The Irish standard., 1886-10-09

er, LED her up again by the Old mega
tive process, step by step, through al
the isms into the true church,
''No, sir, that course would only have
confused without converting her"
''And what them"
"I merely pointed out to her tht
beauties OF our holy religion, and sem
her down to Mary Lee to see them il
Illustrated.
"Ah! Mary Lee-the hght-keeper's
daughter?''
Eyes. Size converted Miss Petershan
without word of controversy
ed her by the mere example Of he1
everyday life. It's precisely to the
force OF similar example we owe so many
conversions, hy the Sisters OF Charity.
for instance, and the various other re.
/ ligious societies.. -
81 admit, sir, they are useful i'll thei.
way-nay, of great advantage as help
to religion, especially as regards the
weaker sex: but men OF intellect must be
treated otherwise, sir Intellectual mcu
need intellectual treatment; and whilst
your Sisters OF Charity, and so forth,
have doue much, and are still doing
much, i'll their own way, there is still
| need Of men who, like myself, endeavor,
according to our poor abeelities, to de-
fend truth and combat error, by means
OF that vary pheelosopl,y, lngic, and
theology you seem to think OF SO lightly
Each in his own sphere, sir, is an old
alage''
"Certain1y, and good Que, too. But
you misappreheud r1e, doctor, if you
think dlsparage one or the other as
means OF conversion. Not at all /
merely say yon overrate them, and give
too little credit, in your account. to the
grace of God and the influence OF ex-
ample. In fact, sir, like the majority Of
converts, yol, make "a 1uisiake in the very
beginning. You tlink---or seem to
think, at least that nothing has Deen
loue in the churci. for the conversion OF
heretics till you joined |ler, and that in
the nraor and freshness Of your zeal you
| are expected to make up for The neglect.
This is ~ $3rieyous error, doctor, and il
allowed to go unchecked, might Lead to
lamentable Consequences, Iake your
self, for instance. Instead OF studying,
like q Child: tla primer Of the Church,
and learning therein the thousand helps
to salvation, and the thousand beauties
to be found i'll her ceremonies a2li ,}ious
ooservanecs. yotl leave all such little
things to the'ignorant, and jump at once
into the higher region OF dogma, without
the slightest preparatory training. The
result is, thai you often introduce sub
| iects in yonr writings and lectures Which
are not only il]-timed and uncalled for,
but really dangerous i'll hands SO mex
perienced rs yours, / willingly admit,
Dr. Henshaw, you're very able writer.
Indeed, in that department of letters
you have chosen as tl1e field Of youl op-
erations, you have, SO far as J. know.
very Few equals. But the greater your
abilities, the greater the danger both TO
yourself and the Church. To yourself,
because Of the inoraiuate pride such
talents are apt to generate, and to the
Church, lest your nou-Catholic readers
might mistake your productions for fair
specimens Of the true tone and spirit OF
Catholicity In that case the Church.
would certainly suffer; for capnot help
telling you, doctor, thar SO far, at least,
you have only presented the Church i'll
a repulsive attitude y
'"lhat is, replied the doctor, smiling
ssrenely, "I have not tried my hand at
namby pambyism yet
'sNo You certainly have moi, sir,
But by taking the very opp,site ex-
treme you have, i'll my opinion, done
very little good TO religion. What plea
sure or benefit can You find in the use
of such language as you uttered t,at
night at Castle Gregory-and not only
there. but wherever yo17 had OCCASION to
speak OF Professionalism? Iher voHr pro
found reasoning and subtle logic, Oh the
ether hand. may convince inteIlects, tnt
be assured of it, will rarely convert
hearts In such all age as this. you
must exhibit the Church under her
most aIluring and attractive form. CT
you will make no true converts. Men
will read your elaborate articles, admire
your vigorous thoughts and your coeent
arguments, but their hearts will remain
untouched Ii ever, indeed, by such q
course, you DC, succeed in bringing y
Protestant within the vestibule Of the
Church, he will stand there like con-
vertetl philosopher: scanning the books
Of the new school and examining the
principles Of the new philosophy, but he
will hardly fall before the altar, and
with heart bowed down before his God,
l. ~