The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-12-07
4 SOURCE OF PERIL.
Modern Materialism and Secular
Education.
Rev Montgomery Denounces the Decree Of
the Ecumenical Observation-Disclosures
Loyal to American Principles.

an able ana arguuentatiVe discourse on the
subject, "What We Have to Fear"
The preacher commenced by affirming that
all religious subjects are in one sense politi-
cal. One OF the great mistakes of the day is
that religion and politics can be totally dis
associated. There should be no politics in
religion, but there should be religion in poll
tics.
The real gist of the sermon was reached
when Father Montgomery said: Just here
/ will remark an instance OF unfairness
against the Christian church in violation OF
one of the commandments of God, not to
bear false witness against our neiphbor
Only two weeks since the largest body out
side of the Catholic Church passed resolu-
tons that this difference views with deep
concern the subtle efforts of the Roman
hierarchy TO work its power outside TO the
detrment of the people With all respect
to my audience | will say that | never saw
a baser falsehood. q grosser mlsstatemeDt
into one sentence.
FRIEND OF FREE INSTITUTIONS.
Disclaimlng any idea of retaliation on the
part Of the Catholic Church. the preacher
said: ''0ur position is simply this: The
Catholic Church does not subsidiZe or up
hold any form of government; does not say
any form of government Is established for
all people; declares that government is a
form of political growth; that all govern
ment comes from God; she therefore De-
lieves that all power emanates from God,
consequently she inculca, es loyalty TO ones
country, aud infuses into it that loyal senti-
ment which dominates the souls OF men,"
WHERE THE DANGER LIES.
Father Montgomery combated the idea
that danger can ever arise in this country
from the preponderauce of any denomina-
ton or from unfriendly rivalry. The dam
ger In reality comes from that anti-religion
from those who believe that religion itself
is an enemy to the country. If there is one
fact more prominent than another it is that
our happiness must depend on intelligence
ana morality; whatever cOnduces to these
Is conducive TO the cOuntryS good; what
ever undermineS them, ccnduces to the
countryS injury.
This country was founded by men tn or
oughly perneated by the Christian idea.
Every document belonging to it is Christian.
The Declaration of Independence recog-
nlzes the blessings OF God, the Constitution
was formed in the same line. and the sew
eral States, wien they framed their consti-
tuilonS, had to fall in line with the declara-
ton OF the central Constitution. There is
not witness called to testify, not an officer
who takes his seat. from the President ia
the humbest in the land. but takes God to
witness That he will discharge faithfully the
duties imposed on him. In God we trust,
that Is the motto"
A CHRISTIAN COUNTRY.
The preacher proceeded to show by ex-
tracts how thoroughly Washington, Ben
jamin franklin and Daniel Webster were
iIubued with the principle that to be pros
porous and successful the nation must be
GO1-1earIng and grateful to the father of all
mercles. He quoted passages from Web
ster's celebrated speech in the Girard will
case 10 show that the great statesman was
pOWerf ully impressed with the connection
betwee n the Christian religion and popular
prosperity.
The Catholic Church believes that in ad-
yocatlng It's own rights II is advocating the
rights OF others too. 1t is a short-sighted
policy on the part of a Government to ham,
per our efforts in regard to this.
TAXING THE SCHOOLS.
The preacher severely criticized the i'm
position Of taxes on certain schools. ION
the corner Of Taylor and Ellis Streets" said
he, lis a school which accommodates 500
children. Besides the tax for real estate
ana personal property the parents pay a
rate for the schools to which tier children
are sent. We are taxed, doubly taxed, fol-
the very principles to which we owe our
existence as people. When truth aud
faisehood are placed on the same footing
and truth goes to the wall we say we de-
serve ii. In taxing truth the Government
is prescribing the principle that gave il
birth. BY taxing an article you make il
more difficult to obtain. Give truth and
falsehood fair play. Why tax religion
We do not ask one cent for that ElliS-streei
school, but simply for fair play.
I'VE are G., 100000 of people. Thirty
five years ago we were not half that num-
Der. Webster believed in a broad, general
Christianity. Are We departing from the
principle we set out on? a few years
hence and we may have 250,000,000 or 4g0,-
100000 Of people. What then if the coming
npHpratiOp hn p4ipputn1 IN Hkric
tian principles?
BECOME A TRUST.
Education has become a trust. Mate
rialism and naturalism are affecting oul
schools Take religion from half the peo-
pie and they will still have religion OF
their owu--the religion of Tyndall. Huxley
and Spencer. Naturalism is building III
morality without foundation"
The preacher quoted from Herber;
Spencer in support Of his views on this
point. and TO show what he considered t.
be the dangerous teachings OF Spencer on
mans free agency. If Spencer is right
Washington and Webster were fools. These
are not Spencer's words, but the logic OF
his words,
THE DIVORCE LAWS.
The home is that around which every.
thing gravitates. How is il treated to-day
Even our very Judges are ashamed of the
divorce laws. There is not commercial
z Oobu Va any hillu tldl tdn DC 1eSclDuPO
without the consent of both contracting
parties, but the sacred marriage tie can bs
resclnded without the knowledge OF one of
the parties The preacher caused a sup
pressed ripple OF miTth in the congregation
by denying with apparent Indignation that
III Chicago 1t takes but one minute to get a
divorce. AS matter of fact, 1t taxes six
minutes.
is marriage failure? p is a common
question. That such question can be
broached in II Christian community shows
the growth of materialism, Normonism Il
no worse The Mormon takes care of hi.
wives and children and provides for them
but the divorce courts break up homes and
turn children out to be cared for or not a.
hap may be. These are only straws, buI
they show which way the wind blows"
BAD FOR THE BOYS.
The preacher spoke of the morality Of
boys and the influences tending to under
mine it. In the daily papers these lads ar.
privileged toread rehearsalS of the fraudu.
leHtfailnres ofbusiness men, of the heavy de
faicatiOns OF trusted clerks, of men who wen
into Office with scarcely a decent suit OF
clothes and came out wealthy. in all these
matters the Catholic Church saws very
plainly that man has 10 more right tn stea
from the Government than from an indiyid
ual, and that at the last day eyervthirf
will have to be accounted for.
PERILs OF CAPITAL.
AT no time of the country have the rela.
tions between capital and labor been &C
strained. When this country has 40o, 900 OOl
of people. largely educated on Spencer's
teachings Of mo moral law" what is goina
to happen? That is one thing we "a n ma.
ton have TO fear. Religion is necessary fo,
US as people. A broad, general Christian
ity is wanted in this country. The Catho.
lie Church asks nothing not given to othe,
denominations. She pleads not for herself
but for every religious denomination. NE
ton and Webster that we ought mt 10 Is,
considered as hostile, inimicai or disloyal r.
fha in eti of ~ -