New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-22

unpleasant in the Engnen OF MI Liza wa" III
the Latin OF the authors whom he consults.
HUMANITY AND THE CHURCH.
The distasteful elements IN the substance OF
this volume belong to a phase of the human nat
tire which created the system. and are IN
evi,ably associated with another trait OF
humanity which the moment abuses were
discovered sought Cor a remedy. IL one
thinks only OF the dsagreeable anecdo1es.
one Is annoyed by the array OF deprav'ty'
or pleased according to his own disposl-
ton. But the struggle to restore purity IS con-
VIZ cling proof that the strongest tendency OF Inc
current Of human life, like that Of running wafer
Is to cleanse itself. Numerous as the abuses
were, they appear to have been the exception.
Otherwise 1t is imposSDte to explain the reluc-
lance with which confession to the priest was
given up by the early Professionals on the Con-
t:nent The reformcr zwingli represented an ex-
IRENE view for his times when he declared that
the form Of RENTING sins nv man was a
species of idolatry an ascrIption to the creature
of what belonged only to the Creator. Luther
was doubtless much nearer the view OF the COM
mon people when he expressed his emphatic APP
prevail Of auricular confession as useful ana, IN
deed necessary, though 1t was not diviIely insti-
tuted 1t should be wholly voluntary and need
not be made to priest" OF course. there was
the natural difficulty which people FEEL at giving
UP traditions to which they have been accus-
toned. But 1t also true that 1.-The Idea that
confession was safeguard of morality was gen.
orally entertained, and the people would scarce
have been satisfied to abandon wholly the rites
which they had been taught to consider as essen
tial to salvation
The old hypothesis of those opposed to re-
foo turo of
did not like was the deliberate invention Of
priestcraft Things are somewhat better done
at the present day. A great deal that was once
ascribed to individuals Is now credited to the
unconscious cerebr alton of multitudes. and II Is
seem also, that among many different yet con-
vergent opinions upon a given subject at
given time some one opinion was bound TO pre-
YAH 1t is just a well-known law of physics
or Of comic sections operating in the moral
world Forces convargng on particular point
unite TO produce new force which acts on
line different from that which helped to cause
IT, When hundreds of medieval doctors OF d.
vinity were trying to work out scheme OF the
gacraments that would hang together In logi-
cal fashion they each presented to the reading
world of their day views that were thoroughly
individual so far as the limitations of thought
permitted Successive generations narrowed the
less the intolerance OF opposing theories had
something to do with the process. The cry OF
heresy and the handbag over Of the recalcitrant
TO the tender mercies Of the civil power, which
usually meant stake and fire some equally
conclusive reply to argument. doubtless hao
something to do with hGrDonizing the CONNECT
OF opinion. But. after all. the process WIS
mainly one of logical dsputaton. OTHERWISE
the system could never have been perfected as
II was by the brain of Thomas Aquinas MT.
Lea points out lapses even In this supremacy
orderly thinker But these. after all. only
make more wonderful the work OF philosopher
who could turn the artificial into the naturai
ard give mere ideals a permanent perhaps an
eternal reality For we must remember that al
this very moment Aruinas is still the most
potent philosopher Of the world. Plato appears
to few, Aristotle is barely studied for his
no,it,cs. Locke ard Hume live again In Spencer.
Kant Is somebody for the German university
professors to run back to for a new start. But
st. Thomas rules the Catholic world Indirectly
csn he traced to him the features that mark
even the most trivial relationships between the
Church and humanity outside Of the Church.
He can be quoted in matters Of sociology ana
IN nnntters Of practical politics. and we may
live to hear him quoted In these matters as
well as In the inner affairs Of the Church ITSELF
Tho supremacy Of Aquinas Is testimony TO the
fact that pure theory may conquer practicai lie.
When medieval thought began really 10 AWAKEN
In the twelfth century, nobody had any anticipa-
ton OF the self-centred system OF theology morals
and church polty which was to be the outcome
Men, especially young men. were very practicai.
They were looking after the main chance. and
the study Of canon law offered opportunities TOT
making living that had never been dreamed OF
as
heaced man could wish. But the moment 1t was
taken I'D by the new University Of Paris. 1t began
"a have an interest quite distinct from the inter-
cat which lawyers take IN a study that leads to
f..s Ejaculation began to be rife. The ecclesl-
asticai courts paid no attention at the outset to
tb,s new movement. Gratlan and his compila-
,ion were good enough for them. Nevertheless
IN. roen Of the school who In a little while were
destined In become schoolmen In the special sense
~ the term worked away diligently. They did
mt see what they we're destined to accomplish
zach az them was busy with his own iavor,te de-
tsls. .Yet little as the practical churchman might
Imagine II. his labors were OF smaii account IN
comparison with those OF the schooimen VINO, IN
the University Of Paris were destined 10 "oon!
90 greatly the wh,:. structure Of Catholic belief
TO impose, we may almos. say. new 'e"k'o"
an the foundations of the old faitn.
H.
THE TRIUMPH OF AQU1NAS.
,nok,ne back a little, Mr.. Lea shows how. IN
the dissolution OF Charlemagnes Empire. the
church cnnancipated itself from the state ana
finally achieved formal triumph over the secu-
lar rulers Now this conquest was to be maze
complete. II possible. Chrtstendom was to be
united under the ecclesiastical system Men were
not arguing toward this as result. They took
Il for granted and working 1t out In the most
trivial az we'll as the greatest affairs of lfe The
Unsuitable curiosity" Of the schoolmcn "pene-