New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-10-07
THE OTENTION or CHRISTIiN tNiii


rbrec Missing uttcranccs on the question OF
Christian unity deserve notice, because NV
.hn,. how bosccss Is the hope Of such unity
either in the present or m the imncdia'e i"'"'''
The first of these uttcrancrs Is an c"l'''' ~
..Thc Christian Nation. OF TINS CITY, an" i
docI,r,tion thu, the Protestant Church OF To-
day Is going toward Rome. statement WHY"
wo have no doubt will nightly surprise wv
authorities of the Catholic Churcn. Who '''
I,rontinr the strength of the non-Cathohc SEMI
mcnt in the religious world at the present 'i''e'
The article is in fact. hardly worth Sc'''"'
no,icc cxccpt rs an indication OF me WI! III
which good men often -" what 'heE hop' ="
fear 10 see The Editor Of The 'hriS'iah VA
finn dsapprovcs strongly or Roman '"'"oi
icis,n. and therefore he sees Il Romcward drli'
In tho Protestant tendency 10 observe days an"
seasons. such rs "SelfDcnlal Week lor'h'rH
known AS the Week of Prayer II tna'' Nv"
ever. is the only Romcyard tendency "h'"
hostile critic of Roman Catholicism can ma III
Professionalism. any talk Of union between the
two churches is 4 sheer waste OF tllh''
Professor Briggs approaches the same IncS-
zion from a Numerically opposite poih'
If low While The Christian Nation FEARS
q union with Rome. he hopes for ana eA
nec,s such a union. We see. he says. III inc
"utt,ronccs of cardinals. archbShopS ana DISH
IONS that the unity Of Chriscndom Is welShlhg
SON th,ir hearts There is nothing in the New
..rostomcnt that prevents all Of lis from coming
.,oye,hcr For some years / have agreed WIN
.,he authorities Of the catholic Church To Ger
",,in extent in the Interpretation that they place
.unon the words. Upon this rock VIII bulld
4. Dot Ia
"rut in place after Christ Others follow ait'r
MANY of the terms in the Testament are real
ely svnonymous. They all teach Christian
.unty" or course. rs PROFESSOR brleES say =
,horo f. nothing I'm the New Testament that
stands I'm the way 81 Christian unity inc Oh
staclc Is 10 bc found in human nature. 'o'S
Professor Briggs really believe that there i INV
remotcst possibility Of bridging over the claS"'
that separates Catholicism and froteStah'iNih'
w. cannot think 50. He has been betrayed lh'"
a momcntarv cxubcrancc by reading the aiilliipi'
things which many Roman 'ath"i'S are say
ing about the dcsirabty Of Christian uhltF' ny
which they mean an unconditional surrender l."
IN. Roman Church Both Protcstants ana cam
olics have learned to treat each other with more
Christian charity: but in reality they are fur-
Their apart than ever
All who advocate union with the Church oi
Pom. ~ fine ONLY practical and logical basis
of Christian unity make the assumption 'ha'
Roman Catholicism i itself an example "i INC
unity which Is SO mIch 10 be desired. ih'E
poinf imprcSSlvcly 10 the absolute uniformity "i
belief within its pale. and the loyal obedience
Of its adhcrcnts 10 The constituted authorities
If th. Church. But are these assumptions fac's .:
Let Il French Roman Catholic Journal. LA ia
yeti. de France" answer this question AFTER
sprnkIug Of the old days when the 'hurrh WIS
free, from disscusiOns il says. "Io-dAy all 'HiS
..mnItyi has been diSlntcgratcd ana broken
down Defiance has penetrated all minds, MS
cord annihlatcd all efforts. Division r'iEhS
"auIoug bishops. priests and organs, drvoti"h
els relaxed forces disSpatcd. work abandoned;
and we are engaged in Il conflict III which clch
"ou. exert, himself 80 inhict abuse and dis
"daln II we compare tn, situation Of Catholics
"to.duv with that of ten years ago. "" are
.nllcd with grief at S,'ing many efforts lost.
resources sduandcr'd. ana men ana 'h'"S>
sacrificed and confused
This il what Roman Catholics themselves
think of their present condition. ana it furnishes
A striking commentary on the courS" "f certain
Protestant ministers who enter thc Roman Com
munion to escape the dlSScnsiOn ana doubt "r
Professionalism We do not mention The lack 81
unity I'm the Roman Church by way Of criticism;
W., believe. on The contrary. that an absOlut"
uniformity ~ opinion md belief in II church
j. sign ~ death rather than life. We simply
refer 10 it ~ Il proof. lie stronger b"cail>" not
intended H. such. that nowhere Will abSolu"
Christian unity be- possible until men cease III
think II is Il fascinating dream: nothing more