The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-09-07
SPIRITUALISM.


ism.
Catholicism and modern Spiritualism form the
zenith and nadir Of the religious world OF Europe
and America. Professionalism, with all its sects,
ranges between these. Catholicism is governed by
fixed principles, emanating from a so-styled infal
llble head. The measure of Professionalism cannot
be TAKEN for it varies in every one OF Its very nu-
merous divisions. 1t is as its name implies. q
negative religion. The present gaseous state of
modern Spiritualism also repels close exam-
nation, but 1t seems evidently destined to
present to the world the antlpode
Of Catholicism, by asserting for mankind,
in matters social and religious, claim to the very
widest kind Of freedom. In the battle which must
occur sooner or later between these faiths there
are only two positi1ns capable OF being logically
defended. They are absolute authority on the one
side, unrestrained liberty or license on the other
There Is no middle point capable Of being main
tanned in this encounter Catholicism declares for
the iormer Of these positions modern Spiritualism
is developing into the latter. In spite Of the pres
ent wealth, power and prestige OF the Protestant
churches, 1t is believed that eventually disintegra
ton will compel them to range their forces for the
encounter under one or the other of the above
mentioned principles.
CATHOLIC SPIRITUAL MANIFESTATIONS.
Catholicism Is the true foe OF modern Spiritual
ism. Both Of them assume to receive direct aid
from the spirit world. Antagonistic and unc0m-
promising on all other points, they appear to meet
on the plane Of spiritual manifestations. What is
still more singular, these manifestations seem to
increase IN the Catholic Church in numbers and
magnitude Of proportion sufficient to neutralize
the effects OF those OF its more modern opponent.
Thus in California we have an attested case Of the
appearance OF the ''stigmata" on the person OF a
maiden; Of the repeated ministrations Of the
cv,irtf nf donn IN har foth NOInv 1.,.
while, in Europe, all France is on its knees before
the marvellous cures that have been wrought, in
thousands of instances, by Our Lady Of Lourdes.
ANTITHEsES BETWEEN CATHOLICISM AND MODERN
SPIRlTUALISM,
But it Is only on the plane Of the spiritually mar
velous that these two adversares condescend to
meet. On all others they are wide as the poles
apart. To the Catholic modern Spiritualsm is the
fitting termination OF the right OF private judg-
ment established by Professionalism To him Epis-
copalianism is the root out OF which nave grown
the mutifarious branches OF Presbyterianism,
Methodism &C., terminating with Oneida Com.
munism, Mormonlsm and modern Spiritualism
He recognizes in the latter the natural chaos into
which things lapse when the governing principle
has been withdrawn. The modern spiritualist,
on the contrary, perceives in the Catholic his
firm and unyieding foe. He condemns the latter
as nmical to progress and consequently detri-
mental to humanlty he scorns the inffexibility Of
his creed, which the modern Spritualist asserts
has been four times amended II not altered, before
1t received the name OF Catholicism, VIZ. lin the
time OF seth, in the time Of Noah, in the time OF
Spiritualist meets the Catholics individuality with
collectvlsm his Imperialism with democracy, and
his s.rict mOnogamy with the unlicensed freedom
OF the affections. 1t Is true that, In the spiritual
field, botn CLAIM TO use immaterla] weapons; but
the Catholic declares that his arms were fashioned
In heaven, and condemns his adversaries as having
been tempered in hell TO conclude the para
graph-Catholicism Is the Oldest religious corpora
ton that the world has ever known while modern
spirltualism cheeriully recognizes all creeds, even
that OF its opponent, the Catholic, as important
parts OF Its own development.
MODERN sPIRITUALIsM AND THE PROTESTANT
CHURCHES.
II is easy to perceive the effect that modern
Spirltuallsm Will produce upon the Protestant
churches. They are the main sources from whence
1t draws Its recruits. Its success In them Is in pro-
portion to the so.called Liberalism tnat they pos
do incline to Catholicism but the radical elements
Will naturally fall prey to modern Splrituallsm
derng; every DAY the barrier Is rising higher and
higher which must eventually cause
gs church to Catholicism s%Ssra"R but 0 step
that many very many no, OF p,on .s ,.or con,,
munlcants have logically taken The presoyt
and the Baptists VIII naturally grayitate TOWARDS
the law and order party also me Dutc9 he
formers, and especially the Methodsts and i i
pendents, IL Is claimed, are now more or less inoc
nated with the virus OF modern spirituas sr anu
have suffered In consequence; ana the onive,sas
ISIS ana UnItarlans are lts proper prey. ,os,n.
Spirtualsts already boast That these later laltns
are already undermined, and that their clergy are
more infected than their peoples. -
PROTESTANT CLERICAL CoQUETbf WITH "oDhhS
sPIRITUALISM.
The reason why the detection should prove more
general on the mart OF tire clergy OIL these last
mentioned churcnes fs obvious. Notwltnstanung
the promise contained in st. Marx XVII, ~ IL,
which without limitation by time, invested all be-
levers with supernatural gifts, Protestant
churches are generally apt to deny that miracu.
present existing. Added to this the spirit OF In
quiry Is stimulated on the part OF the Protestant
Spiritualism. and is rarely repressed 10y authority
In any way or manner whatever. Some
times examination into spiritual phe-
nomena leads to conviction. a. IN the late case