Men of the Kingdom
Fénelon: The Mystic
By
James Mudge,
Author of “The Saintly Calling,” “The Best of Browning,” etc.
CINCINNATI: JENNINGS AND GRAHAM
NEW YORK: EATON AND MAINS
copyright 1906, by
Jennings and Graham
To My Dear Wife.
A wise mother of children,
A faithful missionary in India,
An efficient worker in many Churches.
A WORD TO THE READER
There have been many lives of Fénelon. Fourwere brought out in the eighteenth century, and twoquite extensive ones were issued as recently as 1901.In a few cases they have been written in a spirit ofcold, supercilious disparagement and cynical commentby people who evidently had no experiencewhich would qualify them to understand the characterthey rashly attempted to portray. But theendeavor to pull Fénelon down from the pedestalon which he has so long stood can not succeed. Solong as his own writings remain to bear testimonyto the high qualities of his mind and soul, his fameis secure. It is the chief regret of the present writerthat, owing to the restricted size of the book, he hasnot been able to give more of Fénelon’s own words.The reader is recommended to procure the “SpiritualLetters” of Fénelon, published in two volumesby E. P. Dutton & Co., New York.[1]
It is not claimed that Fénelon was wholly withoutfaults, or was in all respects ahead of his times.How could that be expected? He took, in the main,of course, the Roman Catholic view in the questionsthat arose regarding heresy and the general affairsof the Church. It is not necessary to defend himfor this. We are concerned, in studying such persons,not so much with their dogmatic opinions andbeliefs, the result of their environment, as withthe spirit of their lives, their attainments in holiness,and the light which they can shed on the bestmeans of growth in grace. It is believed that thepresent volume will be found helpful to this end.The type of piety exemplified by Fénelon, Fletcher,Faber, and others of this sort, does not appeal withequal force to all, owing to difference of mental andphysical constitution. But all, whatever their temperament,can get only good by contemplating suchan example as is presented in these pages. Theycan not feel the quick throbs of his deeply lovingheart, and note the sincerity of purpose with whichhe served his dear Redeemer, without being stimulatedin their zeal, and helped to walk, in their ownway, more worthily of the vocation with which theythemselves are called. That this may indeed be theoutcome for every reader of the following chapters,is the earnest prayer of the author.
JAMES MUDGE.
Jamaica Plain, Mass.