The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-12
AMERICANS AT FREIBURG.
WHAT WAS DOVE At THE INTER
NATIONAL CATHOLIC CONGRESS.


nnrr. o@Connon pcnnes the American idea 70
Catheiics-Father Znhm Explains the Cathc
lie Churcb's Position with RcEard to E,oiu
uon-Their Ideas Accepted BIZ the Congress
ROME, Aug. 2s.-At Frolburr, in Switzerland
the third international Scientific Catholic Con
gross has just been held under tho direction o
the now Freiburg University. Six hundred rep
resentntives Of religious science took part in tn,
Industrious assembly, among thnm professor
from all the free universities ord n great many
mon of ornincncs--BGron Won Hertiing, Toniolo
Rurth, De surct, Dccurtins, Lapparont, BATH
fol. Granert, SC. From the United States came
Mgr. o'ConnclI, DIR. Zahm, DIR. Pace, and DIR
Graham. Tho congress, in spite Of natural
and inevitable divisions, marks an epoch in the
history Of Catholic thought.
Several facts have been definitely deter.
mined. In the first place, tho democratic idea
imported from America. Mgr. T'urinas and
some Frenchmen did indeed try to protest
against the democratic direction taken in the
Church, but the reservations and the attacks
only resulted In bringing into relief the prcpon.
deranco and supremacy of the democratic pro.
granime.' b.
Aftor the Pope and the heads Of the Socialist
party, the scientific mon In their turn have
broken with the old conservatism and with all
the forms Of the reaction, and have given their
~ tuO uOLuOCEhtlC Iuchl, IL RONcTn-
emnt Of the people by the people. Since Mgr.
ireland passed through Paris this idea has tri.
upmhed fully. 10 has hastened the day OF vic
tory by fifty years. With the exception Of Mgr.
Turinas and q few Frenchmen, all indiscrimi.
nately have acclaimed, supported, embraced
the cause.
Thanks to tho bond which in Europe binds
the Socialist to the democratic party. economic
questions took tho first place in the congress.
This Is a noticeable progress. Here, too. some
Frenchmen have endeavored to hold up the re.
dictionary and conservative creed. but in spite
of the ability and talent Of NJ. valleroux Of
Paris the congress agreed to distinctly social
istic solutions.
A broad and progressive spirit inspired all
tho deliberations and all the labors OF the con.
gress; In the matter Of exegesis it took a reso-
lute stand on the ground of a broad understand
ing OF tradition and on that OF science. The
result will certainly be a rcawakening of
scientific methods in the seminaries.
Father Zahm, formerly professor at Notre
Dame University In Indiana and at present
procurator for his congregation at Rome, up
held In a brilliant and learned report the agree
ment of theistic evolution with the Bible and
religious thought. No protest was heard.
More than that, the section congratulated the
learned American, and his thesis on evolution
may DO looked upon as an integral portion of
the Catholic scientific patrinony.
But what characterized the congress-, what
gave 1t its mark and meaning for Europe and
its historical Importance was the reception
given to Americanism, mat is. to the broad and
democratic methods OF American Catholicism.
The SuN has often noted the attempts made in
Europe and in the United States to repudiate
This spirit. The struggle goes on in many fields.
Certain Americans, friends of European reac-
tiOnAfiaa- hayn not given nm rhe hnpa ~ Inv
ing thesmethods of Cardinal Gibbons and of the
American bishops rejected. Now, at the Fret.
burg Congress-, the Catholic men of science re-
ceived In the most friendly manner Mgr.
O'Connelrs remarkable discourse ON "Ameri-
canism."
With infinite tact and precision the former
rector Of the American College at Rome pointed
out the true nature of '.Americani.m," in that
1t accepts Loyalty and frankly the Constitu-
ton and institutions of its country. Msr
o'Connelrs success was complete. as was that
OF Father Zahm- A discussion Of secondary
importance arose on Father Hecker and his
biography by Father Elliot. Mgr. Turinas at
tackled the doctrines of the founder of the Paul.
list order, but Able Klein of Paris demonstrated,
documents in hand, the incorrectness Of the re-
dictionary Bishops assertions.
That Is not all. At a select banquet at
tended by forty-seven of the most distinguished
scientific men there, the chief men of intelligence
In the Catholic Church cheered for american
ISM" DR.. Schaepmann, head of the Catholic
party in Holland, a historian and sociologist
OF the first rank, drank to the health OF the
glorious American episcopate and of THE great
Archbishop Of Saint Paul" With fascinating
eloquence and peculiar delicacy he drew the
portrait of Mgr. Ireland. Those present gave
the speaker an ovation. They applauded with
no less enthusiasm the warm words of NJ. Ply
thon, the sagacious and cautious head of the
Freiburg Government, when, entering into the
spirit Of Able Schaepmann's speech, he assert
ed that Europe needs an infusion of American
ism. Is this not significant and instructivel
Does 1t not lead to the belief that, as THE Sun
has often remarked, what happens In America
has a deep influence on Europe and will lead to
. complete Transformation in the mind Of the
Old Worldi
The United States has In this both a ground
for glory and a duty of the first order. The
duty iB to commit. no mistakes, to know the
limitations OF all things. ana to give the reac-
tionaries no pretext for criticism or recrimina-
ton. / speak OF this particularly on account
OF Father Elliot's Life Of Father Hccker." In
Abbe Klein's preface and in the body OF the
book there are some phrases. some enthusiastic
expressions, that might do harm to the cause,
all the moro as. though a sanity and lofty
soul. Father Hecker Is not a ~faultless thcolo-
Gian, as is shown clearly by his doctrine on the
Holy Ghost and that on the foundations Of mysti-
cism. Science of tho genuine sort. prudence, n
great deal Of discipline. fusion in action OF tho
spirit OF tradition with the conquests of tho
modern world within tho limits of orthodoxy
and the measure of our interests; such Ia the
mission.
Europe will be grateful to the starry flag
which VIM bear to her in Its radiant folds tho
e%olutons for the great problems of the time.
Lot the Church and the United States, as DIR.
race OF Washington eloquently said, hold the
Of history. INNoMINATo.