New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-09


Protetantism and Romanism Compared in their kela'
ton to Modern Civilization"
pPoTEsTANTIsM, ROMANIsM, AND MODERN
CIVILIZATION.
nv PROF. GEORGE p. FISHER, d. De- OF YALE COLLEGE.
In this discussion | shall take "Civilization
in the broad sense and include under the term all That
enters into the improvement OF the individual ana OF
socletyall the elements that unite constitute an adj
| vanced stage OF human progress. Whenever we con-
template the growth OF civilization we should not con-
fine our attention TO the organized institutions, political
or eccle sasca which minister TO the welfare OF man
Kind but should take into view, also, whatever In
uences spring from the individual and contribute TO
his welLbeing In other words. the term "ciyllzat2n
includes culture The inventions and discoveries that
lghten the burden Of labor and conduce 10 inaterh
comfort, the safeguards OF law, renneu son iei
literature art, and science. the amenities Or soolsI
Intercourse, all that raises man above the ruae
and narrow life OF the barbarian IL embraced IN TINS COM
prehensiye term. In defining civilization, however ~
has been Justly said that no nation Can DC oon5ue e
highly civilized in which small class is possessed OF me
benefits Of scholarship the charm OF polished mannes'
and the COnYenienceS ana Injuries derived lrou Wean
at tho same time that the bulk Of the population are
condition of serfdom. Nor that nation be deemed
civilized in the full idea of the word where the nno arts
flourish while agriculture aud the mechanic arts are IN
low state Civilization should involve something IKE
impartial or pr1porlonate development OF the Sapa
cities Of and fair distribution OF social adyab,
tages II should likewise carry within 1t the germ Oh
| further ana indefinite progress , =. o..
We are absoyed from inquiry In this place, what sort
OF civilization would exist, and how long were pos
religion Whoever believes the teachings of Christ
needs no argument 10 convince him that Christianity Is
essential to the enduring life OF all that Is exceent anu
noble III the products Of human activity. re are the
salt of the earth" II is clear that Christah{ from
Empire down 10 the present time mas never eeaseu ~
exert profound influence upon society OF the several
agencies which nave chleny cOnspre1 10
course and character Of modern history Christianity
ever weight we may to the legacy that was transmitted
from the nations OF antiquity, or 10 the peculiar gehu
must allow TO Christianity the predominant part III
moding the history of the European communities now
No enlightened Protestant. in day. will be inclined
to disparage the wholesome influence which the Roman
Catholic Church may still exert in certain places ana
over classes OF people: We are not dsposed 70
undcrvalue the benefits which that Church. In the md
die ages when it only organized form OF Chris
tnnity Ia Western Europe, conferred on society We
arc even quite Wiling TO concede that the Papacy ITSELF
the centralized system Of rule which has been the iouE-
Of inoalculable evils was providentialy made pro,
ductiye OF important advantages during the period
when Ignorance and brute force prevailed, and when
J anarchy and violence constituted she man peru 10
Which ciyiizaton was exposed Let thankfully &C
knowiedee the due TO the medieval Church
Tor ryng from utter destruction the remains OF
ancient literature and art for training the minds OF n
! disciplined men, and impartng to them what knowl-
! edge had outlived the wreck Of ancient power
and culture and for curbng the passions ana
the manners of peoples. Christianity in the medl-
eva Church existed I'm corrupt form, but It's NE Vas
not extinct and 1t operated az eaVel aeeotGnS ~
the PROMISE OF author Our attention is TO DO directed
to more recent times We have TO compare tne i1h n,
inuence is in the OF the last three centuries
and is deduciDe from the nature OF INC resPe0'o
There ia one point Of contrast between the two ys.
