Romanism and the republic. A discussion of the purposes, assumptions, principles and methods of the Roman Catholic hierarchy

Introduction

EEV. LEROY M. AT:RN0N, D.D.,

Late Superintendent of Missio2i£..a£.j:QE Methodist Episcopal

BOSTON : ARNOLD PUBLISHING COMPANY,

CONGREGATIOXAL BuiLDING.

COPYRIGHT ISAAC J. LANSING

Author's Preface

This volume contains fourteen discourses on Romanism AND THE Republic, delivered in the Salem Square Congregational Church, Worcester, Mass., during the Summer and Autumn of 1888.

From the first until the last of eighteen sermons, which were delivered on consecutive Sabbath evenings, public interest was general and intense. Throngs of serious and thoughtful people crowded the Church, while great numbers sought for even standing-room in vain. Calls for the publication of the addresses as delivered were immediate, and from many quarters. As reported stenographically, they were printed from week to week in the New England Home Journal^ .which, with one other notable exception, was' ^"Q only paper that gave them currency. ^ ^- ^- ^

Repeated requests, at that time and since, that they might be preserved in a more permanent form, have resulted in the compilation of the present volume. This design was not in view originally in their preparation. Delivered extemporaneously, and reported as spoken, the preacher used no notes except memoranda, which related to the numerous books of reference which were taken to the pulpit, and from which quotations were read in the presence of the congregation. Therefore their style is that of popular address, rather than the more finished form of deliberate, literaiy execution. Even the rugged exclamatory passages, — which perhaps, could only be excused or justified by the impassioned earnestness of the iv * Author's Preface,

moment of their utterance, the author has thought best to retain, that the people who heard, when the}^ come to read, may not miss remembered and often applauded passages. For in each sermon of the entire course, a sympathetic audience encouraged and sanctioned the speaker's utterances by outbursts of assent and commendation ; which, it may be, should have been recorded in the text, as the valued expression of their sentiments.

Two discourses to men only, ''On the Romish Confessional," are, of necessity, omitted from this volume, because the citations which they contained from Roman Catholic books should not be printed for general reading. With this exception the discourses are printed as delivered.

For the Title, " Romanism and the Republic," the author is indebted to an impressive article from the pen of M. Leon Bouland, the distinguished ex-priest, in The Forum of July, 1888.

Among authorities, I have depended mostly on Roman Catholic text-books and histories, as directly consulted by myself, and as cited by reliable authors. Such are Fredet's " Modern History," Jenkins' " Judges of Faith," Bouvier's " Dissertatio in Sextum Decalogi Prseceptum," Dens' "Theology," J. P. Gury's " Moral Theology," and the " Index Expurgatorius," among Roman Catholic text-books.

H. C. Lea's " Sacerdotal Celibacy " and Lea's " History of the Inquisition," Thompson's " The Papacy and the Civil Power," Gladstone's "Vaticanism and the Vatican Decrees," Mendham's "Literary Policy of the Romish Church," Edgar's " Variations of Popery," — all of which are especially rich in quotations from Romish authorities, — I have freely quoted.

I have found help also in the works of distinguished ex-

Author^s Preface, V

priests and converts from Rome ; including DeSanctis, on "The Confessional," Lord Richard Montagu, "The Sower and the Virgin," Rev. Charles Chiniquy, "Fifty Years in the Church of Rome," and " The Priest, the Woman and the Confessional," Rev. James A. O'Connor, Editor of that very valuable and reliable monthly. The Converted Catholic^ Father McGlynn's " Sermons and Addresses," Wm. Hogan, on " Popery," and others.

While of books of a more general character, I have consulted, among others : " The History of the Public School Society of New York," "Our Country " by Dr. Josiah Strong, Barnum's "Romanism As It Is,"Beaudry's " Spiritual Struggles of a Roman Catholic," Van Dyke's " Popery ;" the Documents of the American Evangelical Alliance, and the Papers of Dexter A. Hawkins ; together with several lives of Loyola, and histories of the Jesuits, from both Romish and Protestant sources.

Tohave filled the margins or appendix with hundreds of references to these volumes, would have been easy, but this seemed superfluous.

It is believed that the facts are as alleged ; and while errors of statement may be discovered, there are no allegations submitted without ample testimony in their favor. My thanks are due to many friends who have kindly aided me with books and facts.

For the striking and comprehensive Introduction, the Author is indebted to a master of all the facts concerning Romanism, Rev. Leroy M. Vernon, D.D., founder, and for nearly eighteen years, until 1888, superintendent of the Missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Italy. For most of these years. Dr. Vernon has resided in Rome, under the very shadow of the Vatican. There and throughout Italy he has given profound study to Romanism in all its phases, gathering about him into the Church vi Author's Preface,

of God, some of the most extraordinary and able men of young Italy, who, under his guidance, forsook, for conscience sake, the Papacy which had honored them. For weight and trustworthiness, his statements are absolutely authoritative.

With diffidence as to form and style, but with confidence as to facts and inferences, I submit to a larger public this incomplete discussion, as a contribution to the demands of a great conflict, in which I confidently hope to see Romanism destroyed, the Roman Catholic people saved, the American Republic more firmly established, and the Kingdom of God triumphantly exalted.

I. J. LANSING.

Worcester, May 15, 1889.

PEEFACE TO LATEST EDITION.

The unexpected favor with which this effort to meet a living question has been met, and the fact that the ninth thousand of the volume is in press, though less than a year has elapsed since its publication, is a cause of profound gratitude to the author.

An Index has been added to the present edition, which will greatly enhance its value to all readers.

The recent Centennial Anniversary of the Roman Catholic Church at Baltimore has given occasion for an expression of the latest word that Romanism has to utter on the themes that most concern us as Americans. A few quotations have been given in an Appendix which show the spirit and animus of this gathering, and that the Church of Rome is, as she herself boasts, semper eadem, — always the same.

I. J. LANSING.

Further Aspects of Parochial Schools o . , . . . . 345

CHAPTER Xin.

The Romish Confessional : What it Is, and What it Does. . . 374