The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-12-12

lFrcm the st. Louis RcpublIcAn-PubIshed IN
tho IntCllgenccr byrCqucsL)
On level with the sidewalk on Six
teCnlh street there Is doorway opening
into q spacious hall in the first story Of
the Walnut Street Presbyterian church
To the lett OF the hall as you enter from
the street is a large room with huge book
cases occupying TWO sides Of it. These
cases contain the utensils OF the pastor, a
collection Of theological and historical
literature that must have required years
OF labor to accumulate. The door open
ing into the hall was ajar, and the repre-
sentative Of the Republican cOuldsGe that
the pastor was at home and at work.
Hearing q visitor at the door he looked
up from the proof sheet on which DO was
apparently deeply engaged. Observing
that II was stranger before him, he
arose, extended his hand, and gave our 70.
porter hearty greeting. Alter handing
chair, no begged 10 bo excused for q
moment, and went on with his proof
reading. An elderly gentleman occupied
Bcat on o sofa by the window.
DR.. James II. Brooks Of the Walnut
Street church is stalwart man, physical.
ly and intellectually. No one would be
likely to pass him on the street without
singing him out as q man OF marked
force of character, and feel lmpeled TO
turn back to obtain SecondglancO as he
passed.
In few moments the task upon which
he was engaged was completed; the
elderly gentleman received from his hands
the corrected sheets and vanished. The
doctor wheeled his chair in front of the
glowing Goals, that were being consumed
in an open Franklin, and waited to hear
tho object Of his visitor in calling.
doctor, l have come" said the repre-
sentative OF the Republican, "lo ask u
statement Of your views touching the con.
trOversy which has arisen between Arch
bishop Manning and Gladstone"
The pastor hitched his chair little
nearer the fire, and proceeded to say that
in relation TO the subject matter upon
which those two distinguished gentlemen
were so holly engaged, he did not feel
himself competent to speak. Hc regret
ted to say that he was not in accord with
his own brethren as touching the great
questions which arc now agitating the
world. lie was not prepared to make
war on the Catholics, and he had very
peculiar views of the controversies which
had arisen in Europe. lie did not sup
pose his opinions were of public import,
ancG lie was free to say, however, that
he had no sympathy with the policy Of
Bismarck and other European statesmen
III the warfare which they were waging
against the Catholics. lie would not des
troy the Catholic Church il he could.
That Church was mighty conservative
lorCe in the world. Its extinguishment
would prove, in his opinion, q mighty cal.
Amity TO mankind. Tohim the prospects
nE Christianity were not bright. Suppose
the conservative influence Of the Catholic
Church were Withdrawn from tho world
and its hold upon the poor anil the ignor.
ant elements Of society broken, what
would be the rCsult2 UnrestrAined vice
and RIGHTEOUSNESS, communism, social
chaos, and a reign of terror over the
world. There is nothing at hand to sub.
stitutc for this conservative force Prot
Gstantism had no hold upon the poor. Il
had not sought TO obtain it, indeed it had
abandoned them. 1t was Catholicism OF
intldClity Of the COsrsest and most debas
ing character for the poor. What would
follow the withdrawal Of the restraining
influence Of Catholicism? A pandcmOn-
ium Di vice, riot Of crime, such as would
shame the ages OF barbarism
The movements OF the world he could
not regard as progress. The warfare
which Bismarck is waging, and Glad
stone is willing TO wage against the Cath.
ohCs in the name OF Protestantism, he be
liGves is not only against Catholicism, but
against Christianity. The destruction OF
the Catholic Church will be quickly FOL
lowed by the blOtting out Of Protestant
ism, the Punishment of Christianity from
the world, and return 10 pAganism. He
fully agreed with Cardinal Cullen that the
tendency Of the so.called philosophy OF the
day was 10 pAganism. And much Of
what is preached from Protestant pulpits
is little better. He wanted it distinctly
understood that he was q Protestant, and
81 far as the dogmas and usages of the
Catholic Church arc concerned, he reiec.
led them with all the ardOr OF his nature
lie never could yield his assent 10 them.
But at the same time, there was at the
foundation Of that Church truths which
ARE common 10 all Christians. He pre-.
lrrrCd Catholicism to the so.Called Lib
cral Christianity. Catholics believe in
God, in the Divine sacrifice OF Christ for
the sins OF the world; in the resurrection
from the dead and other essential truths
which placed them in his estimation far
above the intidels, many Of whom occupy
Protestant pulpits, and yet deny the Lord
who purchased the freedom OF man from
tho penalties OF law by the sacrifice Of
Himself. He believed the words of God
arc iniallible, and the distortions OF those
words to.COniorm TO their own depraved
natures by men was the very highest
crime-a sin grievous and uncomfortable hy
the Lord OF all.
He thought the times were filled with
portents Of mighty calamitiCs. The war.
lare which is to DO waged is not against
the Catholics only, but against Chris
tianity. He did not say that Bismarck,
and Gladstone, and the other leaders in.
tended to destroy the whole fabric. He
thought they had no such motive, but
the ball once fairly in motion, it would
not stop short OF crushing out Christianity,
and banishing faith from the world.
lie remarked further that he was ut
terly opposed to all prosecutions OF re-
ligiCl by the state. They were two dis
tlnct institutions. AS q citizen, it was
his duty to be in subsection TO the now.
crs that be. As Christian, 10 his con-
science and to his God only could he
yield. The State had no right to impose
any terms upon his religious convictions,
II the rulers of tho State were to enact
law imposing the condition precedent to
his exercise Of the functions OF pastor
that no should subscribe to and swear to
teach the ten commandments as a par,
Of the system of religion, he would not
do 1t. lie believed the tGnCts, bu, he
denied the right OF the state to impose
ANY condition whatever upon him. lie
,,nlI not - CNperinpcn oUIn,.;l. 4. "