The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-09-12
The Modern Apostle

tiently explored the depths OF logical
analysis. The profound theologian or
philosopher could lead them through the
arduous paths of inexorabie logic: to COR
rect conclusion, which they were willing
to embrace, bnt our present age has grown
impatient of close aud tedious reasoning.
it distrusts q reason which, pride has SO
often led into grieyous errors and it de-
mands tejudge of the tree by its fruit.
There are still many amateur cOntrover-
sialists, it is true, who are fond of splitting
hairs and of showing their mental acumen
by all kinds of ingenious evasions of truth,
but the bulk of society has grown weary of
this fashion. There are thousands of can
did men who consider truth of more i'm
portance than n mere game at dialecties
they recognize it to be the basis of the
social edifice, and feel that their fortunes
and their temporal well-befng are depend
ent on the correct appreciation of moral
principles among the people at large. They
are willing to lay aside the prejudices of
education and their inherited bigotry and
welcome the religion which shall properly
define and fix these moral laws, if they
-,
encd at the abyss OF material ruin into
which the Generalization of society is
plunging it.
But how is the truth to be brought home
to them {? They listrust all argument and
fly from controversy, but they are watch
fully alive to the workings of principles as
shown forth in the active existence of men
protesting them. They are satisfied that Il
good tree will bring forth good fruit, and
they look with eagerness to find those
fruits. ~ .sss =, szs .te
1t is in this way that the Catholic Church
is making it's most valuable converts in
England and America to-day. Men, who
having eyes are willing to see, look around
and And themselves encompassed with
works of charity. The orphan asylum, the
hospital, the parochial school, the homes
for youth, age and infirmity, the associa-
lions for the relief of poverty, are thickly
planted wherever Catholic community of
any size exists. They see numbers OF de-
voted men and women, without earthly
reward or inducement, spending their lives
in assiduous, cheerful attention to the
wants of helplessness in every class. They
see Catholic populations, whose poverty
contrasts forcibly with the wealth of those
Protestant communities in which they live,
erecting spacious and splendid ediaces,
both of worship and charity, as far surpass-
ing siIni Ias thnir --.esnnnrs as the
wealth of the latter exceeds their own.
The convictions of candid men gradually
give way before tangible arguments of this
kind. Here is love of God and your neigh
Dor in practical form. Here is religion
which takes care of the poor and cherishes
the unfortunate. And this is the chief
Characteristic that that they have always
attributed to the true religion of Christ in
its dealings with men. -- ..r.-r.-
1t is by multiplying these. evidences of
its faith that the true progress of the
Church will be forwarded. Let it rise up
before men in the full beauty of its love-
Let it extend its hand of counsel and
strength to the great and the rich while
sheltering the unfortunate under the wings
of its charity, and gradually the truth must
force itself upon those who witness these
marvels. Charity works its silent miracles
of to day not less potent over the heart
than those mighty deeds of the early apos-
ties which convinced the multitudes that
the hand of God was with them.
Now it is evident that this must be done,
not by the clergy alone, but to great ex-
tent by the laity. They must give freely.
they may not be able to preach or even
talk learnedly on deep questions of CON
troversy, but they can labor and build
churches wherein the worship of God can
be exemplifed better than by tho most
eloquent description. 1t may not be their
vocation to put on the garments of reli-
gious order and nurse tho sick or educate
the poor, but. they can supply literally the
means necessary TO sustain the good works
of those who arc called to such sacrifices.
1t is in this way that all can be apostles.
Let their good works as Catholics be seen,
that the world may be edited. Let it be
plain 70 all men that the Catholic Church
is MOST anxious and unwearying in its
motherly solicitude for the poor, the sick,
the prisoner, the convict, the offcast of