The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-03-23


really and truly catholic must cease to be Ro-
man-we must be French Catholics.
CATHOLICISM AND PRoTEsTASrIsN.
"And to being Protestant. II Professionalism con-
ssts in protesting against the errors Of Rome TOR er
rors out Of it, then am one; but if it means deny
ing the doctrines of the undivided Apostolic and
Catholic Church they were taught and believed
their foundation down to the time OF the sepa-
ration of the Church. then am not Protestant.
Then it is very difficult for me to accept the nfa'
bility of any man. be he Luther or Calvin land re-
S4ect them both. and Luther the most while re-
ject the infallibility of the Bishop of Rome No.
can accept no man 8 doctrine-no human Church-Iac
cept only Christs doctrine and Christs church, Men
may create institutions. governments and systems.
but they cannot churches And therefore, when
people talk about my founding new Church. it is
nonsense l could not II would. and would not II
/ could In fact. the work We seek to do is reform
of discipline and not OF doctrine And when the in
furious usages of men-the crampng. CALLING chains
of unnatural and unrighteous discipine-are placed
in their true light, and when Gods truth and
Christ love stand unveiled and free. then Will men
be brethren, then inhdelity and hatred will
and the Church. united. will again be strong and
beautiful-strong to save and beautiful to draw
toward heaven. But when the divine foundation Is
covered up or its progress oostructed by human
errors then not only men can but Christians should
assist in preserving order and reforming evils No
forester or gardener can make the oak but he can
parasites lett without watering and pruning
1t is so easy, il would only take time for calm
reflection to distinguish the divine from the human
things to care for and regulate. The Church
of Christ is institution half human half divine
q human system based divine principles. Or
perhaps would be more correct to say it Is divine
Institution adapted to human necessities. II it
entirely divine all Christians would be angels. and
the Church would be heaven; and II it were entirely
human should be without light. love or order
throughout the world
TT
"You distinguish said between the Catholic
Certainly" he replied, 'just you distinguish
between Washington, with its small District of Co.
lumbia. and the United States Of America. Rome
is integral part OF the Roman Catholic Church.
but she is only part of the Catholic Church. True
It is the seat Of the general government and she
would act wisely and Loyalty allowing other nations
as Washington does your State governors, their
tire liberty of action and development. then. and
only then would harmony berestored to the divided
Church If you ask any Greek or Anglican who
ranks first to-day Bishop. he will tell you The
Bishop OF Rome Therefore. I believe that each
State country nation should be allowed to choose
spiritual rulers 1t does its civil governors
and not have strangers imposed upon it."
"Then you are in favor OF the Episcopal form OF
A GREAT EPISCOPAL REPUBLIC.
Certainly am; for when well interpreted and
adapted IL would be . vast and sublime spiritual
pubic extending throughout the entire world. with
no earthly king and much less q despotic autocrat
Christ, only King is lifted up with His kingdom
which is not of this earth. and to explain fully the
idea OF the Church-this earthly, grand republic
something human and still divlne.is the fair and
loving bride of the Heavenly King this the Church
OF Christ" The Pere spoke with that air Of earnest
conviction and deep feeling which denotes full be-
am carrying you too far into theology and meta
physics for q newspaper article.
The American esss people, rejOined take great
Eyes," he said. land 1t is because know they are
intelligent and eager in the research of truth that
have consented to give you my ideas on this i'm
pOrtant question:
"But.'' asked. "who are the members of this
great spiritual republic? Is it only those who accept
the Episcopal form OF the church,
"By no means" he replied at once. "All who be-
lieve and are baptized are children Of Christ and
members Of His Church. But think they lose
tions which believe He wished established with
throughout the principal parts of the Church.
know many good Christians and. may say, some
holy men in the Protestant communion but 1t is be,
cause they themselves personally have received
direct grace from Heaven and not because OF their
ecclesiastical systems-rAther. should say, In spite
Of them. It is the same in the Catholic Church.
How many admirable Christians-saints number
be found in il despite the OF Rome
10 maintain unity OF faith it is best to maintain
unity OF action. You. alas! have had experience
enough in war to know that however patriotic
virtuous the individual soldier squad Of soldiers
may be- IL il indispensable that they should be in
corported into the general IL good work Is to
be got out Of them. Then. you know" he
mishers apt mistake friends for foes and hre
upon each other
THE METHODS OF REFORMATION.
but the Protestant Reformation certainly o
great event." vcntured to put in.
Every true" he replied. land one that did great
good and as my enemies compare often to
Luther can only say pray God to help me in the
way Of doing what that great tried but failed to
do-that is. to bring about reform within the
Roman Church and not out Of It'll You know. when
the careful housewife puts her house in order 1t Is
not by throwing sand and water outside of it that
Luther wished to maintain the Episcopate as the
old Luthersns do in Scandinavia to-day. and that he
maintained the great Catholic doctrines and sacra,
presence and the practice or confession But, alas
his days not our days. and his followers fell
into dangerous ways and to-day the lands Of Luther
and of Calvin The harvest fields Of infdelty; and
verify believe that great cause OF this Is the
want Of good Church governments solid Episco-
pacy. Germany has always felt this ami has often
put forth projects for its re-establishn ent. You
have, perhaps. read D0ingers work this subject,
The Reunion OF the Churches Ny wife il now
translatng into English in order that its facts and
BILE"
.'But the result Of the Reformation was immense"
said.
Certain. and Justly; for the Roman Church
in such absolute need of reform that small efforts
accomplished great DEAL 1t helped to revive faith
and resistance 10 error. and its impetus was 30
strong that it did great and good work for two or
three centuries. But, alas! this impetus is losing
its force. Infdelity crept in through the weak
places. and to-day IL is almost impossible to find
Lutheran who accepts the strong vigorous doctrine
of Luther u Calvnst who believes the high and
narrow doctrine Of Calvin. have met . good many.
'You place great importance. then. upon Church
government" said.
Eyes. sir. do. for I am too much Of Frenchman
and you too much OF American not to place
great value upon good governments" He spoke
earnestly. but continued. with a smile IL am not
narrow minded rs to think people change on
tirely with . change of government but do be-
leve . solid government In guarantee of liberty
aud order, and therefore, of good citizenship. do
not. however, believe that episcopate is neces-
sary for the salvation Of souls. but do believe
it necessary. in the long rum tor the preservation
Of faith"
APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION.
"Then you naturally believe In the apostolic sue.
cessionY" inquired
Certainly do" nc replied
''But you know some OF your Protestant friends
cannot understand this, said.
"Ycs. know" he good naturally rejoined. "but II
Is very egotstica to presume that all Christians
should think like self. and then this IL not sur
prisng, after the OF the Roman bishops.
that they good in them In their system.
But they should not confound mon with principles.
Then 1 have heard IL said ihow true IL is do not
know that there are men to be found. Englishlnen
who would destroy the royal succession OF Great