THE SCIENCE OF HISTORY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9836, 20 September 1897, Page 3

THE SCIENCE OF HISTORY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE FRKSS. • Snt, —I wish to review as briefly ac possible a few statements in your paper oi Saturday by a correspondent signing himself M. Nolan. It is conspicnously evident that this writer has been drawn to reply to Professor Mathew's article, which he eulogises ■with the sole intention of detracting from the beauty and truth of the Reformation and aiming a blow at Protestantism. He states unreservedly that Professor Mafcbew is untrammelled by popular prejudice. How funny. Here is an assumption and an assertion that few nten who thought at all, and were unbiassed in their opinion 'would venture to make. So anxious is Mr Nolan to get at th» sabjeat

dear to his heart that he at once upholds the principles and dogmas held by HiUlebrand (Pope Gregory VII.) and more strongly and determinedly abuses and stigmatises the character of Henry IV. of Germany as abominable and depraved. Now, let U3 take a glance; at the life history of l?ope Gregory VII., for Mr Nolan says " that there is cot unother of the Roman Pontiffs to whom Christians of every denomination owe so much." There is one benefit about this assertion that the writer appears so sure of — ho does not state whether Christianity is indebted to Gregoiy for good or ovil. I presume the latter, judging from his life. While still a youth HiUlobrand was made the friend and companion of Leo JX., who was staying at the Abbey of Cliigny while on his way to Italy. How strange Mr Nolan has not mentioned this intimacy. Hildebrand was encouraged to look forward to occupy the papal chair, but before he was promoted he had prepared measures for the extension of papiil power j now he used every opportunity to put his plans into execution. Even wheu Nicholas 11. was Pope Hildebrand was tho chief wirepuller. At this time an edict was issued which I need not give in full, bnt one of Gregory's first acts after he was made Pope was, '"'that the sacerdotal orders should abstain from marriage, and that such members ot them that had already wives or concubines should immediately dismiss them or quit the priestly office." I presume that M. Nolan can unravel this tangled web and explain the effect this edict has had upon Christianity. It is evident, therefore, that Gregory did nofc insist on tho dogma that " once a priest, always a wriest." In 1075 Gregory issued an edict forbidding the clergy from receiving tho investiture of an ecclesiastical dignity from tho hands of a layman, and at the samo time forbid during the laity under penalty of excommunication to atfcompfc the exercise of the invosfcifcure of the clergy. This was done to assert infallibility and to force Henry IV. to submit to the power of Gregory ; and on this point alone hinged the quarrel between Henry of Germany and Gregory VH. It was not a question of character or morals as M. Nolan concludes. Gregory VII. demanded supremacy and submission. Henry refused to give it. In 1076 Henry was summoned before a Council at Rome to defend himself. He then caused a deposition to be passed agaiust the Pope by a Council assembled at Worms. Gregory VII. m return excommunicated Henry, "declaring that he had forfeited the kingdoms of Germany and Italy, and that his subjects were absolved from their oath of fealty." Was there any tyranny about this ? It is quite true Henry attended Gregory at Canoasa and submitted to him, and Gregory restored him to communion with the Church; but M. Nolan omits to state that Henry afterwards recognised the ignobility of his submission, and repented of the whole of the procedure. A terrible war devastated the Empire for three years; finally Henry gained strength and caused Pope Gregory to be deposed by the Council of Brixon, and in 1081 an anti-Pope, Clement 111., was elected and placed upon the Papal chair. Pope Gregory now passed three years as a prisoner in the castle of St. Angelo, and his wellknown obstinate dictates give us an insight into his true character, among them we find —That the Romish Church was founded by our Lord alone; that the Roman Pontiff alone is justly styled universal; that he alone can depose bishops and restore them ; that the Popo can depose absent persons; that no person may live under tno same roof with a person excommunicated by the Pope ; that all princes should kiss his feet only ; that it is lawful for him to depose Emperors ; that his sentence is not to be reviewed by anyone ;> that he can be judged by no one ; that the greater causes of every church should be carried to the Roman See; that the Roman See never erred and never could. This Gregory was quite ready to dethrone any person, but would not allow the same liberty to others. Gregory carried out his spirit of obstinacy till the last, and even on his death-bed refused to withdraw the excommunication he had launched against those who refused to submit to him. Thus passed a-way the inflexible assorter of the 'supremacy of the sacerdotal order—the ambitious Pontiff, whose lack of principle few have excelled—the religious autocrat who tried to gain the world for his possession, but failed. I think what M. Nolan must have intended at the close of his letter was thai if it had not been for the will of Gregory infallibility of the Popes would never have been established, and, as Protestants view Gregory's life, character and influence, it has been the reverse of beneficial to true Christianity, and has impeded and retarded its progress.—yours, &c, A Protestant Woman. September 19th, 1897.