St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-09-21
Archbishop Ireland Continues
His Series Of Sermons at
the Cathedral.
He Handles Questions of the
Day in a Mastery and
Lucid Style,
Eloquently Enlarging Upon
the Social Rights Secured
Man by Religion,
And Showing the True End
and Aim Of a Relig-
iouS Life.

of MS series of lectures at the cathedral
last evening before large congrega
ton, composed in great part of non
Catholics. He took for his subject 1.-THE
Value of Religion" and spoke as fol
lows:
For bodily exercise is profitable to
little; but godliness is profitable to al
things. having promise of the life that
now is, and of that which is to come.
a faithful saying, and worthy of all
acceptation." Whoever reads thought
fully the epistles of the Apostle ST.
Paul will discover among his sayings
many and wondrously wise principles
upon which to build up a science of po-
litical economy. Witness, for the
moment, this general proposition, that
goodness is profitable for this present
life, as well as for the life to come. ST.
Paul puts forth religion as the impor-
tant factor in securing the promises of
this life. lie does not make it the sole
factor; he allows room for '.bodily ex-
ercise." the employment of natural
means. But it is, he asserts, the more
necessary factor, ''for bodily exercise is
may repeat with him, lis a faithful
tion."
The words of Pope Leo. in the ency.
cllcal on 1.-The Condition of Labor" re.
state the apostolic principles. He says
For no practical solution of this Social,
question will ever be found without the
assistance OF religion and the church.
Doubtless this most serious
question demands the attention and the
efforts OF others besides OurSelYeS-Oi
the rulers of states, of employers of la
Dor, of the wealthy, and of the working
population themselves for whom we
plead. But we reaifirm without hesita-
ton that all the striving OF men will be
in vain if they leave out the church. 1t
is the church that prOclaims from the
gospel those teachings by which the
conflict can be put an end to, or, at the
least, made far less bitter"
The Basis of Values.
The trend of cotemporary thought is
to judge of values solely from their
bearing upon social happiness and prog
reSS. The next life is viewed as being
too far removed from us to occupy much
of our time, which the present so i'm
periOuSly commands; and as being
mainly. if not altogether. concerned
with the remote future religion is made
light of or is entirely put out of the
way, while popular applause is invoked
i'll favor of secularism, which processes
to see and know but the earth. This
rule of present social utility is wrong
in its eXclusiyenesS; for, whether far
or near, the future life is a fact, and men
must no. neglect it. But we accept the
rule, barring Its eXclusiyenesS, and to
all serious reformerS of the age, to all
who beneath burthens of oppressive
toll and soul-conSuming misery long for
relieving deity, we point out the
affairs of religion, saying: Behold the
unknown God. What You worship,
without knowing it, that we preach to
you.
Religion will not herself do all things.
The individual man and the state have
their large share. She will lay down
the principles and the precepts, with
out which the individual and the state
have no foundation for their work, and
the influence OF which will bring the in
dividual and the state to the practical
sense of their duties. Religion. in her
teachings, is the very root of social prog
reSS. Moreover, her influence and her
direct organized efforts are most salu-
tary and effective causes Of growth in
this progress.
What Is Man2
The social question, in last analysis, is
the proper relation of man to man. No
one is isolated in his entrance upon
earth, or during his SOjourning upon it.
We live with and among our fellows
hence arises society in its several forms,
and in its manifold interlacings and de-
Tendencies. ToeStablish fair and health
full mutual relations between men, by
which the largest share of enjoyment
and development for all becomes attain
able. is the problem which comes Up
for solution. At once we must know
who and what man is; his being and his
destiny describe his rights, and the
treatment which his fellows ought to
accord him.
SecularisTsl Answers.
Take common form of secularism-
materialiSm. Ask from materialism
what man is. 1t gives answer with
Moleschott: MAN, the product of mire,
founders in mire and disappears in
mire;" or with Vogt: MAN is simply
an animal Of superior category" OF
with another writer: MAN is q bundle
of atoms. glued together by chs, an
aggregation of molecules, 81 Die
through processes of chemistry" AS
cend a step in the scale of secularist
thought. Ask from agnosticism what
man is. 1t gives answer: I'VE do not
know; he may have higher birthplace
than matter, and be possessed of higher
claims than could spring from matter;
but this is a mere perhaps, and we can
deduce from it no practical conse-
quences; he is certainly creature OF
earth, and as such only does he become
factor in the worlds life"
Social Value Of Secularism.
Build up as you may plan of social
economy on the teachings of material
ism or agnoStlciSm, one sole principle
ingS with his fellows-selfishnes un.
tempered and undiluted. Every man
for himself; the hindermost to the devil.
Why should there be another doctrine?
/ am accountable to no other tribunal
than that of my own self, and my i'm.
pulse is to care for self at all times, In
all places, my fellow creatures deserv.
ing my attention insomuch as they min.
lister to my wants and desires. They
are useful to me; preserve their life
and strength. They can no longer serve
me; fling them aside as l do a piece
of WORKOUT machinery. Sentiment
draws close to me relatives aud friends;
but sentiment often cooIs even for them
and what will take its place? Nor does
sentiment reach out beyond a narrow
circle; what shall bind me to humanity,
the sorest, the most detected. the most
repugnant? Irreligion reigning, q
society of men rapidly approaches
society of animals and why moi
if man is the mere animal?-where the
strong devour the weak. where might i:
right, where passion is the whole i'm
centive to action. On, pity the work
man, i'll his poverty aud laSsitude, where
his sole recommendation is his abilit,
to increase the output of capital. VIVA
matters it to capital that scantiest wage
rapidly wears out nerve and muscle
and clouds the soul. and dooms to slow
death wife and children; another work
man is at hand, without price of fabri
cation, to occupy his place, when per
force he drops out of the ranks. VIVA
matters to the opulant and powerful
that tens of thousands. whose far-of
groanings do not disturb their slumber.
e.,