The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-10-08
PERE HYACINTHE.
The Effects of HI. Letter in France-commen

VII 0ho SuuJSCJ Ol Jne IapM COuncu. GUBg-
nam, of Paris, has the following analysis of
the comments of the press:-
Pere Hyacinthes letter continues to excite
a great commotion in the Paris press, the
moderately liberal and ultra democratic Jour
nal praising it highly, while clerical and legi-
timist organs condemn il in the strongest
terms. We yesterday gave an extract from
the Union reprehending the document, and
at present the Monde, and still more the Uni
GERS, are not sparing of their criticisms and
reproaches. M. Veuillot, however, in the last
named journal, notwithstanding the bitterness
of his appreciation, hopes that the eX-preacher
of Notre Dame will not be long in acknowledge
ing, eff not the error of his heart at least
that of his vanity" The Pays, which, in
certain measure, forms part of the religious
press, expresses the deepest sorrow, and re-
minds its readers that the downfall of Lamen-
nais commenced in the same manner. The
De6dtS again reverts to the topic, and in doing
SO draws attention to the strong opposition
which has of late it declares, sprung up
against certain dogmas of the Church of
Rome.
Our contemporary says:-The UR50eTS looks
upon one of the most illustrious French &C.
clesiastics as a weak-minded being, and adds:
''For O long time past that worthless fruit
has been detached from the tree. What
most irritates Nj. Veuillot is the phrase rela-
tive to society in the nineteenth century; he
is indignant at seeing that holy robe cast
away on the highway of modern ideas Two
centuries ago, a man whom France counted
among her greatest writers, and the Church
among her purest glories, risked a PROPOSE
tion considerably more daring than that
which now excites the anger of our Ultramon-
tanes:-''I have deeply reflected, wrote that
illustrious bishop, ION what you tell me, that
Rome, instead of being Modified by what is
granted to her, takes every concession for an
l,o, ~, love To
carry her demands still further. l have
understood that fact, but have nothing to
say to it except that the bishops who speak
should consider future ages as we'll as the
present, and that their strength consists in
saying the truth as they understand it"
This language no doubt exceeds all the au-
dacity of Father Hyacinthe, but we shall not
disarm the anger of NJ. VeuiIlot by saying
shat the above Objectionable phrase is ex-
tracted from letter written by Bossuet on
the 2Sth of October, 1867, to M. Dirois, Doc
tor of the Sorbonne, for, is well known,
the Bishop of Meaux is ranked by the UBj0erS
several feet below the independent thinkers.
The Constitutional expresses itself in still
stronger terms ON the same point. 1t says-
''But this letter has a far greater scope than
simply change in the life and attitude of
one of the notabilities of the Catholic Church.
1t is a symptom of the general situation of
the Church itself, and one much the more
significant that it is not isolated. For q long
time at Rome an influence has predominated
which tends to subject the Catholic world to
discipline and to doctrines far more absolu-
tist than those accepted by our fathers. The
abandonment, without equivalent, of the
privileges of the Gallican Church,; the sup
preston of all liturgies, the most ancient and
venerated the increasing control of the
bishops; the pretensions and declara-
tions of the Syllabus; the programme of the
IL.
signs by which are disclosed those doctrines
and those practices which are called Roman,
says Father Hyacinthe, but are not Christian,
and which, in their encroachments, always
more audacous and more fatal, tend to change
the constitution of the Church, the basis as
well as the form of her teaching, and even
the spirit of her piety. The protest of the
eminent preacher is not fact which stands
alone. The two letters from Count de Monta-
lembert to the German Catholics, and the
manner in which those documents were re-
ceived, the proceedings of the Bavarian Cabi-
net, the declarations of several eminent theo-
logians beyond the Rhine, the circular of the
bishops collected at Fulda, are so many facts
well worthy the attention of the court of
Rome, and which should likewise be warn
ing for certain French prelates."
The Steele observes that the letter which
Father Hyacinthe has addressed to the Gene
raj of his Order is not the first instance of
''falling asunder" that has been caused by the
announcement of the approaching council.
The writer says: - Numerous symptoms
presage the exciting contests which will break
out in the midst of that great assembly. This
time the battle will not be carried ON by
rationalism naturalism, nor by philosophy
and free thought against the Church; the war
will be waged by her own children, the
bishops, priests, and monks who protest
against the doctrines and tendencies of Rome,
or who are openly separating from them"
The Temps applauds the letter without an.
reserve, and declares that ''since the middle
ages no such language has been heard in the
French Church"
The La5erte approves highly of the grav'
resolution of the writer, and designates hi
conduct as ''an act of conscience rather thai
an indication of revolt"
Perhaps the unkindest cut of all, to tn
Church, comes from the Re0e& thus:-'' Mel
of the black robe and Of the white robe, yo1
may well burn that which you have adored
and offer incense to that which you have in
suited. The divorce between you and us
accomplished. Your clever tactics have ha
their day you shall not bless our trees
liberty"
The National, commenting on the utteranc
last quoted, says:-"And yet some have dare
to say that Pere Hyacinthe has dragged hi
gown in the dirt only that he may presen
himself to the radical electors in one of tn
vacant circumscriptions. Let us hope, TO
his sake, he has not entertained any sue
notion"
British Sentimen on the Subject.