The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-09-18

conviction or spiritual influence % any
kind. but to the force Of political power.
The other day a clergyman OF the Anglican
Church was convicted % heresy and eN-
PEELED from the ministry. What IL the
genesis % the Anglican Church and ritual'
Henry VIII. to show on his theology
writes a strong polemic on the side ~
the Papacy against Luther. Presently he
wants to change his wife; hut his wife
being the Empsrors aunt. the Pope fear
ing the Emperor refuses leave. There
upon the despot Tenounces the authority
Of the Pope. murders Fisher and More
for refusing to do the same: and. brute
and sensualist as he H. sets himself as head
Of the Church Of England and dictator
Of its faith. The faith he changes to and
fro IN the course Of his reign with the
changes IN has policy or Of the party ascen-
dent in his councils. He leaves the creed
Of the church an amalgam of Protestan-
tism with Catholicism. Under his son
Professionalism prevails. Mary relnstates
Romanism as the national faith. The
polite councillors Of Elizabeth adopt a
compromise. which. as the proper sphere
Of compromise is interest. not conviction.
leads To "A perpetual contest between the
two antagonistic elements. with intervals
81 religious torpor. and more than once to
a civil war. In the whole process. through
all the changes and counter changes, not
once was Convocation or the Spirituality
really consulted. All the revolutions and
counter revolutions we're made 10y political
power
What was It that divided the States Of
the German Empire between Lutheranism
and Calvnism and kept them bound IN
those divisions Was u conviction II
was the treaty called the Peace Of West
phaIia. which perpetuated the results
military and poht cal. Of the Thirty Years
war.
The Papacy. ! say the Papacy, not
Catholicism. - temporal power founded
on superstition temporal power II
processes to he in it, last manifesto. the
Syllabus. where u claims for itself the
right 20 Use force and the support "t the
powers ~ the world in the assertion NJ
its claims That support ~ had IN un-
stinted measure Witness the Norman
conquest of England abetted and blessed
nv Gregory VII to crush the independence
If the English Church, civil wars stirred
up m Germany by the same Pore. IN" eN-
termination Of the Alblgenses Ivy limo
cent III the Inquistion; the murderouS
persecution Of Professionalism by Alys m
the Low Countries. the massacre vt ~.
Bartholomew. the deadly intrigueS ~ the
Jesiits. the determination Of the Hugue-
nots in France All this il political power.
though -et IN action hv ecclesiastical am
hition II ~ of the Papacy. I repeat that
speak not nf the Catholic religion which
was the religion of Thomas a kempls.
Of Pascal Of I.lcord,ir". and was in full
existence long before the Papscy A. a
temporal power was founded Ivy Hide
brand
what now n this breaking IN Of Creeds
and the churches founded on them goes
on will become Of the churches founded
on them and Of our spiritual organiza-
ton? Without any spiritual organization
what will life and society he7 Will there
h. nothing left hut temporal interests and
the character founded on them' There
have tncn. no DOUBT. already numbers
living moro or less without religion. hat
-ocieiv at large mas not Tho void LEFT 10y
the dIsappearance " tho churches would
surely 30 Immrns" l. q possible that
instead Vt destruction thor" may 10
change. l. possible" that n Tho prea chez.
the leader ~ prayer. the administrator 81
sacraments. passes away. his place may
be taken nv the organizer Of the spiritual
circle. IN" leader. orally designated aud
intellectually equipped. unfettered by
tests and hound 10y no vow hut that Of
seeking and teaching the TRUTH To help
in such a transition the Unitarian Church.
with its freedom from disputed dogma.
appears 20 re- peculiarly fitted. and hold
ing intercourse with the pastor of this
church whose departure you now de-
plors seeing his earnestness. his perfect
hb~rahty. his freedom from tradition.
and thorough devolution - truth. have
sometimes thought that I had a glimpse
~ ih" free pastorate that - to lra.
GOODWIN SNGTH.