The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-17


Church Who Keep Silent
Tor Certain Reasons
PARIS. Feb %. 1872
the sun shone brightly. the Chaussee dAntin was
crowded with the faithful on their way to church
1 crossed the Place de la Trinite on last Sunday
morning Fine weather ana dry pavements in.
crease the outward exhibit on OF Partisan devotion,
for, alas the display Of elegant toilets Ia but too
OFTEN the incentive for attendance at church. the
rejection how many Of that fashionabiy dressed
throng are acquainted with the history Of the rel
gi0n they protest. crossed my mind. My venera.
BILE tutor, respected minister OF the Church Of
England, was wont to say:-"My dear boy, we are
Charlottesville true Catholics; the word Protestant
means that our forefathers protested against the
abuses which had crept into the church Of Rome. /
would become Roman Catholic tomorrow could
! believe the Papal dOgmas. but cannot" He
proved his sincerity by perpetually writing books
AGAINST the Pope. one OF which. II l remember
rightly, entitled "Fgmentum Papale" caused
especial CONSERVATION In Roman Carnohc priestly
circles and the Archbishop Of Westminster ana his
pflests, In solemn cOncaves decided that the most
jadictous course to adopt was silence In the presence
Of the undenable historical facts made public by my
tntOr Years have since rolled rapidly past, and
am now as old az he was then. had nearly for.
getten the friend Of my youth ana his "Figmentum
Papale'' until both were recalled my recollection
by the letter written by the AbDe Mlcnaud to Mon
seigneur GuDert, Archbishop OF Paris. tal's
An English clergyman declared he would become
Roman Catholic could he believe the Papal dog
mas. but he could not; the Abbe Michaud has left
the Church OF Rome because he says ne cannot.
cases parael--my tutor excessively clever, but
was said Dy his opponents to be o lunatic and
the Able Micnaud Is declared by MS adversares to
pc mad.
Anxious, however, for an interview with the
priest proceeded rapidly up the Rue de Londres,
and traversing the Place de pEurope, the Boulevard
Exterieur and the open space beyond arrived at the
door Of "a Boulevard de Neuily the clocks struck
nalfpast ten the hour at which, in answer to my
request for an interview, the now celebrated AbDe
mad sent me word that ne would receive me.
tN THE APARTMENTS OF THE ABBE
'sThe Able Michauds" 1 inquired OF the con-
cierge.
IA pentreso1 d drotte" replied CerOerus.
/ rang, and the door was opened by an Old woman
servant, VINO took me into clean but somewhat
scantily furnished dining room, asked for my card
and said she would inform Monsieur rAbbe. On
the walls, near to the door, were several photo
graphs, which, on examination, was not sur.
prised to find were portraits OF Pere Hyacinthe,
the Able Doninger, Pere Lacordare, Pere Martin de
More Lieu, late Cure OF ST. Louis d'Antin, and
Monseigneur Darboy, the late unfortunate Arch
bisnOp OF Paris. On the opposite wall observed
some drawingsnope apparently the study Of nude
attention was attracted Dy the sound Of approach
ing footsteps.
The madm0n whose look, gesture and information
have something ABOUT them disquieting for the
door and IN another moment priest, apparently OF
about thirty or forty years Of age slight man,
face, straightforward, honest, gentle expression,
good forenead expressive gray eyes and deiernnned
Alchaud.
IN THE PRIESTS STUDY.
The Able received me most kindly and we then
entered the adjoining room, his study. | made
o hasty survey OF the place whence M. Mchuad
launches his tnunderbotS. Inc bookcases, crowded
win theological WORKS, are OF unpublished OAKS there
Is also between the windows writing table, over
terrestrial globe. On the mantel piece handsome
black marble and bronze clock, two candlelabra to
llacs. In front OF the fireplace is large square OF
carpet and easy chair, pre- d,eu CHAR, sofa and
By the furniture OF room an opinion can often be
formed respecting the tastes or Its occupant; and
give we nese
might be considered trivial. the tapestry work
ana a tell "a Of
is Rentlemanly and kind, evidently accustomed to
good society.
~ must apologize to you, Monsieur pAbbe, Tor
having sought an interview, but as correspondent
hear from your own lips the course you mean TO
adopt and the precise position you have assumed.
across the Atlantic what you tell me, and should
there be error In my narrative, trust you will be.
lieve that 1t has not been Intentionally committed"
WHY HE LEFT THE CHURCH OF ROME
The Able replied that ne would gladly give every
he would continue to the last unnmcninGy, and ne
then calmly and frankly detailed at length his rea
II. Micna%d if Conclusion, my humble SELF was
alone concerned, would have renamed silent; but
tOrlOus and which Is destined to be largely devel-
nave no need 70 om you e iaG
the Opportune moment for declaring themselves
favorable 10 the present movemenLn
A FEW DIRECT QUESTIONS.
~ have Listened with the greatest r5 attention to
me. Monsieur Fable, to ask you few direct ques-
:, Ssr.s,pIy." replied M. Micnaud; II have nothing
et me then ask what precise position
:. 'Rppture-compIeIe rupture. The pretentions Of
the Romisn Church since The ninth century VIII
question Is one Of history. Let nitramcn
prove the dogmas TO which we take exception,
even tsose OF Inc original Church. and we Will con-
'witn respect to the dogma OF the Immaculate
Conception, promulgated In 1854, was IT not an
essay OF ultramontanlsm to try IFS strength2n
Eyes; 1t was the spark which mas caused the ex-
ploson; It was a era g,st-apens.n .
Romish Tor the Universal or Catholic CHURCH ~
ALARMED AT THE POWER OF THE POPE.
at Is long since l first felt alarm at the power
assumed by the Pope. Twothlrds OF the sacred
college are Italians. Can, then, Inc world accept
P0pc-an Italian elected by Italians as infalliDle 2
The Pope OF Rome would interfere in the politics OF
Germany, France, England and every other coun.
try. " no could accept this Z M. de Remusat, the
Minister for Foreign Affairs, has told me that the
French government sees with apprehension the
ultramontane tendencies OF The Romisn Church,
but dares interfere from fear OF the Jesuis The
standard bearers OF ultramontansm."
h.
''Do you, then, hope to establish new church"
asked. .It u. .tl. ..t
make great scientific and religious movement; TO
form committee In Paris in connection with others