A DISTINGUISHED DANE

New Zealand Tablet, 12 February 1914, Page 17

A DISTINGUISHED DANE

A little more than two years ago, one of the noblest and best known men of Norway, Dr. Krogh Tonning, departed this life. Now comes the news from Denmark of the recent death of another distinguished man, Hans Christian Jensen, once a Lutheran minister, whose return to the Catholic Church created a sensation (writes Baron Armfelt in America). It is true that he did not equal Dr. Krogh Tonning, who was one of the most famous men of Scandinavia, in the extent of his learning, nor did he publish as many books as the Norwegian convert, but they resemble each other in very many ways. Both were Lutheran ministers both sought the truth with the sincerest honesty, and having found it embraced it in spite of the great sacrifices which they, had to make for the faith which they espoused. Jensen, who died on September 5, at the age of sixty-five, was the son of a poor peasant, and passed his childhood and youth as a farm laborer. In spite of his surroundings he always cherished the hope of gaining means for a life of study, and soon the opportunity presented itself. The Lutheran minister of his parish taught him Greek and Latin. During the day Jensen toiled at the plough,or with the spade and in the evening gave his leisure hours to study. After a very careful preparation 1 he set put for Copenhagen and passed a brilliant examination at the University, but being without resources, he had to return again to his work on the farm. Nevertheless, he continued to pursue his studies. At last, having obtained a little burse, he went back to Copenhagen, and there, by studying privately and - acting as 'a tutor, suffering meantime the pangs of hunger and many privations/ 1 he finally passed his examination in theology. .He was’well on in year* by that time, and in 1877 he was sent out as

a missionary to the Indies, but his health broke down in the climate of the tropics, and he returned to Denmark with his wife and children in 1881, and was appointed to a parish, which was furnished with a good benefice. His Eloquence, His Vast Knowledge and Charm of Character won all hearts, and he became one of the most popular preachers of the State Church. An ever-increasing audience continued to gather around his pulpit. He who in his youth had known so many privations now saw himself in the full prominence of his profession and in the enjoyment of the esteem of his people. He then began to doubt the truth of Lutheranism. Being a perfectly sincere man he made no . bargain with his conscience and did not stop half way. After a most distressing struggle, deep study and continued prayer, he finally resolved to abandon his pulpit, and bade, farewell to his congregation, to which he was tenderly attached. He began his preparation to enter the Church. After the usual instruction he was received by Mgr. Van Euch, Vicar Apostolic of Denmark, November 5, 1894. The conversion of this distinguished Lutheran minister startled the country. He wrote two brochures in 1895, one of which was entitled A Letter to My Protestant Friends, and the other Who is Right? In both of these he describes his spiritual development and explains the motives of his religious conversion. Like so many others of his compatriots, Jensen had undergone the influence of Nikolai Frederik' Severin Grundvig, who was known as the great preacher, historian, and poet of Denmark, and who had died in 1872. * Grundvig had brought about a complete change in the religious views of his countrymen. ‘He abandoned,’ says Jensen, ‘the Protestant principle that the Bible is the rule of faith, showing that it created continual quarrels among the ministers and a helpless confusion in the minds of the laity.’ Grundvig adopted the view that the Church’s Credo as proclaimed in the Apostles’ Creed at each baptism was the essential basis on which Christianity and individual salvation must take their stand. This view was startling in its effect on the people to whom it was addressed, for they were told that if the question were put to them ‘ What am I to do to be saved ?’ they were to answer, ‘ I must keep my baptismal vows.’ Evidently such- a position was almost that of the Catholic Church. Nevertheless, by an unexplainable inconsequence, Grundvig never became a Catholic, whereas Jensen, his disciple, ’ acted more wisely than his master. He had made very serious ecclesiastical studies ; had gone deep into the Reformation, and was thoroughly acquainted with the works of Martin Luther. He discovered that Luther was not as his Protestant eulogists were accustomed to represent him, but merely A Proud, Apostate Monk. The characteristic of Luther, he found, was simply his refusal to submit to the decision of the Church in the matter of doctrine. Luther placed his personal authority above that of the whole Church. But nowhere do we find in the Bible any promise that the gates of hell should not prevail against Martin Luther, nor is it worth while to pretend that Luther submitted to the Word of God, as it is expressed in the Bible. For in the first place the Bible may be interpreted in many ways. If there was only one sense which its text might bear, there would not be so many Protestants who differ with each other and yet claim to have discovered the real meaning of the Bible. In studying the history of the Reformation and the religious life of our own day, Jensen saw more and more clearly that Protestantism had not only become feeble, but had lost all its vitality. It had not the power of creating saints, whereas in the Catholic Church, even in our own day, we see the great ones of' the earth, the rich and powerful, voluntarily renouncing everything to consecrate themselves to God. ’ Such, a sacrifice is a heroic act which proclaims the power of the kingdom of God more effectually than a thousand sermons. To the

'objection that these truths about the kingdorp of God, the dignity of poverty, etc., are also taught in the Protestant churches, he answers, ‘ Yes, such is the case, but t the people attach no credit to these claims, for they have no example of any Lutheran abandoning his earthly goods for the kingdom of God, or showing any great desire to purchase the Pearl of Great Price.’ Not only by his writings, but also by his conferences, ■ * Jensen Labored for the Catholic Faith. He was listened to with the greatest interest, because every one knew the sacrifices which he had made for conscience’ sake. He who had been a humble farm laborer and afterwards one of the most famous' preachers of the kingdom renounced his position and his benefice and with his wife and children entered again into the lowly condition of the life in which he was born. He again became a farm laborer, and securing a patch of /and, endeavored to support himself by his labor in the fields. l Ex Oratore Arator factus est.’ lie had no longer the strength of his youth. His health gave way and poverty and hunger pursued him and his family Until the Vicar Apostolic offered him the position of catechist .with a small salary attached. It was scarcely one-fourth, of the benefice he had formerly received as a Lutheran minister. People saw with astonishment the famous orator, the man whose learning attracted the attention of the country now a poor school teacher instructing little children in the elements of religion, but in spite of it all, he never lost his tranquility of soul. ’ After having frequently testified to his love and devotion to the Catholic Church during life, lie again displayed it in a striking fashion when summoned to the world beyond. Two days before his death he dictated the following words which he wished to be sent to the parish priest of Helsingor : ‘ This is my spiritual testament. I die in the Catholic Faith for which I have fought the fight of my life, and I die in the faith in Jesus Christ, and I return my thanks to all those who have shown.any affection for me.’ When the funeral took place it was easy to see how he had won the affection of his countrvmen. The church was crowded with Protestants and Catholics alike. Twelve priests and two Protestant ministers took part in the ceremonies. The Bishop, who was unfortunately absent at the time, was represented by one of his distinguished officials. - It may be said here that other notable men have preceded Jensen in these parts in returning to the ancient Church. To name only a few, there are, for example, J. K. V. Hansen, who was converted in 1863, and who translated the Vulgate into Danish ; J ; Kofoed Hansen, who entered the Church in 1887, and who is the author of many works of great intrinsic value; C. F. Brockdorf, who was converted in 1908, and Niels Hansen, the editor of the excellent Catholic weekly called Nnrflhh T J r/ehlnd, a publication which has already reached its sixty-first year, an£ which displays remarkable activity in the propagation of the Catholic Church.