The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-06-09
Converts to Romanism.

The effort to transmute Professionalism
into feeling and sentiment has happily
been a decided failure, and the spoiled
and indolent find an element infinitely
more agreeable to them in the incense
laden atmosphere and the languid lita-
MES of the Roman Catholic chapels.
They want occupation. 1t is thrust into
their hand. The priest presents them
with a round of duties which will keep
every segment of the day employed. At
tendance at mass and vespers, reading the
hours at the fitting intervals, special acts
of penance, or special something's on
which the mind can dwell. The comics
sor attends like physician to the spirits
disorders, listens with consoling sympa-
thy to the tale of disqulet, and is ready
with his hemlook Juice when the pain be-
comes intense. Nature, the sovereign
physician, bids us let our wounds alone,
live healthily, do right and leave the rest
to her. The confessor knows that soul
when cured of its pain will no longer need
his aid, and insists on continued repe
tition of torturing determination,
which will make recovery impossible
The Romanist has long since COMPOUNDED
truth with the affirmations of what he
calls the church. The Protestant, find
ing three centuries ago that the institu-
ton called the church was teaching false
hood, refused to pin his faith upon the
church's sleeve henceforward. He has
relied upon his own judgment, and times
come when he is perplexed. Weary Of
doubt, and too impatient to wait until it
pleases God to clear away the clouds, he
demands certainty on which he can re-
pose, never to ask question more. By
an effort of will which, while claiming
the name of faith, is in reality want of
faith, he seizes the Catholic system as a
whole. Foregoing the use of natural
reason torevermore, the vexed soul &C
cepts the words of a spiritual director as
an answer to every difficulty, and finds,
as it supposes, the peace for which it
longed, as the body drugged with opium
ceases to feel pain. He must, if he has
been brought up Protestant, ask for an
Interpretation of this or that doctrine,
this or that historical event, where the
church has seemed to be inspired not by
God, but by the devil. The director
meets him with confident assertion that
Protestant tradition is based on lying
that the church is always tolerant and
loving, etc. Prepared by his emotional
sympathies to welcome the explanation,
he listens unwillingly, satisfies his scru-
pies with books put into his hands, the
truth of which he greedily assumes. To
no purpose is evidence laid before such a
man-evidence which would be conclu-
sive in court of justice-that the Pro-
testant traditions were all true. He no
longer reasons, but feels
A Protestant comes in contact with
the Catholic system in its most seductive
form. Where it has been in power the
Church of Rome has shown itself in its
real colors. 1t has been lazy, sensual,
tyrannical. 1t has alienated every hon
est mind in Spain and Italy, just as three
centuries ago it alienated the forefathers
of those who now return to its bosom.
In Protestant countries, where it is in
opposition, it bears the similitude of an
angel. 1t is energetic and devoted, it
avoids scandal, it appeals to federation,
and therefore pretends to be itself toler-
ant-JumaeS A. FToude.