The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1907-04-07

Journal Of Friday Henry Watterso
who Is sojourning there writes as fol
lows concerning subject in which all
the cixilizl world must feel a deeI
interest.
The battle between the Vatican and
the moving Modern World goes on
apace The Holy Father holds his own
lie stands firm and he stands pat
Meanwhile, Franc follows Italy out OF
the fold, and there are not wanting
signs of upheaval in Spain.
We are told by the prelates that 1t Is
in reality fight Of irreligion against
Religion, and this In the end 1t may
prove to be: but. ince Religion is so
much at war with itself may not the
underlying trouble spring from its
failure either 10 unite its forces or to
readjust its theolt gles?
Myrlads Of Christian men and wo-
men all over the world believe that for
two thousand years we have had over
much of the concrete and not enough
of the spiritual In all our sectaries,
Catholic and Protestant. before and
since the Reformation, as we call the
Lutheran New Departure. The separ-
alton Of Church and State In America
paved the way for the separation OF
claimed, and think truly, that the
Church never did the State any good,
aud that the State has done the
Church infinite harm. We have seen
the result of separation in America.
Nowhere does the Church rest upon n
surer foundation. Nowhere are its
clergy more effective, or its laity more
deyout The like result, | confidently
believe. will represent the fnality in
Italy and France. In the House OF
Commons the other day there was an
overwhelming vote in favor of Discs
adjustment.
Temporal power has always seemed
to me at war with the Spirit of Christ
and Him Crus fed. AS exercised by
the Church Of Rome, II was no worse
ia kind Than as exercised by the
Church OF England. or the Church Of
Scotland. Each did its worst. Ccr1np-
ton clings to material things in the
proportion of their opportunity and
their value. The priest as a ruler IS
apt to become higot. Claiming pos
session alike Of the souls and bodies.
Of men. his absoniism rests too often
upon intolerance. breeding tyrannous
prescription to end In despotism. Thus
the history of theological controversy
Is everywhere darkened by the gibbet
and the stake. II Is nowhere irradi.s
atcd by CLEAN fthc Christ. The
reaction Of human nature was slow,
but II III campleta.
Pic Mono might have pursued diff
ferent policy. He should have realized
that Rome was indispensable to Italia
frridenta. The Church could have con
ceived this and have accepted IT with
ont lowering any of the standards of
Catholeity. Patriotism was rampant
The people we're Italians first and
Catholics afterward. At least. they
thought so. In France the same condi-
lions pr vail, quickened by political in
terest aud passion. and in considering
the situation there we must bear in
mind that in France the hold OF the
Church is less firm and less difuscd
than In Italy. In both countries the
Church seems bound to lose, and, IN
losing. 1t may play to the hand OF
pure iniidelism and irreligion. To this
extent the fight of the Church of Rome
may prove fight fthe Church Uni
versal ,lp ugh 1t may be doubted
whether downright skepticism on ag-
nostic lines be increasing, especially
wheee Theology has broadened TO the
times and relaxed its pragmatism In
favor of more spiritual and less con
frovcrsial Interpretation of the Scrip
lures. In word, 1t Is not Religion. but
machine Religion, which. like machine
politics. Is on the decline, the people
reused TO think for themselves.
No Thoughtful man can look upon the
Church of Rome ave with revc.ent re
spcct. Nor can any such believe that
it's downfall would mend human condi-
tions. But. ever since the Ecumenical
Council vitalized the old feudal
standards and applied new tests the
Vatican has changed the old lines to
read:
whilst the Church stands. Rome
shall stand
When the Church falls, Rome
shall fall:
And when Rome falls. the world
meaning by Rome unyielding Caiho-
licity.
I do believe that principles live for |
ever aud aye. but in Religion. az IN
Politics obstinacy Is sometimes mis- |
taken for cunvistion, aud more on |
portunism not ipfrequcntIy masqrer |
AIDES fcr IN true belief.
The rrelstcs OF the Vatican. many !
If them great men and all of them |
great theologians. are quite one and |
wholly sincere in the opinion hat Pho |
Mono was right: that Leo was right. |
and that in following in their foot |
sips tn present Head Of the Church 1
Is right: that Catholicism has only TO
sfand lis qround Welding not an inch 4