titution of the Catholic faith.--Its
definitions respecting God, Revelation, Faith, Reason.--The
anathemas it pronounces.--Its denunciation of modern
civilization.

The Protestant Evangelical Alliance and its acts.

General review of the foregoing definitions, and acts.--
Present condition of the controversy, and its future
prospects.

PREDOMINANCE OF CATHOLICITY. No one who is acquainted with the present
tone of thought in Christendom can hide from himself the fact that an
intellectual, a religious crisis is impending.

In all directions we see the lowering skies, we hear the mutterings
of the coming storm. In Germany, the national party is arraying itself
against the ultramontane; in France, the men of progress are struggling
against the unprogressive, and in their contest the political supremacy
of that great country is wellnigh neutralized or lost. In Italy, Rome
has passed into the hands of an excommunicated king. The sovereign
pontiff, feigning that he is a prisoner, is fulminating from the Vatican
his anathemas, and, in the midst of the most convincing proofs of his
manifold errors, asserting his own infallibility. A Catholic archbishop
with truth declares that the whole civil society of Europe seems to be
withdrawing itself in its public life from Christianity. In England and
America, religious persons perceive with dismay that the intellectual
basis of faith has been undermined by the spirit of the age. They
prepare for the approaching disaster in the best manner they can.

The most serious trial through which society can pass is encountered in
the exuviation of its religious restraints. The history of Greece and
the history of Rome exhibit to us in an impressive manner how great are
the perils. But it is not given to religions to endure forever. They
necessarily undergo transformation with the intellectual development of
man. How many countries are there professing the same religion now that
they did at the birth of Christ?

It is estimated that the entire population of Europe is about three
hundred and one million. Of these, one hundred and eighty-five million
are Roman Catholics, thirty-three million are Greek Catholics. Of
Protestants there are seventy-one million, separated into many sects. Of
Jews, five million; of Mohammedans, seven million.

Of the religious subdivisions of America an accurate numerical statement
cannot be given. The whole of Christian South