New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-23

| Stripped of all verbiage the Anglo Catholic
movement In the English Church is intended to
be n protest against materialistc conception
of life 1t rests wholly on the supernatural, and
II not only makes no appeal to the reason, but
it fastens the opprobrious term nationalist on
those who make such an appeal. 1t does not, 1t
| is true admit that its doctrines are contrary to
reason. but declares them TO be above the rea-
son. and therefore to be accepted without ex-
PLANTATION when the Church cannot or will not
vouchsnfe one We are not concerned here with
the question how far this conception Of Chris
tlanity is justified by the facts. Our only OBJ
tect in referring to 1t is to bring out the antago-
usm of such n view of religion to materialism.
Indeed. Roman Catholics and Anglo Catholics
alike make a great deal Of that antagonism
Noting the growth of materastc ideas to-day,
fostered by scientific investigation and dlscov-
cry, they declare that the only escape from their
baeful teachings Is an implicit belief In the
teachings Of the Holy Mother Church. The
reason. they say, is not competent to deal with
the mysteries of the faith, and to use 1t for such
purpose is to dscredit the divine revelation OF
truth given by God to the Church.
If we are prepared to admit the premises this
Is an entirely consistent view to take. 1t finds
Christianity and the Church gained many Of It's
greatest successes by holding and teaching it.
Indeed. ultra -Protestants who refuse to accept
il while at the same time maintaining the Di-
vine origin of Christianity are ut serious dis
advantage. so far rs argument Is concerned.
For they believe some doctrines which appear
contrary TO reason. because the Church or the
Bible declares them TO be true, and deny other
doctrines similarly vOuched for because reason
or history declares them TO be untrue. III Is
this inconsistent attitude, more than anything
else that weakens modern Professionalism.
But the inconsistency Is not all on the side OF
Professionalism. In his book. Catholicism, RO-
man and Anglican" Principal A. NJ. Fairbairn
of Mansfield College. oxford, brings out the
fact. which history abundantly proves, that the
Catholic conception Of religion is In constant
danger Of running into materlalism. He goes
so far as to say that the radical defect OF Ca
| thollcsm Is Its want Of Il true supernatural
ISM Not In and through It," he declares, rs
| religion to be realized In IN age Of thought, In
| "a world of freedom, progress order and activ-
| 'ty. Its doctrine OF authority and the Church
| zig n direct provocation TO scepticism; its Ide:.
| 'Of religion is an impoverishmcnt OF the ideal
that came In the Kingdom OF Heaven Faith
"can come by Its rights only as It fulhls Its di-
| tiles TO reason. And the Church that alone Ia =
"a right to live Is the Church that by finding IN
| God the most humanity most fills humanity
with God. and so works for the establishment
"of that kingdom which was founded by the
'Son. and Is governed by the Father OF men"
| or course, Catholics will not admit the tr,;th
OF this view Yet the history OF Catholicism
| furnishes many illustrations OF IT, The tefor-
nation. In fact, was really protest against the
grossly materlalIstic conceptions Of religion
which had grown up In the Church. The spir-
itual teachings OF the Church had become so In
extricably Joined TO outward ceremonies and
formulas TINT the common people lost nearly all
understanding Of their spiritual significance.
| And II Is only fair to the Church to say that
multitudes Of her devout sons depored and pro-
tested against this materasm long before Luz