At the death of Pope Leo there were 65 Cardinals, 39 of whom were Italians.
CHAPTER XII
PORTENTS OF THE PRESENT TIME
There is no disguising nor denying the fact that during the past half century institutional religion in the West has steadily lost its hold upon the great mass of the people. Creeds and dogmas are denied and repudiated.
The “higher criticism” represents the reluctant yielding of theologians to the existing conditions. In order to maintain any hold whatever upon the people and retain a semblance of the old faith, they have revised and modified beliefs and interpretations, and relaxed completely the former demand for the confession of faith and acceptance of the old creeds. Mere general verbal assent admitting of many mental reservations is now often deemed sufficient.
In the meantime, the living of the life and the doing of the work demanded by Jesus have come more and more into demand and general recognition.
The “Emmanuel Movement,” now gaining such recognition and making such rapid progress, is sufficient evidence at this point.