The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-09-20

while Protestants ask them to receive a per-
feet and free salvation by grace, to find
living Christ-that kingdom of God which is
righteousness and peace and Joy in the Holy
Ghost" This work, he continues, "must be
done without PRIDE without bitterness, with
out violence; it must be done in love-"
If the conference can be kept within the
bounds, and be conducted in the spirit, pre-
scribed for it by DIR. d'Aubigne, it must GER
tainly do good, and ought to be held. The
Reformation, as an open movement, ended
with the Council of Trent, called in 1916 by
Charles V, of Germany, to restore unity and
peace to the divided and warning Church. Its
three sessions, however, resulted only in a
wider separation of the Protestants from the
ancient Church, and no reconciliation has
since been attempted. On the contrary, mis-
conceptions and misunderstanding have
widened the breach The proposed confer
ence will accomplish one thing, if it do moth
ing else it will state clearly
the essential difference between
the two systems; in other words, it will define
them. DIR. d'Aubigne well writes: :-''It is not
true that the men of earnestness, sincerity,
and noble character, now in the Church of
Rome, should abandon religion of exteriors,
of forms and rites, to receive that which is
spirit and life.'" The Church of Rome may
retain all its individuality, and yet be ''re-
formed" Luther found fault not with the
ceremonial, but with the teaching and prac-
tice of the Roman Church. This statement
of the question made, and the difficulty is half
solved
But for one other reason this conference is
advisable. Truth need never, should never,
shun the light. If, in this case, the truth lie
wholly on one side, calm, unimpassioned
statement of principles by each side will help
to determine on which; if it lie somewhere
between, discussion will but show the more
clearly where. If Professionalism be "a fail
ure, ~ nothing will tend SO directly to its expo
sure as the plain ''setting in order" of its
principles. If Protestants, bravely examining
their doctrines, find them false, they must
deny them. But if, on the other hand, Ca
tholicism be degeneration, candid view of
its dogmas will make its errors manifest,
especially to Catholics, now blinded-upon
this supposition-by the traditions of men. "
The one point of danger and difficulty in
the plan DR.. dAubigne does not touch. 1t
is very doubtful whether Protestants can
unite upon any one 'platform" whether the
nineteenth century is liberal enough to cast
aside non-essential preferences, and deter
mine what is the essence of Professionalism.
The schisms of every reformed Church are
accepted by Catholics as assurances of the
ultimate failure of the Reformation, and the
ground for their hope is not small, though il
may be illogical. But Protestant Con
ference must put all these differences out Of
sight. Can it +? Perhaps, if the kindness and
love which DR.. d'Aubigne bespeaks for Catho
lies are exercised by Protestants towards each
other it may. If so, both the conference
and the council may rebound to the glory of
God, by establishing vital truth and removing
error and prejudice.