The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-20
POPE AND %ACADEMICIAN.
m. BRUNETIBRE TO VISIT LEO XIII.
BEFORE COMING TO IMhRICL.

belief In UeliRion. Politics. md naornts.
ROME, Dec. IN. Brunetiere, editor OF the
Paris Revue ds DoiLr Mondes. has informed the
Pope that he win visit him soon. and Leo XIII.
has promised to give him n iattering reception.
From Rome NJ. Brunetiere will take shin for
New York In order TO deliver scientific lectures
IN the United States. Thoee two journeys have
o social and intellectual Importance in Euro.
pean society. NJ. Brunetiero ia a representa-.
tive man. TO use Emerson's phrase. He OK
presses, In vigorous language borrowed from
that. seventeenth century OF which he is an on
thusdasJic devotee. the current French reac-
tion against SCIENCE" whose bankruptcy"
ho proclhimodsafter his visit two years ago to
the Pope. From being An aRnostic the learned
writer has become not q believer. but ar advo.
cate. like Balfour and Kidd. of the social neces-
sity OF religion.
As isywell known on the Continent and espe-
rinlly in France, even n few years ago, Cathol-
icism had been overcome in the name Of
science. In religious matters skeuticism was
triumphant. and In the very bosom of Cntholi-
cism. Gallicanism. the traditional form Of tho
faith was annihilated. In political matters
men had faith in liberty. In progress, In re-
forms. in constitutional guarantees. In moral
mattprs men asserted that they could do with
ont religion or metaphysics; they said that
there would be found in the human heart IT.
self Or In certain scientific conceptions OF life
and of the universe. a base strong enough to
hold up the edi6ce OF morals. And now every
thing, that had been tried in q bold effort.
everything that had been believed with pro-
found conviction. appears to be an impossible
chimera or deceptive dream.
aallioanism does not and, cannot como to
hfe again: but intellects OF the higher order
have turned ba.k from mocking skepttcism.
from fanatical.unbelief. The greater number
does not yet believe. but It respects belief and
prefers tho bigot to the atheist; it finds more
anterigenoe more truth in, absolute afirDa-
zion than IN absolute neEation. A great our
rent of sympathy FOR religious ideas has made
itself manifest if society. and It proceeds from
shos9. whom reliRion looks upon as its worst
6G1kies; tho learned. the critics. impartial
minds. which doubt without in~sultinaea2hd
witch look with respect, with emotion. some
times with envy. on the humble faith to which
they can no longer stoop. Men bluah at being
called "voltairians'' as once they would have
felt insulted at being called "Jesuits;' ~ and
ohey yearn for true tolerance. that which toler-
otea piety and does not enforce atheism.
Experience has taught that liberty does not
suffice for itself. that there is need for some
rule: young men. a thing that has not been
seen before in q hundred years. are all on the
side Of authority; men understand at last what
power n, what are its essentials and its uses.
They feel that political and social forms can
not be created In the same way as they are
abolished, and they begin to feel that time
has a share in the organization OF political and
social bodies; they begin TO take into account
what was once called custom and tradition;
the ~fraRility of constitutions has been demon
Btrated and they saw now that 1t is not a question
of determinations. of revisione. of incessant law
making that what must be regulated is the
state of mind Of the public: that any laws are
good II that is good. and that the whole power
OF a State aud of n Government rests ON the
devotion of the magistrates to the people. in
the attachn ent of the people to the laws. that
is, in the combination OF good will for the
public good.
Morality, detached from all religious or
metaphysical principles. has come to be looked
mp IN rs a silly idea. No morality can be based
on self interest and pleasure; no duty. can be
founded on observation and experience; they
may tell US what Is. but why should what is
be impressed on the will as what should be?
They cannot of themselves take the steps
from fact to duty. Science just now is rene wing
the IDEAS OF the universe and of life that were
formerly prevalent. Will a moral code ever
arise out of theories OF evolution? None ever
has sprung from them. Meanwhile man must
live. and he cannot live without a morality
that shall IN reason. which the
al hhAio eS'S ANIMAL ~ AhoS Chh NathiS .
q morality. in short. that shall establish
duty. Now there is only the old morality that
provides for this need OF mankind. We must
be content with 1t for the time being. as our
forefatbers were for a few thousand years. and
the highest and purest form OF this morality
is that which Christianity has offered to the
world. People on all sides are, I Will not say
returning TO religious ideas. but turning less
away from them: people draw nearer to
At l. -. H. 1-- - A.
last century ceases to blind US: they no longer
inspire Indignation. they arouse sympathy.
Reasons for their existence are discovered ami
o practical use, at least France had built
on the principles OF the eighteenth century.
but the edifce will be forever incomplete and
threatening to fall II solid materials are not
borrowed from faith. The revolution has led
men too far. at least, in political and social
questions: intelligent men understand that
without undoinR what has been done. 1t must
be corrected. completed, and that the past
may teach this completion to the future. Con-
sequently the religious question has become
again. II ever It ceased to DO, an actual and
nvinR;Question.
M. Brunetiere reflects this class in society,
this current, this reaction. A man Of system,
his testimony has q peculiar value. for his ten
dency 10 toward faith; in combating the pride
of science no is as much the Interpreter of his
period and OF the new spirit" as the exponent
4 his own thoughts. In religious matters.
since:..-his first interview with the Pope. he
wishes to adopt tho argument Of Christianity.
n its most logical. most eficacious. most fas-
~einating form. In politics he seeks for the
formula that 10 best. most sensible. and most
appropriate to practical needs, for social
theory and for tho idea OF authority and at the
same time OF evolution. In morals he seeks In
the Gospels for the highest conceivable ideal
of goodness. but an ideal suited to our nature,
IN ideal that should not discourage It. but
rather attract it and urge 1t on to effort, an
IDEAL. in fine. that should bring into play the two
essential inclinations of our soul, the need of
action and the desire for happiness.
Being in this state of mind. NJ. Brunetiere is
naturally anxious to see the Pope. The Holy
Fathers work haa attracted the atten-
ton of all; 1t must necessarily have
q fascination for the still restless i'm
.oination tho vet unsattled mind NJ tba