The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-20

IENTEN NOVELTY.

Paris is enjoying during the Lenten
season a new sensation, or rather the
revival of a very old one; and the novel
ty loving public of the city on the Seine
is divided between thoughtful interest
and extravaganza mirth. Tho medieval
| clergy OF France must have Q a
thoughtful and provident race OF men.
They recognized at an early period the
fact that the pressing claims OF the
| church during Lent entailed some hard
ships upon their practitioners. SO they
set about finding a device that would
give a flip and a relish to the m
GUS Lenten services. Camp-meetings
we're unknown. Revivals were still IN
the limbo of the future. But their IN
g~enuity did not fail the priests. They
secured for their services a "Devlls
| Advocate" 1t was his peculiar duty
from a place in the church to combat
the time-honored tenets of the faith, as
they we're set forth by the priest from
the pulpit. But they were neither ASH
nor foolish, these amiable fathers or
the church. They did not spend sleep
less nights or pass exhausting days IN
ferreting out a doughty champion for
the opposition. There are even lrrever-
emit people who maintain that some
suitable douceur slipped into the hand
of the heterodox disputant, invariably
induced him to grow confused, and still
more confused, and finally to acknowl-
edge himself ANONYMOUSLY routed by
the grace, piety and learning OF his ton
sured opponent. The doctrines OF the
church we're once more crowned with
signal triumph, and the normal attend
ance largely increased.
Paris has revived the "Devil's Advo-
cate" 1t is true that only a few years
ago the clergy of Rouen, in their zeal for
the souls Of their people attempted the
same thing. But on that n revival it
is we'll to draw the curtain Of silence.
The infamous advocate proved false to
all the traditions of his long line of an
cestors. He actually had the audacity
to have brains and to use them. lie
had primed himself with a host OF ag-
nostic and atheistic arguments, and
fairly demolished the position OF mis-
well-meaning but too-trusting opponent,
amid the ieers and SCOTS of an amused
populace. At present, the details from
Paris are very meager. A priest and a
socialist orator, however, are the com
batants, and they are met to discuss the
remedies for the social evils of the time,
whose existence both are compelled
to admit. In the absence Of further in
formation, we presume that the priest is
true to his class and his belief, that he
is insisting that the nineteenth century
must work out it's salvation by regular
attendance at church, by taking the sac
rament not less than SO many times a
year, and by the other wonted formulas
of the priesthood. Equally probably
the socialist is laundering for commu
nifty in land, for state loans without in
terest, and all the other quack nostrum'
to which he and his brethren pin thei1
answering faith. Well, the little sen
sation may have it's day. 1t may not dc
any good, but it certainly will do M
harm, Many of the Elapsed masses
may become temporarily familiar with
the interior OF a sacred edifice, and it il
even possible that some who come ST
scott, may remain to pray" But, il
spite of the Partisan revival of tn
Devils Advocate" we do not yet enter
tain any ~extravagant notions OF tn
millennium's being neal at hand.