New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-17
TIE CATHOLIC SUMMER SCHOOL.
Z
OPENING SERVICES AT PLATTSBCRG-MANY

OPENING SERVICES Al PLAIISBC hb-MANr
CHURCH DIGNITARIEs PRESENT.
Plattsburg, y. Y, July IS Cspecia--The Catholic
Summer school was solemnly inaugurated this morn
Ing by a pontifca high mass celebrated 10y Bishop
Henry Gabriels Of Ogdensburg. The services were
hold in the Church OF ST. John the Baptist large
and handsome building belonging to the Enslish-speas
ing Catholics OF Plattsburg There Is also French
Catholic church In the town and one or two Oh Its
pensioners the local Committee oil Arrange.
ments The Very Rev. a. Magnien, president OF
s.. Mary's Seminary, Baltimore. acted as assistant
priest Tho deacons OF honor We're the Rev. DR.. ".
Herman president of overlook seminary, Penn, and
tbe Roy Thomas p Mcmillan, c. ). r., chairman OF
ITO BOARD of Studies. The deacon was the Rev. j.
H. Blenk president Of Jefferson College, New-Of
leans: slb-dcacon the Rev. \. r. Mc''llre BeheVue'
Quebec masters Of ceremonies, |car-E'nerhI ihomas
E. Walsh rector OF the parish, and Nlcar''eneral Of
the diocese OF Ogiensburg. and the Rev. NJ NJ Doyle
II, James's Church. Philadelphia. The preacher was
yicarGeneral W. Byrne Of the diocese OF Boston,
uis subject was "Conscence.' In snort address
which preceded the sermon he said that, unlike The
usual custom of preachers In the Catholic Church. ne
should read his discourse He would say Tor the
mental comfort Of his hearers on so not Gay mat
This plan would insure his not keeping them longer
than the half hour which he had set for himself.
lie also called attention to the fact that In so snort
a time 1t would be impossible for him to 60 into all
the divisions of his subject. He would have nothing
to say on this occasion OF the utiliaran theory OF
the evolution OF conscience, which seemed to MIN
more appropriate the Subject OF weekday lecture
He then began his discourse which was based on the
parable OF the unjust steward. He spoke In sub
stance rs follows:
Man is not only rational being but moral agent
Conscience according to s.. Thonas Aqulnas, Is an
application Of our kn 1wledge OF the moral law An
other definition Is an act OF Judgment under the
guidance OF the moral No man escapes wholly :
from the dominion Of conscience. Conscience Is not
infallbc like any other act of judgment II
may err. But even a mistaken conscience mus, be :
followed while conviction is sincere Catholics have
the greatest respect for those outside their tDurcn
who are sincere ard perfectly willing TO follow the
Hight. but who do not see the truth OF the Catholic
faith. such people cannot ana should not do other.
wise than follow conscience. . But We do condemn
said the preacher call persecution for conscience
sake Liberty OF conscience Is an inalenabe right OF
man. The dictates of conscience must always be
followed under pain Of sin. In minor matters
obedience is the best where the commands OF supe
rior seem to conflict with the law OF God, then con-
science must take the precedence. Til, supremacy
Of conscience saves lis from becoming the slaves
Of authority either ecclesiast al or civil. Catholics
have sometimes been called the slaves Of their eccles
aStical superors but the freest Of an men - the
C,iyolc acting under the guidance Of his conscience
No greater agony can be- conceived than CONNECT
between conscience and the WILL
There about one thousand persons present OF
whom between 80 and 400 mbers OF the
summer school John NcKelown. Attorney General
Of Ontario Miss lrcker. the artist, OF NeW-fork.
and many wcll-hnOWn clergymen were III the congre-
The Rev. Dr.. Laughlin, president Of the sumner
school.