The San Francisco call., 1896-02-13

II
waged furiously divided the Christian world,
and for long time was undecided. Now the
Arians were yietors in church and state and
anon the Nicean party triumphed. Christen-
dom was divided into two hostile camps
The ere were in reality in that day two rival
churches, each denouncing the other, ana both
invoking the arm OF the Worldly power 10 sup
press their opponents.
by the final triumph of the orthodox party
than new dissensionS arose, which lasted for
centuries and convulsed the Christian world
The relation. between the divine and the
human nature in Jesus was now the chief
topic OF controversy The different parties in
the church eombatted each other, not only
with the weapons of the spirit but with banish-
ments executions and fanatical wars. So vio-
lent and brutal did these controversies often
become that whereas, in the first century of
our era contemporary was moved to eXclaim,
"See how these Christians love one anotherp'
in the fourth century another witness could
say with equal truthfulness 'tThere are no wild
beasts so feroeious Christians who differ
concerning their faith" Yet this was the
period in which the Roman congregation
gradually rose to supreme control and the
Papacy was developed.
So it remained more or less throughout the
Middle Ages. In the eleventh century these
differences were accentuated and led to the
permanent estrangement and division of
Christendom into the Greek and Roman
churches. Each party hurled its anathemas
at the other in parting, and each declared il
self to be the true and only representative of
Christ on earth. Henceforth there were in
reality two Catholic churches, one at Rome
and the other at Constantinople. The Roman
wing of the original church was now, it
seemed, left undisturbed TO carry out its doc
trine of church unity. But not for long. The
war OF ideas, the clash of rival parties, went on
as before. At one time the Papacy itself was
divided. There were rival Popes at Rome and
Ayignon, each declaring the other to be
SchiSmatics and emisSaries of satan. Mean
while the monastic orders and the scholastic
theologians were engaged in just as violent
controversies with each other as any sects OF
our own DAYS
Not only in the ponderous treatises of the
sehoolmen, but by the sword, the faggot, the
rack and edict of communication did these
disputants seek to controvert each other.
Countless seets Of heretics and reformers now
arose in the church. Such were the Cathari,
the Lollards Albigenses. Vaudos and Wal
denses, the followers of Huss, Wicklitfe, Sava-
narola and Erasmus.
The intense religious agitation of those ages
eliminated at last in the Protestant Reform a
tion under Luther, Zwingli, Calvin and others.
BY it the Roman church again lost large por-
tion of her following and forfeited the spirit
ual control OF the most powerful, enlightened
and dominant nations OF the modern world.
BECENT DIssENsIoNs,
With the withdrawal OF so large and earnest
an element the church of Rome might
have hoped TO enjoy season of repose in
which to cultivate the sentiment of unity
and obedience among her adherents. But
again divisions arose within her borders.
The example of the Protestants and the in
tiuence of modern civilization through its
ciety, have for the past 800 years been steadily
at work disintegrating and sapping her power
over the remaining Catholic nations of the
world. We behold to-day the chief supporters
of her temporal and spiritual sway disaffected,
restless and alienated. Italy, France and Bel
gium are great battlefields on which the Papal
power wages a continual conflict with its own
spiritual Subjects and constantly loses ground.
The temporal power is lost forever. The con-
troll of the schools is gone also. The step now
imminent in France is the abrogation of the
pDOpOrdat Or with Roma no
consequent withdrawal of state support from
the clergy. Austria, SPAIN Brazil, Mexico and
the South American republics are following
in the same direction.
Day by day the control of Rome over the
minds and hearts of these nations is lessening
The people OF all ranks and classes are becom-
ing skeptieal of her divine right, Indifferent to
her appeals, contemptuous of her authority.
Nowhere in the modern world is unbelief so
widespread and profound as among Catholic
nations. The way is preparing for great
transformation of the Roman church and doe
trine. or else another separation from it OF
many OF her most intelligent members. Even
among the priesthood this is apparent. Ever
since the Reformation OF Luther the Catholic
clergy has been divided into two great parties,
the liberal Catholics and the Ultramontane.
The former has thought 10 reform and remodel
the church according to the altered needs of
modern society. 1t has opposed the adoption
OF extreme doctrines and measures, and en-
deavored to curb the undue power of the
Papacy. The Ultramontane party, on the
other hand, has, under Jesuit leadership,
strenuously denied that the church needed re.
forming or improving. 1t has opposed all at
tempts to reconcile the old doctrines with the
new times, and has especially magnified the
prestige ana power of the Papacy.
These two parties have sJriyen with each
other for the mastery, with varying success.
Thus, under Pope Clement XIV, in 1878, the
Liberals secured the abrogation of the Order
of Jesuits. $50 long as the Order of Jesus
exists" declared the Papal bull, sit is quite
impossible that the church shall ever arrive at
a true and lasting peace In 1914 the Ultra
''at the unanimous request of the Christian
world" restored the Jesuits. The ambitious
designs of the Society of Jesus led, in 1870. to
the PRONUNCIATION of the dogma of Papal in
faflibility by the Vatican Council. The oppo-
sition to this dogma on the part of many
liberal and prominent members OF the priest
hood was pronounced and bitter.
This. opposition, as it was uttered in private
circles, from the pulpit and in the session of
the solemn conclave itself, has lately been
published to the world. 1t there appears that
the liberal Bishops denounced the dogma of
Papal infallibility as irrational ard impious.
The Pope they ridiculed as a narrow-minded
old man, completely controlled by the Jesuits.
The Ultramontanes returned this opposition
with equal scorn, denounclng the Liberals as
rebels and traitors. The promulgation of the
dogma, however, compelled the obediept assent
OF separation. OF those who had opposed it.
Under the whip and spur of the church power
the most humiliating retractions were made
by most of the dissenting Bishops. But others
like the eminent DoelliEger, the most learned
OF Catholic church historians, refused to up
hold what they had denounced as unhistorical
and untrue.
Doellingers famous book against Papal usur-
pations, entitled 1.-THE Pope and the Council"
by Janus, created an immense sensation in
Catholic circles. AS it had appeared anony-
mously the Ultramontaine party pretended
that it was not the production of the eminent
scholar. All doubts as to its authorship were
set at rest, however, when new edition ap-
peared which bore the name of Doellinger as
its sole author, and in its preface gave an ac-
count of the circumstances under which it had
been prepared. This later edition is entitled
"Das Papstthum'-"Th Papacy'' and is fur
nished with full citations and references to
substantiate the assertions and arguments OF
Janus.
Under the leadership of Deellinger, Huber
Relnkers and other ecclesiastics another sep
aratlon from Rome took place. known as the
old Catholic movement, which, although not
large IN numbers, is of Importance as showing
the drift OF things in Catholic circles.
AMERICAN CATHOLICS.
Here in America there does, indeed, exist
greater uniformity of belief among Roman
Catholics and dissent is comparatively rare
The reason for this is obvious The great bulk
OF Roman Catholics among us belong to the
less educated class of foreign immigrants who
are accustomed to obedience, and who do not
think for themselves on religious matters
With increased education and the gradual in
huence OF our republican institu tions in pro-
noting personal independence we must be-
lieve that American Catholics will yet prove as
difficult to keep in their old ways as their
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