The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-08-26

ArcDDaSn0p OF bniS fffOViDce, Stff retains
you within the sphere, not Only Of bis affec-
stion, but alsosof his, pastoral care; and to
all the clergy, good and faithful priests OF
the Lori, 10 whose untiring .exertions, by
day and by night, amid heat and storm, in
every portion. OF their extended missions,
the excellent state Of the spiritunf and tenn.
poral interests Of the Church sn the diocese
and yicariate are, after ALL especially to be
attributed, since without the active iabors
tof the prieststhe Efforts OF the Bishop could
accomplish but little. And especially do II
desire to express my thanks to the Very
Rev. Father Janssens, who has so prudentiy
and successfully fulfilled bis important do.
ties as administrator and to whom, as nv
Vicar-general, i shall continue to look az nv
principal adviser and helper. -. III -
y And thus we are led, venerable and abe-
loved brethren, to the desires and i.ass, !
1-@..' HOPES WHICH ANIMATE ,.ts
me to-day. They are all summed up in the
words OF the holy apostle st. Peter n. Ephe-
slams, iv., 1D:." any man Speak, LET him
Speak as the ocords of God If anu man min
iSter, let Il 6e as from the poser ,chich God
administered that IN alt things God nau
be h0noreG through Jesus Christ, to 1ol,on
is glory and dominion forever and eusr.
Amen.''
The Bishop lar1ented that outside OF the
Catholic Church religious doubt and unbe-
lief in various degrees prevail to an alarm
ing extent. - slGt - .@.'i'- 2. ~ s..s.'
4 Very many on-Catholics- must hope
the larger nsmber-are content. indeed,
to 60 on as they have been led, to stay
unquestoningly in the religious position in
which early influences and associations may
have placed them. But we have only to
glance at the widespread discussion of reli-
gious questions, necessarily kept upain null
titudes OF books and magazine articles-and
not merely in France, Germany, and Italy,
but also, and especially, In Great Britain
and America-and we will seethat the num-
Der must be great indeed OF those who are
not content thus to take things for granted,
but who, from the premises at hand, draw
their conclusions with inexorabIe logic.
Now, what are the premises offered them
They are two: one a fact and the other a
principle or rule OF faith. The fact ia the
multitude OF der ominatiens and creeds al.
ready sadly numerous and constantly null
tiplying. The principle is the denial Of
INFALLIBLE GUIDANCE
anywhere and the assertion of private jude-
ment as the rule OF faith From the fact,
it follows that there is much questioning in
regard to religion and many conflicting So
lutons. From the principle, it follows that
these questions can never be answered with
certainty, nor these dissensions reduced to
the unity which our Lord requires as a mark
OF His fold, and which even reason de-
mands, for reason sees that Divine truth
cannot be an uncertain and contradictory
thing. The consequence is plain. Rel-
gious questions that cannot be answered
with absolute certainty necessarily lead
to religious doubt, and religious doubt Is a
steep and slippery descent, which soon
leaves the mind struggling heIplessly in
the morass OF despalring or sneering unbe-
lief.
For while the unbclef may be sneering
and defiant. Its poor victims, insanely
proud OF this intellectual anarchy, this
spiritual chaos, may denounce all faith as
folly, all belief as intellectual slavery, and
may proclaim the world and life and man as
all-snficient for themselves. But the sad
days OF calmer thought and ripper expert
ence must and do come, when pride and
self-sufficiency betray their deceptiveness,
when the misleading aIlurements OF sense
have lost their charm, and when mans natu-
raj and essential need Of religion begins to
torment them like a craving hunger. For
all ages and races bear testimony to the uni
versa conviction and experience that, man
is not sufficient for himself; that this life
and this world are not sufficient for them
selves; that man needs Divine light and
Divine aid to guide and help him to better
life than it is in himself, to lead, and to a
better destiny than he can find in this world.
The foolish clamor OF the feW who at any
time have denied this is drowned and lost
in the mighty cry OF all mankind 0,
God thou art our first beginning and our
last end, and we find no rest till we rest in
Thee" Towards God the eyes OF mankind
ever have turned, and ever must turn, Tor
He is "the Father OF lights, from whom
every best gift and every perfect. gift must
come" James, /, ~ Religion Is not only
the first commandment OF God, but also the
first need OF the human heart.
The Bishop pictured the fearful con-
dition OF the human soul robbed by
false philosophy and sophistica science OF
the divine guidance and aid which 1t needs
and Graves, and said: ..-
With this sad picture before your eyes,
beloved brethren, turn now and see the
blessed contrast. See how our holy Church,
the divinely established and dvineiy pro-
tected teacher and guide Of the world, sat-
isties every need Of the human mind and
heart. giving a certainty which no candid
investigation can ever stagger, because 1t Is
Gods infalible truth that she teaches with
divine authority, and bestowing such peace
as the world cannot give, because 1t is the
strengthening. and comforting, and saving
grace OF the Paruclete, tie comforter, that
she pours into your hearts in her sacred
ministrations. See how she is
~tt. ALL N ALL TO MAN
from childlDod to old age, from the simplest
to the most perfect development OF bis in
tellect. -.. =. ..:a -
The Bishop argued that the Catholic
Church for the child, for the youth, and for
the man OF learned study is all sufficient
4" the pillar and ground Of the truth"
o, how glorious is this certainty OF
Catholics faith--a certainty which every
stage of candid and enlightened inquiry
oplv makes clearer and more manifest. How
great and sweet the comfort OF being thus
able to eXclaim with st. Paul: " knoD
whom I have believed, and I am certain that
he is able to keep that which | have COM
mitted to Him." QI. Timothy, 1, l2.)
True, Divine Providence has permitted,
for ourwarninS and still fuller instruction,
that some should have closed their eyes to
this blessed radiance OF truth, and wandered
from it, to become Sneering monstrosltles
like Voltaire, or gloomy, despairlng SOUS
like Joutfroy. But. to the candid MIND,
these are only evidences OF the truth.
proofs OF its absolute necessity to the real
worth and beauty OF tue human character,
and to the real peace and happiness OF the
human heart. And no truer word has ever
been spoken than Bacon's assertion that
little philosophy may lead one away from
buta great deal must bring one
back again, ~ ~f1 ,.,s.
The Bishop declared that .,t-...:..
- THE UNsPEAEABLE BLESSING.
of absolute and immovab.e certainty in the