The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-17
YOU ARE NO CHRISTIAN. !"
Startling Effect Of the Above Words
on M. Renan, Student of
Theology.
His Direct Study Of Christianity
Left Too Little Faith for
a Priest.

He Left the Academy and Became the
Master Intellect of France,
Better voltaire.
The Quarterly Review contains an inter-
esting critique on NJ. Renan, whom 1t
describes as incomparably the greatest in
tellectual force in France at this moment.
Indeed cit would be difficult adds the re-
viewer, ito mention any living man of let
tiers whose influence in the civilized world
is more diffused, more penetrating and
more effective Far the most popular of
NJ. Remains books is his 'tVie de Jesus" of
which some three hundred thousand copies
have been sold in France alone. VI this
popularity the reviewer gives tho following
explanations:
ssBy common consent, one of the chief
causes of NJ. Remains influence is to be
found In his incompatible style, It is just
twenty-seven years ago that he found him
self famous. His vie de Jesus took tho
world by storm. The effect which it pro-
duced on the public mind may b. judged of
from the fact that in France alone 1900
books or pamphlets about it were published
within twelve months from its appear
ance; most of them, We need hardly add,
attacking it with extreme severity. But,
whether man applauded or mathematical
the vie de Jesus none could deny the high
gifts of which it gave full proof. 1t may or
it may not have heen what is called an
epoch-making book 6avants might gibe
at it as a mere literary perfumory. fl only
to titillate the nostrils OF the multitude
But they have had to reckon with it. Not
even the most orthodox of subsequent COM
mentators on the evangelical history have
written as they would have written before
it was published, while those of doubtful
orthodoxy, or of no orthodoxy ut all, have
found in il rich mine of ideasy . full foun-
tain Of inspiration"
Proceeding to sketch M. Remains life
and hereditary environment, the reviewer
(who is understood by the Pail Mall Ga
zette to be Mr.. w. s. Lillv) remarke:
IN. Renan is Breton. And in him, as
in Chateaubrisnd and Lamennais before
him, the qualities of his race are strongly
marked. Physically he resembles hun
dreds Of good cures who may be seen in
Lower Brittany. A friend of the present
writer, indeed, not long ago was greatly
,astonished at finding, as he thought, in one
of the parish churches there. the author of
Vie de Jesus clad in strange ecclesiastical
costume, and devoutly sustaining some
humble part in the Offices of religion. He
IuDD0O u10 eyes dUO HIt01 = low MlAUson
discerned his error. II was an obese and
orthodox beadle whom he had mistaken for
tho Administrator of the College of France.
The characteristics of the Breton are as
clearly imprinted upon NJ. Remains intel
lectual constitution as upon his physical
form. Ono of the chief of them is ideal
ism; the vivid yet ohastened and inexpan-
sive imagination, tho heritage of the peo-
pie dwelling in that land of mysterious
ocean and melancholy plains and gray
skies and desolate rocks. But M.
Renan has also Gsscon blood in him
through his mother, whom. he describes as
lively, candid, and inquisitive. I am
double,' he writes: sometimes. one part
me laughs while the other weeps. That is
the explanation of my gayety. As there
are two men in me, there is always one who
has reason to be satisfied
ERNEST Kenan was born in 1923, at Ire
guier, small town which had grown up
under the shadow of vast monastery
founded in the last year of the fifth century
by st. Tudwal. The monastery has disap-
peared, but the cathedral remains. Under
its vautsed roof he passed long hours,
breathing the monastic atmosphere in this
highly unmonastio age. His father, the
master Of small coastinR boat, was
drowned when Ernest was three years old.
And this misfortune, doubtless, served to
The boy grew up with the fixed determine
ton of being priest. Good and devout,
he accepted the faith of his fathers. Every
thing in his early years predestined him to
modest ecclesiastical career in Brittany.
4 should have made very good priest he
thinks; 'indulgent, paternal, charitable.
blameless in my life and conversation
Such was the prospect before NJ. Renan
when, at the age of fifteen, slight incident
completely changed his future"
That incident was that his success at the
college at Treguier, where he had carried
off ali the prizes of his GLASS; attracted the
notice of Able Dupanloup:
This eminent Observation-Disclosures
famous as Bishop of Orleans-had been ap-
pointed by the archbishop of Paris superior
of the Little seminary of st. Nicholas du
Chardonnet, and was anxious to I'LL his
Ernest Renan place there, and the offer
was accepted. To the liberal coursa Of
study pursued there he ascribes the origin
of his skepticism. At the end OF his three
years at tho Little Seminary, however, he
was still bent on being priest. He went
where four years more of training awaited
him. Here he studied modern philosophy
and science. and his uncompromising devo-
ton to reason soon alarmed his clerical
teachers. Research? What is the good Of
it2' said one of the professors to him. All
that is essential has been already found. II
is not by science that souls are saved And
then gradually becoming more excited, he
said, in passionate accents, You are no
Christian"
81 have never in my life. NJ. Renan tells
us, felt more fright than that which / ex-
perienced on hearing those words, uttered
in ringing voice. tottered as left the
room. And all night long you are no
Christian resounded in my ears like q
great peal of thunder The next day he
poured his trouble into the ear of his con-
lessor, an excellent man. who saw nothing
and wished to see nothing. who soothed
him with pious words and bade him dismiss
the matter from his mind. He did so, as
far as he could, and in due course he re-
ceived the tonsure and WAS admitted into
minor orders.'
Theology and biblical exegesis now be-
came his chief subjects of study: and he be-
came more and more convinced, with N !.
Littre. that Investigate as you will. you
will never find that miracle has been
wrought under conditions where it could be
observed and verified.
"The conclusion of the whole matter for
rTTT