The Irish standard., 1917-09-22


the confusion of faculties and the
distortion of perspectives; but. it is
the legitimate fruit of the Reforma-
ton.
And these conditions are reflected,
not only in the Protestant clergy of
today, but in the seminary which
trains them. That there are among
them many really great scholars,
have no wish to question, but the
truth is that these scholars are found
in the seminaries rather than in the
churches. 1t is the education of the
rank and file that has declined, and
it has declined partly from the fact
that it has attempted too much and
accomplished too little, and partly
from the fact that the function of
the ministry has wholly changed.
The classical and linguistic training
of a century ago has given way to the
opinions of critics and the theories
of sociologists, for the aim of it ,all
is to produce, not religious teachers,
but religious entertainers; and hence
it is far from surprising that the
minister should find himself surpassed
in education by what is oftentimes a
large proportion of his congregation,
and that his profession should have
come to be regarded as of all pro-
fessions the least learned. The mu-
tual relation, therefore, between pas
tor and people has been largely re-
versed, and we are treated to the
curious spectacle of the flock leading
the shepherd; while the supposed indie
pendence of the pulpit is confined to
those subjects with which the con-
gregation agrees, or to which it is
Indifferent. The contrast is indeed
pitiable; but as result it was none
the less inevitable.
For these conditions Professionalism
has only herself to blame. She has
surrendered her foundations in the
supposed interest of a misnamed and
utterly misunderstood .rationalism,
and in SO doing she has reduced her
theologians to mere guessers and her
message to mere guess work. It is no
wonder that her appeals are un-
needed by the vast multitude of
churchless people, and that her pre-
tentions are ridiculed by those who
take the trouble to analyze them.
There is no question here of any ex-
ternal cause, nor could any external
cause have wrought so complete an
effect. Unfriendly forces may, and
often have done much to injure re-
ligion. They may prosecute it and
render it for all practical purposes
useless. But they cannot reduce it
to intellectual absurdity.
And the absurdity to which Prot
estantism is reduced is not merely
confined to its intellectual aspect,
but it has invaded, and seriously in
vaded, the field of ethics. The curl
GUS notion that somehow or other
theological speculation is form of
spiritual progress has been transfer
red to the domain of morality, with
the inevitable result that many of
Its truths are sharing the same fate
as those of theology. Principles
which century ago it would have
been impious to question are now
legitimate subjects for debate; while
it is becoming increasingly apparent
that for the really serious evils of the
day, Professionalism possesses no rem
edy. All that remains to it is a ca.
pacity to discuss them.
Yet were further proof of the
completeness of it's breakdown re-
quired it would be found in the char.
acter of the appeals which it is con-
stantly making to generation, for
the most part, Indifferent. To the ed
ucated it offers the specifically
plausible theology of the Outlook
type. To others it offers various
forms of recreation and entertain
ment, either within or without the
pulpit; while as the readiest and
least troublesome means of repair
ing the ravages off a declining birth
rate it is engaged in systematic and
highly developed attempt to prose-
lyte the children of the prolific and
self-respecting Catholic races, That
all this may be done through disin.
terested even If mistaken zeal, is not
at all to the point. Any one may
act through comparatively low mo-
tives and yet be sincere. But there
is no small evidence of the bankrupt
cy into which Professionalism has fall
en- in the fact that the motives which
1t offers as an approach to religion
are substantially those which one
might expect from the proprietor of
a moving picture show.
Order for Hearing Petition for Letters
OF Administration.
No. 1894.
State of Minnesota, County of Henne-
pin. In Probate Court.
In the Matter Of the Estate of Gather
inc Finn, Decedent.
On receiving and fling the petition