Blue-grass blade., 1908-08-02


dence of great piety. Today, even Chris
tians. condemn the person sending these
tracts as being apparently insane The
whole affair as far as it relates to the
principals involved suggests serious rehec-
tons about their mental capacity.
When the pope of Rome issued his recent
encyclical against modernism and MODERN
lists in the Catholic church, denouncins
them as sappers and miners who were ul-
dermining the foundations OF the cnurcn'
he little thought that through such q
nunciation he would become one OF inc
"sappers and miners which he SO bitterly
condemned, by driving out OF the organlza-
ton the men of liberal mind who had done
so much toward Strengthening the system
in America
The New York Sun publishes an extreme
ly interesting account Of the resignation oi
Father Thomas j. Mulvey, assistant rector
at St Edwards church, in Brooklyn, IN
which the reasons for taking such step
are given prominence, as stated by the re-
firing priest. Summing up the entire
matter. it would seem that the Pope is nav
ing much of his own way In saving 10 tne
church a priesthood that Will humble ltseh
to him in all things pertaining to dlsclplihe
and doctrine, and that men OF independence
men of thought and liberality OF mind, are
the business or change their attitude TO-
ward the pontifcate. The church VIII not
lose by the resignation OF one priest III
America but no man or woman can sue
cessfully predict what the end Will De, tne
extent of the influence upon the Catnonc
lajty resulting from this action, and the iu-
ture of the church. AS a general rule
Catholic priest is favored with innumerable
personal privileges, but with them all must
come an abiding faith in the infallibility
of the pontiff at Rome, and when priest
finds himself out of harmony and touch
with the supreme head OF the church, tnere
is nothing left for him to do but to get out,
if he be honest in his personal convictions
But what is meant and what can be IN
ferred from this process of "sapping and
mining?" In the first place 1t suggests
weakening of the foundations upon which
the church is built. Not the material foun-
dations of some church building but the
mental foundations from which have sprung
up doctrines, creeds, forms and formulas
The higher and intellectual criticism OF the
age has had its effects upon the minds Oh
even priests, and that the priests may keep
abreast of the times, remain in close toucn
with the spirit of progress they have been
compelled to absorb much OF modern
thought, and in measure, expOund 1t to the
laity beneath them. The Pope recognizes
the extent to which this has gone Every
church organization in Christendom is 60
ing through similar experiences. 1t is one
of the stages of mental progress. The
deities of yesterday are not good enough
for tomorrow. Mans notion OF god changes
with the changing mentality OF every age.
These influences are bound to strike the
Catholic church with greater force than the
Protestant denominations, for the latter
simply exist by reason of having broken
faith with and allegiance to Rome.
Father Mulvey has adopted the only hon
est course open to him. He found 1t i'm
possible to retrace his steps and maintain
his individual honesty, and refusing to be