520 THE ST. SIMONIANS, ETC. 



the general aspect of the congregation was materially changed. It was 

 announced beforehand, that the object of the sermon was to demonstrate 

 the absurdity of the power of excommunication assumed by the church 

 of Rome. It was evident from the first, that the audience wet e accus- 

 tomed to listen to the preacher with pleasure, but with feelings more 

 allied to those which are excited in a place of amusement, than in a 

 building devoted to the purposes of religion. The Abbe's powers of 

 oratory are of a very high order: he possesses a great command of lan- 

 guage, and expresses himself with a degree of irony too bitter to be 

 agreeable, but yet such as to excite the applause, and even the laughter, 

 of the greater part of his congregation. 



One of the leading tenets of the new religion, is the utter denial of 

 the infallibility of the Pope, or of bishops assembled in general council. 

 On the subject of temporal power, the new creed declares that the voice 

 of the people is the voice of God, and that there is no divine right but 

 that of the people. A total separation is maintained between spiritual 

 and temporal power, and the obedience of the clergy is prescribed in all 

 cases to the government de facto. The only relations admitted between 

 these two species of power, are protection, by the temporal government, 

 to the spiritual authorities j and submission, by the spiritual authorities, 

 in all that relates to their civil duties, but complete independence in 

 spiritual affairs. It is declared, that the temporal authorities have no 

 right to exact any profession of faith ; and the present government is 

 blamed for having permitted the French bishops to wait for the sanction 

 of the Pope to pray for his present Majesty, King Louis Philippe. 

 Every marriage is considered valid, which has been performed before 

 the civil magistrate; but the nuptial benediction is considered as a 

 Christian duty. The dispensations of the Pope, in favour of marriages 

 within prohibited degrees, is denounced as a vile traffic, and the priests 

 of the new religion are directed to pronounce the nuptial benediction, on 

 the exhibition of evidence that the civil contract has been performed. 



It is expressly declared, that the reason of each individual ought to 

 be the fundamental rule of his belief, and that every one should follow 

 his own conviction, although in direct opposition to that of his neigh- 

 bours. The Bible is admitted in the new church, as the only rule of 

 faith. The canonical books of the Old and New Testament adopted 

 by the primitive church, are admitted as works of inspiration. The 

 seven sacraments of the catholic church are recognized, and the celibacy 

 of the clergy is denounced, as contrary to religion, good morals, and 

 civilization. The whole of the sacraments of the church are adminis- 

 tered in the vulgar tongue. Auricular confession is not prescribed to 

 persons of mature age, but is recommended to young persons, prepa- 

 ratory to their first communion. Fast days and abstinence are treated 

 as an absurdity, but the sacrifice of the mass is retained, on condition of 

 its being performed in the vulgar tongue. The veneration of the saints 

 is limited to the offering of thanks to God for the salvation he has 

 granted them. The duty of preaching is prescribed to the clergy, who 

 are forbidden to introduce into their sermons any subjects of a political 

 nature. As I have already hinted, the new faith recognizes the esta- 

 blishment of a hierarchy, of which the Abbe Chatel, with the title of 

 primate, has declared himself the chief, supported by a series of bishops^ 

 priests, and deacons. 



