New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-10-21
PERE HYACINTHE'S CHURCH.
LETTER FROM NINE. LOYsoN, CoRRECTI NC

LETTER FROM NINE LOYsoN, CoRRECTIN NC
SOME RECENT MEASUREMENTS
TO the EDITOR Of The Tribune.
OF There appeared letter lately in your col
ufnns from Paris correspondent. concerning Pere
hyacinthc and his church, which contained so many
ana egregous errors, which have been the cause
OF so many protestatons from our friends in Amer
ca' that beg by your kind courtesy, 10 correct
some OF them. which is duty imposed upon me-
as founder and president OF tho Altar Guild OF
the Gallican Church. Perc Hyaclnthc. himself, has
niahe rectifcaion Of damaging assertion in this
ieter-to the effect that Is being educated
IN Jesuit institution My notifications are upon
minor points, but nothing is unImportant which
touches the matter OF religious worship. And do
this reluctantly, the letter is evidently written
with good intention and with many kind personal
anusions but 1t bears the stamp and style OF the
schooEgrl correspondent who has to Paris
10 sharpen the pen and with haphazard information
10 what she says OF the resemblance OF our church
10 " an American barn." can only add that when
we remember the stable of Bethlehem, in which the
saviour OF the World born, kept humble and
most grateful for this poor and ou0ohe way church
ior there the Gospel is preached and tho Faith
delivered tn the saints announced TO the world with
out fear of moesation since five years ago. and after
centuries Of prayer and many martyrs, this in
es'lmable privilege Is given us by legal decree OF
The French Government. We do not pretend to
phantom cathedral as is aveTed in the letter.
as We have not, As yet, a French Bishop at our
head' but are only mission. and we think the most
interesting and most important mission in all Chrsten-
dom. For France being the eldest daughter Of the
Church Of Rome IL the keystone which upholds that
powerful edihce. and when France is converted the
whole Latin Church will follow. In awaiting
own Callican bishop, the excellent and learned
Bishop Cleveland Coke, Of Western New-York is
our visiting bishop and Bishop Jenner, of the English
Church, his coadiutor.
"The rude seats' described chairs, not luxurious
certainly. but free, and what Is depicted a
little, white painted counterfeit presenmcnt Of Ro-
man Catholic altar" is in fact thoroughly orthodox
altar, made By OF the first manufacturers CT Roman
Catholic church furniture in Paris and Is Of old oak
with gold leaf gilt. artificial flowers" in spite of
The assertion of your sponden allowed
upon our altar, is tawdy" cotton aceo used in any
way. All we use-and that IS little-is real Though
we are poor. and in the beginning OF great work,
with all human odds against us, we no lmators,
but conseWatOrs and rcformers Therefore, while
We do not reject the true and good in the past,
DO reject the false, whether it be In
the objects pertaining to cult or
unscriptural aud newly made doctrines
coming from Rome elsewhere-always asking God
to lead in the way of charity toward those who do
not see as do believing that the gospel of love is
better than the false gospel of hate.
AS to our music, 1t is often bad' especially when
our excellent organist is absent-whch is not often
But our organ, though small, Is good Alexander,
and our choir is the congregation for worship with
means not alone the action Of the priest the altar
but that Of the lay faithful, and the grand old Gre
gorian chants sung with feeling, and may add
with profound religious devotion. "The superb bari
tone' spoken Of is the only paid singer; for be, too
poor and blind and has aged
n 0i Iaacas Of PB S Paris aOGn Vs
Of Music. We have not six but four, lights on the
90 Tho lIuI,. % tha
Evangelist The altar shelves spoken Of re 11a
sad lack of ecclesiastc cal knowledge, or church
on the part Of the correspondent, and
Now, we viii step from the chancel, whose cost
and care fau TO the hands Of the faithful women, and
TTpy 10 some OF the sweeping assertions outslle.
The Gallcan Church has stable and most faith
iul membership composed entirely Of French Catholics
separated from Rome and our parish extends through
out the entire country and even into the Orient and
small perpetual lamp which hangs before our humble
altar Is a beacon light through many lands and
American and English, and the other :" numerous
human types spoken OF by you cor espondent proves
The writer further asserts that France is neither
Catholic Protestant" Now, after residence here
religious question, lean say that, France is not
has the least tendency to become Protestant, IN The
there ara only 100000 PrOtestants. But France Is
thoroughly Catholic country and Will remain So IN
Christ France is still in the crisis of the great
Revolution; but she IS cropping her way out
from her prosecutors and what we are trying to do
is TO hasten her deliverance. This great Christian
Ss a dsT not G a n so we sG er
pated Christians do our dy-be fully freed from The
PPa b o spa at ana ' Of e aGVnce np l
and scientific Christianity. Then there will be no
copscy, and then there will reign love, and not
hatred throughout united ,} or c9neHerse
President Of the Altar Guild Of the Galcan Church.
Paris, October 4, 1889