Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-17
RELIGION IN FRANCE.
Modern Type Christianity-Men Who
Are Neither Catholic Nor Protestant.

From the Literary Digest.
Mr.. Amant-Joseph Fabre processes to
represent large number Of men In France
who are sincere Christians, though neither
Catholics nor Protestants. 1t is unfortu-
nate that the separation law and other
anti-clerical demonstrations in France have
led many people to exaggerate the anti
Christian spirit which prevails in the ma
tive land of Bossuet and Feneion. AS a
matter of fact, we are assured by French
writer's, the French are quite as Christian
in general feeling and practice as the other
nations of Europe. Mr.. Fabre is an emf
nent professor, writer and politician who
was instrumental In reviving the memory
festivals In her honor. In the half-dozen
books and brochures which he has written
about this heroine, as well as in his numer-
GUS learned and eloquent works on other
subjects, he writes of Christianity with
the utmost reverence and faith-but re-
fuses to acknowledge the ecclesiastical
claims Of Catholicism or other institutional
form of Christianity. As indicating the
vitality and permanence of essential Chris
tianity among the literary classes in
France, as we'll as among the most ad-
vanced political writer's and speakers, Mr..
Fabre's recent work, La Pensee Chre-
tienne" christian Thought). is highly in
teresting and valuable. OF his revolt from
the current dogmatic and ecclesiastical
form or Christianity ne speaks IN the 1oi-
lowing terms:
cit is with no lightIheartedness that SO
many men have renowned the belief Of
their forefathers and have turned away
from all the poetry Of a religion in which
their childhood had been Graded. They have
only done so because the imperious force of
personal and universal reason, which they
could not disobey, laid it's command upon
them. The progress Of time had brought to
light new evidences, and revealed contradic-
lions which overcame the thought and con-
science whether men liked 1t or not. 1t Is
a bitter grief to break with the traditional
man to lie to himself and to others. This
course would involve utter degradation.
When reason spoke to me In tone louder
than that of mere conventionalism, used
my tottering faith. fought against doubt.
for my faith as for my life. Could forget
the believers who have trembled with vene-
ration and Joy when they imagined them
selves to be receiving into their mouths the
very body Of God?'
Mr.. Fabre is a passionate believer in
Christianity. and yet he holds that 1t has
not yet cast OF the swaddling bands OF the
which is freed from ecclesiasticism and SUI
perstition. II cherish the hope" he says.
that coming generations will arrive at a
Christianity eminently progressive, at all
man conscience, and equafing the highest
points Of teaching and inspiration which
have been reached by the great religions
on which humanity has hitherto relied for
safe guidance" While this writer repudi-
ates Catholicism as well as Professionalism.
and earnestly maintains that he Is a Chris
tan believer, he speaks in this work Of the
Master and His disciples In language only
paralleled by that Of such great mystics as
st. Augustine, st. Jerome. st. Bernard or
st. Theresa, yet he passes severe tudg-
ment on what he styles ''the worldly policy
Of the court of Rome" and openly de-
1fror tn he CYi
primitive church 1.-The long series Of dog
mas. definitions. practices and institutions
by which has been formed and consolidated
little by little the mighty structure of the
church's theocratic government One pas
sage may suffice to indicate the tone IN
which he writes:
Imagine for q moment that one Of the
actual disciples of Jesus had returned to
earth; one Of those. I mean, who had heard
Jesus preaching the worship Of God in
spirit and in truth. declaring that His king
dom was not Of this world, and informing
His apostles that they were to be the ser
wants of ALL Suppose this actual disciple Of
Christ were attending one Of the grand fes-
rivals celebrated at Rome in honor OF the
sovereign pontiff. At the end of long
procession Of dignitaries in lace and en-
broidery he would see the grand lama of
the west carried on a throne of gold, cape
Of cloth Of gold upon his shoulders, triple
tiara of gold upon his head, and, leading
and following his throne. splendid cortege
of mitered prelates and noble guards he'll
melted and armed. Silver trumpets pour
their loud strains. and the PROSTATE multi
tude greets the pontiff with delirious accla-
nation Would not the returned disciple of
Palestine think that he saw an idol carried
before a nation Of tdolaters? II any one
were to say to him: Tt is his holiness the
supreme pontiff, vicegerent and vicar of
God on earth; it is the infallible ruler.
whose prerogatiye it is to govern mems
consciences with sovereign sway, and to
dictate their faith to millions of believers
would he not ask, Who are these pagans of
a novel kind, and how can they possibly
recognize in this clerical caricatuye Of
Christianity the grand religion of Chrise2' "