Changing the Name to “American Catholic Church”
By T.
THREE years ago, at their General Convention, the Protestant Episcopal Church was appealed to by some of its leaders to drop the word “Protestant” and call themselves the “American Episcopal Church.” But now the agitators have waxed bolder, and are calling for the name to be changed to the “American Catholic Church.” The leading weekly of the Episcopal Church in this country is the “Churchman,” and its present owners and editor seem to favor the new name of “American Catholic.” They have not told us as yet just what relation this new church will sustain to the Roman Catholic Church; but judging from some things that are being said, it will be the desire that they be very warm in their sentiments toward each other. But now a leader comes forward to represent the laymen of the Episcopal Church, and he is not kind toward the proposed change of name. This leader is Mr. Thomas Nelson Page, and the “Churchman” had the courtesy to give him space for a long article upon the subject. From his article, which bristles with Protestant sentiment, we give the following significant paragraph, which gives a fair idea of his feelings and sentiments in the matter: “There can be no unity with Rome without complete and utter submission to her. The whole history of her past establishes the fact, and no part more absolutely than her recent past. Twenty years ago men began to talk of the liberty of the Catholic Church in America. It appeared as if it were destined to make a great name. Great ecclesiastics, honored of all men, like Archbishop Ireland and Archbishop Keane, stepped forward and took the lead with tongue and pen. Cardinal Gibbons appeared acquiescent; the great educational institution at the gates of the capital fell into the movement. What happened? Rome said “No.” The movement11stopped as tho petrified to stone. The leaders were disciplined. Ireland found himself compelled to recant and lost his cardinal’s hat. Keane was called abroad and made archbishop of Damascus, where no active Christian church had been for a thousand years. The university lost its ‘distinguished head’ and became quiescent if not reactionary. And the power of Rome was never more signally asserted than in this control of a progressive movement which was led by these honored prelates and had the good will of nearly all American Protestants as well as Roman Catholics.” These utterances from Mr. Page show that he thinks the proposed change of name is leading his church into a closer unity with Rome, and they also show that he thinks that the Rome of to-day is not so progressive and liberal as some would have us believe. One of the leading themes for discussion in this time is the relation that Protestants should sustain to the Roman Catholics, and how they may grow together and work in unison. They can work together harmoniously in just one way, and that is for Rome to be absolute and supreme, and the greatest supremacy she has ever enjoyed lies just before her, but it will be of only short duration.