The record-union., 1891-10-10

They are told that Jesus was wrong in
declaring that Moses and David wrole of
Him, ahdif the critics could really per-
suade them of this, they would trust the
Master any more. Illogical and hasty,
perhaps, but very natural. Is it worth
while?
I'VE know of nothing better adapted to
make intidels on large scale than to de-
stroy mans belief in the inerrancy of
Scripture and the authority of Jesus
Christ. Men accustomed to subtle dis
tinctions may reconcile the results of the
higher criticism with the faith they have
always had in God and His Word, but
the plain people do not comprehend how
it can be done. Why then should there
be such an agOniZing desire on the part
of some to take these questions from the
study of the scholar, where they belong,
and thrust them upon people who cannot
possibly investigate for themselves? Is
it really worth while?"
The Sacred Heart ReUieao (R. CO. says
Ranged in a long line upon the steps of
public building, in small suburban
town, one evening last week, stood a
band of Salvation Army people. They
spoke in turn, and between whiles they
sang, with drum and tambourine beat
ing, and the clapping of hands. 1t was
mostly very poor speaking, but one
woman claimed attention. I would not
give snap of my finger she declared,
for religion which did not make me
better. A religion which did not change
my life and make me a better woman
every day is not the religion for me-
Her voice was hard and thin, her gesture
she had but one-was ungraceful, and
in the glare of the electric light her face
was seen to be plain and homely, but
she struck the nail squarely on the head.
I'VE Catholics know that we have the
right kind of religion. We know that
ours is the true and only true religion. 1t
makes us better men and women If we
will let it. But how many of US live up
to it? And if we are not better than our
neighbors, whose religion we know to be
not like ours, what becomes of our boast
that we hold the true faith, delivered by
Jesus Christ to the saints? If America is
to become Catholic nation, it will not be
by argument, but by the example of the
good and holy lives of Catholic men and
women. If we are not the better for our
religion, we are worse Off than the poor
SalvationiSt woman, with her harsh voice,
her homely face, and her resolve to be a
better woman in her daily life"
On the Problem of Foreign Missions
the Cb&TcimQl5 says: "When the civili-
zation to which the missionary is accus-
of the people to whom he is sent, the ac-
QUESTION of their language is not the
greatest difficulty he has to encounter.
Beyond it lies the real difficulty Of train
ing himself to think as the people think;
and so the best years Of his life and the
hopeful energies of youth must always
be spent in getting ready for his mission.
That is what must happen even to men
Of exceptional natural gifts, and we
mean no disrespect to foreign missiona-
ries when we assume that men of excep-
tional gifts are as rare among them as
among their brethren at home.
1.-The inference would seem to be obvi-
Gus, that effective foreign missionary
work must be done, if it is ever to be
done at all, by persons of average gifts,
who require no such preparation, that is,
by natives of the countries in which the
missions are planted. To obtain such
teachers, to instruct them for their func-
ton as evangeliSts, to advise, assist and
direct them in its first beginnings, to Or
ganize and give unity to their efforts,
and in this way to prepare the way for a
national organization-this is the true
work of the missionary in foreign lands.
That was the apostolic method, and il is
indicated not obscurely in the parallels of
our Lords The power of the gospel is
sent to sow the seed in the soil of the
land; the seed, when sown, is to bring
forth more seed from the same soil, some
thirty, some sixty, some an hundred
fold. All that the first sower has to do is
to sow the seed, which he or another is to
tend and water till the new seed comes.
and then to sow that seed or to let it sow
itself"