The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1895-03-30

~ Keeping with the spirit OF thet YYeaCher
from whom all tho churches claim %
recelve their credentials But, no the
spirit 81 prosel ytism - abroad and the
stheistic masses that GIL the large cities
of eyery country have no attraction for
the enthusiasm of the churches.
For hundreds Of syeaus the English
church has been bending its energies
and spending its money to convert Irish
Roman Catholics men and women who
have 9 church Of their own, many times
lolder, more universal and larger than the
Anglican church, while ii London and
Liverpoo. there Is and has been seeth.
ling mass Of humanity who know 40
religious influence. If al the efforts that
have been made to change Ireland from
i Roman Catholic to Protestant had been
directed to London, the Anglican church
would be much larger, than it is. But
the spirit Of Z am right, and you are
wrong has played such. an important
part in religious life that scarcely any
acquisitions have been made in recent
years. When missionaries are sent out
it is generally to India or Palestine OF
Japan, where there are distinct religions
and distinct civilizations, and the one
cannot be changed without changing the
other. s4s
A really earnest spirit will ask why it
is important to argue religion with the
Brahmins OF India, whose whole philoso-
ply for centuries has been founded on
religious thought; why is it SO important
to make Protestant Greek Christians of
Palestine who were Christians many
centuries before there was 9 Protestant
church; why 80 important to argue re-
lgion with the religious teachers OF
Japan and pass by the millions Of our
large cities who know no religion? It is
the desire to proselyte; that is abroad
instead of the spirit to convert.
If this had been the spirit of the Catho-
lie Church during the early centuries
Christianity would not not to day be the
religion Of the civilized nations. The
Catholic Church in the face Of most
cruel persecution planted it's foot upon
the Roman Empire and reached out
until it had converted Western Europe.
Whole nations were converted in COM
parstively short spaces Of time because
the Missionaries worked to convert, not to
controvert. In practical way Chris
anitY was demonstrated to be better
than Paganism. The missionary work Of
the Catholic Church to-day retains the
same characteristic to extend the in
huence of Christianity at home and
abroad. II does not seek as an objective
point fields already occupied by some
other church, but confines itself to the
care of it's own people and the conversion
Of outside masses. It plants it's churches
among the lowly as we'll as among the
rich. It's hospitals and houses Of refuge.
are built for the unfortunate. There is
room in these walks for all the enthusi-
asm and ardor Of those who are now
engaged in pro selytism.
The history Of proselytlsm shows that
it is slow work. Centuries Of proselytism
backed up by the temptation Of property
stolen from Roman Catholics has not
brought Ireland into the English
Church. The record of all that prosely-
tism tells of but few weak spirits who
sooner than be robbed Of their property.
concerned to the prescribed religion.
But SO intense is the vain and uncharit-
able principle of proselytism that we
have seen churches refuse the money
which the United States government
offered them to educate and Christianize
the Indians for the sole reason that if
they took the money to which their work
entitled them the Catholic Church would
receive much, more money because it
could and would do much more than
they would do. Sooner let the Indians
90 uneducated and uncared for than to
have them become Catholics. Protestant
ministers denounce the legislature Of
New York for aiding charitable institu-
lions Of the Catholic Church, although
the legislature offers to aid any similar
Protestant institution. Better not have
institutions than that they
should be Catholic. All this is mad
spirit to proselyte. In way this work
Of proselytism Is more pleasant than q
work Of conversion. It is carried on