The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1891-05-16

dency of the soul is written in all his
tory so plainly that he who runs ma
read. All must worship some God
This religious tendency is a fact mos
universal. In this world Of order, eacl
feeling and each tendency of every hui
man being has its object. The creator
has stamped the laws under which th.
world is to work upon the several point.
thereof. Hence there is reason fol
this tendency, subjective religion as i,
is called.
s.Religion IS special Gift. We are
men in so far as we listen to reason and
follow it. Reason tells us that Ws are
dependent on the great cause Of all
things It is our duty to acknowledge
our dependency, to recognize Gods su-
premacy over us, to adore and worship.
Cicero defined religion as Justice to.
ward divinity. The child recognizes
the supremacy Of the parent; the citizen
that of the magistrate, and why should
not we recognize the supremacy Of the
Master of all things? Neglect of re-
liglon, neglect of God. is the greatest
Of ali sins. Among men we have civil
tiles for one another; have we no civili"
ties for God2 am not talking Of pro.
fessi0nal atheism, Of positive denial of
Gods existence. That exists onlv In
sudden ebullitions of passion. The sin
Fof the world is the neglect Of God.
''Adoration, worship, is the religious
act of the intellect, as obedience is the
religious act of the will OF man. What
think you of the child who never smiles
toward father or mother2 The uni
verse is essentially dependent. Whence
all the things we enjoy but from him
whose power extends to every part Of
the universe. Let us be careful that
we keep we'll ignited the sacred lire
within us, that we keep we'll in mind
Gods right and our duties. 1 must not
forget God; must worship Him, love
Him and obey His laws.
Further than that religion is prayer,
invocation. in which we SPEAK to God
of our needs. our infrmitles. We have
not received in our creation the strength
which we need. When Wa have not
within us the strength which we re-
quire. we may be sure il 3.is near i ns Inls.
though outside Of us. Providence has
built us up into a society whereby one
leans upon the other, one helps the
other. But are there not heartsores be.
fore which the strongest friends can
only proffer sympathy2 Are there not
moral conflicts in YOUR hearts for which
the relief cannot be found within the
reach of human power? He who made
us extends the hand to us. All man
kind tells this truth. In all times men
have PRAYED and believed that their
prayers were heard.
''God will not assist ns unless We ask
film. It is our duty-a duty from
which God will not absolve us-to wor.
ship and praise Him. Man Is so weak
that he forgets those duties IN which
there is no gain to himself; thence God,
in order to make it more easy to wGr-
ship and praise and adore Him, has
made His assistance conditional upon
our prayers. God does not need our
service. He requires us to serve Him
because 1t IS right. Whom we pray we
do not ask God to change his will. but
we make the condition. prayer. under
which His laws are TO be fulfilled.
Bringing forth new energy is no sus-
pension or destruction of law.
IA strange world irre]igion would
give us. God above us almighty. but
not able to wipe a tear from the eyes Of
one of his children, not able to whisper
to broken heart. This is
not the God which nature tells US of,
the God Of love. This whole world is
harmony through love; it palpitates
through love. Prayers will not be
heard which are not for our greater
good. Prayers are often said in ignor
ance, but when a man prays earnestly
and perseveringly for what IS good,
faith and reason tell US that God above
must listen. Without prayer how ara
gou to be men with virtue and morality? (?
These would not long endure without
religion. The public opinion in favor
Of morality is the result Of. long centur
les Of religious feeling. What is there
on this earth to give us hope, iov and
happiness, if religion was to be effaeed?
What can earth do to wipe away the
tear Of suffering from the widow aud
the orphan. to assuage che grief Of q
broken heart? What can it do for pow
erty and persecution9 With God above.
the tolls and cares about us are full Of
consolation. We talk Of social move
ments. of humanity. What is the hope
OF the poor, the hope OF the laborlng !
man? 1T is this; that his fellOWman IS
told By God that he must regard his
neighbOr. Take God aWaY, close our
temples, our churches. speak nothing
e religion n.a1;l and you = will have despair
1--WE often ask, - said the arch bishop
In conclusion. what is needed most |
for ourselY Ives. for our families, for the
nation. for the world. Society needs |
You cannot keep society TO