The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-06
RELIGIOUS APOsTASY.
pervened.

RELIGIOUS APOSTASY.
The '.apostasy" of DR.. w. B. Huson, of
All Saints Cathedral, Episcopal, Milwaukee,
to unite with the Catholic Church, as officially
announced yesterday, caused a great deal of
comment among the relgionists of that city,
and was surprise to even the rector's many
| friends The matter is treated on at length
in the public press, and it is apparent that a
degree of chagrin is felt among his old ad-
herents, and corresponding citation on the
part of those in the church to which he goes
Just why this should be is hard to say. The
man. no matter how eloquent and popular he
may have been, who goes late in life from
one church to another, generally goes alone
1t is as though he were dying physical as
well as UNCONVENTIONAL death; it affects only
the individual In all times men of learning
and influence have been moved to pass from
one doctrine to another--Catholics to become
Protestants, and Protestants to become dew
otees of the Church of Rome. There have
been notable examples Of such afterwards in
fuencing the views of many people. Such
was the withdrawal of Luther and Melanch-
thon from the Catholic Church, and the prac
teal separation of Wesley from the Established
Church of England. But in these later days,
with the spread of intelligence, the great mass
of people who are united with the several
church organizations are so united because Of
an intelligent comprehension of the doctrines
underlying these respective bodies. 1t cannot
be denied, however, that environment has
much to do with it, The child reared under
Catholic influence is generally quite certain to
become an adherent Of the church which has
held the allegiance of the parents, and youth
who have been accustomed to hearing the
Roman church criticised, while they may not
become active Protestants, at least have i'm
bibed too much prejudice against the former
to ever be able to overcome it.
This fact is so we'll understood as to have
become generally accepted, and no we'll
men from Judaism to Christianity, or from
Catholicism to Professionalism, or the reverse.
The accession of even priest, or preacher, or
rabbi is not much. Better for humanity, for
the great body of men who occupy the desert
places not cultivated by any of the evangel-
ical churches, that Christian organiza-
tons of every denomination continue
upon the common ground wherein every man
can be induced to be saved. The iawing and
cawing that for centuries went on between
churches over purely technical differences
greatly weakened the church in all it's func-
tions. Millions of men have dropped through
the splits made by the several churches. If
salvation largely depends upon an alliance
with the church militant in some of its di-
visions, the several divisions should be careful
to preserve the fact that, for the most part
each has the same end in view, and only in
the matter of unimportant details does one
differ from another. If FINAL salvation is the
aim of the church, why should so much stress
1
be placed on the ''apostasy" of one man, or a
dozen, or hundred men? The world Of
mankind needs the aid of every Christian Or
ganization, and only the united effort of the
whole church can effect the redemption of all
men. The world calls for little or no
wrangling among the churches little splitting
of doctrinal hairs and unity on the very
few essential points that underlie Christianity.
| If man believe in the Savior unto salvation,
there is no occasion for wrangle over the
question whether he shall be sprinkled with
| holy water, with unconsecrated water, be i'm
mersed in flowing water, or not be touched
with water at all. If Protestant would feel
easier in conscience when allied with the
Catholic Church, or Catholic wishes to cross
over to the Protestant Westinghouse, let him
do so without scandal and without prejudice
to the cause Of Christianity.
That is the way with Christianity now. 1t
is the rule; it is only the exception when
some one or other of the various branches of
the church stops in its march to have an ar
gument at any length over inconsequential