The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-02-09

Roman doctrine Is q whole Ia based on the
greater simplicity Of Professionalism. Our
author submits that this adoption OF sim
plicity as a test Of religious truth is a re-
suit of the grossest ignorance. Those VINO
argue thus, argue. In effect that, because
religion undoubtedly has a simple side
therefore 1t has no side that Is not simple
The proposition is contrary to every an
alogy OF science. experience and the COM
monest OF common sense In the physical
world no fact is single; no fact tands by
itself. In the spiritual world the same
thing IL true. Every fact, however simple
on one side. Is infinitely complex in its
relation to other facts. The overlooking
OF this truth is due so metimes to great
personal dey~outness, but IL Is not tho less
an error. The complexity of Roman The
ology lie a sign OF it's scientific rather than
its erroneous character.
Having thus undertaken TO dispose OF
the objections TO the Roman claims to be
the required witness to the truth OF Chris
tianity. Mr. Mallock proceeds TO sum up
what he deems the positive arguments
for those claims by repeating hat the
only possible authority for supernatural
Christian doctrine Is a Church which is an
inspired and developed organism Such
a church, indeed. cannot refute the cosmlc
argument against Christianity. The APP
parent insignifcanoe OF this earth, az COM
pared with the rest OF the universe; the
enormous antiquity Of mankind as COM
pared with the Christian centuries: the
evanescent character OF mankind as meas
ured by cosmic time; all these things tend
to paralyze the action Of Christian faith,
and to interfere with the idea that the
Creator OF all the world died for the sake OF
a swarm Of e%phemeral animals, crawling
for a moment on the surface OF a paltry
pillule. Such cosmic arguments, how
ever, tell against all religions equally
They need not be discussed, because they
are as fatal to Professionalism as to Romanism;
to Buddhism as TO Christianity. Setting
aside, then, cosmic arguments, as being
applicable to ali religion, and taking as
admitted the need for doctrinal Chris
tianity. Mr.. Mallock expresses the convic-
ton that Rome appeals TO the world as a
living personal witness, a belief In whose
veraclty will carry a acceptance
of the whole doctrinal system with 1t.
This personality. the organic Catholic
Church, comes to the human soul as one
man might come TO another, saying: Study
me. examine me, test me. Test me by
considering what / can 10 for you. Test
me by comparing with this what all other
churches fail to do, and then see IL you
can trust me. Do I appeal to your heart
with less power than they? And do / not
appeal with incomparably more power
to your intellect" In fine, the aim OF tho
book before us IL 70 how the Protestant.
and especially the Anglican Protestant,
bewildered by doubts and difficulties. that,
II this voice Of the organic church be illu-
sorry, then all doctrinal Christianity-the
miracle of Christ's birth and death, the
miracle OF the Resurrection and that OF
the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS as objective
truths, are equally illusory also.
What will be the effect of this book on the
readerl Will IL tend to make him a Ro-
manist or 70 make him a skeptici In our
opinion, it is as likely to do the one thing
as the other. That it is a readable, not
to say striking, contribution TO the dis
cussion provoked by the so-called Higher
Criticism, there is no doubt whatever.
M. ". n.