New-York tribune., 1908-07-18
SACERDOT4L CELIB1CY.
The Conflict of the Church and
Human Nature.

''''5 cHRIsTiAS HRS IL cHnRch BY Henry c Charles
Lea. Third Edition. Revised. In two volumes
svo, PIP. 49,, Az The Macmillan Company.
The forty years which have sped since Mr.
Lea first gave the world his study of sacerdotal
celibacy have served only to establish more
firmly the worth of this scholarly investigation
When the first edition appeared toward the
close of the Civil War. the small audience well
coming IT not wholly prepared for the calm
statement of facts which, without the aid of
controversy partisanship, criticised unspar-
ingly the Roman Church. In those days it was
still counted virtue to deal gingerly with &C.
clesiastical history. The third edition goes out
to large circle of readers TO whom this insin-
cerity is strange and repellent. For this change
in the spirit of historical research the book is
itself In no scant measure responsible and If it
meets with the approval "of those who deem
that the life of nations does not consist exclu-
sively of political revolutions and military
achievements" Mr.. Lea will only come to his
own.
The topic of these two weighty volumes may
still appear to some persons one. which only
scandamcnger a frivolous curiosity hunter
would choose Mr.. Lea's apology for his theme
however, the side OF caution when after
noting that "the Latin Church is the great fact
which dominates the history Of modern civzs-
tion," II continues:
1t was by means the least of the factors in
hs aed o ali e em # Ct he 1st
powers conferred in holy orders that they should
ocably. that they should sunder all human ties
should have no aspirations beyond its service
family duties on which TO waste Its substance
and no ambitions save for the rewards which 1t
alone could bestow.
The historians minute account OF Christian
celj will IN
this institution the most important Of all which
have grown up in the Church since the days Of
Paul. Unlike doctrine and ritual. the practice
and enforcement Of sacerdotal ceibacy directly
affected the morals. health, sanity and the
material prosperity Of Europeans for centuries
The extent OF this influence cannot be imagined:
II must be learned from the chronicles which
air Lea abundantly quotes. These tell sick
ening story of RIGHTEOUSNESS and corruption
whose softest word Ill bears repeating save for
the sake OF teaching the fearful dangers Of en-
bracing a philosophy which fouts nature. The
last touch OF tragedy is added to the dark chap
ter by Mr.. Lea's introductory account OF the
origins and motive of the blighting institution.
A. an expression of early Christian revolt
against pagan vice, cellbacy deserves praise
The writer shrewdly observes that 'ciyilization
owes too much TO the reform which Christianity
rendered possible in the relations OF the sexes
for US TO condemn too severely even the extrav-
aoances into which it sometimes betrayed
This charitable judgment must be construed as
referring to the ideals actuatins celibacy rather
than to any actual reforms consummated by the
Church's DEGREES regulating priestiy marriages.
Mr. Lea has treated his subject exhaustively
and with admirable tact. Beginning with the
rise of ceIibacy out OF the great enthusiasm for
the ascetic life which stirred UP by Buddh-
istic Greek and Pauline influences. he traces
its spread and manifold developments from age
to age down TO the present time. Thanks to free
and copfous literature on this subject written by
ecclestastics ard laymen OF every age and
country he seldom resorts to conjectural inter-
nretations The thoroughneas OF his researches.
refected In extensive footnotes. and the con-