The Irish standard., 1896-01-11
IRRBLIGION WAS HIS THEME
-. .------------ -------- 5!t-
Father clsary's. .Thought:u, Laoturs. on.
:~s .... !. Last Sunday j ~. ~: q.
Night. ~.
3: .; ..-.:., s-. = -
TIE ABJEeT POLLY OF GOODNESS
Living Short life For Human Plesa-
ures Sorry De-
'us'o". -
TIE ABJEeF FOLLY OF eoDLlAEs!

st. Charles church was we'll attended
last Sunday evening. Father Cleary' S
topic was ''The Influence of Irreligion, y
and it attracted very large audience.
Following is a brief sketch of his dis
course: %
To make my meaning clear, in discus
sing the influence of irreligion upon hu-
man society, must first define what I
understand by the term irreligion, said
Father Cleary. BY irreligion, in this
connection, I understand, not only an
!outspoken denial of the existence Of God,
and an emphatic rejection of a divine
revelation to man, and of the supernat-
ural but include with this rejection of
God end the supernatural, also the gen
eral disregard of religious principles and
motives.
Irreligion considers but one principle,
to which all other things must yield,
namely, the rights and the advantage Of
man. Cod. the source of all right, and
the creator of man, is left entirely out OF
the range of human consideration, by the
maxims of irreligion.
Irreligion is ever changing; as it's ex-
perimental advocates may fancy that
they discover some new advantage for
man. They will not, and profess they
cannot believe that this world was made
for the glory of God; it's Creator, as we'll
as for the benefit OF man, Gods creature.
Irreligion has been fairly. consistent in
this during all it's vicissitudes, asserting
that it does not know. and that: no one
knows whether there is any life beyond
the grave or not 1t usually admits that
there may be. but about that question no
certainty exists It's, highest, noblest
aim, therefore, must be to get out of this
life the highest, greatest good while it
may last. It is not difficult to see where
such delusive theories may lead. Ones
own advantage becomes ones virtue;
all is good or evil, according as it is
pleasing or profitable to man. There is
no higher, nobler end.
The brightest lights which irreligion
has given to the world do not, of course.
encourage the indulgence in those vices
that the experience of mankind con-
demns as detrimental to humanity. They
encourage virtue because its practice
contributes to human happiness, not be-
cause it's reward is endless happiness in
better and nobler existence. The adj
yocates of irreligion scoff, with lofty dis
dain, at the idea Of reward or. punish
ment in future life, as an incentive to
virtue. But the highest incentive they
can offer is the reward of human ap-
proval in this world. the satisfaction OF
ones conscience, and consequent short
lived worldly happiness. How uncer-
tain these rewards are, and how easily
they elude the grasp of virtue, every
thinking man we'll knows.
Honesty is not under all circumstan-
aces the best policy in. this world. 1t is,
OF course, under all circumstances a
true principle, but as a policy. Of advan-
tage or profit, it is often a conspicuous
failure Virtue is not always its own re-
ward; vice too often revels in joy and un-
alloyed pleasure, short-iyed though it
may be, while virtue suffers in obscurity
and pain. ss sa5 ssss I
sIrreligion, proflting by the sublime les
sons which faith in God has incueated
among men, suggests to noble and he
role souls lofty and inspiri ing thoughts,
pl,I1eh inanence The min and hearts To
batter hfu1sst nan the seld dsh mott Ives Qf