Weekly Trinity journal., 1869-12-04
Father Hyacinthe.

evening, was attended By large audience, al
most every seat in the room being occupied.
| The speaker said the Roman Catholic church
held possession of large portion of the world
by means of standing army of ecclesiastical
soldiers, bound together by religious zeal, and
disciplined, officered and maneuvered with
matchless skill. This army was made up of men
and women of sworn allegiance to the church
and Pope. AS monks and nuns are never to
marry, they have no embarrassing ties of affec-
tion to interfere with religious service. The
monastc orders are bound to neither marry or
hold property. They live alone, and con-
sequence in many instances their religious zeal
becomes an all absorbing passion of burning fire,
| which consumes all else in their minds. Some
of them, in their cloistered secluson look so
long and soysteadily into the moral and spiritual
realms that they become prophetic and are well
qualified to lead and guide those who see less
clearly. This is fortunate for The world as they
are free from selishness. He who is actuated
by love of the well being of the world presents
his holy visions TO its advantage. His presence
brings bessings-his prayers are benedictions.
Men and women honor, love and revere him
wherever he goes. But by and by the hermit
may become to love his homage-he may be
seized with love of reputaton-he may come
to fatten on idleness, and in proportion as he
yields to this spirit he loses his power for good
| among men.
There are now IL 900 nuns in Spain, and each
nun costs the government $4,000 which sum
enaoles them to be very proud. In early times
there were large communities of 10000, Is, 900
or 10000 collected together, and when they
became strong they invaded cities, created riots,
drove clergymen from churches, tore heretics to
pieces and helped to roast. Among the many
orders of monks was that of the Carmelites
established in 1924. The monastc orders were
so officous in political and religious affairs that
they were entirely excluded from several Pro-
testant countries, among which were Denmark
Sweden and Saxony, and from some Catholic
countries. About ten years ago Jealous Catho-
lie in France united himself with the priest
hood The Catholic ceremonies were impress
sive. He was earnest and sincere. The world
was full of misery he was ready to devote his
life to its alleviation; it was reeking in sn-he
desired to expel it by the Word of Goo it was
shrouded in darkness-he sought to dispense the
gospel of truth. To such priesthood as this
none could object; such devotion as this all could
approve and revere. liz dedicating himself to
his new and holy calling this man took the name
of Father Hyacinthe. In entering upon this new
new life it never occurred to him that the church
sought to put bandage his eyes, He
dreamed bright dreams of his future power for
good, and spoke of holy liberty which he
was to enjoy in the church. In 1862, three
years after he entered the service, he began to
realize the restraint that the church attempted
to place upon him. There are $1,000 converts
in the world, of which 5000 are in France. We
generally argue that it is not best speak
against our own party, our own sect,
school, our own profession and are therefore
silent as to the faults of our own class of COM
munity. Aud yet all know that our best
friends are always those who speak the truth.
Father Hyacnthe spoke without restraint of
his own church. When corrected or forbidden,
he said Must not speak the truth ?' "Not
If it affects the church, was the reply. In
few years Father Hyacinthe occupied the first
Catholic church in Paris His stirring eloquence,
his clear intellect, his spirit of love and kindness
his constant devotion to God and man, drew
around him the best and purest of the Catholic
and Protestant churches. He believed that
Christian life was the evidence of Christianity
None left his church after listening to his tender
eloquence with any inclination to hate the first
hereto he met. The warm glow of humane
kindness was impaired from the preacher to the
hearer He was regarded one of the six lead
ing clergymen of Europe. Last spring con-
vention for the good of the world was held. 1t
was composed of members of all religious creeds
1t sought to avert future wars, to establish peace
Father Hyacinthe attended that convention. He
spoke to Protestants Jews and Catholics, in the
spirit of fraternity, and met other denominations
on an equality, prepared to work with them for
the welfare of the world Bishop said :
WI tuC uOCtEluc Is True, fTOteStduIS dTe
as good as we are" In 1864 the Pope had con-
demned the doctrines which Father Hyacnthe
taught. Besides these doctrines which he had
been preaching, he had kept bad company, by
minglng with Protestants. He had spoken Of
some Protestants of his acquaintance as
among the purest and best men he had ever
known. But as long Father Hyacnthe kept
in his pulpit and the church reaped the credit
and glory of his lofty eloquence, superior talent
and djvipp Spirit his dOct RI foIa cd
1t was only when he persisted in meeting and
commingling with men outside of the pulpit for
the promotion of the interests o: humanity that
he received positive order from the archbishop
to refrain in the future from speaking anywhere
except in the pulpit. Two months ago be wrote
letter Withdrawing from both the pulpit and
the convent.
He protested against the attempt to restrain
him, and claimed the right to freedom Of con-
science, owing his determination to exercise
that freedom regardless of armed authority to
the contrary. He said he should appeal to the
Pope, and if necessary from the Pope to the Lord
Christ. He avows his intentiou to follow his
own convictions in any contingency which may
occur. He has thrown aside the priestly garb
and in citizens dress retired from the pulpit to
await the decision of the Pope. He denied that
be had left the church, or that his action had
been antagonistic to the church. The true
church includes all who hear the divine call to
separate from sin. There must be no fellowship
of purity and corruption-of integrity and false
hood-these must be kept separate or the world
grows rotten together. All who are good stand
on the right side regardless of sect or creed.
Through bigotry and sectarianism we fail to see
each other as we are. William Jay Of Bath, Eng
land, said on one occasion in looking through
the mist he saw huge monster. On approach
ing nearer he found it was only his brother
John. Thus through the mist of prejudice we
become disguised and our vision becomes dis
torted. Father Hyacinthe refuses to obey orders
which he regards as an encroachment on his
rights and restraint on his religious duties
and says, 81 In any case shall follow my convic-
tions.' In the age of cowardice this is an
encouraging and bracing example of fearless
ness and fidelity to duty.
The lecturer dwelt at some length upon the
present relationship OF the Pope, the Cardinals,
the Gcumencal council, the condition of the
Catholic church, and their relationship to the
Protestant sects and the governments of the
world. The lecturer was listened to with
unusual attention.-Buiiesin.