The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-08-29
MONsIGNOR CAPEL.

MONsIGNOR CAPEL.
Address at the Newport Casino on the Con-
sistency of CathoIicism-Audience OF the
Country's Elite.
NEWPORT, R. l.. Aug. 26.-Monsignor Capel,
at the Casino Theater, this noon, delivered
his first lecture in America. His audience
was composed almost exclusively of Newport
cottsgers.. 1t was an audience of which any
speaker might feel proud. Tne fine building
was comfortably filled, and the ladies were
handsomely dressed. While the gentleman
was speaking. the noise from the ten-pin
alley, the strains from the orchestra, and the
sounds of feet upon the piazzas were plainly
heard, hut they did not seem to disturb him.
Lawn tennis games were also in progress. The
eyes of all present were riveted upon the
speaker, whose eloquent words were listened
10 with deep interest, and from first to last
he held the undivided attention of all He
is a ready and fluent speaker, and .scinates,
even if he does not convince, all who have
had the pleasure OF listening TO his logical
arguments.
He began his lecture by saying that among
the many and interesting questions which
bad been put to bIm since his arrival in
various forms but which was in substance,
How is it possible for a man endowed With
reason and gifted with culture. to believe In
Catholicism. and accept a system apparently
go contradictory ard so absurd
The question has been put gently, and in
an inquirlng spirit, bat tie speaker thought
he could have no better opportunity to
answer it, and consequently he would strive
to put before his bearers the consistency of
Catholicism. and its consistency with itself
and with human nature. 1t was possible to
look at that question from two different
stsndpoints, and get most contradictory
views of il. He only asked for patient
hearers, while he presented Catholicism from
inside and not from outsIde the Church. He
then continued:
There are three primary truths TO be taken into
consideration.
Being God whom we ought TO serve.
2. On that God we depend. having our being
from Him and being responsible TO him.
follows that He will make known His will thatwe
may do IL. In how many ways, then, is this last
brought about? These ways are two in number
the light of reason and the light of revelation.
When man fell he was not destroyed; he was still
composed of body and SOUL aud his soul was p0s-
sessed OF reason and viii. But reakon received
wound, became prone 10 error. You all know the
commandments, but you must confess you have
not kept them. Malice affected the Will. Can we
know God by reason alone2 The answer of his
iory is no. Never has there been people without
an ideal of a teing greater than themselves. Res-
son is not sufficient Tor the human race though
there is the impress of the hand OF God on reason;
yet man, guided by that alone, has often gone as
tray. Nor is the Nineteenth Century exempt from
this.
Turn your thoughts to the great cities OF this
country and abroad, where luxury and culture
reign, you see that the ideas of the sacredneSs Of
the marriage tie of the principles of business and
commerce, are By no means perfect. / am permit
,ed 70 reason tne xnoWsoge OF oo @ sn1 % @
spoDd TO reason only up to a certain point, and
needs further light
How is this revelation made kncwn to me? We
are not prophets. There are but three portals OF
the seul. First, we may gather knowledge by use
Of Ihesenses; second, we may o6tsin 1t from pri-
mary huths by the process of deduction; third,
some things can be obtained by neither OF these
methods. and we must rely on the testimony of
others. Revelation is not through the senses, for
you ever saw Christ, never was present when he
was on earth, never witnessed the crueiEXion. 1t
does not come By deduction for there is no axiom
/ from which YOU can deduce the fact that Christ
was 10 die upon the cross. But another source re-
mair S, and that is testimony. The testimony
of Gods viii. Christ appointed a body OF Judges
to be Interpreters of the law. In him was all rev.
elsliop eomp,e;ed, lie selected oisci@pess @ irom
! hath sent me, so send you" HIS mission was to
preach the Gospel and 10 do good, and so He sent
take the Bible ana say: II believe the whole of
/ that" Iopen and read its pages. I have more
revelation but no more facts, for believed 1t ell be
| fore. l believe heeauke be has spoken, and His
\ agents taught Bis words. God. who inH is wisdom
saw the We6kr eSS OF reason. gave fuIl TeTela1on.
| The knowledge SO received excludes all cOubt
! from my mino. do not say there are not intel
lectual difficulties have night to question If
uDde rsiand right; bat that perplexity settled,
4 must accept il without doubt We know little of
! the truths Ct God but We may 90 through Lille
| knowing that there Is knowledge which God has
| given which is and steadfast Scientific
objections the production OF the minds OF the
men Of science but revelation IS more than that,
ard IL revelation tells that man is little lower
than gels, 1t will take good deal to convince me
/ that he is only en- improved monkey.
! How is IL possible 70 receive stTeogth
1 to Gods viii? Revelation says God has
( given 10 every man grace sufiicient
| TO save bis own soul. You bear with you mon
| itor that tells yOu when you do right, that re-
| breaches you when you do wrong. Revelation
makes known that there Is perpetuaied strength.
You may be purified o:ten you feel. Reve-
| lati0n gives peace and pardon TO the sinner,
strength and grace TO the disciple. II pr0claims
that you must remember that you are but So
journers here, {, at yon have life and home be-
yOnd. Keep your mind fixed on that home and
the crown that awaits you. and you will be sub
missive to sufferiDgs and troubles. Your heart
VIII be in your eternal home. and you will be
leaving this world for the next. God makes
known revelation TO Us that must be received as
testimony, but a testimony that is und0ubted.
He gave IL to twelve to be perpetuated by them
When he had finished the audience slowly
left the house. and il was evident that they
would have gladly listened to him for an
hour longer.