St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-06-15
Place Of the Church, Under
the influence Of the New
and Better Spirit.
Rev. w. S. Vail Replies to the
Sermon OF Archbishop
ireland.
Profound Changes Admitted
to Be Going On IN the
Protestant Mind.
This No Reason Why the
World Should Return to
Catholicism.

| Creeds"-Such was the subject taken
| by Rev. w. s. Vail for his address yes
terday morning before the Universalist
society in the Grand opera house. The
striking parts OF the able sermon read {:
| Great interest has been expressed
| concerning the sermon of the arch
bishop of st. Paul. 1t is good to see
| ourselves as others see us. And much
interest must be felt by the alert Roman
| Catholic who views the question from
his standpoint. Like ourselves he is
limited by his prepossessions and edu-
| cation. A retrospective view brings to
his mind the mighty change wrought in
| the Columbian period He recalls the
day when Phillip IL. held the cords
| connected with nearly all the powers
| of Europe. and when he conceived
| the idea of subduing both Great Britain
and the Netherlands to the will of the
| pope. He recalls the mighty battles
| that were fought, and those colossal
figures of history like Martin Luther
and William the Silent, who gave direc-
tons, and by giving directions, gave
| power to the stream of history. He re-
calls the defeat of the Armada, the loss
OF the church in England and Scotland,
and the complete triumph of the oppo-
siti0n in the Netherlands and in Ger
many. He recalls the struggles since
that time, aggravated by the changes
produced by education and the develop
ment of the printing press; the publica-
ton of letters on the
Condition of Education
in the papal states, and the general up
springing of the spirit of individualism
throughout the world. He knows very
we'll that little by little the territory of
the pope has been sliced Off until he
only has his palace remaining, and re-
calls the fact that the flag of united
Italy flies within sight of the pope's
windows. He looks upon America, after
considering the condition of Europe,
with the profoundest interest. Revo-
Luton may sweep Italy like cyclone,
and any day is likely to see the Vatican
RACED to the ground, and the pope seek
ing home. Through the gates of Cas-
tie. Garden he has seen an amending
and unchanging tide of immigration.
most of which is turned to the doors of
the Catholic church. That church has
grown to immense proportions by this
kind of development and is becoming
one of the influential institutions of
American life, Knowing that the papal
residence will very possibly be changed
within thirty years, that Spain is the
only European country where the pope
has possibility of finding refuge, in
telligent men everywhere expect that
within that time Washington city has a
possibility of being
The Papal Residence,
and in sight of our national capitol will
be planted that celebrated college
which sends its constituents into all
lands, and within sight of the White
house will be the Office of the Jesuit
general Therefore it is easy to see
that the interest of Catholic bishops
must be very great.
The conclusions are two. The prelate
claims that creed has been given
founded upon eternal truth, itself an
unmiStakable revelation of God to men,
and unchanging amidst all changes.
That. of course, is the creed of his
church. He claims that Professionalism is
mere denial. and that the introduction
OF the right OF private judgment opens
the way to constant appearance of here
ties and to constantly recurring changes.
In this he is right. To allow man pri-
vate Judgment is simply to allow him to
think for himself, and to-day his con-
illusions as to doctrine are the result of
such a privilege. That private judy
ment will kill the theory of endless pun
ishment is very certain. But a distinc-
ton is to be observed between endless
and future punishment. Future pun
ishment will be believed. Endless pun
iShment
VIII BE Given Up
as theory. Private judgment will kill
the theory that every word of the Bible
is equally inspired; and the soul of man
will seek out of the Bible, guided by
reason and conscience, the inspired
teachings. Say what we will, if we are
to judge the future by the past, we may
reasonably believe that this will come.
But are we to conclude that this
change will in any way impede the
progress of what is known as the Prot
estant religion, and is it a case of great
lament that creedS are becoming Obso-
lete? Shall man who views the cues
ton from different standpoint be filled
with alarm, or shall he believe that this
change is only transition in the his
tory of the church, to enable it to make
use of the large circle of knowledge de-
veloped in the last half of the nine
teenth century? Does such a man see
any reason why the world should turn
back to the Catholic church because
certain changes are taking place in the
Protestant minds? And when he sweeps
the world with his glance and sees the
continued spread of intelligence, is 1t
not evidence that the
Heart of Humanity
is looking for rational religion rather
than religion of forms? 1t is very i'm
portant for US to know that it is not the
judgment of an Individual nor the light
shed by one persons conscience that is
working this change. 1t is the light shed
by the reason and conscience of human
lty which rectifies the extravagances of
the individual, and in sense this voice
of humanity is the voice of God.
think it very probable that profound
changes are going on in the Protestant
mind. 1t seems to be good time to
harbor the hope that such changes will
continue. Does it follow that men will
seek rest in the unchanging church?
That depends on the answer we give to
most serious and important question. Is
the human mind so constructed as to
rest anywhere? Is it not as changeful as
sea that to-day is a stretch of liquid
blue. tomorrow rolling, bowling mon
ster,and ever varying in form and color?
Where is the artist, the inventor, the re.
former, the singer, the poet, or the
statesman who is ready to say [ have
found perfection? Ask all of the army of
The worlds Helpers
what motto they would choose, and one
after another, coming from the gloom of
the past, would say: LET my motto be
that OF the man. master OF all the learn
ing of his time, who felt that he had
been as little boy playing with peb-
bles, while wide ocean of knowledge
was spread before him UNEMPLOYED"
Thinking men have no idea of stopping.
They do not sigh for thing they know
to be impossible. They say, let the old
be laid aside, let the church, under the
influence of the new and better spirit.
have place. 1t will not hurt religion,
and Christ will be made to stand in His
unique place more surely by this adj
vance. of course, this implies the fact
that revelation was not a matter of
geography; that the precincts and occu-
pations of the next world were not re-
vealed; that revelation refers more to
the soul of man. his homes his nossihiI-