This distinguished orator is again visiting our shores, and very many
will avail themselves of the opportunity to listen to his almost
peerless eloquence. His mission this time is to raise money, by means
of lectures and appeals to the benevolent, for the work in which he is
engaged in Paris. A glance just now at this man’s remarkable career
will be timely.
Father Hyacinthe’s real name is Charles Loyson. He was born in Orleans,
France, March 10, 1827, and is therefore now nearly fifty-seven years
of age. He showed in boyhood some precocity, writing verses which were
regarded remarkable for his years. For some years he was a student at
the academy of Pau, which institution he left at the age of eighteen
to become a student of theology in the school of St. Sulpice. After
receiving priest’s orders, he taught philosophy for a time at Avignon
and theology at Nantes; then for ten years he was in charge of the
parish of St. Sulpice. He was past thirty when he entered the convent
of the Carmelites at Lyons as a novice. Two years after he became
a member of the order, and began preaching in the lyceum at Lyons.
He soon acquired great popularity here; and on visiting Bordeaux,
Perigneux, and Paris, and giving courses of sermons in these several
places, he made a wide and deep impression. It was about 1867 that the
liberality of some of Father Hyacinthe’s sentiments attracted notice.
His orthodoxy became suspected, but his popularity continued to grow.
We see him, in 1869, examined by the pope as to his doctrines, whom
he seems to have convinced of his substantial soundness. A little
later, however, a great sensation was produced by some of his liberal
utterances. The general of the order of Carmelites at Rome warned him
that he must change his tone or cease from preaching. His reply to
this order was so outspoken against certain practices of the church as
to draw from Rome a threat of the major excommunication. He had been
preaching in the church of Notre Dame, Paris, and was now prohibited
from doing so longer.
It was soon after the opening of the breach between himself and the
authorities of his church, in the autumn of 1869, that the great
preacher made his first visit to America. His fame had preceded him,
and by Protestants he was warmly welcomed. His stay was short, but
those permitted to hear him in his few public addresses were ready to
admit that his reputation was not amiss as one of the most consummate
orators of modern times. The breach with Rome became wider. In 1870
the Pope released him from his monastic vows, and he has since been
a secular priest. He earnestly protested against the dogma of papal
infallibility proclaimed by the council of that year, and cast his
lot for a time with the Old Catholics, headed by Döllinger. He soon
chose for himself, however, an independent basis of action. Having, in
public address, defended the right of the clergy to marry, he himself
married an American lady in 1873, and is now the father of interesting
children. His work latterly has been that of an independent preacher
in the city of Paris. Like most independent movements, his own has not
been a success. In breaking with Rome, he chose not to ally himself
with Protestant Christians, and found himself unable to go with Old
Catholics. He stands by himself, claiming to be a Catholic, but not a
Papist. Of his perfect sincerity those who know him entertain no doubt;
but the regret has doubtless been felt by very many that he could not
have seen his way clear to devote his brilliant gifts to the cause of
Protestant Christianity. The fame of his captivating oratory will long
live; but he, perhaps, missed his opportunity to do a great work for
the cause of truth in the earth.