The morning journal-courier., 1908-05-08
CHURCH INIIN,

The suggestive little book recently is- sued by the Rev pr. Newman Smyth of this city, entitled Passing Protest antsm and Coming Catholicism com tlnues to excite interest bnd provoke comment. Singularly enough. perhaps, fl has been less successful In calling forth commendation and criticism from the clerical class. Thus far it has en- countered the consideration of the lay mind and that more generally repre- sented in the newspapers of the coun- try The Springfield Republican is the latest 10 comment on the suggested movement to which Dr, smyth has giv- en his intellectual assent. though it concludes that not only Roman Cath oicism will have to be modified to meet the requirements of the proposed unity of thought and action, but that the va rous Protestant sects win have to sub init to a like reform in their views. While the republican secs many signs of popular dscontent with theological differences of opinion, from local point of view it also secs q prolonged educational campaign before advancing steps will he recorded
 In general way ifs treatment of one phase of tho subject Is most interest ing. It says. "If the church unity idea materialzes slowly, 1t Is certain that 1t Is viewed with appreciation and sym pathy by an increasing number of Protestant Christians How to bring denominations together fig q difficult problem when the effort Is made to work if out in practice, owing to the inertia of bodies which have their sep arate names, history and traditions, as well as their own vested Inter- ests In regard to this large question of church fusion a passive attitude Of waiting on events and the evolution of religious ideas seems to be neces. sarily imposed upon both clergy and laity. But public opinion has n recent years grown much more active in it's disapproval of the further develop mont of disruptivo tendencies. The un- necessary multiplication of churches in fields where they must engage in cut- throat competition is being viewed with less composure than ever by people who feel the highest concern In the religious life of the community, and there is abundant reason for this loss of equanimity In the papable fact that, in these times of fluid theologies and these lean years of popular indifference to church interests, maximum of CO., operation and a minimum of competi- ton are essential to the welfare of all religious bodies,
 This places in certain definite way the difficulties which lie in the path way of ultimate Protestant amalgama- ton The city of New Haven offers a good illustration of the discouraging obstacles which in particular beset Protestant churches here. No such dis couraglng obstacles beset the Roman Catholic church, With rare foresight and organized judgment It has built new churches with reference to the need of them. No two, for example, conflict in their work in New Haven, and as new churches are built 1t be- comes at once evident that the popua- tion exists to support them. If it was | the desire of the Roman Catholic church to participate in this movement of amalgamation, which pr Sn1yth foresees, physically it would be in d position to do so without annoyance or self sacrifice It could point to a dis tribution of church machinery which would at once challenge admiration for its spiritual poise and economical ef-