The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-02-04
ANGLICAN AND GALLICAM

Church OF Rome, 1t remarks, has disgust
ed the people with religion. at first
makes them disguised with its own and
then with all religion The French
have become so nauseated with the super
stitions of the Church that nothing tempts
them. 1t is a natural reaction, in which
they are flung clear of all churches and
settle down in aversion and disgust"
The Churchman proceeds: "Of course
people who have become disgusted with
the superstitions and absurdities of Rome
are not going back to Rome
But, further observes the Chuychnaaaa
religion, with perhaps the majority of
these people, is too much matter of ne .
cessity not to have them crave worship
which answers to their idea. Observe
the phrase, (which answers to their idea. 3"
And now comes the seq,eit,r from these
innocent premises. 1t is in these words ::
What if something answering to the
Gallican Church is the natural mediator
between the absurdities and excuses of
Rome and a worship which is in every
way distasteful on account of its bald
simplicity? De Tocqueyille remarks that
the Church of England, in spite of what
he terms the defects of it's constitution
and the abuses of every kind that swarm.
ed within it, supported the shock of inf
deity VIGOROUSLY On the other hand
has been said that where the system
OF Rome is upheld hatred of religion is
the attitude of the nation Now. here
we see very possibly what is to be the
work of reform in France. 1t must be a
Church which, above all things, inspires
confidence and which, bearing in mind
the tastes and customs of the people.
meets them at the very point at which.
while they wish to believe and Worship.
they have been disguised and repelled
1t Is certain, at least, that the GalHcan
Church found abundant reason for being
AS it also did noble work-in France.
and there certainly seems to be abundant
reason for its revival
The Murchoaaja is entirely satisfied
with Gallicanism 1t prefers Cali
canism to the "bald simplicity of the
Church of Bucer, and Melancthon, and
Farel, and Calvin, and Coligny. The
Gallican Church has embraced some
splendid names like those of Port Roy
al;-Quesnel, Pascal, De Sacy, NicoIe,
Arnauld like that of the Archbishop of
Cambray; but this "Gallican Church
warred upon the Port Royalists and upon
Fenelon; and while.it compelled the lat
ter to read in his own cathedral his re-
cantation of The Maxims of the Saints. s.
1t, working through the Jesuits. prevail
ed on Louis XIV to destroy the Abbey
OF Port Royal. The "Gallican Church
has defended the principle of the politi-
cal ndependency of the Church of France;
1T never denied its spiritual subsection to
the Church of Rome. 1t never pretended
to be anything but Roman Catholic; il
recognized the Pope as the Vicar of Christ
and Head of the Church as BODY if
never threw off any of the superstitions
- 'A'O A'OtliioiA CuuICI IL was the - tTdl-
lican Church which waged that lono
and bitter war against the Huguenots OF
France; it was the "Gallican Churcb"
which cooperated with the Montmoren-
cles, and Guises, and DeMedicis in the
sanguinary League which deluged France
with Protestant blood it was the Gal
hcan Church which stood by, and got the
benefit of, if it did not directly applaud
the massacre of st. Bartholomew it
was the Gallican Church" which pro-
cured the Revocation of the Edict Of
Nantes, and drove the noblest citizens of
France into foreign countries for wor-
shipping God after the manner of Ne
lancthon and Calvin; it was the CALI
can Church ~ which endorsed and accent
ed in recent years the dogma Of the I'm
maculate Conception.
This is the thing which the Czauchman
says is wanted in France. "Straws show
which way the wind blows"
-s---
0nru7 &C ALr ,,1.l