The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-05-10
NEW ORLEANS, SUNDAY MORNING, MAY TO- 1874

NEW ORLEANS, SUNDAY
final cause prescribes the law which all me,
must obey hence it vindicates the rights o
God in the government of men. The rights O
God are perfect, absolute, and the foundation
OF all human rights; hence the oppression o
one creature by another is q violation of Godi
5isht no wrong can be done, no man can bt
deprived of life, liberty or the pursuit of hap
Plness, without n violation of Gods right
Religion, therefore, as the vindicator of the
rights of God, protects the inalienable rights
OF man, opposes despotism, arbitrary power
and every species of slavery it demands fol-
Gods creatures liberty, political. social and
individual, and such liberty as it demands can
never degenerate into license, because license
necessarily triples violation of Gods law.
Religion says DeTocqueville, ais the com.
panon OF liberty in all its battles and tri-
source of its claims; it is the safeguard of
morality, and morality is the best security of
law, as wei as the surest pledge of freedom"
!ntellecSnal culture, without religion, may
gam an ephemeral triumph; it can never per-
petuate the freedom and the civilization of a
| great people: it never has raised Il fallen en-
pire, or infused new 'fe into superanuated or
| Gillette nation.
| The great danger in our own country is from
| the predominance of material interests De-
inocracy has q direct tendency to favor inc
qhaiity and injustice, because the Government
must follow the passions aud interests of the
people, and of course the stronger passions
81; and interests; and these with are material.
n
ions and interests but religion.
ihe fancled antagonism between religion
a ana real science, though frequently asserted,
contrary, ennobles and dgnifies ecience
God calls himself, not only the God of good
ness the God of mercy, the God of peace, the
armies, but also the God of all kuowledgeD
l Kings, ,, 3.
In the contemplation of religion science has
divine aspect, not only because to know, to
10 tha n iXyin fr.,;t ~,
because nature is the work of God ; substance
form, laws, phen omena, the essence of life ali
have been ordained by him with infinite wis
dom and power. On his work he has left the |
impress of himself, splendor which reveals
aud manifests him.
Religion invites man to scrutnize the work
or God, and the wisdom of God in His work
she provokes scientific investigation.
The grand scene described in the Scripture,
where God caused all the beasts of the earth
and fowls of the air to pass before Adam, "to
see what he would call them" is a magnificent
symbol of man, in the name of God, taking
possession IS, of the world by knowledge.
The Scriptures are full of recognitions of the
dignity and divine origin of science.
solomon, in the Book of Wisdom, says:
" For he hath given me the true KNOWLEDGE
Of the things that are, to know the disposi-
the elements.
"The beginning and ending and midst of the
LINES, the alterations of their courses and the
changes of the seasons.
" The revolutions of the year. and the dispo-
'tion of the stars.
The natures of living creations, and rage
If wild beasts, the force of Winds and reason II
ngs of men, the diversities of plants and the
ylrtues OF roots" Wisdom, CHI. Z, v. II, IL, 10,
Again, in the book of Ecclesasticus, we find:
LIQUOR the physician for the need thou hast
# him; for tho Most High hath created him.
" The Nest High hath created medicines out
+ the earth, and wise man will not abhor J
hem.
ct The virtue of these things is come to the {
nowledge of men, and the Most High hath
wen knowledge to men, that He may be hon
red in His wonders" Ecclesiasticns, CHI 80 d
l, A. 6. II
Religion, therefore, neither repeIs nor fears c
cieRce, nor is there any antagonism between {
hem, and comprehend the disdain with t
hich Cuvier rejects the idea. That great u
aturalst and man of science says: al will i,
Of stop to reply to those who would have as 6
elieve the spirit OF science is antagonistjc to i
lat of religion" u
Interest in your welfare has impelled me to II
we you this parting warning against the o
ost subtle enemy to your happiness. 1t is tt
lie most subtle, because it is gratifying to ST
imam vanity, pride and passion, as well as d
sbionable, to ignore the existence of q per- FIR
nal God, aud the fact that nature forces on
IT hearts a Creator, history a Providence. 4,
10 wish that long years of success and hap ~
ness may await you, is the faintest express | ~
IN of the profound interest all the mem "
rs OF the faculty feel in each and every one &c
you. oi