New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-08-05
IN THE CHURCH PORCH.
RELIGIOUS PRoPAGAND1sM AND UNREST


Even the most enthusiastic Pedestrians must admit
that the Roman Catholic Church IS hard to convert.
a few years ago We were led especially by Epis-
co?aans, to expect great things from the Old Catholic
uprising In Germany; and for .time the movement
Justify tho hopes entertained concerning It,
But made any serious impression on the Roman
Catholic Church At most It the protest OF respect
able number of respectable al
Mugwumps to speakagainst the decree Of Papal In
fallbiity But many Of those so protesting died
Others have been quietly rcconced to the Church and
to-day Old Catholicism has entirely ceased to ex-
ctc any interest In Europe.
Then there was the Galllcan movement in France,
headed by Pcre Hyacnthe. The ancient French
Church was to be restored; UltramontanIsm was to be
driven OF the country, old abuses were to be re-
formed, while at the time care was to be taken
not TO separate from the communion of the Catholic
Church. The French people had frequently shown
signs OF desire revolt from the authority Of the
Pope and II was natural for Pere Hyaclntho TO sup
pose that they would enthusiastically respond tn the
inspiring cry "A French Church for the French
people, But a matter Of fact they didn't The
Gallcan Church to-day might DO almost said TO consist
OF Pere Hyacinthe, his wife and possibly his children.
Tho Episcopaans Of this country have taken great
deal OF interest in this we-mesnt effort TO organize
a Gallloan Church But they, Bishop Coke Of
Buffalo always excepted, ready to acknowledge
that the movement has not enlisted the popular SYM
psthles Of the French people. The only measurably
successful movement Of this kind in France today is
the NEAL mission, which does not aim TO reform the
Church Of France from Within but to convert the
people from Catholicism to Professionalism Even the
McAn mission. however, has not been able to weaken
the Catholic Church to any extent
In Mexico, Protestant missions ought 10 be Success
FIJI; for good Catholics ready TO admit that
the Catholic Church In Mexico is not what It ought TO
be. But as rule, the missionaries have made kttle
Impression tho people. Indeed, many intelligent
and farSeelng Mexoans who hostile to the Catholic
Church. look with suspicion these foreign attempts
at religious propagand.sm. Here again the Presby
ierians and MethOdsts, who frankly try to convert
Catholics to Professionalism are more successful than the
Ep!scopaans, who have been trying to organize a
reformed Catholic Church Their so-callcd Church OF
Jesus" exists to-day largely paper, and is the
subject of bitter controversy IN the home church.
Bishop Riley heads faction in It, and the Anti
Rieyltes head another and each faction IS expanding
OF its energies in converting the other. In the
meanwhile the Catholic Church of Mexico IS virtually
strong
In this country the so-called Independent Catholic
movement has made Ettle impression on the Catholic
Church. although IT has received the sympathy and aid
OF many influential Protestants. Bishop Mcnamara
Father OConnor, and several escaped nuns7 have
labored earnestly for years TO draw large fol
lowing OF the Catholic Church. but they have barely
succeeded In keeping their own heads above water
Said fair minded Protestant clergyman to me the
other day A Catholic priest who wishes to head a
reform movement in the Catholic Church makes a
great mistake I'm beginning such movement By get
ting married. Mind YOU don't believe in the cell
bacy OF tho clergy To my mind 1t IS one OF the
greatest errors Of Romanlsn. But reforming priest
who gets married will find It impossible 10 convince
(ath AT he ad any III
in starting his reform movement and he gives his
enemies a chance 10 destroy his influence a
former at the very beginning Of his career. Yes;
know Luther got married. but few woud-be rrformers
are the EQUALS Of Luther IN ability and besides,
in the of Luther, his marriage impaired his nfu-
ence Another trouble with these come outcrs' is
that they are either unable or unwilling to give the
Roman Catholic Church credit for what IS good In H.
And so they ALLEVIATE the sympathy Of large numbers Of
well read Protestants Ny good brother, DR.. JUS
tin d. Fulton whose zeal and sincerity respect goes
that track and you VIII notice that the thinking men
in the Protestant denominations stand aoof from him.
Doubtless they Just as much opposed TO Roman
CT helcsrn he IS but the don't approve OF his stve
Of warfare The great battle between sacerotalism
and antisacerloallsm will DO fought with other weap-
ons than those used by DR.. Fulton and Bishop
Mcnamara The two systems represent two opposite
tendencies in the human mind which In somc form
or other Will find an expression long as the human
race exists II my Protestant friends want to convert
any great number Of koman Catholics they must begin
by INCORPORATING I'm PrOtestantSm all that IL good In
Romanism. Then they Will be In a position to attack
It's errors and mistakes With some degree OF success
Thai Professionalism as a whole is reaching wider
religious outlook IS evident to the careful observer
Here for instance is the great Pan Presbyterian Con
ference which has just been held in London seri-
ousy discussing the advisabty Of llturScal worship.
and the establishment OF what might be called an
order Of deacOnesses. DR.. Dykes, who preached tho
opening sermon. Is the chairman of a committee ap
pointed revise the Westminster Confession OF
Faith. One eminent delegate from Glasgow, Dr.
Marcus Dods declared in brilliant address that an
acceptance Of all parts Of the Bible as equally In
spired Is a great stumbling block to outsiders who
would like to become Christians. 1t Is, he said,
hardly fair TO insist the infallblllty OF record
which mentions well pleasing to God tho sangul-
nary tragedies enacted by Joshua In the vanquishing
Of the original landholders OF Palestine. When such
sentiments can be uttered I'm great Presbyterian
gathering. there IS little necessity of stimulating free
thought On the contrary. tho danger which now
conirons Protes tantlsm IS that 1t may lose us moor
lngs and scud hclpesSy before the wind Of public
opinion revision OF us old theology may be
necessary but 1t should be revision, not an eAcis0n
notice that several newspapers accuse the literary
critics OF dsparagng the novels Of the late T. p Roo
because they were religious. 80 The Springfield
Unionp for instance, declares 1t TO be a very I'M
favorable sign Of the literary times that the religious
Instinct, which ought to pcrmeate and dominate all
writing that processes 10 serve any serious purpose,
Is so generally thrust into the background and shamed
out of sight and expression Is this truei do
not think so. Some Of the greatest novels in the
English language arc animated not only by a moral
but by religious purpose, -relgiom moan in the
large scnse Of the word not In tn soctarian In fact
We have only to mention Of tho successful novels
OF the day John ward, Preachor,' and Robert Els
mere" 10 dispruve this assertion. 80 long religion
s or Of tho greatest concerns OF human life its
duction I'm novel will be welcome. And II tho critics
did place Mr. Roe In the first rank OF novellsts-a
question which have no intention OF dscusslng,-t
was not because his works were religious In tone.
In this age religious unrest and speculation, there
Is a magnificent field open TO the novelist who has
the skill and ernius weave tho religious problems
Of the day IN the web Of tcuon>