tens which deserves to be placed III the foreground OF
inquiry. The Roman Cdthonc system Is tbe Iuie vi
! society by sacerd0tal class This Is fundamenuh
characteristic Of that system Inc guidance Ol n1 con
far as their policy may be thought to touch the province
or aScoTdnS to the recent Vatican coHnc to their
head The authority TO decide upon the questions Oh
highest moment resides III this body OF eccleslsucs
rs nor indeed like those hereditary pnesthoods which
are separated by impossible barrier from other or
ders OF and which are found as an established ai
ocraey in certain oriental religions. Nevertheless
limited class admitting TO It's ranks none whom IL
chooses exclude and assuming the exalted preroea
i've OF pronOuuclhe lhI4iIlDS up9I I
and duty and of conveying or Withholding the dressings
OF salvation. Professionalism denied this prerOgatVe ~
broke down the wall OF separation potmeen p.oeE a
layman. II accorded to the alty the iu rght 20
clergy ha1 claimed an exclusive jurisdiction. 1t de-
cared the heavenly good offered III the gospe IS
ron of a mediatoral priesthood. The emancipation OF
the aty from clerical rule Is one OF the prime charac
teristcs OF the Reformation.
/ Professionalism as compared with the opposite sys-
tenn sets and stimulates the energy intellectual
press OF which civilization is the proudest Inc progress
Of civilization, in the long course OF history Is marked
by the growing respect paid to the rights Oh t1e ina
vidual and the ampler room afforded for the unfolding
of his powers and for the realizing OF ms aspirations:
There some hing imposing in those huge despotlsms
Egypt, Assyria Babylon, Persa-ln whlch muir
tude OF human beings welded together under an
absolute master such empires were an advance upon
primitive state OF things where every man E 1
was against his neighbour. Yet they were crude form
| OF GENERALIZATION; and they were intrnscally weak.
Tbe little cities of Greece with their political life,
and the larger scope which they allowed for the activity
and the culture OF the indivdual-eonmunites Of cti
zens-proved than match for the colossal might
of the East Among the Greeks and Romans, however,
| although governments OF law had supplanted naked
force the State supreme and to the state inc IN
| individual must yield an exclusive allegiance III was
great gain when the Christian Church arose. and when
the individual became conscious OF an allegiance OF the
| soul 10 "a higher kngdOm-an allegiance when dlu not
supersede his loyalty 70 the civil authority but limited
! while it sanctioned this obligation But the Church
ITSELF at length, erected supremacy over the lndl,
vdua Inconsistent with the free section OF reason and
conscience and stretched that supremacy so far
dwarf and overshadow civil society IL reared
tbeocracy, and subjected everything to its unlimited
| sway. The Reformation gave PACK 10 tnS lndlvlduai
bis proper autonomy. The result Is seltrespect an
intellectual activity, development OF inventive ca
pacy, and OF energy of character, which give rise
to such achievements In science IN the heid OF po-
| litical action and IN every work where self
reliance and personal force are called for as would
be impossible under tue 0pp3ste system IN the period
Immediately following the reformation slgnaI proofs
for example proved their ability 10 with the Span
sh Empire 10 gain their Independence, and to acquire
an opuence and culture which recalled the best days
of the reclan republics. They beat back their invaders
from their SOIL and sent forth their victorious nayies
upon every sea, while at home they were educating the
common people, fostering science aud learning, and
building up universities famous throughout Europe.
yRor OF her people reinforced In remarkable de-
gree by the stimulus derived from the peculiar genius OF
the Protestant religion 1t the period when she
acquiring her naval ascendancy the period, likewise,
| Of Shakespeare, Bacon ana Raleigh VINO can DOUBT
that the United States of America are, not Indeed
wholly great part indebted to their position as
win tha 10 aS Of the
nower of the individual which is the uniform and legit
| mate fruit OF Protestant principles.
The spirit OF Professionalism fayOrs universal educa
tion The lay Christian, who is TO read and interpret
the Scriptures aud take part III the administration OF
Government the Church, must not DO an illterate
nersOn. Knowledge mental enlightenment, under the
! Protestant system are Indispensable The weight or
personal responsibility for the culture OF his Intellectual
and spiritual nature, which rests on every Individual,
| makes education "a matter OF universal concern Far
more mas been done u Protestant than in Roman Catho-
lie countries for the instruction OF the whole people IL
Is enough refer TO the common school system OF Ho
land and OF New gland, aud 10 Protestant Germany,
10 show how natural 1t is for the disciples or the
Reformation provide for this great interest OF society
The free circulation Of the BDle In Protestant lands
has disseminated instrument Of intellectual as well
as of religious Improvement the good euect OF wnoh 10