The Irish standard., 1896-02-01
THEOLOGY
Rev. Father cieary Defines Its Rela-
tons to Religion. ., =

q,
Rev. Father Cieary Defines Its ReIa-
.,,'-- tions to Religion. -, .. -
'eThe Difference Between Religion
and Theology was Father Cleary's topic
at st. Charles church last Sunday even
ing. He said in part: God is the au-
thor of religion. It deals with the mys-
sterious and supernatural. It's mission
is to control. and tame the evil inclina-
tions of the human heart. It's duty is
to resist the. free will of many when that
WILL often wayward, attempts to set at
defiance the laws of natures author
.tNo wonder that an influence and
mighty power, such as religion is and
has been in the world, would be misun-
derstood counterfeited and inisinterpret-
ed. Since Christ walked among men,
foolish and thoughtless people have been
found who vainly imagine that religion
consists in professions Of faith, and in
revernce for ceremonial. Representa-
tives of this foolish class are met with
in the ranks of believers, as we'll as
among the advocates Of unbelief Christ,
the light of the world, corrected the mis-
takes OF both when He plainly pro-
claimed, Not very one that sayeth to
LIE. LuEu lLUIN Si1dll Cu lCl lIlLo
dom of heaven, but he that doeth the will
of my Father who is in heaven, lie snail
enter into the kingdom OF heaven True
religion has never failed to insist that
conduct is more important than creed
and duty more important than dogma.
49, "ReligiOn is not made up,of the Subtill-
ties and sophistlies, sentiment and sup
erstition which its enemies endeaNor to
make the world believe are it's essence
and life. The life Of religion is seen in
the effects it produces among men. It
it gives expression to sublime sentiments
and charms the ina ;natiOn and the soul
by the beauty of it's doctrines, but is
fruitless of practical benefit to man, it is
AS sounding brass, or tinkling symbal.'
noble aspirations in the human heart,
have made strange mixtures of sublime
maxi1ls, and most revolving excuses for
base conduct Some learned theolOglans
have had but little religion, and thous-
ands who are but indiferently versed in
theology, are illustrious examples OF re-
ligion's influence in molding the lives OF
intellectual beings.
t"Theology is the sciance that treats
of religion. Religion is the sublime
science of theology reduced to practice.
Tradition, environment, and the living
GXdnl ptG5 VI ulllGlS, uIa.Y Hl OAuCS tISS- 5S't
possible fruits of religion, without theo-
logy or science having apparently played
much part in the result. Most exact
ard reliable mathenaticians are some
tinies found. where but little indeed is,
known of the scince of numbers. Wlll
any man for this reason pretend that the
science is useless? ...-...,-,
Among the scholars of the world,
anlong. the students, whose labOr's have
lighted up the pathway of l1fe's journey,
theology is regarded as the queen and
mistress of the sciences, for 1T treats
of problems of far greater Importance
than any with which human inquiry is
concerned. Theology does not flourish
best upon human credulity, but develops
and nonrishes the noblest faculties Of
the human soul.
Religion is the practical application to
the every day affairs of men of the fixed
principles, emanating from the creator
Of the. universe, by which all nature is
directed in sublime harmoy. Far from
being mostly sentiment;religioni is most
matter-of-fact, practical affair. " Relig-
ion, and religion alone, gives any salts
factory answer to the reason of human
existence. Religion is in the world For
the benefit and advantage OF man, but
not for man S advantage alone. Its prim-
AIRY purpose iseto render due homage to
the living God, for whose honor and
glory man was created. a~,-
Religion is the basis Of morality. Re
ligion is not the outgroWth of virtue,
was not invented to sustain morality
but morality is the sweet fruit of relig
ion Mans best and highest advantage
is found in the practice OF virtue, and
hence, religion, that is primarily intend
ed 10 give glory to God, confars also upon
man, Gods noblest work, his most pre-
cious advantage for time and eternity.
Learned theologians may wrangle over
the deductions to be made from few
fixed principles Of eternal truth that
form the foundations Of religion. But
these disputations no more disturb the
settled convictions of reasoning men con-
cerning God and eternity, virtue and vice,
than do the intellectual feats of skilled
mathematician unsettle the maxim that
two and two make four. Theology, after
ali, opens the plainest book that exists.
1t teaches not the art Of disputation or
argument, but the way to lead virtu-
Gus life. Its principles rest upon a reli-
able foundation, for they rest upon the
word of God and the reason Of man. /
Theology is human reasons s best friend,
for it leads it to it's source, God, from
whom all intelligence must come Re-
ligion is nlankind's greatest blessing, for
it guides. humanity through the Shadows
of time to the light of eternity:
-----~->r-----
The dentists of this country have at
their command 1888 instruments or proc
esses.
The builder has the choice of 3596 pat
ent cranes or derricks with which to do
his work.
There are 1919 machines or devices
for The manufacture of cordage, twine
and string. j.
The manufacture of stationery may be
carried on BY the aid OF q ,532 patented
s
There have been 9, patents issued
ford eYices Or mac11 11ines employ red by the:
carpenter. s#sss "a
There are 3, 74D different varieties oS
fire escapes and ladders tossbe used in
emergencies. 5sss.s5{ .ss.s
Soda water and other ling beyer-
ages are manufa faeture red ascor ding to 27s
patented method .sg tss.2
The American farIner bel
1o learn that here are JIG. .Ig22sl
different anad lin tlle IatsnfA
sss1ss III