184 REV. CHANCELLOR J. J. LIAS, M.A., ON THE DECAY OF 
present, it appears that what in politics we call the democratic 
spirit, and what in the Christian Church is called the priesthood 
of the laity, is destined, some day, to deal a mortal blow to the 
Ultramontane cause. 
Discussion. 
Professor H. Langhorne Orchard, M.A., B.Sc., wrote : — 
Chancellor Lias never reads a paper in this room without making 
us his debtors. We hope that God will prolong his life so that he 
may be able to address us on several future occasions. The valuable 
paper, to which we have been giving our attention, is of an interest 
hardly second to its importance. There are, however, spots in the 
sun. One is the absence of any definition of the term “Ultra- 
montanism.” Apparently it is to be understood in the same sense 
as Gladstone’s “ Vaticanism.” Another spot is the use of the word 
“ Roman,” instead of “ Roman Catholic.” Such use is open to the 
objection that it suggests that either the Roman Catholic is the only 
Christian Church in Rome, or the Roman Catholics are connected in 
some special way with the ancient Romans. 
The origin and history of the Old Catholic Movement, so ably 
brought before our Society, constitutes a formidable indictment not 
of Ultramontanism only, but of Roman Catholicism as a whole. 
The learned Chancellor points out that “ the Roman system 
which had for centuries been strong enough to bear down all 
opposition, had created a timid and helpless laity, a still more timid 
and helpless priesthood, and a most timid and helpless Episcopate- 
all of whom were hopelessly ill-adapted for resistance of any 
kind.” 
The pathetic narrative conveys a warning and a hope. A warning 
against slipping the neck into the noose of authority, when that 
authority is without justification in reason. A hope which, as we 
have seen, is warranted by many signs of the times, that, within no 
very long time, a degrading tyranny may come to an end. The 
Los Van Bom will continue, and the last word has not been said 
about the Associations Cultudles. Ultramontanism must collapse 
before the invincible working of that Wisdom which is wiser than 
men and that Strength which is stronger than men. 
