The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-09-05

If we understand the position of Frof Hulk
ley In the Literary world, 1t is one closely anal
agous to that of Leeky, Buckle andMill. They
are not open Inidels-they would themselves,
perhaps, prefer to be considered philanthropi-
cal believers. That lie, believe what they like,
reject what they choose. In a speech lately
delivered in Liverpool, he alluded to the pre-
paratory training of Protestant minister's as
quite insufficient to meet the antagoniEm of
the present era to Christian belief 1t win be
seen by the concluding paragraphs that he
views the Catholic Church as the real bulwark
against Infidelity, which he would wish us to
understand as progress, science and modern
civilization We take the extract as printed
in llacmillan's London) Magazine:
1Some time ago it was my fate to attend =
large meeting of the clergy for the purpose OF
delivering an address which had been invited
to give. / spoke of some of the most element
airy facts in physical science, and of the manner
in which they directly contradict certain OF
the ordinary teachings of the clergy. Inc
result was that after had finished, one section
of the assembled ecclesiastics attacked me with
all the incompetence of pious zeal, for stating
facts and conclusions which no competent
Judge doubts while, after the first speakers
had subsidized, amidst the cheers OF the great
majority of their colleagues, the more rational
minority rose to tell me that had taken wholly
superfluous pains that they already knew an
about what had told them, and perfectly
agreed with me. A hard-headed friend OF mine,
who was present, put the not unnatural ~ cues -
| ton, "Then, why don't you say so IN your
pulpits ?D to which inquiry heard no reply.
| In fact, the clergy are at present diyislDle
| into three sections: an immense BODY VINO are
| ignorant and speak out; q small! proportion
| who know and are silent; and n m!nnte MINOR
/ ity who know and speak according to their
| knowledge. BY the clergy, mean especially
| the Protestant clergy. Our great anSaSonist-
| speak as man of science-the Roman Cath
olic Church, the one great spiritual organiza-
fon which is able to resist, and must. as mat
| ter of life and death, resist the progress OF
science and. modern civilization, manages her
affairs much better.
visit to one of the most important OF the insei-
buttons in which the clergy of the Roman Cath
Ollie Church in these islands are trained and 1T
seemed co me that the difference between these
men and the comfortable champions of Apgli-
canism and of Dissent, was comparable TO the
difference between our gallant volunteers and
| the trained veterans of Napoleon's Old Guard
| The Catholic priest is trained to know his
business and do ii effectuaIy. The professors
of the college in question, learned, Jealous,
and determined men, permitted me to speak
| frankly with them. We talked like ontposts
| of opposed armies during truce--as friendly
| enemies; and when ventured to point out the
difficulties their students would have TO en-
counter from scientific thought, they replied /:
/" Our Church has lasted many ages, and has
| passed safely through many storms. The pre-,
| sent is but a new gust of the old tempest, and
| we do not turn out our young men less fitted
to weather it, than they have been, in former
ages, to cope with the difficulties OF those
times. The heresies of the day are explained
science, and they are taught how these heresies
are to be met"
I heartily respect an organization which
faces its enemies in this way; and wish that
all ecclesiastical organizations were in as efec-
Live condition. think il would be better,
not only for them but Tor US. The army OF lib