The Irish standard., 1919-03-01
Written by Sir J. Godfrey Raupert,
K. S. G.. for the Press Service
of the central-Bureau.

It will have been seen from the
brief preceding statements that the
Doyle and his co-workers are seek
ing to build up their New Revela-
tion" is very f1imsy one and that
it cannot possibly withstand the as
saults of full and accurate informa-
tion and of ordinary common sense.
Their mode of procedure is not an
unfamiliar one. True science gath
ers together all the facts respecting
any particular problem that are avail
able and then constructs it's interpre-
tations and theories accordingly.
Pseudo science starts with a theory
and fits the facts into it as best it can,
entirely discarding and ignoring those
which run counter to it.
Sir Conan Doyle's method is of this
latter order, and we may rightly say
that just as Christian Science is neith-
er Christian nor Science, so the New
Revelation" is neither new nor revela-
tion. 1t is an ancient error, revived
and presented in attractive modern
form, and it has its origin in the vivid
Imagination of some semi-pantheistic
and very imperfectly informed enthusi-
asts. It's danger to true Christianity
does not lie in it's force and reason.
ableness but in the state of the public
mind, which, as we all know, is but
too receptive just now of fascinat-
ing form of thought of this kind. We
can scarcely be surprised that an age
which could swallow the Christian
Science nonsense should become en-
thusiastic over the New Revelation" !"
Strange to say both forms of thought,
while widely diverging in other re-
spects, are of one mind respecting that
fundamental truth of Christianity up.
on which everything turns. Both deny
the atoning and redemptive power
of suffering, as it finds its highest
and fullest expression in the doc
trine of the Cross of Christ. Both
coolly ignore the forceful and persis.
tent testimony to its truth of millions
of the best and noblest of mankind.
Both present to the world interpreta-
tions Of Scripture which are manifest
! perversions of it. And as the founder
lof Christian Science too dabbled in
Spiritism, and its tenets bear re-
markable resemblance to the effusions
obtained by automatic writing, it is
more than probable that both systems
of thought emanate from the same
source.
We may be confident therefore
that when Christian Science and the
"New Revelation" shall have had their
day and men shall have grown weary
of them, the root error which they EN-
body will re.appear, dressed up in
some other attractive form.
The limits Of space imposed upon
me here have necessitated very in
adequate treatment of the subject.
have however dealt with it very fully
and from many different points of view
in a new book which have entitled:
The New Black Magic and which will
hope, issue from the press very
shortly. There are but two other
points on which can briefly comment
here.
Sir Conan Doyle asserts that IRE
ligion, as it is now taught in the
Churches, has failed. :. because it is
not believed" And in his book he
goes on to say that christianity.
has deferred the changes (the recon
struction) very long until her church
es are half empty, women her CHIEF
supporters" etc. etc.
But 1t would surely be more correct
to say that certain kind or brand
of Christianity has failed. And it is
that kind, as all the world knows
which breaches the Christ of the "New
Revelation" and of similar modern
thought-movements. And the Churches
which are more than half empty are
those which have become mere enter
tainment bureaus and cheap variety
shows. Who would dare to assert this
of the buildings of the Catholic Church
in which the true Historic Christ, the
divine Saviour of the world, il
preached and in which His valid Sac
raments are administered? And who
does not know that the experiences OF
the war have led and are daily leading
untold numbers of serious.minded per
sons, disgusted with these various
worthless forms of sham Christianity
to seek admission to her fold?
No more palpable and obvious false
hood in support of newly.coined re
ligfon has probably ever been uttered!
The one seemingly valid objection
which might be urged against the at
titude of the Catholic Church in this