Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-02-08
PRELATE, RABBIAND EVOLUTIONIST


(From the New York Hcrald)
4 remarkable and interesting discussion
was held at the meeting of the Nineteenth
Century Club in the parlors Of Mrs. Court
landt Palmer, in New York, Tuesday night
Mgr. Capel BY invitation was present and
delivered an address upon the Catholic
Church, stating Tho grounds upon which
she bases her commission. His propositions
were then criticised by the Rev. DR.. J. N.
Pullman, the Rabbi Gottheil and Mr.. Thad
deus 3. Wakeman, the free thinker. Each
speaker was nominally limited to twenty
minutes, and the Monsignor was given fiji
teen minutes in which to reply to his critics.
The parlors were crowded with refined and
thoughtful ladies and gentlemen, and the
discussion was followed with the keenest
interest.
A small table, set in the wide doorway be-
tween the two parlors, and furnished with
a pitcher OF ice water and an open watch.
was the point from which the addresses
were delivered. Near this at eight o'clock
sat Mgr. CapcI, his clerical robes, in which
purple silk was conspicuous, giving him an
individuality in the throng Of ladies and
gentlemen in conventional evening dress.
Mr. Court!andt Palmer, president of the
club, introduced the prelate with a few
complimentary remarks, and he was re-
ceived with clapping of hands when he stood
up to speak.
The Monsignor III the couse Of q brief and
tcrSc address stated the Catholic case He
observed, 10 begin with, that the Catholic
Church holds that man is endowed with ill.,
teliect to know the truth, with will to do
good He is gifted with reason which,
among its othor capabilities, and by lis own
power and light, can know Of the existence
Of God, of the Immortality Of mans soul,
and oil mans responsible dependence on
God This constitutes, in other words. nat
ural religion, and rests for its basis on the
intelligence and the discurSiye power Of the
human soul.
The Catholic Church, he said, holds that
besides this natural knowledge concerning
GOD, au'sGestiny and mans responsibility.
there is another body Of truth, called reveia
ton, giving still more extensive knowledge
concerning God and man. This revelation
differs essentially from natural religion, mas
much rs i. is product OF scientific re-
search, but is impaired by God. 1t rests not
on tho capability of reason, but on the We
racity ami goodness Of God. This rcvela
ton began with the promise of q Redeemer
All dogmas since formulated by the Church,
he said, are bat explicit declarations Of the
several truths contained in Revelation.
The Church holds that such revelation is
embodied n certain inspired writings and
traditions After making Il close definition
Of the word ''God," as understood by the
Church, Mgr. Capel laid down the state
ment that the Church holds that between
reason and revelation there never can be
any real discrepancy, since the same God
who gave the one gave the other. Here it
is important TO remember the gufseparating
the facts in nature from the scientific theo-
rics advanced by men. He insisted that be-
tween the facts and laws in nature known
by reason and the doctrines Of revelation
there is and never can be antagonism.
Then lie made, with extra emphasis, the
proposition that the dimness Of man sknowl
edge about his Creator, the weakness Of
man ; moral nature, the responsibility of man
30 God, and the goodness and justice of
mans Maker, not only rendered revelation
possible, but also necessary. And the Catho.
lie Church, he declared, holds that revela-
ton being made there is the need of an
authoritative teacher and guardian of it, so
that in all times, for ali persons and under
all circumstances the individual may know
the teaching of God This implies inlalli-
BILE or divine authority, exercised though it
might DO through weak, sinful, fallible
agents. The commission, not the indivi-
dual, was TO be looked at. Reason had the
right to examine the credentials of such
commission, but being convinced that the
commission was genuine and had emanated
from God, who cannot deceive nor be de-
ceived, reason had but one duty, to accept
the message though it might be beyond the
ken of intellect.
The first address in reply to Mgr. Capel's
remarks was made by Rev. DR.. Pullman,
who read long and eloquent paper in
which he asserted that the essence of Prot
estantism was sincerity the Reformation
was a turning back to the reality Of things.
Gods laws could not be paid for with mon
| ey, nor could sheepsl.in ana ink convey
| Gods pardon. The Romanist loved au-
| thoritv most, the Protestant loved liberty
| most the one party was dominated by the
spirit Of authority the other by the spirit OF
| liberty to attempt 10 go back to the Cath
olic Church TO remedy existing evils would
be like putting out mans eyes as rene
dy for dimness of vision. In conclusion the
reverend gentleman argued that the exer-
else Of private judgment leads to sincerity
and SINCERITY to solid charity"
Rabbi Gottheil argued that if an authorita-
tive expounder of the truth were necessary
Israel was that expounder, as appeared
from the Old Testament. No religion, he
thought, had the whole and absolute truth
Each reflected one side of it, and every eth
ical religion had claim upon the world.
Mr. T. B. Wakeman set forth the claims Of
In conclusion Mgr. Capel made such
rood humored reply to his critics as to dra"
laughter and applause from the large audi
ence, Mutual introductions and lntcrma
conversation followed the debate.