Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-01-02
"The Failure of protestantism."

Sectarisn senstiveness usually renders
fruitless of result all disputes between
churches or about churches. The par
ties are less anxious to arrive at histori-
cal or speculative truth than they are to
defend their own positions. 1t is by no
means wonderful, therefore, that the dis
cussion in regard to the failure of Pro-
testautism proves as barren ss it does.
Thus far nothing but confusion has come
from it, and nothing but confusion is to
be expected The charges made in the
first instance We're so direct and explicit,
they were put so vigorously, they reached
SO far, that every kiHd of spirit was
reused to repel them. The replies showed
every species of temper, every variety OF
argumentative tactics, and every degree
of controversial skill. Protestants could
not brook being told in an imperious
manner that their system had no histori-
col or rational foundation that it did
not reach the masses; that it did not
attract the cultivated class; that it had
no priesthood, no sacraments, no basis of
authority; and in their natural resentment
they retorted with perhaps more spirit
than argument. The author of the indict-
ment declares that his charges have not
been met Perhaps not. Perhaps they
cannot be met. There was a Massa-
chusetts judge who had habit of substi.
tuting definitions for arguments. Let
us state the case" he.would say. When
the case was clearly stated in its simplest
form, no argument was necessary. All
religion, in one sense, has been failure.
bn IN
abound in all communities. Catholic
religion, taking the term in its most COM
prehensive meaning, as including every
form Of sacramentsl faith-Greek, Ro-
man or English-hss manifestly failed
to redeem or to enlighten the most i'm.
portsnt part Of the civilized earth.
Where has it exerted moral or intellectual
supremacy over the lower orders Of peo-
pie to lift them up, or over the higher or
ders to bring them DOWN. They that
live in glass houses should not throw
stones. Say what we will, there is such
thing as history, and it is dangerous
thing for one form of religion to use
against another. 1t will very likely con-
demn them all for having failed to &C.
complish what their founders hoped.
The controversy respecting the failure
of any particular church is therefore
barren. That Professionalism fails to
accomplish what Catholicism accom-
plshes is no more strange than that
Catholicism fails to accomplish what is
accomplished by Professionalism. 1t is
precisely what we should expect. That
both should succeed in the same enter.
prises, or should in the same enterprises
miss of success, would be very remsrka-
BILE indeed, seeing that they do not aim
at the same enterprises, and are by no
means similarly-equipped The masses
that Catholicism meets, Professionalism
will lot touch. The masses that Pro-
testantism satisfies, reject Catholicism.
The Southern populations no more vehe-
mently repudiate Professionalism than
the Northern nations repudiate
Catholicism. Professionalism will no
more signally fail in Spain than
Catholicism will in Scotland. Saers-
mental religion is for one order of man
kind; philosophical religion is for an
other order OF mankind. Each will do
its work after its fashion. 1t is no shame
to either, but rather merit, to decay
where the other hourishes. 1t is sigH
of characteristic fidelity to its calling
and, instead OF resentng the imputation
or challenging its truth, wisdom would
suggest an expression of satisfaction
that the work appointed was done and
appreciated. There is no indication at
present that all the forms Of faith there
are will reform the world a moment too
soon. 1t would be more gracious, to say
the least, we're they 10 cease talking
about one another's failures, and turn to
celebrating each others successes-for
the success of one, so far from iujuring
the prosperity of another, will surely do
more than anything else to promote it.
Qusrres between churches bring all
churches into discredit-N. 7. Tribune.