Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-12-25
PRoTEsTANTIsm A SUCCESS.

Professionalism was born the day Luther
nailed his Theses to the door Of the castle
church. For time its growth was wonder
tu and it promised to pervade all Europe.
The universal corruption of the Romisb
church, and the disgust of the public mind
at its impostures and immoralities, pre-
pared the way for the new religion. while
the zeal of the Reformers, and the fruits of
piety springing from the new faith inclined
multitudes to its reception. The power of
the Roman Catholic church, rooted by an
unIsputed sway Of thousand years, seem
ed completely broken. and one might have
predicted the universal triumph Of better
and more rational faith.
But, as Lord Maeaulay hasso foreibly sta
ted in his review Of Ranke's History of the
Popes, the aggressive power, of Protestant
Ism enueu wI5n the lHe or Luther "FIffy
years after the Lutheran separation. Cathol
ieisur could scarcely maintain itself on the
shores Of the Mediterranean. A hundred
years after the separation, Professionalism
could scarcely maintain itself ON the shores
Of the Baltic. Nor has Professionalism. in
the course Of two hundred years, been able
TO feconqner any portion Of what it then
lost = The decline of Protestant feryor
and the Infusion of new life into Romanisn
10y the birth of the Jesuits, turned the tide
Of succcsss and no great changes have occur
red in the relations of the two powers tin
the middle Of the nineteenth century.
Never since the great Catholic reaction
under Loyola, have its prospects Of growth
IN Europe been more cheering. Romanism
is weak, and isIosing itshold on ali the great
nations Of the continent The Italian people
feel that the pope and cardinals are antag-
onistic to all the national aspirations for
unity and growth, and they are alienated
from church whose sympathies are with
thepa5t rather that the future. The Ans
trian people, ehagrincd at their loss of pres
dge in the late war, .ascribe ,iheir defeat to
priestly control over education and social
progress, and are earnestly demanding free
dom from ehurchly dietation. Discomfort
is rife in Spain because the DEVELOPMENT Of
national resources is hindezed BY the despot-
ism of,the church, and a revolution is i'm
pending In France al5ne among European
nations, is the Catholic church holding a
warm place in the affections and confidence
Of the people, and the power.of France is
now overshadowed By Prussia, which is ab-
sorb;ag, into Itself the whole Of Germany,
and must become the greatest military pow
er and most fourishing nation of the CONT
nent
Professionalism, therefore, may rejoice IN
its moral aaoepdency. The social forces Of
the aye are enlisted in the support of its
great principles, and its progress for the
next fifty years promises to be far more rapid
than for three centuries. Great Britain,
Prussia and the United States, the three
fnrernost natiae. af che --e.Isl s--4.liss,.-.-
and enterprise, lead the Protestant move
ment, and their power in moulding the pub
| lie sentiment Of the age cannot well be meas
ured The seventh jubilee Of the Reforma-
ton can be celebrated with thanksgiyingand
/ praise. = Hdtctn,aa and Reflector