New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-04
PROTESTANTISM IN FRANCE.
by THE REV. A. DEcoPpEr OF PARIS.

VINO 10 nave addressed you upon b'ato
religions in France. allow TO treat OF portion OF his
subject Inviting your attention TO French Professionalism
and particularly 20 that reformed church which have
the honor OF representing here Before entering upon
my subject, there is a regret that 1 cannot Dut
express refcr the regret feel at not seeing among
my venerable fellowworker and friend the Rev Gull
laume Money who has been prevented from attending
this Assembly His words would have been supported
by tho authority that age, long experience ana deep
faith would have given them. His English too, would
have given him a further advantage But my defects IN
this particular yOn will readily excuse, for this is my
first attempt 20 deliver an address in English reason,
this why my words should be few. l have always
found that there ID difficulty in speaking OF ones
own church 10 the presence of representatives of other
churches for one cannot say all the good or all the i'll
Oft that comes to ones mind One hardly dares TO
an the good lest should TO boast; while, on the
other hand the Church is a mother whose infrmities
and weaknesses her children would fain leave vailed
a embarrassed by the conviction that there is much to
commend in French Professionalism and the Reformed
Church and that unfortunately there ismuch to lament
propos, to al. You to hear both sides, with the hope
that the good Will at least cOunterbaance the evil.
Among the virtues that readily recognize in our
American aud English brethTenand their number Is Dy
no means smals the love OF facts and figures we are
qso clear tAat you thorough Posyists IN the OesI
sense OF che term. Let then begin with figures
Tho Protestant population Of France is still but feeble
q
crease. Before the late we numbered about "a
million TIE annexation OF Asace has taken from us
20 communities. numbering 100000 members III also
destroyed one OF our theological faculties, that OF Stra
burg descrvedly famed for its learnng and thereby
weakened considerably Protestant influence in
our country our churches divided into three prih
cipal groups-or rather into two famhes-the Luthe-
rams half OF whom were torn from by conquest and
Tho Reformed BODY The latter is made up of mother
vhmn we must already aged, since she dates
from the earliest days Of the French Reformation and
OF several daughters speak of the National Church.
which united to the State and consists of about 100000
members and Of several free churches OF different ages
and denominations These churches live excellent
harmony. The Evangelical Alliance is no vain word
with us proof Of which may state that the evangel-
izng aud charitable societies OF the various churches
work m common. Aud here, BIO it said by the way, see
the best means OF confirming common ties. Let us
work with one heart in doing Gods will on earth.
Better work better together than dispute together
Thus then. we have union among Shall we one day
attain 10 unity Win the time come when we shall
form one sole Protestant French Church hope SO (;
for the unity would be very desirable Let us not de-
ude ourselves. In Catholic countries divisions IN Prot
esaniism are source Of weakness to ourselves and
serious obstacle TO the evangelizaton OF the people OF
the Latin race. who have strong tendency toward
unity and Capitalization We must strive TO remedy
these divisions wherever possbe bearing in mind that
unity was the principal object of the prayer of our Lord
forhs disciples in all ages "that they may be one as we
are one" 0hu XVIII 22 Incur day the elements of union
among the different members of the great Protestant
family much more important than the causes OF
division Our several communities ought not to content
themselves with merely Platonic love theirs should
real love which blends them into one body. For is
IL not the grand aim OF the Evangelical Alliance to
hasten day when there shall be fold under one
shepherd n the time Is perhaps not very far
distant when the various evangelical factions Of Prot
will fOrm "a
hopes in this direction have been expressed in sundry
quarters and when the progress Of ideas the natural
pressure Of has brought the separation Of Church
and State the fusion Of which speak Will perhaps be
well-nigh accomplished.
Meanwhile as / have already said we laboring
together country Gods work. and these labOrs
thanks o. God and the aid Of foreign brethren
not without iIuit Most OF evangezing societies
which were founded at the beginning Of this century
are not merely still supporting themselves but for
The most part In satisfactory state, and developing
themselves steadily II not rapidly Thus we are cup
and doing" II may even be said, without exaggera-
ton that Professionalism in France possesses wonderful
vitality Yes the existence OF Professionalism in our
country after many struggles and prosecutions, is
neither less than miracle OF the faithfulness
OF God on an old seal the device Of which has been
preserved the French Church may be represented
under the image Of the burning bush Of Moses,
with this motto: "Fldgr0r sed non combEor -" I
sum up the tragicai history of our Church.
This Church has been essentially militant; she
has known better perhaps than any other what 1t Is TO
hgnt for life This must not be forgotten in explaining
the present position % Professionalism in France, II 1t
has not sensbly increased II 1t has not acted power
fully upon tine masses, this is to be attributed to the
prccarious aud stormy character which has almost
always marked It's existence Conquest is difficult to a
society that has 10 all its strength 10 sefdefense
Al tbis very moments Professionalism is greatly eramped
In its movements. The liberty Of prOpagandism has
almost always been greatly restricted in France-nar-
rowly limited by chilling and exclusive regulations.
Ia our unfortunate country is not in free America
10 IS difficult to stir without authorized permission
without Government authority lecture cannot
be given. q place OF worship opened, meeting
held, or tracts distributed. Added 20 this, the
Catholic priesthood very powerful-more so.
alas at the pre- sent time than ever-exercising.
particularly in small towns aud country places,
considerable influence upon those in authority II sue
ceeds in lettering in thousand ways. 1t does all it
can 10 dcred us in the eyes Of the nation attacking
ns violently from It's pnlpits. aud not hesang to en-
rloy against us the grOssest caumnes. Most young
Frenchmen are brought up IN holy horror OF
Professionalism; and traces OF this early impression are
even found cugng TO the minds OF OF independent
thoughtnay OF those whose boast II is that they are
rreebinkers IT not unusual hear from their lips
ar find IN their writings the most untrue assertions
relative 70 the history and doctrines OF our church.
Protestant citizens, SUCH are generally esteemed
and loved They arc found in the first industrial ranks
in the army various walks of science and even In
The Government posts But 1t IS not so with Protestant
ism Professionalism but stranger with us, msunder-
soed despsed Is this because the French character is
hostile 10 H. or that Protestantsm is not suited to
Francei II would be great mistake to think so She
ignores it. She Is Indifferent. superstitious' or
ineredulous, because the Gospel is unknown
20 her. am convinced that when we
shall have real religious liberty when we are able to
spread broadcast the seeds o. evangehcal truth ffo
.tants,n viii make way in our country far and wide.
Aleady do many serious minds distinguished with III
trsmoptap, turn toward US and whenever weihave an