Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-09
DE COSTA JOINS ROME.

II IA now announced that Rev. Bonja-
min +. De Costa hns Identified himself
with tho Catholic church. Some time
ago he created sensation by leaving
the Episcopal church. because DR..
Briggs. the famous higher critic" was
given fellowship there.
DR.. Costa, In explaining his change OF
faith. says he has no apology to offer.
standing In the midst OF modern re-
igious systems topping to their fail
like columns In the temple Of Sarnnr.
no defense need be offered for accepting
firm and mistaken Catholic faith"
lie declares that the Catholic church
stands before the English speaking peo-
pie and Protestnnts everywhere US the
unique and solitary defender OF the Bl-
bic In Its Integrity and entirety. lie
adds
"The church mover changed her me-
thod OF dealing with science. In this
city scholar should not allow his mind
to become hefoEEcd. The issue IL not
simply one Of science or simple inter-
probation. Primarily, II In the mystery
of the incarnation that criticism puts
on trial. The Gaze II dogmatlc. II means
n revision Of the Hihir. This the holy
Catholic church viii never approve"
one would think the doctrine Of papal
lnfalllbnlty would be highly objection
able TO one accustomed to the Proics-
iant way Of thinking. hut the reverend
doctor meets this point as follcwa;
ct II time for candid non Catholics
20 learn that the notion that II tlilfalll-
bllityl interferes with Individual liberty
N ~ true NJ that marirci'a compass
renders the sailor nm abjoot slave
II Is no great wonder that thoughtful
Protestnnts seek refuge In the out
stretched arms Of Rome. II IL true
enough that In Austria, where religious
life IL not especially verdant. no less
than 5000 conversions from Catholicism
to Professionalism are reported recently;
but In Grea, Britain. which for CEN
turtles hna been noted for religious nc
tiylty. thcre IL steadily Increasing cur
rent toward Rome. In fact. some Of the
most prominent English clergymen have
cspousod the cause Of pnpacy. and the
llfc-work Of Manning, Newman. and
others. has not failed to bear fruit.
There are numerous causes for the
Ilomoward movement. Bu, one Of tho
most conspicuous IL the Protestant de-
NAL OF visible church. They have
an abandoned the Scripture idea OF
zone body with zone Lord, ono faith,
one baptism as wen as the position Of
tho early fathers who knew Of no
church cScep, an association OF elect"
or faithful Saints" They have
set up theory about a myH-
teal. Invisible body os the only
true church ION this theory" Dr.
Costa woll remarks. "Chrintlanlty has
failed: the empire that trlumphcd over
the Roman empire has pcfished. Re
formed rcllsioniam therefore, offers no
moral or intellectual outlook for COM
Inc generations. and leaves the world
forced At lnst 60 choose between ration
aiism and the Catholic church."
This. We believe. is the secret convlc-
tion of great many Protestant thcolo-
gicai scholars. and II they were free TO
follow their own convictions. they would
abandon their pulpl,s. But what can
they do7 with their locks ehorn In the
lap or Dclilah and their fee, tied with
a salary, no wonder " the mighty Sam
sons are found grinding grain In the
home of the Phlllstlneai
The movement towards Rome. how
over. Is one of the signs OF the times.
That. too. viii hasten the day when.
according to the Divine word. Zion
shall flourish. and the glory OF the Lcrd
shall be upon her. and she shall be an
come unto her out OF every nation un-