The New York herald., 1850-12-17


THE LECTURE BEFORE THE CATHOLIC INsTfTU rE, BY
JAMES McsHERRY.
On Friday evening, a lecture on the subject
stated in the above caption, was delivered by James
McShery, of Maryland, at the Catholic Institute,
in Broadway, before numerous and intelligent
audience.
Mr.. McSheuy, after making some preliminary
remarks, said he would not shrink from bringing
his mite of thought and labor to cast into the COM
mon fund, in aid of design worthy of the ages of
faith-worthy of that holy church in whose divine
spirit of love and charity 1t has orginated-one of
those bright lights of devotedness and zeal, which
illa--i-e ---- - --lfsh, unitarian
uttananism made holy by the church-an utilita-
ransm not for time only, but for time and eternity
In the life OF the world, as in the life of man-in
the history OF nations, as in the history of each in
divldual-there appears, standing out broadly and
prominently, an endless struggle between two ten
denotes, two conflicting influences. From the
dawn OF reason IN man, until its sunset for tins
world IN the grave-from the infancy of nation TO
its early growth, through its maturity, through its
decline, 10 its very fall, this eeaseless contest is
waged, bearing 10 vr ue, prosperity, and greatness
or 10 vice. misery, and disgrace, as the one or the
other rs IN The ascendant The evil passions and cor
upt nature Of man struggle for The mastery over his
knowledge offghi, and the efforts of his conscience
to make that knowledge the guide OF mis- actions
In proportion to the purity Of that conscience and
OF man 10 recttude OF conduct, and the prevailing
tendency OF the macs Of individuals will give tone
and color 10 the character Of nation or an age,
Thus az the struggle acts In the individual 80 1t
acts on the nation, and the life and history OF the
man Is almost the miniature life and history of the
nation. The heathen Of old saw in the struggle the
contention OF two powers-the principle of good and
the principle of evil-which he dehed and Worship
ped. Ii was practical apotheoms of great and Nv
Ing truth. In ancient times, before the revelation OF
the new law. when the guiding light that had been
hrst gwen TO mankind mad been almost quenched,
and The earth, save one chosen people wandered in
the darkness Of dolary and superstition that strug-
gle seemed indeed afaint and weary one. The spirt
OF evil predominated, and the civilization which
sprung up nom the restless workings of the human
mind, bore its undeniable impress. The Gentle
civilization was indeed beautiful, polished and or.
nate, but II was with the beauty and polish of the
demon. And II there sometimes sparked brighter
and purer ray IN the dreams Of the philosopher, or
The visions OF the poet, IL was only the ghmmerng
OF the old natural light, struggling through the sur
rounding darkness, or reflected CLEAN caught from
the land OF promise where dwelt the people Of God,
the repository Of the truth under the old law and
chosen TO be the starting point Of the Christian and
true civilization. The Gentle saw no future Of
hope opening beyond the tomb. The poets sang of
ely sian fields and Rhodamanthine judges, but none
had yet returned rom beyond those dun portals TO
announce the victory over death, and to proclaim
The heaven destined FOR those VINO chasteaed and
denied themselves in this world. The lfe OF the
heethen was essentially Of 'Ae world, his ambition
therefore. was of the world, and purely sensual
nothing high, ennobDg, or spiritual mingled in it.
There were many generous traits in an indivdu al
OF purely worldly character, bat nothing in the
ancient cvihzafion that was spiritual, nothing that
rose above the dross Of earth. But the tidngs were
announced ~ judea, Of al new and holy era for
mankind. The church led forth by the, Fisherman,
Degan 70 sather he sons OF men within their fold.
che proclaimed the tidngs that man not OF this
world; enc announced whence he came and whithsr
he tended, his first origin, his l4et end; she
preached gospel of elfdenis, Of selEsacrihce, of
love and charity for all men. Her msssion was
not the civilization but the salvation OF men . but
clvillIanon everywhere followed ia her footsteps.
She taught men 10 Withstand those impulses of a
corfuP, nature which bad so long held sway over
their hearts, and 10 look for he fruuon of all their
hopes beyond this life dwarng to their eyes, sta
uon, weH'fh and power, as objects unworthy the
desire end end Of eouls destined to an immortality
OF bliss Thus arose new civilization, elevated,
spiritual, making oil who yielded 10 its true inlr-
enc look upon those objects which had seemed
TO tbe followers OF the old the greatest end of hu-
man life, es mere secondary concernsa as either aids
OF onst,ck 10 The progress OF man towards his
tue end. Religion ives given to the world, as its
name beautifully inpors,to bring back fallen man to
his Creator. Heaven was the true end of man, but
Y had been lost 70 man. and earth therefore, would
have been the scene and limit Of his hopes of peace
ana happiness, but religion, Christianity, bridged
over the dark abyss between those two, and re-
opened the pathway Of man to his true end With
out religion, therefore, the civilization Of man
must always be sordid and earthly. II is
pny religion that can elevate this civiliza-
hon % n condition worthy uf man and his |
eternal aspirations. But az the church did not |
mango the corrupt nature ef mankind, as she |
conid not elevate all hearts 10 contemplate and en-
brace their true felicity 50 the earthly and sensual
civilization still kept pace with the SPIRITUAL and as
he one or the other predomnaled. II gave its dis
nct features 70 and lcis rs impress stamped upon
he nation or The times. The characteristic traits /
,f each are marked and unmistakabie. The one
ieites the passions and emotions OF man, the other
es'rains, puriies, and chasiens them. The one /
'rsduced the eplcuresDs Of the anUieuts and the /
a rhdel pbilOoOnhera ami pbila .f IN.