Omaha daily bee., 1913-12-10

IL sweden ROmaniEing
OMAHA, Dec. SO the Editor Of The
Bee: 1t seems strange that knowledge Of
European affairs must be 80 incorrect
that writer's like "B. c. p" can speak OF
Sweden rapidly returning to Catholic
ism" Ills whole article indicates ecant
acquaintance with the European church
world.
Sweden Romanizing and falling into
papistic ranks7 Not bit OF II. There
are a few little missions in Sweden. but
no iandsllde. In 1903 there were 1000
Romanists in Sweden, a land of 100000;
one Romanist to every 5000. There are
$500 Jews in sweden. Almost as false
Is the similar statement made for Nor
way and Denmark. "B. c. p" does not
know those lands as some Of us do. He
has followed some secondhand informa-
tion. And how astounding the news TO
any ordinarily weil-informed public that
Protestant Germany has more Roman
lists than Protestants. Ask Germans
about that monster error.
Sweden Is incomparably less rapidly
returning 70 Catholicism" than Roman
Austria, through the Free from Rome
CLOS Won ROM movement is turning
Protestant. IL is well not to have eyes
that open and shut with automatic rapid
Ity on comfortable or uncomfortable facts.
There are several times more Romanists
in Austria that have turned Protestant
since 1898. when the Free from Rome
movement began. than there are Roman
lists total In the three Scandinavian coun-
tries. From 1898 to 1909 no less than 55,-
554 turned from Rome 20 Professionalism.
Will "B. c. p" give us an exact list or
ell In Romanist lands and in Germany
and America who are leaving Rome
Then will his figures have a trifle sta
| tistical value. VIII he tell us of the 6126
Romanists that in Prussia alone became
Protestant In 1910. with less than 600 GO
ing the other way? Or OF the appalling
situation In France. italy, Portugal and
latterly spain7 When the popular Ro-
man Catholic German priest, Hans Jacob
Of Raden, in 1909 made an extensive tour
| In Austria and studied the Free from
Rome movement there. he wrote the fol-
lowing on his return TO Baden: "Con-
corning the falling away from the church.
we In Germany certainly do not need TO
glance accusingly over to the Austrian
clergy. remembering the many who long
since are inwardiy apostate Catholics
among us. Ninety per cent of all cul-
tured. 90 per cent OF the half-cuItured
and 80 per cent OF the labor class ara
with us estranged from the church. in
wardly fallen away, and stand either on
the standpoint Of the shallowest deism
or even OF atheism" So wrote man
who knows the rank and ale, the common
people. Statistical summaries require
care.
Aside from all this. the proof OF the
ehurch's health or decay lies not In
counting heads. but In the personal re.
iation TO Christ and the faithfulness tc
ldfis word.
"B. Q. Pr, is again repeating the an
cient humorous statement. "What the
Catholic church lost In Europe during
the reformation. Il has more than made
up in North and South America" That's
logic of its own kind. IL the sixteenth
century reformation, or some similar re.
juvenation OF the Christian church had
not come, does "B. c. p" not see that
then Rome would have had all? How n
the name Of common arithmetic can .
portion. albeit also lying in South
America among the SPANISH Indian hall
breeds. equal the whole. which Roma
would have had n the reformation had
mot been sent OF God to the church, II
a man could have 500 and has so. ol
which $40 lies In a different bank from
formerly. how can $40 be comfort fol
Noo7 on. but the old ''threo RS In th'
public school do need to be studied.
The counting that lasts Is the faiti
life IN Christ by His word, in his church
All elsa Is vain boasting, whether u d
In Romanist OF Protestant ranks.
ADOLF HUT.