OF the monuments
6f Rome, beginning with those of the classical
and Pagan period, and then proceeding to the
catacombs and early Christian monuments. He
entered on the latter field OF study with the
fullest persuasion that what he found there
would only strengthen and deepen his already
strong and tervent attachment to the Roman
system. The result OF patient, long-contlnued,
and earnest investigation has in a striking
manner led him to the directly opposite conclu-
sion. Mr.. Hemans is, l believe, at present
engaged on a work in which he will fully set
forth the conclusions he has arrived at and his
grounds for them. Meanwhile, am permitted
TO offer you TOR publication letter addressed by
hun to a friend on the subject, In which he
states briefly the motives which have actuated
his conduct. The contents can, think, scarcely
be otherwise than interestingly to English church
men. They are as iollows:-
"'Rev. and Dear Sr:-ln reference to the step
/ have lately taken in leaving the communion
OF the Roman Catholic Church, 1t has seemed
to me that, as in regard to such solemn ques-
tions the experiences OF every mind may be
worthy of attention, simple statement OF my
motives may not be uninteresting. Having
been induced, during the many years spent by
me at Rome, to examine into the evidences of
Christian antiquity in the range OF catacome
monuments, and having approached that study
with a strong sense OF the value of these print
tive records as the incOrrupt and pure express
sion OF the mind OF the ancient Church, have
been finally leo to see that between the picture
of past reality there presented and the actual
religious practice of Rome exists an opposition
laffa anfsn 10 On ~ a ~ in
short, which / believe no amount oil ingenious
erudition, nor augmentation or sophistrY, can
either explain away or harmonic. Without
entering into controversy, Tor which / have
| neither taste nor vocation, may indicate two
| points especially which | believe to be con-
| demned, in their Roman Catholic acceptance,
| bv the testimony OF those ancient monuments
the idea OF an absolute earthly headship to
| which all rights and prerogatIves converge in
| the successor of 81. Peter; and the worship
| under whatever modification, OF creatures, i'm
| plying Of course, that so prominent IN the
| Roman system, cl which the Blessed Virgin Is
| the object-tOtally wanting the support, and
| repugnant to the sense, OF the evidences de-
| ducible from tue range Of catacom6 art and
| geography.
Il must own that other considerations, for
| instance, in regard to the Papacy as an inststu-
| ton OF government, spiritual and temporal, and
| the principles lately ayowed by it, in manner
| so emphatic; have had their weight with me in
leading to a decision so important; but II is,
| above all, that body OF monumental proofs so
| strikingly illustrative OF the past and which
| Rome herself is so wisely careful to preserve
and studious to investigate, that has so inhu.
| enced me az to cause my abandonment of re-
ligious proles sion in which I no longer found
peace of mind or intellectual satisfaction. Not
the less do l still appreciate and value much
that is beautiful, holy, and useful in the system
have thus declared myself against, and must
continue to believe that Rome has great task
assigned to her tor the furtherance of Christian
civilization. Much, however, that .presenG:
itself to the attention, in the course OF long
me-to the painful conviction that it is rathe
the zeal for the interests of potent system thar
a pure uncompronising love of truth, by which
her ecclesiastical policy Is animated, though
assuredly many pure and truth loving mind
are, and perhaps ever will be, found among he
adherepts. CHARLES j, HEMANs,'"