New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-15
A UNITARIAN PROTEST.
DR. BELLOWS ON THE EVANGELICAL ALLT-

RIAL CHRIsTIAN AIIIANCE--PIATFoRh Or ih
EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE DIsCUssED-lIs 'hNhl'
REPUDIkrED Az DIsHoNoRING TO GOD AM ~
TRARY TO RRAsOE--THE TRUE AiAAANoh W
CHRISTIANS LARGER THAN THE hNAN0h
ALLIANCE
The following is the sermon preaeieu W
tAe Rev. DR.. Henry W. Bellows, IN a., 49, ., 60
tlans and called out by the exclusion OF Unltarahs
from the councils Of the Evangelical Alliance;
p ~ an, min, are We hptd INTO enc eStI Shssb., We
y Srni islo spnt-p' Cor M Id ,...
p,,i,. noble doctrine Is that common Christsprit-
,n., "a spirit Of love for God and man, love for
rst "a the example and pattern OF all genueness SUI
srus for others forbearance and mercy and glory In
mia work of hope and loveunites people of the most
Inherent education prejudices, stationssucn as Jews
and Gentiles, masters and slaves. How much more,
then Romaniss and Protestants Trnitarians and upi
tarans Churchrnen and Independents Coniornsts anu
Eopoonformists afraid that this noble apostoiic
doctrine has recently in part forgotten even ID
the very hour when 1t has been in so many respects go
ously honored. And beg leave now TO ask what the
grounds Of real alliance are, such as Paul would ap
prsve and how far fundamental principles OF the
Evangelical Alliance consistent with 1T Let me
say. rst frankly and heartily, bow truly rejoice III
the general temper the ne ability, the earnest zeal m
The Evangelical Alliance which tonight closes its splen
did and most successful meetings in this city could
whole
agement and it's glorious purposes. doubt II more
important religious convention has been held since the
Apostles rst council at Jerusalem. But iSIny
DUTY a representative and guardian OF more liberal
show IN what respect IT fails meet the largest want or
up the full stature Of the measure OF Chris
tan charity and alcomprehending unity. believe
has seriously failed IN that part OF Its policy which II
exclusive and narrow, and behind the actual feeling OF
try 20 show in what ts failures lie. begin
with its attitude toward me Roman GathUmcs;
cur dav much larger freer, more Apostolic and Christ
hike than any which has found expression 10 our greatest
councils, Catholic Protestant large part OF TIE
alleged differences and oppostons OF religious opmon
IN community like our own free 10 read thnk, set,
hve aud worship SUPERFICIAL formal relics oil the
past, and have little IN them tnat dsturDs essential
peace and concord.
RohANIsM AND PRoTEsTANTIsM NOT ENEMIES IN AMERICA
The most radical OF all-that between Rcmanism and
Pretestantsm-whlch has attracted so much attention
from the Alliance has lost living issues great part
this country Where power is still in the hands OF an
hereditary titled class, and the State can and does
control religious Institutions 1t matter OF the utmost
importance what church. Roman or Protestant, OBTAINS
control OF the State But IN America where the people
Stae themselves the state ana tDe gov
eminent, nothing but the actual conversion OF the
majority OF the people 10 Romanisn could give IL an
undue or determining influence.
II could convince the majority Of our people OF lis
exclusive ruth, OF course they would honor It and en-
body il more less in their political institutions bt
do that Romanism must adapt itself TO the
character aud circumstances Of our people In degree
that would really make 1t only another form
catholics the party created by the extravagance
Of the late HcumeDical Council at Rome, are
Switzerland There is nothing 10 choose between
them and orthodox Protestants Besides, practically
Irish, German OF Southern European population that
threatens religious freedo bntonly their Ignorance
them Americanize them, aud although they may con-
nnue 10 hold fast TO their Romansm, they prove
10 be excellent citizens and good Christians
who are just as much opposed to persecution or
exclusive claims on the State Just as little willing 10
form OF government. as are. The folly which would
band together all Professionals against all Romaniss 10
which would band all Romansts against all Professionals
That has been tried and failed IN many countries The
old spirit OF Church has hitherto vainly tried
that IN America 1t has sought 10 hold together its dis
eples by bans OF accommodation and other spiritual
teTrOTs and by seeking political Influence which Prot
s5ds But no Irish or German Catholic can live ten
wears in America guarded as his reading and his sc-
Quaintanee with Protestant Christianity may be, with
out discovering that the intelligence the worth. the
public spirit the freedom the wealth Of the country,
pSrt is NOT due to Roman principles, il not
connected with Roman prospects; that the spirit
ROnansm is very vitality represented in the life
cal activity dying in spite Of its spreading churches
dying spite Of It's political influence, because it is on
its spirit, and lives only exotic or as
monument Of the past, as an echo OF the
stitiOn OF ignorant people, or policy OF people who
live by mniSteTng TO superstition, as sincere faith
OF petists, are born out OF due time, and with
craving for what is past and gone III short is
auachrOnsn In our ume. .......
RohASIsM TO BE MODIFIED BY POPULAR EDUCATION.
YOu observe, dare say. the steady growth OF the
costly and beautiful Roman Catholic Cathedral the
very choicest site Of the city probably to be the most
expensive ambitious and splendid building, eccesiast
cal or otherwise, this continent; and perhaps you
nav what proof OF the courage wealth. and religious
power and influence OF Catholicism But look
n beT that there Is hardly city Of hundred
thousand people the whole European continent that
has not cathedral built from three to eight centuries
ago compared with which this when finished viii be
second OF third rate Ireeolieet too, how 1t is built
largely from the contributions exaced often from very
unwilling but sti submissive servant girls; that II il
built city that is occupied largely by emgrants, Ut
least Onethrd part Roman Catholic; buht by foreign
blood IN foreign spirit and by Aliens TO our customs
and ideas, who are gradually becoming leavened with
not more than at the Temple HauvOo Salt Lake
CITY, here foreign ignorance and native craft have
most ephemeral of faiths. say this cathedral is an
RnachIOnism and all Its parallels In our American cities
on those who brought it from foreign lands,
and not at all what strength has TO stand our climate
and survive century Of American schooling and free
life Meanwhile Roman Catholicism is useful IN
minsterng to the millions OF emigIa9ts whom our
asses noble, Intelligent men and women IN II and OF Il,
kept largely by its Old prestige and IL aSt9eue attTae
it, regard the apprehensions Of those who have
been representing prime pal source OF immortality
and vice and irTelg on with entire dissent II rather
restrans the vice and erossness and violence OF it's
ignorant masses in way that Protestints have no
equally successful OF using toward similar classes
OF roughs and crude humanity. We should be vastly
WOrsa OF II We must have the people, without their
church ana priesthood Aud the people, crude or i'll
taught and supersutiOus they largely are, and the
matEix or crime and vice, are, bis 70 be
reuetpered also the large and cOpl0us source OF our
hand labor the builders OF canals railroads, and
Cite Doubtless they have laid more bricks and timber
in our schoOEhOuses, our Protestant churches, and
homes than any other class or all others; and they
have often the fathers and mothers OF Sem
atOrs, NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. patriotic, ana devoted 70
The public veal Let be patient and trust our free
principles, and make church. Romsh or Protestant,
the object OF our fear abuse, What can thrive AZ
tree country has a rt0n 70 thrive and our ponuoai
climate and social SOL do not modify Ronanism into
WHOLESOME, o. at the worst. not poisonous plant
Will abandon all faith IN popular education and religious
liberty So much for the alliance between Protestant
ism and Romanism.
SUBSTANTIAL TRUCE AMONG PRoTEsTANTs.
But how much true is IT, thai there lie substan