Dr. St. George Mivart, a Roman Catholic convert, well known
as a biologist and writer on theological topics, died on Sunday after a short illness at the age of seventy-two. He was recently brought before the world through a collision between himself and Cardinal Vaughan. He had expressed opinions in the Sineteenth, Century which were in conflict with the teaching not only of Rome but of Christianity ; but the Cardinal, instead of condemning his opinions, ordered him to sign a general confession of faith. This confes- sion contains, besides the usual dogmas of Christianity, some expressions which no educated man, unless con- vinced that Christianity is an unintelligible but divine mystery only to be interpreted by a priesthood, could possibly sign in sincerity. Dr. Mivart refused, and was accordingly placed outside the Church. The incident made some stir, especially among those who believe, too sanguinely, that the Roman Church, as the living interpreter of the faith, could reconcile her ideas with those of advancing thought ; but it chiefly shows that the Reactionaries, now all-powerful in Rome, are more resolved than ever to exclude the claim of human reason. If they advance much further on their present line they will reach the level of the Brahmins, who teach that there is a supra-sensual side to all things, and that consequently the senses cannot be trusted even as to the things of sense.
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