The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-02-23

age ano experience, Jney learn to Shun 1t al
useless and dangerous.
In fact there is something, usually, o.
irreverence in this practice. 1t is an intel
lectual tournament, logical game of ex:
pertness, within sacred precincts. If the
party with whom you discuss really desires
information, it is no longer controversy
but these instances are rare, and generally
your opponent has no desire but to exercise
and display his acumen. Upon such per-
sons time and exertion are entirely thrown
away. How often did the Scribes and Phar-
1sees retire, silenced, but unconvinced, from
a controversy with our Saviour himself
Even his miracles failed to overcome the
incredulity of those who, .'having eyes,
would not see.N ~ = =
WhereYerthe intelligence of man. -unin-
fuencea by passion, comes in contact with
truth, it naturally embraces it.. 1t has
its own power of vision, which must see
whatever is presented to it, but prejudice
and malice can create an ~incredulity
amounting to total spiritual blindness
blindness inaccessible to anything short of
intuition.
man convinced against his will
Is of the same opinion STILL
We have been reminded of these facts by
very able article in the last number of the
Catholic World, entitled PHILOSOPHY not
always vain" Under this modest caption,
the editor, after referring to a course of
most profound and erudite philosophical
articles which he has been giving to the
public Through his magazine, cites with
manifest pleasure, two cases that have come
to his knowledge, where good results have
been produced thereby, and adds "This
is enough to justify us in our course.n If
the ablest opponents of truth, the most
subtle logicians by profession, after pro-
longed and exhausting efforts are fain to
rejoice in such scant results, and humbly
claim that. philosophy is not al,cays vain,
what can the inexperienced expect to effect
by rash and inconsiderate raid into the
region of controversy7
We must go further, however, in Iauda-
ton of philosophy than the modesty of her
disciple, just cited; permits him to go, and
express the conviction that true philosophy
is never vain within it's proper sphere. Ac-
cording to our author, the sphere of philos-
ophy is, not to create faith, but to remove
the intellectual prohibentia or impediments
thereto. Prohibition Or impeachment on the
one side, implies inclination Oh the other.
1t would be useless to clear away the i'm
ped1ments for a man in one direction, while
his face was resolutely set@the other way,
nor W4ald any facilities bring him the
sooner fo-a given point, if he continued
travelling in the opposite direction. He
must first be turned in the right way by
some other agency before this one can find
employment.
Philosophy, then, regarded as purely in
ellectuaf, has no control over action. II ]
cannot open eyes wilfully sealed-it cannot ,
nciine man to the right or the left. It !
axes him as it finds MIN. If he is willinp4i
% see, philosophy affords him a lamp; if he 1
struggling along the tight path, she viii
emove the lmpediments from his road =
philosophy is merely the hand-maid of +
race.
We.are Inclined, therefore, to believe that =
he admirable essays above referred to have =
one greatly more good than their author n
publisher claims for them. Though it e
as not their province to produce, OF even g
lltlate single conversion, they have pro- n
ably removed intellectual difficulties from
1e paths of thousands already touched bv o,
le hand of grace. -.
lthout- being philosophers OF logicia1,s. II,
oN ever; without discussion or argument hi
'efy one can be most effective contre- q
erslallst There is no logic like the logic II
results; no argument like the argument ar
example The blood of martyrs is the rbe
ed OF the Church, and a pure, Christian
e Is almost as effectual as IL martyrs tn
at ManN n