Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-02-23
The esCath0lic W0rldss ON esBeecher
isne.s and eEvangelicalis.,..ss
BY REV. NARc1ssE cyR

isn,'s and eEvangelicalis.,..ss
BY REV. NARcIssE CYR.
| The Catholic World, monthly, publish
ed by "Father" Hecker and his associates
has, in its January number, very sewers
critsque of what he denominates "Beecher
ISM" He thinks that the Beecher famil,
form a kind Of school or sect, that sthey
all move in the same direction, though
some of them may lag behind, Henri,
Ward Beecher being the chief,) Will
others may be in advance of him. W.
will not dispute this assertion, which il
the main seems to us correct.
"Beecherism, as we understand it, con
tinues the writer, "errs chiefly not in as
sorting what is absolutely false, but il
misterming or misapplying the truth, and
in presenting particular aspect OF truth
for the whole truth. Its leading thought
is, as Freeman Clarke's, that Christianity
is life to be lived, not doctrine ordered
to be believed; and being life, it cannot
be drawn out and presented in distinct
and definite. statements for the under.
standing"
In the course OF the article, it is demon.
strated very plainly that Henry Ward
Beecher's views are rather India.rubber
like, and more or less remote from what
has been considered Orthodoxy" We
think, however, that the Romish reverend
is rather severe with the Beechers, and
we would defend them, did we not know
that they are perfectly able to defend
themselves.
There is, however, another subject
treated in this article which claims our
attention it is Evangelicalism, or in
other words, that system of truths demon.
mated evangelical, those fundamental
principles which the various churches of
the reformation hold in common, such as
the inspiration of the Scriptures,th divin-
ity of Christ, the fall of man, justifoa-
ton by faith, etc. We think the Romish
reviewer is entirely wrong when he
strives to assimilate Evangelicalism with
Beecherism, although he is very correct
when he says that Evangelicalism sis the
living, active, energizing Professionalism
of the day; that which inspires all the
grand philanthropio, moral and social re-
form, missionary, educational, and the
thousand-and-one other enterprises in
which the Protestant world engages with
so much zeal, and for which it collects
and spends so many millions annually !;
that holds worlds conventions, forms alli-
auces," etc.
Now, after acknowledging such vitality
in the Evangelical churches, the writer in
the CaaOzio World, strange to say, goes
on to affirm that Evangelicalism sis
bound to no creed, obliged to defend no
doctrine, is sufficiently elastic TO take in
every heresy and to sympathize with any
and every movement that is not a move
ment in the direction of the Church of
God" read here the Church of Rome
1--WE do not say" adds the review, "that
Evsngelicalism has yet advanced-or de-
scended, rather-so far as to leave abso-
lutely behind all objective doctrines, THAT,
is some comfort !! it still cliugs to fading
reminiscence of them and chooses to ex-
press its subjective religion in the lapgu-
age of faith, to put its new wine into It's
old bottles"
The Catholic World does not attempt to
show how this vague, faded religion,
(Evangelicalism) is so active, so ever
giving, SO full of life. 1t is u singular
phenomenon, and well worthy the consid-
GRAFTON of our antagonist. Strong con-
victions alone can nerve to action, and as
long as we shall see the Evangelical
churches doing the great things that they
do in the cause of humanity and of God,
we shall believe that they are alive, that
they still hold with frmness the grand
doctrines of the Gospel I move, therefore
live.
Another queer statement in the article
in question is the following sit is the
grave fault of Professionalism itself, especi-
ally in our times, that it makes little or
no account of intelligence" Now, it is a
well known fact, and Mr.. Hecker must
know it, that the Protestant notions are
much in advance of Romish notions in
education or intelligence. The culture
of Romanism is generally imperfect,
dUarty, and their knowledge of their re-
ligion is exceedingly meagre. How many
in hundred of them understand the dog
mas of the immaculate conception III
Mary or the infallibility of the Pole |?
We have found only few yet They
have a zeal of God according to y5utine),
but not according TO knowledge" How
can it be otherwise, since Iey are de-
prived of Gods revelationl and have in
stead, the traditions of Yan. Romanism
educates few men fora certain purpose,
but leads the masses il ignorance and su-
perstition. ProtesNntism wants all to be
educated as much as possible, because it
believes in mId, and feels that knowl-
edge is poweYeverywhere.
We are Iomewhat surprised to hear
also thatIGvangelism is despotic! That
is grYe charge, and to the Church that
has Yeached the Gospel according to St.
BARTHOLOMEW, whenever it was practical
BE, doubtless belongs the right to make
1T These are statements that need no
refutation, for they are self-refuting in
vectives