National Republican., 1885-06-13
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

DOGMA No ANTIDOrE FOR DOUBT; In
Guiding Review from the standpoint OF y
Protestant Churchmpn Of biAhop NC
Claren's Work. Entitled "CnthOllc Dogma,
tue Character aud Claims OF Modern Ritual
ism, and an Appeal for Christian Unity. IVY
member The New York bar. j. ". lip.
pucou q Co., Philadelphia, publishers. For
sale mt BrentauO's
In the preface Of Catholic Dogma, the
Antidoto Of Doubt,' Bishop McClaren
states that argument may be regarded
as rostatomont of the Nincentian canon.
Tho author clearly shows that this claim
cannot DO allowed. as its positions are
neithor so tenable nor well founded. Tho
Nincentian canon was written by Vincent,
of Terms, q soldier monk, aud prcsbytor.
lIe himself called IL memoirs against
hcretics. In II he endeavored to formu-
lato rule, applicable for all heresies, 80
as to separate tho true from the falso.
This rule" says Ninoont, (which Is to
be scrupulouBly followed is that we are
to believe what has boon held every
whero always, and by every ono among
the faithful" The author does not dis
pute this, but quotes Episoopius as dcclar.
ing ii to be utterly impossible TO find
any instance in which IL can
bo usefully applied. which fact is virtually
admitted by Nincont himself In his ex-
planatory notes, rs follows "Wo shall
follow unanimous consent, IL we agroo
with all, or nearly all, who have boon in
tho church." AS will be seen, tho
"unanimity" is dispensed with, aud IL is
permitted to treat as unanimous consent
that Nhich ia not unanimous. The
author, therefore, regards tho Vincontian
canon. as unfolded by St. Vincent, as
tNIIaa,IuN l.. r., M.
author further shows that Bishop Nc
Claren, by Catholic Dogma, tho Antidotc
of Doubt" has attempted to unity all
Christian belief, for it undertakes to pre-
sent to the world ~ criterion Of tho
truth having supernatural source,
delivered by ely-appointcd
method, SO as to impress tho mind with
iniallible accuracy" and that the bishop
promises to reveal "One path which has
conducted souls to u sense of fixed and
final confidence in tho TRUTH" but, in
stead, this learned dignitary of tho
church has led tine reading public into
tho vcriost limbo of confusion and doubt.
This much will suffice to giyo an idea
of tho character of the present volume.
The author handles tho bishop without
gloves and in mastery manner, and
proves most agrceably that II will not
answer in this latter part of tho nine
teenth century to undertake to control
tho convictions Of mems minds by fal.
lncies and dreams which would have
found but limited field of success oven
| in tho ignorance of tho dark ages. And,
further, that when appeals arc now made
to the moral and spiritual natures OF men.
through the medium of tho intellect,
| they must have at least tho scmblance of
| logical soundness, and not boldly run
| counter to tho conclusions of the simplest
reasoning, as well AS to the comm onest
facts of history known to every intelli-
| gont schoolboy.
The author then contrasts tho Protest.
ant and Roman systems, and proves
further instances of strange and incon-
sistent propositions in Catholic Dogma,
the Andidoto Of Doubt" and that tho re-
lection of the Catholic creeds arc u noccs-
sary consequence of Bishop McClaren's s
theory.
After taking up chapter by chapter.
paragraph by paragraph. and sentence by
sentence of Catholic Dogma, tho Anti
dote of Doubt" and tearing down the
ground work of Bishop McClaren's argu-
ment, after scoring him again and again.
the author closes with stirring appeal
for Christian unity.
Ho considers Christianity to bo the ono
power that redeems and elevates the
world. Its work, indeed. is not yet COM
plete; but already its achievements have
become tho highest and tho central
radiance of the Creators glory. 1t is tho
union of the finite with the Infinite. 1t
alone has made possible the beauty and
tho glory of the character of woman,
lifted her from'the despised condition
and despond OF despair of slave and a
drudge, and seated hor upon the very
thrones Of humanity as the Christian
mothers of Christian households. Science
and art, learning aud liberty, refinement
virtue, and happiness thrive only in its
light, and thrive most where its light ID
purest and most abundant Who can re.
sist the eloquence OF this appeal? The
interest of this book does not lag from
the first page to tho last. Its literary
style is incompatible and its reasoning
terse. 1t should meet with u deseryedly
large sale.
| If,,t,,