The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1878-01-06
Moving Rapidly.

clergymen to obtain their views on Tue
question Of eternal punishment, now 30
greatly absorbing public attention az the
North. The reault was rather credi'aoie
to the conservative character of our South
ern society. The gentlemen representing
the Presbyterian and Methodist denomina
tions were quite firm in their adhesion 70
the doctrine in its old-fashioned aspect
The Episcopalian representative was de-
cidedly ashy on the subject but 10 said to
have written letter setting the reporter
right after more orthodox standard. An
other gentleman whose afiliation was NOT
given was entirely non committai. 1aken
altogether, then New Orleans Protestantian
seems to be az yet but little affected oy
the novelties of the day.
This cannot be said, however, OF Pro-
| testantism in our Northern States. 1t ap-
pears to have become thoroughly tanned
with the strongest flavor of skepecism.
The New York Sun alleges that "the
preacbers who have outgrown their belief
iu hell either reject outright, or explain
AWAY, or are suspiciously silent about other
doctrines which have hitherto been es-
| teemed vital" 1t instances Rev. ME. Mer-
Ram who "accepts the doctrines OF the
Trinity, the Atonement, the Inspiration OF
the Scriptures-in certain sense" Not
absolutely, therefore, but modified after his
own fashion, whatever that may be. The 81"
adds that Mr.. Merriam's sense is not that
in which these doctrines have been hereto
fore received.
But the most serious evidence that has
come to our knowledge showing the extent
to which skepticism and infdelity have
preyed upon Northern Professionalism is
found in one Of the interviews above aliu-
ded to as published by the Democrat
, The Rev. B. NJ. Palmer is represented as
3 saying:
8 Indeed, this very laxity, q great deal o.
= which prevailed in the Presbyterian Church
North, was the sole cause of the failure to re
unite the Northern and Southern Churches
o Such doctrine would not be tolerated among
Southern Presbyteriaps.
How vide spread the contamination ii
q among Northern Presbyterisns may b'
l. eminently inferred from this. 1t is credi
g table to Southern society to know that
:, offers more resistance to such innovation
Va of error, but how long will that resistarc
"a last The same causes that have produce
% the revolution in Europe and in on
De Northern States operate upon human ns
ture wherever it is found more slowl
q under some conditions than under other
lie but inevitably everywhere. Human nj
We ture hates the restraints of true Christian
he ity. Christian doctrines are at war vii
lie the world and the flesh, and the world al
oh the flesh reciprocate the antagonism wi
me great emphasis. Long ago Protesta
eociety would have thrown off the shack
ns of all unpal atable truth but that tho teac
- ings of faith through many ages had forI
4 ed q public opinion which could q
be wholly disregarded. Protestantii
brought out of the Church a reverence
Is certain great leading doctrines
oiS- ChrsstiAnity--a reverence which thou
U strong at frat has been ever since weaks
80 ing. In Prussia it is almost extinct !;
the Northern States of this Union it
snd. about yielding up the contest; in
Eer'e Southern States it still puts on bold fro
,riss but it is only question of time as to
suo- being oyertaken by the same doom.
the The progress of the revolution at
the North seems wonderfully rapid. 1t is
though all Protestantlsm had oeen uno
90. going g fermentation in mass, and
los. each and every part of it was simults
8iqb ouely being subjected to tho same agen
{, of change. When, therefore, tine cha
frat makes its appearance anywhere it
snop be speedily expected everywhere. l
> ioL like crop planted at one time, cultiv'
uniformly, subjected to the same infuen
,r,.v and ripening altogether. Northern or
and dox Professionalism (so-called) is HON
liam neous. When one plague epot is for
kpat. on its forehead, you may expect its W
t tho body to be soon covered with the lc
Insu- come marks of disease.
. resi- Indeed it would seem as though
grand crisis were at hand. great
popu- impends in Europe. Before shoe
Aen0e' mighty and 30 universal as it bids "a
every hiring, a rotten hulk like Protestar