The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-13
REMAINS ROMANTIC THEOLOGY.
HIS Latest PrOductiOn-FrnncIs of Assist
ga Second Christi

OF the heroes of the Roman Catholic religion
whose merits he conceived had not been sufi-
ciently appreciated without the pale of Mother
church, His "Franz Won ASSIST published at
Lelpeic, excited at the time profound attention
ana interest, and much discussion; subsequently
kept alive by a "studyn on the Same theme which
nj. Charles Belthoud gave the Paris press
TWO years aeo and which is now doubtless to
be perpetuated, because NJ. Ernest Renan has
taken Il up, and Is making it the topic of some
enthusiastic papers in the Journal des Debdts.
To the classification OF theology heretofore in
vogue among those who regard religion more as
science than n asentiment-theology scholastic
dogmatlc, moral didactic-Renan has added
new order, to be properly known as ''romanticp
theology, since, departing from the obligations
oil literal Interpretation, 1t INDUCES the widest
range in the field of the picturesque, and at
tempts the adaptation of the selfdenying ordi-
nances OF an humble Christianity to the REQUIRE
ments OF an nnreguated and even exuberant
imagination. The Life of Jesus - his first pub-
lcation IN this new kind, startled the Christian
world with its seemingly irreverent caricatures
Of the Founder OF the faith, who, so far from
appearing as the Son or other adequate repre.
sentative OF God, was drawn rather as a tender
lunatic, governed by desire to reform and rule
mankind, and disposed to vary his character
anu pIetenslons, ana restate his mission, as
moHentary expediency suggested. A church
thus originated could only be developed and
perpetuated by means accordant with its
nativity; and the History OF the Apostles" is a
hlghly fancliul and speculative recital of the
policy pursued by the Disciples in their effort to
make sect OF Judaism the universal legatee of
those forms Of paeanism which, at the Saviour's
advent, were already in their last agony.
Other volumes of Remains romantic excursion
into the domains of theology are promised,
tracing the results of these schemes of the
primitive Christians to their maturity in the
Church and the world; and no doubt curiosity
will carry to their study thousands whose con-
victions they may not disturb, and who will
rise from the perusal with more Teverential faith.
FRANCIS OF ASSIST.
In these contributions to the Journal des
DeOdtS, Renan is engaged in anticipating some
of the conclusions which are unouesiionahIv to
form the practical application OF his system
10 those unfamiliar with the golden legends of
Roman Cathollc sanctity, it will be proDer TO
say thls one OF the saints whom that Church
TeVerences under the name of Francis was an
Italian, who lived between Il90 and 1926; that
he was OF exemplary life, and of devotion so
exalted as to WORK or provoke miracles said to
De unquestionably of divine origin; that he par
tlcipated in the Fifth Crusade and founded the
second of those begging orders of monks
whose austerites were suggested by the piety
OF the Waldenses, a people whom II was the
business of Christianity at that time to perse-
cute with relentless cruelty, and for whose
correction the terrors OF the Inquisition were
Contrlved.
For those atrocities the Dominicans, rather
than the Francscans, were censurable, The
rule OF the latier-also known as Cordeliers
Capuchlns, Preaching Frars, Grey Friars, and
minor Brethten-was one of entire gehtleness
and sel-negation. Itwas for them to live solely
upon aims, to preach, confess, eXhort, and
comfort, and even to celebrate mass; while the
great rival order founded By Dominic was
addicted to science rather than love; aud dis
pensing justice and punishment, only dealt in
mercy IN the lorm OF indulgences, for the sale
OF which they held monopoly. 1t may not be
wholly out OF place to add that one of these
orders adhered to the dogma OF the immaculate
conception of the Virgin, a doctrine recently
adopted by the Church, while the other bitterly
Of this order of monks the Italian hermit was
the founder, and has ever since been the
divinity. The expression is not used unad-
visedly. One OF the earliest and rarest or
printed books was that of Bartholomew Albizzi,
a Franciscan, entitled the 'Book of the Con.
formity OF Saint Francis with Christ" for which
as reward the author in general chapter of
the order was presented with the identical habit
worn by the Saint. In this work there is a close
parallel drawn between the Saviour and the
monk in all the sacred attributes of the former:
while for merits and virtues which the evange-
lists have omitted to ascribe to Christ, the Ceno-
bite receives full credit and is therefore de-
scribed as OF purer holiness and excellence than
the Son OF God himself So eXtravagant and in
deed impious seemed this laudatIon that the
orthodoxy, whether within or without the
church, never ceased TO exclaim against it.
Father Vereerio wrote a book in reiutation, and
it was placed in the Index at Rome. Albert
Erasmus, in satire, to which Luther puts a
preface, called it the 'Koran of the Cordeiers, "
and with that name the satire has passed 1t
down to posterity. AT. last the Franciscans be-
came ashamed OF the Book of Conformities, y
and as later editions OF the volume have ap
pealeu ltS eNraVaeances nave gradually Deen
qualified, until st. Francis has been toned down
10 the standard OF humanity.
REMAINS AIM.
To restore the character ofthe Italian visionary
to its equality with that OF Jesus, Is apparently
the present aim of M. Renan. In the review
we have referred to, the writer says that
-"since Christ, st. Francis is the man who
has the most limpd conscience, the most per-
feet simplicity the most lively sense Of his fila
relation with the Heavenly Father. In hm
adam seems not 10 haze siyaned."
And after vouchihg for the authenticity OF tho
monkish legends touching his hero, he proceeds
''What distinguishes Francis OF Assist in hi
age and in all time is his perfect originality HI
is undoubtedly Christian, and one very sub
missive to Mother Church; but his piety is Of {
sort peculiar to himself :: What u
strictly his own is his manner OF feeling. Franci
heard but one voice in nature. One day, as ht
returned to his hermitage irom The Alverno, th
birds in throngs carolled near his CELL See
my brother said he, how our sisters relolc
at our coming" Afterwards, at the hour OF hi
DEATH Saint Bonaventura relates with admira
tion that the skylarks, those lovers OF the light
flew joyfuly over the roof of the house, alread
Obscured with the shadows of night. His per
feet goodness renders these miracles credible
He had attained the supreme happiness, tn
perpetual Joy OF the great artist, ana that OF al
beings who are nearest to God. lmltator OF the
Heavenly Father who makes His sun rise upol
the just and the unjust, and of the sun whicl
each morning sees with equal smile the huma
1 hive awake to pursue its pleasure, he believe
not in evil; he denied its existence. Not tina
he was indifferent; but looking into the depth
of the human soul, he saw no sin but self lishnesS
Weakness and error we're hardly sins in his est
nation.
''Since Jesus Francis of Assist has been tn
only perfect Christian. What most highly dis
II tinguishes him is that, with faith and love with
out bounds, he undertook to fulfil the pre-
Cramme of (iallee His first rule flor his order