THE ROCK OF PETER

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XLV, Issue 36, 5 September 1918, Page 23

THE ROCK OF PETER

Mr. H. G. Wells, speaking of the days that are coming very soon in England, says in his book entitled Anticipations: “There will be a steady decay in the various Protestant congregations. The rich, as a class, and the people of the abyss, so far as they move towards any existing religious body, will be attracted by the moral kindliness and picturesque organisation and venerable tradition of the Roman Catholic Church. We are only in the beginning of a great Roman Catholic revival. The country side of the coming time will show many a splendid cathedral, many an elaborate monastic palace, towering amidst the abounding colleges and technical schools. Along the moving platforms of the urban centre—amid the shining advertisements that will adorn them will go the ceremonial procession, all glorious with banners and censer-bearers. Countless ecstatic nuns will shelter from the world in simple refuges of refined austerity. Where miracles are needed miracles will occur. Except for a few queer people, nourished on Maria Monk and such like anti-Papal pornography, I doubt if there will be any Protestants among the rich. But, of course, there will be much outspoken atheism and anti-religion.”