New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-09
THE HOLY COAT AT TREVES.

THE HOLY COAT AT TREVES.
With every disposition to be fair and re-
snoctful to ancient beliefs, it is difficult ior
average American Protestant Christians to re-
al;ze that millions of Christians as honest
and intelligent as themselves believe IN the
penuneness of the Holy Coat which is soon 10
he exhibited at Treves. Indeed, we suspect.
that there are many good Catholics in this couh-
try who have their doubts on the subject. IneS
recognize tho tremendous difficulty involved III
tho belief Tat the seamless garment worn Dy
the Saviour should be preserved through tne
vicissitudes Of so many centuries; and IN com
mon with their Protestant brethren they look
mon the alleged proofs of its preservation as
TOO ruoriIe for serious consideration Nor must
y ba sunposed that in taking this view OF the
matter they are untrue to tho teachings OF their
Church: for in that Church there are many
popular beliefs that are not regarded as Vi
faith" but simply "piOus opinions" AMER
can Catholicism, indeed, is distinguished LOT Its
comparative freedom from the spirit OF slavlsn
adherence to old and Outworn traditions that
have no necessary relation to the Catholic faith'
This is so much the case that intelligent Ameri-
can Catholics visiting Catholic countries in Eu-
pa,hy with many popular beliefs ana pr"cVioeo
that they encounter. There is, indeed, coming
to be such thing as American Catnoiic'sn''
This type of Catholicism yields to none Ill Its
| loyalty to the teachings OF the Church anu
it's reverence for the glorious heritage OF inc
mast But at the same time it is American
through and through, and is not disposed 70
perpetuate any traditions or practices that ma
! their only excuse in an alien life and cylllza-
! ton.
| But whatever we may think of the genuine
ness of the Holy Coat at Treves, its proposed
exhibition is a most interesting and instructive
obiect-le lesson. It is a survival OF the age OF
faith about which we speak so glibly, but IN
rooard 10 which we really know so little The
deep and terrible earnestness of that age, Its
| vivid realization of the unseen world, ITS al
most incredible acts of self -denia its agoniIng
desire to attain unto the peace of God which
passeth understanding, its many types OF ex-
allied sainthood and at the same time us chliu-
ish credulity, It's bold naturalization OF spirit
ual things, its anthropOmorphism, Its outDufsts
of savagery, and its dense ignorance OF man
relation to the physical world around him. are
all beyond the comprehension OF the workaday
world of to-day. We read of men neglectlng
their business in the market-place to discuss
some metaphysical theory of the Godhead, or
Of hundreds of thousands Of staid househOlders
| giving up their avocations to make pilgrimage
to a shrine thousands of miles away, perhaps
ndugng in all sorts Of self torture on the way,
and we lay down the story without in the least
degree solving the enigma of that remote age
The standards of life and conduct which we
apply to-day are inadequate to the measure
ment of life whose standards and Ideals dif-
fered from ours not only in degree, but IN
kind. Whether for good or i'll, the Old he
ligion of the Middle Ages IL dead and buried,
and new religion more truly rejecting the
spirit of the age has taken its place.
1t is indeed true that the exhibition of the
HOLY Coat of Treves will be an event OF pro-
found significance TO multitudes Of sincere
Christians. whose simple and childlike faith
we would neither scott at nor depreciate. so
far as their belief may help them to more
faithful following of Him who is acknowledged
rs n Divine Saviour by both Catholic and Prot
estant alike, it is good and commendable and
should not be needlesSly assaied. But surely
it must be evident to every thoughtful OBJ
server that the exhibition of such a relic, ana
the cult which it encourages, are entirely out
of harmony with the ideals and aspiration OF
modern life. The exhibition, and those VINO
take it seriously, are both survivals Of the past
not to be jeered at and Knocked because. they
are such survivals, as is the manner OF some,
but to be treated with all due tenderness and
respect, as the living witness Of an age out OF
which grew the more rational, and, as we be-
lieve, truer conception of religion, that is COM
ing to rule ChrisendOm to-day TO reyile
what we deem the archaic faith of Christian
brother is stupid as well as un-Chnstian. Far
nobler is it, not to say Christlike, to study pa
tiently its genesis and its meaning to those who
accept it. at the same time recognizing the good
it has done in the past and is still capable OF
doing even in the present