Chapter III

_The Present State of Religious Controversy in America._ An
Address delivered before the New York Theological Society. By
the Rev. J. W. Cummings, D.D. New York: O'Shea, 1864.

The society at the inauguration of which this address was delivered, owes its origin to the zeal of some excellent young priests of the diocese of New York. They founded it that they might have in it at once a help and an incentive to keep up amid the labours of the mission that acquaintance with theology which they had cultivated in college. At each of the monthly meetings of the society two dissertations are read on some subject of Dogmatic Theology; and by the prudent advice of Dr. M'Closkey, the new Archbishop of New York, the discussion of a moral case has been added on each occasion. It speaks well for the sacerdotal spirit of the American clergy, that we can find flourishing among them this and similar associations, created by themselves and conducted with so much vigour and judgment. The New York Theological Society deserves from the priests of Ireland the highest praise these latter can bestow--the praise which consists in the imitation of what we admire. The range fixed for the society's labours naturally suggested to Dr. Cummings the subject of his inaugural discourse, and led him to address himself to the solution of this question: "What are the distinctive features of religious controversy as it occupies the public mind in our own age and country?" Among the distinctive features of American controversy he places the fact that the old political differences which ranged Protestants against Catholics in Europe have no real life or significance beyond the Atlantic. The Englishman's dread of Catholicism as a foreignism has no hold on the mind of an intelligent American. No doubt, there is even in American Protestants much bitterness against the Catholic Church, but it is merely the same spirit of opposition to lawful authority which ever has been and ever will continue to be in the world. But, with all his freedom of thought, there is in the case of the inquiring American a great difficulty to overcome.

"That difficulty is prejudice. The dark form of the old
protest has passed away; but the injurious effects of its
presence will long remain. What the gray dawn is to the
night, what the chafing of the sea waves is after the storm,
such is the cold mistrust, the vague fear, the half-concealed
repugnance to Catholics and Catholicity, which has succeeded
to the bitter hatred and stern defiance of days gone by. Very
commonly the Protestant who happens to meet with some point
of Catholic controversy is either entirely ignorant of the
subject--knows absolutely nothing about it--or is misinformed
and malinformed; in fact, has his mind filled with all sorts
of ideas touching the case in point except the right and true
one....

"It follows from these remarks that what is most needed from
us is sound, clear, and honest explanation of the doctrines
taught by our Church. It is a waste of time to go on proving
that Luther and Calvin were inconsistent, and contradicted
themselves, or that they were ungodly in their conduct. No
American is a Protestant out of respect for Luther or Calvin.
He believes that Protestantism is liberty and enlightenment,
and Catholicity is despotism and superstition. Show him that
he can be a good Catholic and preserve his liberty too, and
combat ignorance and superstition as much as he pleases, and
he will listen respectfully to your voice".

Seeking thus the Kingdom of God, the Catholic priests of America will find that through their labours God has added unto their country all good things even in the temporal order. The Church in America is exhibiting every day more clearly her wondrous power as the civilizer of the nations. This is in no wise surprising to us who know her: but it is cheering to learn from such an authority as Dr. Cummings, that even those who are not her children are beginning to follow with reverent looks the traces she leaves in society by her influence on the hearts of men.

"Our honest Protestant friends, whether they are statesmen,
scholars, publicists, military commanders, and in many cases,
even ministers of the Gospel, are ready to concede, that
unless the masses of the American people are led to act under
the guidance of Catholic principles, there is little chance
of saving this country from speedy and utter destruction.

"Let us, reverend brethren, do our work patiently and
cheerfully to forward so grand a purpose as the conversion
of this whole great country to true religion, leaving the
result to God and to those who will follow us in the ministry
when our seats shall be vacant in the holy sanctuary. The
pioneer who, on the plains of our far western country, toils
patiently in removing the charred and blackened tree-stumps
scattered over the field where once rose the dark and tangled
forest, does as necessary and honourable a work as his
successor who passes scattering handfuls of seed along the
soft, brown furrows, and as useful a work as the successor of
both, who puts his sickle into the nodding grain and gathers
in its golden sheaves at the happy harvest home".