Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-01-08
MOnsignOr Capei's Lecture.
he DENIES THAT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH rs

| POSED TO PROGRESS AND LIBERTY.
| catholicism and Progress was the theme OF a
| lecture BY M0nSlgnor Capel. the English Catholic
prelate, at Lincoln hall last evening An attractive
I personal appearance, pleasing voice. an agree
able winning SMILE and easy, fluent style OF
tadng. together with the interest OF the subject,
held the attention OF the audience an hour and
a-halL The mOnStgnOr wore his caSSock and he
appeared upon the stage alone remark1ng to the
audience as he stood before them, that he felt
well acquainted In America that he would feel
greved If he had TO be introduced to an audience
In this country. With this slight preface, which
was uttered in the lecturers most attractive man
ner. be addressed himself TO the subject OF the
evening. BY series OF historical references to the
history of the Catholic church in the middle ages,
he showed that the Ideas freely expressed in this
aga. that the church was opposed TO progress and
freedom OF Thought, was an erroneous one. lie cited
the work OF the church in the elevation OF women.
and the establishment under its fostering Of
elementary. middle class and university education
combatted the idea that the church was opposed
liberty AND PROGRESS,
and placed definition upon the latter in opposition
to the materalistic and mammonstic views of the
present age, as being that which elevated men and
made them better Liberty he defined as being
freedom OF the intellect from ignorance and that
the Catholic church secured this liberty the lectu-
rer devoted the main portion OF his lecture to
demonstrates He repelied the objection that the
church was opposed TO science. The church en-
colIraged science and scientific Investigations. The
fact of Nature which We're around We're to be
Ite llltr0ScOffA anu Telescope UJler
methods. Such facts we're unalterabe. But when
itiHn selected fact here and fact there. rejecting
This and that one. and from this combination OF
lacS drew certain differences, such process, such
an Inference. was termed a scientific theory. God
made the facts OF Nature, but the theory OF Sclen-
lists Was generated from
THE BRAIN OF MAN.
Such theories, the history OF the world shows,
have changed from age TO age To-day one theory
holds, and that which men OF the last century held.
Is laughed 10 srorn. and the lecturer did not doubt
out that the men OF the next century would regard
our knowledge ard theories with wondering pity.
In view OF the ldbie nature of scientific theories
the Catholic church says study the facts OF nature,
out beware OF the theories Of scientific men.
The NonSignGr then cOmbattei The objection that
the church WAS opposed 10 reason. He maintained
that. the contrary. the churi appealed. to mems
reason They were able TO comprehend the facts
OF nature but there was body OF facts higher than
nature. which came 10y revelation, and which man
why. how can believe that there three per
sons in enc: How can believe that the babe in the
manager III Bethlehem Is the Saviour OF the world,'
II messenger came down from Heaven and showed
good aud sufficient credentials that he had been
sent h God and SAID That this revelation true.
then man could say: well. While l don't under
stand this, Yet. as you evidently come from God,
and say that il Is tue. must believe It. Ny reason
can accept IL. This then is
THE ATTITUDE OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
1t does not ask men to believe things contrary to
reason but encourages the fullest and fraest eSer-
else OF reason.
The lecturer then went on to speak OF mariner
VINO rely my on III, magnet and compass. reached
fie desired port In safety. and asked whether that
nam could b. called slave because he had refused
TO cisi III 81 ncdIS overheard ANA guide III, course
by other resources. The sailor was not a slave for
making Use OF such means which his reason showed
hlm were adapted 10 the desired ends. 50 the
Ca h0iic church demanded no aonegaiOn Of reason.
bllt rather the employ lnent of the higher powers OF
reason to enable men To make the most OF their
lives.
Running Cars with Cables.
A Eyy
CABLES As FIRST USED IN SAN FRANCISCO, COMPARE
TIVE COST, sc.
To the Editor of THE EVENING STAR:
Nov that the Capital Cable street Railway Com
pany have organized In this city. and THE STAR is
publishing matter relative to the same permit Inc
TO add little Information concerning the origin Of
the system in San Francisco, OF which city was a
resident at the time.
