Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-08
ARCHBISHOP RYAN SPEAKS.
An Address in the Cathedral to a Large Con-
gregation-ChristianC Civilization and the
Influence it Has Had Upon the World.

An Address in the Cathedral to a Large Con-
gregation-C Christian Civilization and the
Influence it Has Had Upon the World.
The Cathedral was not so well filled last
night as in the morning, but still Arch
bishop Ryan had an audience that any one
would be proud to address. Cardinal Gibbons
and number of the clergymen occupied
seats in the sanctuary. The Archbishop's dis
course was upon Christianity and its in
fiuence upon modern civilization. He said
that 1t was hard to define just what civiliza-
tion means. Burke said that a civilized
man should have the spirit of a gentleman
together with the spirit of religion. Chris
tian civilization began with the birth OF the
Savior, and it continued to grow in pro-
portion as it was studied and acted out.
Christian civilization was affected by cer-
tain doctrines held by modern men. 1t re-
quires self sacrifice on the part of the in
dividual. There is fact in the history of
the human race that the infidel cannot up
set, and that is the fact of Christianity. In
fidelity cannot understand the philosophy
of Christianity. 1t cannot understand the
fact that it has been the Christian religion
that has made and fostered all that has been
great and good in the world. He called at
tention TO what religion had done for the
had made the Christian phllanthropist.
The Archbishop reviewed the condition of
children, of women, of prisoners, of paupers
and of slaves under the reign of paganism,
and then compared them with the conditions
which they have reached under the infu-
ehce of Christianity. With the birth of
Christ, children began u be taken care of,
women grew in the respect of men, and the
unfortunate of all classes were bettered in
their condition. Continuing, he said that the
same spirit oil Christianity goes out TO the
| laboring poor. They need regenerative in
fuences. There we're two giants in the
arena, the strong, proud and we'll fed, and
the poor and the Ill fed, but strong in the
consciousness of their manhood; in other
words, capital and labor. The church goes
between them, looks each in the face, and
says that one cannot live without the other
God is the God of the poor and of the rich
as we'll
The Archbishop disclaimed anv intention
| of belittling the work done by Protestants
for there were many outside OF the pale of
the church who were most self-sacrifcing in
their labor. Still, he claimed that the only
power capable of fighting the battle for
civilization was the old church. In con-
clusion, he said that it was necessary
to keep up the doctrine of the dignity
of man, because it was the foundation
of Christian civilization. Take away doc
trines and it leaves man without support
Take away the doctrine that Christ identi-
fed himself with suffering humanity and
| you take away the conclusive test that
! Christian civilization means self sacrifice.
| The whole ia brio of the religion of hope
would tumble to pieces If doctrine be taken
away.
AT the conclusion Of the address there was
benediction OF the blessed sacrament.