Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-05-28
PERE MYACINTHE AND FATHER
MONSABRE.

uOHSABHE-
There seems to be an epidemic OF religious
controversies here in America and there
is an effort to bring about a unification oil
the churches, while at the same time there
are schisms and factions breaking out IN the
denominations trying to unite. This olscoru
has broken out in Paris and It's violence
furnishes another illustration OF the oltteI-
ness of religious feuds. The New Aork
Herald contains recent correspondence DE-
tween the Ex-Priest Hyacinthe Loyson anu
the Rev. Father Monsabre, when createo
much interest in Paris and will attract mucn
attention in the United States. The cor
respondepce commences in sweet breeze
but endsin a storm. 1t opens with letter
from M. Loyson in which he invites
Father Monsabre TO meet him and
discuss in public the questions which
separate them, "and particularly those OF the
supreme and infallible monarchy Of the
bishop of Rome and the legitimacy OF the
inquisition." The writer of this invitation
says he ia actuated by desire to see the
truth brought forward into full light, and
that he is also determined that the discussion
manner. To this Father Monsabre replies
that if assured of an audience whose senti-
,nents will be in perfect harmony with the re-
spectful and peaceful conditions under which
the discussion is proposed, he may be
able to secure the permission OF his
superiors to accept the proposition, but feared
the discussion would produce an excitement
calculated 10 produce scandal, by which
truth would gain nothing. He concludes by
saying: "Why would you not accept
friendly conversation in which you could
present your. objections? 1 would reply to
them as best could, and if it should be i'm
possible for me to convince you, might,
perhaps, Justify my faith by such reasons as
would at least command your respect. You
no longer believe. / believe, and l hope to
die faithful to my conviction. It would be
great consolation for me if my prayers could
obtain from God the return OF your soul to
the convictions which guided your youth"
In reply to this NJ. Loyson begs to assure
Father Monsabre that he will do all in
mis- power. to tranquillize the superiors
of the Dominican, if the latter will
reconsider his decision. He says: vi am
quite sure, my reverend father, that you will
bear in mind that personalities will have no
place in a discussion that is courteous, and,
above all, christian. Unfortunately person
alities belong to the arrogant GUS
tom of certain Ultramontane controversies;
and you have allowed yourself to fall into
this manner when you speak OF offering me
your 'compassion.' i could retort now IN
the same spirit if I were given to this way
of speaking, especially when you accuse me,
and entirely without proof, of having lost
my faith" To this the reverend father
rather disdaiufully replies: Content your
self with your reunion, where you have al
ready, as know, refuted my doctrines. Call
those whom you desire TO convince, and
cease to provoke public discussion, which,
l persisE in believing, would result in no
benefit to the truth. am always ready for
any explanations which you may
ask for, but will not provoke scandal
This is too much for NJ. Loyson. "You
refuse for the second time," he exclaims,
"under the pretext of scandal, the confer
ence which have proposed to you. Permit
me to say that if there is scandal it is alto
gether on the side of the controversial
who shirks the obligation OF giving reason
for his faith and teaching, under conditions
which can be sincerely and usefully con-
trolled. You assure me that you had no in
tention to offend me in your former letter.
In any case you would not have succeeded,
for can easily excuse whatever your first or
your last contains, not in accordance with
the usages of well-bred persons, as uncon-
scious habit" With this the correspondence
closes, and its bitterness shows what would
have ensued the discussion had
really occurred. These discussions, in
and out of the church, show that
the world is taking a lively inter-
est in the problems of heaven, he'll, creation
and the soul. The whole progress of man,
his advance in intellect, science, art, law,
medicine and civilization, has been only by
means OF one unbroken debate. Birds fly,
serpents crawl and animals run, but society
talks itself onward. Both sides of all ques-
tions are now presented and men are refining
the good-sifting it and winnowing it by
means of comparison. 1t was the TACT that
thought had but one side to it, which made
the bigotry and degradation Of the middle
ages. No one dared to rise up and assert
that there was another side TO the question.
Freedom of church and thought and action
puri6es christianity and exposes errors
Truth suffers nothing by these discussions in
the church and by the outside world, and the
intellectual storm which now shakes the
world will continue to rage until the air is
made sweeter and purer.