THE NEW ZEALAND CHRISTIAN RECORD.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VI, Issue 308, 14 March 1879, Page 16

THE NEW ZEALAND CHRISTIAN RECORD.

The Kern Zealand Christian Record of to-day contains an article from the Rev. Lindsay Mackik, in which he labours hard to prove that the charges made by the Southern Cross against Guky's " Compendium of Moral Theology" are true, and justified by Gury's own words. Our defence of Gury is before the public ; let the public judge. We again affirm what we have clearly proved, that some of these charges are pure fabrications, and that not o.:e of them is a fair representation of Guey's teaching. Such as believe the Rev. Lindsay Mackie better qualified to speak as to the real meaning of Gtjry than we are, will, of course, believe the rigmarole of that Rev. gentleman. But such as are sufficiently acquainted with the Latin language to be able to translate into English an easy sentence of Latin will be able to judge of the Rev. Lindsay Mackie's qualifications to decide as to Gury's teaching from the following specimen of that Rev. gentleman's knowledge of the L ati n language. We shall first give the Latin words, then the Rev. gentleman's translation. Gury says— Quirk en'uwjideliiun tenctur jideni profiterl non obstante (juaciinujvc jactnra, qtiando id exig-it honor Dei et mlus jtroxivii." Now here is the Rev. Lindsay Mackie's translation, and the brackets with the words between are as given by him, " For all the faithful are bound to profess the faith if there is no possible loss standing in the way (non obstante qxtacunupie jactura) when the glory of God and the salvation of our neighbour demands it." The Rev. Lindsay Mackie who undertakes to contradict us as to the teaching of Gury translates the words — "Non obstante quacumque jactura," thus "if there is no possible loss standing in the way." This suffices for every Latin scholar. The Rev. Lindsay Mackie introduces new matter. This is unwarrantable. The points in dispute are not settled yet. And until these arc finally disposed of, no new matter should be permitted to draw off attention from the subjects of controversy. The Rev. Lindsay Mackie's right to enlarge the sphere of controversy depends on the success with which he justifies the charges already made against " Gury's Compendium. We observe that the Rev. Lindsay Mackie quotes, or at least mentions, Cautwright as an authority whom he has consulted. The value of this authority may bo estimated from the following, taken from his article on " The Doctrines of the Jesuits" published in the Quarterly Mr new. Here this writer says :— " Father Gury carefully points out that mental reservations arc of two kinds, the strictly and latently mental." He translates the word Into, used by Gury by the English word latently. The Rev. 1 jndsay M Aokie's authority, then, it seems knows no mere about the Latin language than the Rev. Lindsay Mackie himself. We observe, also, that a reference is made to '• Pascal's Pro/incial Letters." In reference to them we content ourselves to-day with giving the estimate of them entertained by one who was no friend to Catholics, Voltaire, who said of these famous letters " It is true the whole book rested on a false foundation."' . . . '• But the great thing was not to have reason on their bide, but to divert the public." Siei'le de Louis ATP. One word in reference to tho new matter introduced, and we shall conclude for to-day. The Rev. Lindsay Mackie alludes to some subjects discussed by Guuy, and affects to be greatly scandalised by the fact that theological students study these subjects. In fact he appears to be horrified. Well, it would appear he has himself btudicd these subjects, else he could know nothing about them. Has he acted criminally in doing so/ If not, why should he charge criminality on those who do only what he does himself ? We say secondly, is it criminal for law students and medical students to study such subjects ? Is the dissecting-room essentially immoral ? Is the study of anatomy immoral ? The Rev. Lindsay Mackie affects horror because G ury treats in a scientific work, published in Latin, on certain subjects of a professional character, and which are only studied by advanced theologians of mature years. What has the rev. gentleman to say as to the propriety of publishing in English works treating of the most indelicate subjects in law and medicine, and sold by all booksellers? What about putting the Old Testament without note or comment into the hands of children 1 mmmmmmm^ mmammmmmm^ >& I*. MORAN. J