The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-01

sxclusivsness nor waverinS oonciliatisu OF
AioxAndrfa. that u tho Distinction Hence
the wide hospitality which the Papacy
has un nterruptedly shown to al forms and
all varieties Of this preparation. this con-
cordancc and this construction.
In vain have impatient thcologians or
incomplete philosophers attempted to In
troduce apologies into exclusive systems,
the higher authority has never tolerated
their excuses.
Thereupon NJ. Ferdinand Brunctiere h
inserting the hsting portions Of evolution
and OF positiveness into tho scientific web
Of tradition. These parts are witnesscs
they are 'concordant' materials, they are
not as In the theory Of Cancellation parallel
powers and equivalent forces.
Tho King Of science does not treat With
the King o! 18th a. with an equal. Evolu-
ton is method Of investigation and Of
work. 1t is not an explanatjo Of the univ,rs
nor system Of metaphysics or Of morais
Haeckel In Germany, the NespoltAn hool
in Italy, agncsticism everywhere. have Il.
vain tried to make Of II lever against the
supernatural.
These systems are breaking up. and out
Of the general ruin NJ Brunetiere picks
the pearls. which he sets In the crown
Of immortal Truth. Evolutioni The word
10 perhaps flexible and sxtensi BILE. Evo-
luton! A banner under which the least
homogeneous theories may hnd shelter.
NJ. Ferdinand Brunetiere makes IL synony-
nous with progress, and agree with him.
When he goes on to explain his conception
OF the progress Of dogma his expressions
become clearer and moro precise. Progress
means the steady and continuous develop
msnt OF life. The word evolution does
not necessarily include these two charsc-
teristics Therefore. only dogma and
Christianity are regulated by the law Of
progress. 1t u true that the fathers now
and then use the word .evolvere." St.
Vincent Of L@rins himself employs II In
his classic work, but they prefer pro
gressus- and .progredi.- An entertaining
book could be made by collecting the ex-
plantations given by the fitners about
what they understood TO be the progress
Of dogma.
Even Tertullian, the gloomy African.
the Stylites Of the mystic towers Of ivory.
accepts the 'evolvet' OF St. Vincent Of
LArins. Al the beginning Of the century
IL Vas the Catholics who first conceived
the idea Of the History Of Dogmas.' after
Father Petau, Mgr. Gorbet, Klee In Cor
many. Newman in England, Mgr, Ginouilhao
and Mgr. Goux. It Is to be regretted that
in France Lame nsis did not follow his
disciple instead Of listening to his naughty
sdaimon.' Professionals Aad Cath olics are
now wing In erudition on this subject.
M.Brunstiere borrows those matters which
shed light on the harmony Of Christianity
with the results Of modern science. shall
say no more about that. I add rather
that NJ. Brunetiere's method will encourage
the movement Of regeneration Of which
We admire the significant progress. He
has good reason to hope from this new otf-
shoot full life will spring.
The partisans Of exclusiveness wou Id
like TO check this effort. Like the Saint
Cyrans OF religious life the Saint-Cyrans
vf intellectual life wouli like to heap upon
the ruins Of rural parishes the ruins OF scien-
tifc parishes aid thus from these two ruins
would come about the ruin Of religion.
This policy OF the modern Torque na1as
win fail because 1t is against the policy OF
the Papacy itself that It directs its power
leee hostility. II is In vain that the para
CONS Of the system build around the garden
OF the Church their thorn hedges 1t
will be Of no avail Has not Leo XIII.
during his PontiAoate multiplied and broad
ened the paths that lead to the living God
and TO radiant faith?
That Is the light Exclusion will fail.
INNoMINATo.