The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-10-13
FATHER HYACINTHE.

1t is not Oyer-stating the case to say that there
has been for long time no movement of any man
in Christendom, which has attracted so much at
tention as the recent course Of this celebrated
priest of the Roman Catholic Church in Paris.
Every newspaper in this country has something to
say about it. and the same sensation seems to have
been made in Europe. How is this to be account
ed for-what does it pOrtend? We have published
the fact of his withdrawal from the station he oc-
cupied but preferred to reserve the expression of
an opinion as to its significance till his views might
be more precisely ascertained. This we are now
enabled to do from the letter addressed to the
General of his Order, and which may be found on
the first page of this paper. While it would be
satisfaction to see also the letter of that dignitary
to which this is a reply, yet quite enough may be
gathered to show plainly the current along which
Father Hyaeinthe is moving. He has not formal
ly severed his connection with the French Catholic
Church, but it is quite plain that he is no longer
Roman Catholic. The letter is a production of
great beauty and skill, and We may add Of great
personal dignity. No wonder that it has fallen
with such startling effect The French papers say
that no such language has been heard in the bosom
of the Roman Catholic Church for three hundred
years
The impression which this priest has made for
years has been extraordinary. He has high rep
utation for learning, piety and zeal. His senti-
ments lie along the track of Fenelon Pascal aud
others of the best and most evangelical caste to be
found in the Church of Rome. The tone of his
preaching has for years been giving no small IN
easiness to Rome-it savOrs entirely too much of
Professionalism. Ii was because Of certain decided
expressions Of this kind uttered in the presence OF
admiring crowds of the most fashionable hearers
in Notre Dame, that the preacher was summoned
to Rome to give an account of himself The most
offensive opinion aScIibed to him seems to have
been what he said in commendation Of the people
in Great Britain and elsewhere, for giving free cir
eulatiOn to the Scriptures. This doctrine has al
ways been carefully labelled by Rome as rank poi
son. The reply Father Hyacinthe makes to the
summons of his superior, brings to view, in some
degree, the state Of his mind enough to show
that in all probability gulf is opened, if not fixed
between him and Rome
The Importance Of this detection from Popery !
arises from two considerations The first is in the
character VI tue Ludu WHO taxes the Sl6p NO one |
can appreciate it who is unaware Of the extent to
which the fame Of this priest has penetrated |
French, and especially Partisan society. England
is not more thoroughly pervaded by the name of
Spurgeon, than is France by that of Hyacinthe. |
Whether he has SpurgeOns power of organization
we cannot tell: a year or two may give him a grand
opportunity for testing that point. But in pas
sionate eloquence, in that mysterious, magnetic
power that faseinates all classes Of hearers, and
holds them spellbound, he is no doubt ineompara.
bly, Spurgeon's superior. The sobriety belonging
to the thoughts in this letter, as well as an nspec
ton of some OF his sermons more than ten years
ago, are enough to satisfy US that his preaching
cannot be made up Of that sensational element
which entrances the nearer, but produces no other
effect than mystical devotion or blind fanati-
eism. An intelligent correspondent of leading
religious paper in this country, writing from Paris
more than year ago, gave deeply interesting