The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-02-16

knowledge. France FIRST created the
science. Afterward Renan. who trans
cribed the learning from beyond the Rhine
into his romances at once delightful and
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. as the German
protectors c~ontemptuously called them
stung with his whip the Olympian idleness
and serenity. Once more we have taken
our place In the ranks. And with some
what systematic eagerness and the sickly
tendency TO acting together we nave rushed
headlong into the broad new paths.
The old conservative school. Is beaten
now. The middle group Is dying. 1t is
progressive criticism that seems TO hold
the future in its hands-it certainly will
~enlighten it's heights. For a moment Mgr.
d'Hulst endangered its conquering march.
In his noted article in the Correspondent
he did not mark out the f~aultless distinc-
ton between the principles Of stability
and the imperative demands OF progress.
Catholic science Is a permanent living
organism. which. however, must be nour-
ished daily by the substance OF the day.
With a tender and good heart, a lofty and
proud character, a firm and comprehensive
mind. Mgr. d'Hulst awkwardly offered
himself as the Paganini OF the university,
NaAO 10 a. VIZ ~ W 49, NHN 1ONNs
on his instrument.
1t is the yearning for universally, the
inability to live up to It with the dispro-
ing out Of II that have aroused doubt and
studies. As a sign Of warning the Ency-
clical has been misunderstood. just as
Lamennais did not comprehend the doc
rfA - Asa - ~ H. EAnxr1ltaal tI.~1Hs 100
and as the general public has exaggerated
the theology Of the Syllabus. What the En-
cyclical Hirdri ros condemned was neither
liberty nor common law; It was license.
Unluckily IL Lamennais was an ~impetuous
and cholerio seer, he was not a historian
nor a philosopher nor a t~heologian. The
Syllabus did not reject progress, nor de-
mocracy, nor civilization, nor liberty;
It stigmatized the anti-Christian spirit which
parties injected into these Innovations
In the same way the Encyclical on the Bible
mathematics not criticism, but its abuse.
Exegetical writer's understood this 30 well
hat their works since then have shown
greater breadth and calm boldness.
Some will surely try TO join to their cru
dition Intellectual tact. that special gift
which Is to ideas what political tact is to
matters of government. To observe pre-
cise proportions between the absolute and
the relative elements; not TO confuse them
and. above all. not to sacrifice the former
to the latter, as the conservatives give up
the latter for the sake OF the former. as
they believe; to avoid phraseology that Is
not precise and is somewhat Protestant.
for the spirit easily takes on the coloring
Of another; to learn how to put aside ques-
lions that are still unsolvable and 20 give
up the systematic s~pirit-these are the
conditions for rapid development. Progress
cannot be stopped, but its profits at least
ray be lost and scattered. In his Encycli-
cal Eterni PATHS Leo XIII. has pointed
out the formula for the evolution: Veterd
norris duoere ct perficere, to increase and
perfect the old with new things, on the
model Of the Commonitorium and In the
spirit Of Saint Paul; Veritdtem facierites in
~cdrtdte crescamus-"But speaking the truth
In love may grow up into him in all things
I~NsoMINAro.