Economy in the propelling Of street cars for the
benefit of the pubic did not enter into the subject
when, In 1873, the idea occurred to Mr. A. s. Halli
die to carry street west from the business por-
ton OF San Francisco up the 400 foot grade of "Cay
street lii. II is called, toward the resident Dor
tiOn or the city. For many years cars drawn by
horses were run westward on Suffer street. q street
running parallel with Clay. but distant six streets,
ana where the grade was comparatively easy. but
1t was roundabout way get 10 the best resident
section which lies On California, Pine. Sacramento
and Clay streets on the great hill overlooking the
city and the bay. and on which are located the
magnificent residences OF san FranciSro-S WEALTH.
t;t men. Including The pdlattal mansions OF Leland
stanford. Mrs. Mark Hopkins. Charles Croker and
others, costing si.Do.G10 each. To reach this To-
calty. which was Impossible TO do with cars drawn
ny horses, an endless wire rope or cable three
Inches In circumference, was constructed and
placed IN tube below the surface and between the
tracks of the road. The cable IS maintained in no.
stion by sheaves located about 40 feet apart SUP
ported ~ every change OF angle at the cross street
levels on sheves four feet in diameter and passing
around horizontal shaft eight feet IN diameter at
the lower end OF the line 1t the junction Of Kear-
nry street and al the engine house on IeavenwOrth
street over 500 feet away. {nlk.ng the length OF
cham abou' II coo feet. around two angle shelves.
each feet Ill diameter. which are driven bv one
iX2S engine and which actuates the endless rope
while travelling up one tube and down the other.
An opening runs along the entire length OF the
tube In the upper side. Through this slot
the gripping attachment moves on the ca
be. upon which jaws are manipulated by
means or screw opening and closing
according to the direction the dummy to which the
car II tt3chet Is desired 10 b. moved. 10 stop
the ear the jaws oi the gripping attachment ar,
opened slightly When they release the rope the
guide sh"tv"S TAKE II and the stops The rope
runs about eighteen hours each day, at a speed OF
sin miles how
THIS first experience proved SO successful and as
an agreeable adjunct 50 economic. that the suffer
street line adopted the cable. soon followed by
new road on California street. the sreepst of all
the streets. running west from the business pOr-
ton Of san Francisco. the grade being 500 feet in
1900. Then came ti@lry street level thorough
fare. but p0pulOus, ami leafs to Lone mountain.
Golden Gate park. and OWIrd the ocean beach
II. able on this line Is 1900 feet in length. still
other roads adopted! th" cable. Including he Mar
city.
owing to the fact that there existed no appre-
tensions OF interference with the workings OF the
cable by the machinery freezing In winter rs moth
Ing I:rZeS i'll san Francisco. that city supposed tu
nau the monopoly OF c1be-pfopecd street cars.
ana The nrst attempt To Use cable outside of thai
city. which OF course. was Chicago actually proved
failure on this account: but, Ike all other oi.ta-
clcS which that progressive city has encountered
Sc soon oycrc.Inc that trouble and now runs cars
ON state street without the loss OF single trip
during the SevrreSt winter
But thus Tar We have only considered the run
ming OF cars In a straight nearly straight line
HO" 10 turn curve by means Of a cable re.
nained also 10 san Francisco TO demonstrate Very
recently. inside or the past fortnight, the suffer
street line In that city has proved the practical
billy OF doing this IL Is thus described by local
paper:
he cable turns the corners series of drums In
the tui above the CABLE and para -i with the slot
rl- S!"-tar has been placed. which the slider,
as liz 9u,niny turns the corner. This bar such q
tSt1u from the drums that tine
the cable y pulled small distance from the drums
aud the grip never quite comes into contact with the
drums Luhr1c:tln pads set into the Rndebar at
intervals To diminish the friction. The turn the
the straight road"
From q reliable source obtain the following
comparative showing OF and profits OF running
Il cable as against horse railroad
To 1Iilf ana equip with cars dummies engines wire
AMI eE.-ytinc Needed to the road
Ia or! viii cost uder the Eaar system for dis
ta' OF three miles al the rate of per miIa
uolih- track NJ AVERAGE running expenses of horse
rarndd With double track at speed miles u+r
hour 81 cars. ht2Na "a minutes exclusive Of admin
istrat1 Sl5s $50 Isr The aetna! rJInnnv
sxI!s "' eAhi- Railroad Of three miles q and