The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1893-12-15
IN ALL ITS DETAILS.
Something More About the Latest
Encyclical of the Pope and the
Causes For Tt.
BIBLE PRONOUNCED INSPIRED

In Whole and in Detail, and If Science Is
at Variance With Its Teachings, Then
1t Is Science That Is at Fault-The Con-
troversy May BE Opened as q Result of
the Document.
ROME, Dec. 13.-The pontiical en-
cyclical upon Bible studies, some de-
tails Of which have already been cabled,
is attracting considerable attention in
ecclesiastical circles from the fact that
it is document of the most capital inn
portance. The Latin text is very ex-
tended and does not occupy less than 20
columns of large sized newspaper.
Even from a literary point Of view, the
encyclical has great value, for it is
written in choice Latin of the most ele-
waited tone.
Cause of the Controversy.
In order to appreciate the scope of this
encyclcal, it is necessary to revert to
the causes which have rendered it neces-
sary. This recalls the controversy
caused by a pamphlet written by Mgr.
d'Hutst, rector Of the Catholic institute
of Paris in which it was sustained that
the points of the creed book which
should be considered as inspired are only
those which concern the dogma and the
articles of faith. This pamphlet was
written in defense of the doctrines
which had already been propounded in
the same sense by M. Loisy, concerning
the teachings of sacred books in the
same institute. NJ. Loisy claimed, in
brief, that the object Of a church is
to teach moral ideas, to turn men to-
wards that which is good, and to
conduct him to salvation. In conse-
quence, one can accept as parallels, able
to contribute to spread of religious
truths and of morality, the portions of
the Bible which, from the chronological
point of view do not agree absolutely
with historical truth or scientific truths.
What would it matter, for example, for
us to state that the deluge could not
have happened scientifically under the
conditions described in the Bible, so long
as the Biblical description had as re.
suit the improvement of man and the
spread of morality? 1t seems useless to
give more development to the explana-
ton OF this controversy.
Necessary to Say Something.
1t is certain that after the noise which
it made it was indispensable that the
pope should pronounce himself ex-
cathedra. Doubt had arisen on the
points of the Genesis and on more than
one Of the parts of the Biblical Co.'S
mogony, which are no longer in accord
with physical truth or with scientific
facts recently acquired. The professors
OF theology experienced the need of
hearing an authorized voice which
would indicate to them the path to fol-
low. Mgr. d'Hutst was almost accus. d
of heresy, and judged it advisable to go
to Rome in order to plead before the
pope the cause which he sustained in his
pamphlet.
Tr.s in Whole and in Detail.
The pope resolved to end the debate
by an encyclical, the substance of which
has already been cabled. He has dissi-
pated all doubts expressed by the rector
OF the Catholic Institute OF Paris, Mgr.
d'Hutst. and by the professor of that
institute, M. Loisy, in declaring that
the sacred books are inspired in the
whole and in the detail, and that if, in
certain points, they seem to be out of
accord with science, this is either the
result that these points themselves have
been badly interpreted or that science is
mistaken.
\ 1t would not be impossible that this
encyclical will reopen the controversy
instead of closing it.
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