SOME LETTERS TO PIUS X.
[To THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR.")
SIR,—Your review of " Letters to his Holiness Pope Pins X., by a Modernist," in your issue of August 13th, is mainly of interest to an American Catholic because in it you seem to express the opinion that this is the hook, " native to the soil," destined to awake the Church in this country to an apprecia- tion of the advantages of Modernism. The book does not seem to have aroused much interest among American Catholics, and the anonymous writer is believed to be neither a priest, a Catholic, nor an American. I am sure that you would not endorse what the writer has to say about the ignorance and apathy of our clergy if you were, even superficially, acquainted with any number of them, or with their work. It may he tree that there are few contributors to the "voluminous literature of Biblical criticism" among them, but they all contribute to the building of churches, hospitals, and schools, and to ministering, unselfishly and intelligently, to the material and ethical needs of their parishioners. The history of the Church in America is rich in examples of piety, learning, and heroism among the clergy, and no one who is familiar with conditions here can doubt the devotion of Catholics to their faith or their admiration and affection for their priests.
Father Tyrrell was correct in assuming that Modernism had produced hardly an echo here. Where has it ? It was recognised as a rgchauffe of old and well-nigh forgotten heresies, and his version of it had only the interest that the resulting controversy gave to it. To his condemnation by the Pope we gave the same assent that we would to any other decision of his in the matter of faith or morals. It is a pity Father Tyrrell was so unfortunate as to turn his attention from parish work, where he might have been a greater success than as an intellectual leader; but his incredible vanity in expecting Catholics to follow him, especially Catholics as well grounded in their faith as those in America, makes it seem doubtful if he was ever fitted for the priesthood. As for that soi-disant priest, the author of the " Letters to his Holiness," his various " indictments " may serve to convince other anti- Catholics that the Church would do well to heed his words, but he can only convince Catholics that he is neither a priest
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