The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1917-11-03

claiming him as their guide and teach
er, followed closely the lessons he
taught, then we are leading to Won
der what judgment he expected pos
terity to pass upon his work when
he himself had condemned it by his
denunciations. And in view of these
facts w are mildly astonished, to say
the least, that. his system of religion/
has found SO many adherents down
through the ages. ''Out of thy own
mouth l judge thee Est. Luke, xix,
22), said the master to the servant
who had hidden his one talent; and
basing our verdict of the worth of
the Reformation on the testimony of
it's founder, and on comparison with
the results obtained from the life Ia
bors of the Divine Reformer
We must conclude that the so-called
religious reform of the sixteenth cen
fury, inaugurated by Martin Luther,
is not worthy Of the name of true
reformation. Nor did it, by the mere
fact of it's institution, succeed in it's
plinary abuses in the Church. Indi-
rectly, however, it proved to be the
much-needed stimulus which led to
the convocation of the Council of
Trent under Pope Paul III, in 1915.
This Council succeeded by means of
wise and necessary legislation in put
ting stop to many of the irregular
tiles which for so long a time had
existed amongst the clergy and laity.
Turning from the effects this reli-
gious rebellion had on the early fol-
lowers of Martin Luther, let us now
briefly note what harm it did in a
wider circle, after it had been taken
up by more powerful agents, and its
principles pushed to their logical con-
clusion to meet and crafty the pas
sions of those whose pride and ambi-
ton led them to seek in these prin.
ciples justification of their many ex.
cesses. Western Europe retired to
rest on the evening of Oct 81, 1917,
in peace and union with the success
sor of St. Peter, as it had been ever
since the coronation of Charlemagne
and the founding Of the Holy Roman
Empire on Christmas Day, in the year
800.
But in the course of that fatal night
the seeds Of discord were sown which
soon ripened into harvest of blood
shed and ruin. 1t brought in it's train
anarchy in religion, desolation and sor
row to the Christian Faith, and fatal
disorganization among the nations
Friends, families, communities, cities
states, kingdoms and empires felt the
baneful influence of it's touch and were
divided and formed into opposing
camps, rending with fierce determine
ton the pre-existing harmony and good
will.
Religious sects innumerable, like
mushroom groWths on the face of so
eiety, sprang into existence with as
tonishing rapidity, flourished for q
brief space of time, and with an al
most equal rapidity gave place to 9th
ers, finally sinking back into the con
fusion which had given them birth
| Each of these sects teaches a doc
trine contrary to that of every other
and claims it's tenets to be true ant
divinely inspired-all together so con
fusing the idea of religion and relig
ious unity that pagan, or a visitor
from another world, might we'll pause
in surprise and establishment at such
a spectacle.
These Protestant sects, breathing
the rebellious spirit of Martin Luther
have been marked by confusion of doc
trine and discipline ever since thu
institution of Professionalism, and have
kept to this course even to our owl
times. They call themselves Chris
tian, yet they fail to bear that mos
distinguishing mark of Christ's Church
her unity.
They would be His disciples, ant
yet by their discussions they hav,
placed themselves beyond the pale O
His intimate friendship; they have nj
share in that truly Divine prayer O
Jesus for His disciples and for al
the faithful: "That they may all b'
one, as Thou, Father, in me, and I il
Thee; that they may also be one il
us" (St. John xvii, 2D., Although
these sects differ from one another al
to matters of faith and discipline, We
they are at one in their hostility tt
the Catholic Church-the one tru,
Church, founded by Christ, to which
He has pledged His Divine assistance
which shall be her guide and mainsta.
through all the storms of hatred ant
prejudice even to the consummatiol
of the world.
The present status of Professionalism
the outgrowth of the Reformation, il
precisely the logical development o
the principles upon which it com
menced it's career in the worlds his
tory.
Professionalism" writes Archbishop
Ireland, Gin all its branches, unde
all it's types, is anarchy; and naugh
else can it be while it upholds it
vital rule of faith, the private, per
1 "a