The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1896-06-13
\ Splendid sketch Il the Great Phil, Il
osopher by George Parsons
5s.. Lathrop.
4 HIS Able Treatise on the American
4. 4. Republic = Mastery
Book.
This Convert to the Faith "Read
Himself for Good and All
Into Cathoiicity."

George Parsons I-athrop, LII. D., con-
tributes to the Atlantic Monthly for June
brief but exceedingly close and sympa-
thctic study OF that great Aremican con-
vert to Catholicity. Orestes A. BIownson.
Mr. l.athrop, az coming OF the same Old
Puritan stock, and as having found hi.
way into the Catholic church through
mental processes not g. little resembling
those Of Brownson, is we'll fitted to treat
Justly man wno has yet to receive the
measure OF grateful appreciation which is
his due.
The young convert, however, could not
aim within the limits OF magazine ar
tic1e at even an outline Of the complete
personality Of Brownson; his sole object
being, as he states it himself, ito present
only some points of suggestion respecting
his force as a philosopher and teacher, a
comprehensive student of religious his
tory and government, a potent essayist
on many subjects; a man Of conscience,
whose connections--as Lowell wrote Of
Dante-"were so intimate that they were
not only intellectual conclusions, but
parts of his moral nature" and withal as
ardent an American patriot as he was q
Catholic.
MT Latllrop has succeeded admirably
in his modestly limited task; and the
Catholic readers of the Atlantic will
arise from the reading of this delightful
sketch, not only better Informed as to
Brownson, but as to the Church itself, of
whom BroWnson, strOng-willed and DOM
inant as he was, became so loyal son.
Unquestionably, Brownson's conversion
and immediate devoting of his powerful
pen to distinctly Catholic interests OBJ
scured during his own lifetime, and still
obscures, his reputation as a great orig
inal thinker. But his works remain. in
the magnificent edition of his son. Major
Henry F. Brownson, full of life which
has In 1t earnest OF far springs to be"
already the cloud 10 passing and more
men will conte to share the opinion of his
intellect, now'held by many, that it seems
'to have surpassed In depth, comprehen-
siveness and sincerity, every other phil
osophic mind that this country has pro-
duced."
The sketch of Brownson's philosophic
and religious life is CLEANED by Mr.. La
throp from his autobiography, "The Con-
vert book which might we'll be taken
up and studied by the young generation.
His devout and visionary childhood; his
sorrowful search for religious certainty
and comfort, his brief tarrying first in
Presbyterianis1n, then in Universalism,
are noted; and the fact that his idea
from boyhood from the word Of elderly
Congregationalist women, ''of the need
of finding church continuous and I'M
changing from the time of Christ pre-
vented him, as he phrased 1t himself,
'tfrom ever being genuine hearty Prot
estant, or a thoroughgoing radical
even"
Failing to find rest in the imperfect
forms Of Christianity which he made trial
Of, he drifted into materialisn, and vari
olls reformatory, socialistic schemes,
based apparently on the sentiment that
since the future Of mankind was doubt
full, it were well to make the earthly So
journ as comfortable as possible.
By-and-by, however, he thought ne
found a religion-it was new religion
of course; and he formed, in 1886, being
then 80 years of age, .'The Society Union
and Progress" He seemed to confound
Christianity; with democracy, as Mr.. La
throp puts it: and to advocate the result
amt spiritual and ethical system, set up,
in 1888, his Quarterly Review
An ardent Democrat in politics, he fell
into disfavor with his party by his ill
considered essay on the Laboring Glasses
In 1886 He believed himself prepared
for the event; but as Mr.. Lathrop puts
it,
''7'heoretical resignation to such a fate
however, vanished before his righteous
!: revolt against sharp-tongued critics and
weak-hearted friends. The old Adam and
the new American rose up in him with
the energy of colossal twins. He resist
ed the attack; formed himself If one may
say so, into solid square; and, bringing
all his intellectual forces into play, sue
ceeded, by three years Of vigorous and
brilliant effort, in regaining through his
Review narhanS a greater SWAY over the