Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-08-12
aRelieio,ts Department.
Rev. J. w. MALCOLM, Editor.
THE NEW PROTESTANT MOVE
MENT IN FRANCE.

met in Paris in June, IS an important
historical event. q
The Huguenotic church has long been
almost disorganized in opinions ON the
ology, though maintaining loose sort
of ecclesiastical unity. Rationalism has
predominated in the churches of its chief
centers. There has been no general
synod for generations. The recent one
was, therefore, momenteus experiment.
The Rationalists complain (and with
FEASIBILITY that its actiondoes not rep
resent French Professionalism, as its con-
stituency consists of representatives of
the churches, not of their members, the
smallest country churches having as
many delegates as the large Partisan
ones. Guizot is especially. reprehended
by the rationalistic organs as having
managed thus to give minority of the
people an unfair control over the major
ity. This fact, if true, will not only de-
tract seriously from the orthodox position
assumed by the synod, but can hardly
fail to react powerfully against orthodoxy
itself
The synod. according to a correspon-
dent of the Nation:
"After discussion of more than a
week, which became warmer day by day,
has adopted the confession of faith pro-
posed by the orthodox party, by a ma
jority of 60 votes against 46. This con-
fession proclaims the sovereign authority
of the holy scriptures on points of faith,
and salvation by faith in Christ, the only
Son of God, who died for our sins, and
rose from the dead for our justification.
The Reformed church of France announ-
ces also in this confession of faith, that
it will keep and maintain as the basis Of
its teaching, of its service, and of its dis
cipline, the great christian facts repre-.
sented in its sacraments, celebrated In
its religious ceremonies, and expressed
in its liturgy, especially in the confes
sion of sins in the symbol of Ghe Apos
ties Creed) and in the liturgy of the
Holy Supper. Such is the formula o
which has been adopted and it will b
found very binding by all those whc
know the liturgy of the Reformed churcl
and the text of the Apostles Creed anc
of the confession of sins.
Coquerel, the, eloquent Nationalist
made powerful speech against the &C
ton. But the greatest address on tn
railroads.&c. side was made by Professo
Colani, formerly ofsthe Theological Fac
ulty Of Strasburg, and editor !ofsa theO
logical review which ranks very high TO
its critical power and erudition. H
said: d+
1--WE believe in the forgiving of God
without believing in the expiration. W
call ourselves christians, without beliey
ing in supernatural history of christ
anity, for Christ himself attached no II
igious value to miracles Your declal
alton could be signed by Catholics; til
Protestant note is wanting in it. Whs
spirit has come over you that you cannC
mark the difference with your eternal ell
envy? You are the church, you say
but this Protestant people whom yo
represent, our old Huguenot population
what will they say when they find notl
ing Protestant in your declaration o.
Protestant people will have no schisr
We will remain in the church as we +
main IN our family. We will not be S
lent. You must keep us or turn us GU
If the people itself, the Protestant pc
pie, turn us out, we will 60 with d
pressed heart; but not before"
Guizot, who, in extreme age, seer
almost as intellectually vigorous as eve
answered Colani. He is staunch a
herent of the old Huguenotic theolog
He said:
"That the synod had no
tention of turning anybody out of t
church; on the contrary, the chur
would do,allg there was in Its power
keep all its flock. But when it comes
the elders of the church. to those W
have functions in it-pastors, deacon
even electors, church must ask fir
them some token of their fidelity to
own doctrines. The church ought to
neither tyrannical nor anarchial; she mi
with all tie moderation she is capable
maintain tradition. The great evil
the church is a certain. expression of
credulity, of impiety, or gross materi
ism, and of learned and scientific ma
rialism' He spoke of the. German d
trines; they are nothing better than
renovation of paganism. He does
approve any more of pantheism than
the schools of historical criticism VIII
have attacked all the christian facts,
after the other, contained in the h
scriptures. The church is patient 8
indulgent: but she cannot help see
those who attack the miraculous hi
and resurrection of Christ. Science
enlarged the limits of human knowledy
but science cannot satisfy the religi
appetite of human nature, taken indiy
ually or taken collectively. Is Their
philosopher who has been the founder
religion? Socrates 2 Plato? No;
impious word of Laplace. L have
need of the hypothesis of God, is
best image of to-day's materialism.
those who are still christian, and bel
ers in supernatural life, must bect
more united against the invasion of
terialist doctrines"
The majority for the orthodox posi-
being but l6, it may be doubtful
far the enactment will take effect. M
Of the greatest churches oe the body
too Rationalistic to admit of its b.
anything but dead letter among tn
Such result would make ''confu