Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-10-29
PERE HYACISTHE.
He DeHnes His creed, and Give
the story of His Career at tGeneVi

He De1ines His creed, and Gives
the story of HIS Career atGeneVa.
Paris Sept. 29) Cor. London Telegraph
Pere Hyacinthe has just republshed
his sermons at Geneva. They contain
the explanation so long asked of his
real creed He takes as text of his faith
four maxims: one from St. Augustine
In things necessary, we must have
unity; in things doubtful, liberty; in all
things, charity" one from Montalem-
bert, "The Jesuits are hateful sect,
which in these times tyrannises and
makes profit out OF Catholicism" one
from M. Renan, II can say of the Cath
olic Church what job said Of God. Even
though He kill me, in Him will
hope; and last, passa:e from Pere
Gratry s treatises on the latest Council,
They finished with coup detat what
they began with an ambuscade." Pere
Hyacinthe tells all the story of his
career at Geneva When called thither,
in November, 1872, by the sect of Libe-
raj Catholics, he hesitated for two
months. But the congregation offered
terms irresistible. 1--WE do not call you
among us, they wrote, ITO impose on
you the lightest chain. On the contrary,
we ask you to come for the purpose OF
enlightening and guiding us The new
Church, therefore, will be what you make
it" suppose few theologians could re-
sist the temptation Of founding a Church
really new, of molding fresh religion
which shall combine all the merits OF all
that exist with separate and special vir-
tues to be evolved from moral conscious
ness, and no vices. Pere Hyacinthe
came to Geneva, and at first he had
great success. But alongside Of his con.
gregation sprang up another, which was
in truth Protestant, which seemed to
Pere Hyaclnthe anarchical But, after
public refusal, he accepted the
cure of Geneva. That" says he,
was my fault. 1t was real-it
was great / ask forgiveness Of
it from God and man" He still believed
in his church and in himself. He thought
hs could make of it the ideal 0ommun.
ion. But others saw more clearly his
weakness, and withdrew. Then Pere
Hyacnthe did not hesitate to throw up
his charge. Writing to the government
Of Geneva, he said: Attached from my
very inmost life to the Catholic Church,
in which | was baptised, of which | de-
sire the reform, not the overthrow, con.
vinced, besides, by au experience sufh
ciently prolonged, that the spirit pre-.
vailing in the Liberal Catholic Church
of Geneva is neither Catholic in religion
nor Liberal in politics, have the honor
to lay before you my resignation Of the
cure. 1t was accepted, and Pere Hya
cinthe las now his own small flock
which he is said to lead by very rounda
bout courses. Those who knew him a
the hight of his fame are least surpri sec
at the catastrophe. There is another
side to the dispute, Of course Pere by
acinthe remains monk, not only igno
rant of the world affairs, but incapabl,
of understanding them. ! have heart
that the first quarrel rose between hin
and his trustees about the possession o
the church building, which the cure coul,
not believe to be any one property ex
cept his own. And there is, too tina
strange tale of retraite passed in tn
Grand Chartreux Monastery, of agonie
of penitence at the feet of the Superior
of Masses celebrated by the communit.
for the peace of their visitors mind
Pere Hyacinthe does not see aught ex
traordinary in all this; but it is no
strange that hard-headed Switzers shoul
begin to doubt whether such q man i
quite fitted to guide them safely.