The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-03-28

anathematizing modern movements OF
thought and provisioning In mont OF
modern civilization with her images
and statuary. The enforcement or the
decree here In Detroit, that Cathoiics
must withdraw their children from the
public schools and send them TO Catn-
Ollie schools, Is but part OF the gen
eral repressiye and disciplinary
scheme to get rid OF modernism.
Modernism has come TO the Roman
Catholic church 10 save IL from It's
incrustation OF scholasticism and me-
diaeval metaphysics, TO show IL how TO
mingle with the world movements
and adapt itself TO the culture or the
day. A movement so wide-reacting
and complex In It's consequences, VIII
triumph without any cataclysm ana
will certainly quietly absorb and be
absorbed by the church.
Undoubtedly the papacy Is facing
one of the most serious situations In
its history. certainly the most serious
since the Reformation. Modernism has
evidently Infected the church widely,
especially In those countries where
Catholics are most intelligent and pro-
gressiye, such as Germany. Italy,
France, England and America. The
movement is considered of such i'm
portance as TO call forth letters and
DEGREES from the vatican.
IL shall attempt to define modern
ism. IL is an accidental name, a name
of angry abuse, adopted by Plus x,
who took il from the Jesuit Fathers
In Rome. II Is neither apt nor de-
scriptive of the tendencies OF thought
which were intended TO be discredited.
Those who coined II neither under
stood the richness nor the depth OF
what they thought 70 anathematize. IL
Is defined I'm the Pascendi Gregis as
the Syncretism OF all hereisies. which
finds its origin in curiosity and pride
Paul Sabatier, who was the first to
call attention to the modernist move
ment In a lecture In London In 1902,
saws: Modernism is in no degree con-
tanned In an intellectual proposition;
II is not a system or a new synthesis.
II is more than a vital or strenuous
effort. for an effort implies an act OF
conscious will, and the movement is,
In its origin, thing essentially natur-
al and enforced
Means Historical investigation.
The Modernist movement Is one OF
historical investigation and criticism.
The modernist accepts what is reason
ably established by modern scientific
and historical criticism, and then
seeks to interpret the scriptures, the
religious dogmas, and the church In
the light OF human experience. Hence
II In called an orientation-a correct
In and proper placing OF self in the
midst OF the new thought and life.
The Modernist in the Roman church
Is not q liberalist, not a radical, not
by any means an ATHEIST, and not
even a higher critic, as We understand
the term. He accepts the general con-
illusions OF higher criticism as TO the
composition OF the bible: he accepts
the facts of modern science, he ac-
cepts the new spirit and life OF democ-
racy and Is en- rapport with the living
present His religious ideas are not
taken from the crystalized medieval
theology, nor his philosophy from the
speculations or the
The things that have
been are but stages in human progress
and served their day, and may still
help hence are not TO be denounced |
nor discredited-but the facts of the |
living present are OF more Importance |
and call for a new Interpretation and
a readiustment OF religious thought
and life. A favorite word 10 express
all this is 'orientation'
Not Religious Movement Exclusively.
Modernism IL not q religious
exclusively. That 10 only
one direction IL takes. II Is related
primarily to scientific discovery, TO
historical and literary criticism. To-
political and Industrial movements, to
LII philanthropic and educational
1t is an outburst Of
ife in the bosom OF the church that |
eeks to move in a larger circle than
n the traditional and disciplinary |
eaching Of the past.
The world has grown weary Of
nsincerities, shams, hypocrisies and
luplicities in its intellectual and re-
igious aspirations. Thoughtful minds
rave grown dubious about phono-
graphic utterances and mechanical
ievices in religion. There IL an out
BURST Of life that seeks reality and
raves freedom. This whole move
nent In not confined to any one
church. II IN everywhere. II we look
within our own hearts and intellects
We shall find q modernist and anti
nodernist at war"