The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-28
CATHOLICISM, NOT ROMANISM.
From Gorgeous Notre Dame to Plain
Rue Rochechouart.
"FLEUR EFT PIERRE PRECIEUSE."
PARIS. Sept. 80. 1879.

PARIS, Sept. 80. 1879.
Thinking men. clerical and lay. are interested
In the work which Pere Hyacnthe doing. not only
for Paris but also for France. With entire loyalty
to what he believes to be the truth. and under
the conviction that the truth Is not taught by
the Bishop Of Rome as it is taught by the New
Testament, he has had the daring. regardless Of
consequences to break the bonds by which he
was united to the mother Church and to inaugu-
rate q catholic movement-a movement which is
thoroughly catholic moreover, in the American
sense Of the word-in the midst Of population
which is divided between Romanism and infdelity.
One best appreciate the personal cost Of such
movement to Pore Hyacinthe by comparing the
splendors Of N6tre Dame. where he preached to
breathless and applauding thousands in tho pulpit
which has been SUCCESSFULLY occupied by Fenelon,
Bossuet and Lacordaire. with the simple edifice
in the Rue Rochechouart which will hold
perhaps fifteen hundred persons. and where all the
magnificent accessories Of rich service and splendid
music are conspicuously wanting To step down
from the adulation and homage OF great city like
Paris to it's ungenerous and asonable criticism:
to exchange the praises Of numberless host OF
friends for the openly expressed hatred of host Of
enemies is sufficient guarantee of honesty Of pur-
pose and of that noble sefdenial which character
ICES the true reformers of all ages That Pere Hya
cinthe belongs in this category Of sublime souls.
and that his name, though 1t may not "lead all the
rest" will stand among the first and brightest, few
will dare to doubt. France is already
feeling the influence of his protest against what he
believes to be the of ecclesiastical
affairs. and we may reasonably expect two very i'm
portant results from his movement.
PROBABLE RESULTS.
The second result-second in point Of importance
to my mind. and therefore I mention it frst-will
be the effect which will be necessarily produced
the body Of the Roman Church ITSELF It's adherents
al over Europe have for some years been very
FESTIVE under vigorous and intolerant discipline.
vast amount of Professionalism, which has hereto
fore lain dormant because of the apparent hopeless
ness of any genuine reformation. will undoubtedly
take organized shape and make itself felt. While
revering the Church which has many sacred ira
hions clustering about it, which has the sancty Of
antiquity connected with it, an immense proportion
Of its adherents. five may judge by the signs of the
times. have either quietly submitted to what cannot
be helped. or lapsed into state of religious indif
ference which has ultimated in moral indifference.
The first and prime result of Pere Hyacinthe's
movement will be to establish this vast array Of
protesting thinkers ON solid evangelical ground.
Men go to hear him preach in large numbers.
The hrst remark one makes after looking
over his congregation is, "How many men
there herei" Though naturally disliked by
the members of tho church from which he has
seeded he is winning their respect by the purity Of
his fe by his fearless Independence in the discus
sion of all public questions and by tho fervor and
Sequence with which he breaches the truths Of the
Gospel. He has lott Rome. not because he wishes to
advocate any cause Of his own. but because he
desires to reproduce the Church OF the apostolic age
1t is not the Catholicism OF the Church that he pro-
tests against but rather its somanism. While Rome
all her influence in the direction OF centraiza-
ton Of power. no would. to speak, difuse. or. to
use his own language, he would multiply the eps-
copacy." Instead OF allowing the Bishop Rome to
rule the whole world enthusiastically he thinks it
would be better for each nation to haveits own
national church. as in the primitive ages 1 have
gathered all this FROM proracted interviews which
have hid the privilege Of enjoying. II has been nv
happiness to have long conversations with him
these important topics. and, as he said himself.
subjected each other to rigid theological exaina-
FRENCH "oLD CATHOLICISM"
have been all the more Interested in this 'sold
Catholic secession in France because it is part of
general aud widespread detection which is making
itself felt all tho continent and some parts
OF America. This movement took its initiative in
Germany. and the head and front of the offence was
the venerable and reverend DIR. Dolinger. OF Munich
whose scholarship and ability have been ques
toned He was too old to personally engage in the
conflict that seemed inevitable. and such a recluse
that the practical side of his character has
developed. There was not wanting. however,
thusiastic followers of organizing power. and tho
battle cry, Catholic. but not Ronian," was
the Epre churo scr Sarcb N
from Rome priest after priest either voluntarily
Withdrew or were communicated. until there
we're followers enough to make a formidable stand.
Pero Hyacinthe Is peculiarly fitted to give logical
shape to tho movement IN France. but whether he
has the practical and organizing faculties that
requisite In such task remains to be seen. Nature
seldom gives everything any man. lie is,
however ut this present time very actively engaged
and his plans OF organization and work are well
iaid Ho has two assistant priests and more appli-
cations than he can listen to- 1t is his intention
open several places OF worship In Paris during the
coming winter, while the general interest in him
aud in his Church is such that he has been invited to
speak in many OF the largest cities OF France IL
one wishes to Pere Hyacinthc at his best he
must hear him proach In the pulpit he
in this vast city. Lacorisire predicted that
he would become his worthy successor. and in tho
power to sway multitude by the charms of thought
and language, to hold them spcllbound by tho
splendor of his rhetoric and the dignity and help
fulness OF his thought. the prediction has como
true have heard many famous orators. but have
seldom been taken possession of and carried on in
constant whirl Of wonder and exaltation. us was
when listening to this gifted man. he has the
orators physique-a large brain and certain ro-
tundity oil body-whch suggests exercise rather than
hard work in speaking. He has also the orators
temperament; and while 80 sensitive that no
can feel away down in his soul tho de-
licious pang of responsibility which comes
from the consciousness that hundreds or thousands
are waiting for your words. he Is strong enough to
use this pain OF responsibility Us spur aud an in
at first slow and measured but when excited IL be-
comes rapid to the last degree. lie speaks without
q note, but ut intervals IN his discourse stops for
about thirty seconds. giving himself moments
breathing space and his congregation opportunity
to change their positions. or course his sermons
are not so elaborate as those which were produced
Ia Notre Dame for while there he had abundant OPP
portunity for preparation. while now, as his wife
quantity remarked. no IL completely submerged" in
tho details of organization from the beginning tn
end of the week. Nevertheless one can hear him
without feeling that he is OF exceptionally rare
parts twill be long while before the metropolitan
church. Notrc Dame. even with its vast resources,
viii bo able to supply his place. Little wonder that
Pho Mono spoke of him, referring to his name,
Hyacnhe. as his 'teur pierre prtceuse" Pore Hya-
cinthe was born to be priest and preacher. II he
In not to-day in full fellowship with the Church of
Rome. which he was taught TO from his earli-
est childhood, IL liz simply because his earnest and
manly soul found doctrines In that Church to which
he could not subscribe aud methods to which no
found IL impossible to submit Hc Is evil
IDENTITY man who loves the truth first
and the Church next HIS allegiance must