The San Francisco call., 1896-09-10
The Young Mems Institute
Course Formally Inaugu-
rated.
ALARGE AUDIENCE ASSEMBLIES
Archbishop Riordan Tells the Story
of the Ages and Pleads for
Liberty Now.

Metropolitan Temple was crowded last
night with a select audience that came to
hear Archbishop P. w. Riordan's lecture
on individual and Political Liberty"
The American flag covered the pulpit dur
ing the lecture.
The stage was occupied by number of
prominent members of the Young Mems
Institute and of the Catholic clergy, and
the lecture was preceded by an organ pre-
lude.
The Introductory speech was made by
Chairman Frank ]. Kierce, who said: at
is gratifying to see so large and intelligent
an audience on the occasion of the first
lecture of the Y. NJ. l., the first of an in
structive series which we hope to present
every month"
The speaker said the members of the
Young Mems Institute were proud that
their organ ization, which began thirteen
years ago, has extended its membership
far beyond the Sierras. "The cardinal
principles of our order" be said, "are zeal
business for faith, for country and for the
welfare of our felow-men. We are for
God and for country, and while we are
Catholics we do not ignore the heDehts OF
other orders. We last year did charity
work for men, women and children ire
spective of creed, and we are now engaged
in pntting forth educational lectures. We
believe in patriotism, and think we ought
to teach our own children love OF the flag
and the preservation of our country III its
purity and freedom for those who come
after u.s."
The sentiment was loudly applauded,
after which John A McAuiiffe sang 1.-THE
Holy City" so feelingly that he was re-
called with much enthusiasm. He then
sang ''The Lost Chord" with equal sue
cess.
The Archbishop then stepped forth and
began as follows:
'5I am indeed proud to have the honor
of inaugurating this series of lectures, for
/ have watched these young men with a
fathers eve for many years, and l helped
to draft the constitution that governs your
body. TCheers. can say there is moth
ing in it contrary to Americanism in its
noblest purest sense.
81 hardly know how to begin here, or
Just what to say. So many misrepresen-
tations and calumnies have fallen from
this very platform. Laughter l am
afraid that the truth, if | speak it from
here, will find itself lonesome. Prolonged
laughter and cheering. But | can say
that these young men have never allowed
their order to be used for political pur-
poses. As supreme chaplain l should re-
sign Immediately if l should learn that
these young men had allowed their order
to be used for political purposes"
The speaker next devoted some atten-
tion to various phases OF the controversy
between Catholics and Protestants. He
said he knew there was a prevalent idea
''that the church does not keep pace with
the progress of the age" There is vague
impression that the church lives in the
present as a mere relic of the past, and
conviction that she cannot be a living fac
tor in affairs of the day. There is in many
places belief that the average man can
,r-f,o AZ
church's rawlings, because there is an in
compatibility between the spirit of the age
and the doctrines of the church, but this is
all wrong all BASED on ignorance of his
tory and ignorance of facts.
LET me call your attention to the fact"
he continu ued, ''that the idea that man is
a progressive being is found only in the
Jewish and Christian religions-not in
the pagan faiths with their golden age
ever in the dim past and their future ever
darkened. Furthermore. be it understood
that dogmatic Professionalism could not
construct theory of progress. Why?
Because. when you preach the total de-
pravity of man and destroy the doctrine
of free will, you dry up the wellsprings of
human progress and make man the mere
child of fate, the sport of blind chance.
Personal independence is the first ele-
ment OF progress, and that idea the Catho-
lie church has ever maintained. Then
comes the idea of the dignity OF labor-the
right to attain to even tie highest social
position by industry alone, without refer
ence to blood or genealogy. You know
nearly all were slaves in pagan times.
Labor was not dignity but a serYility for
slaves, while the true citizen was excused
from toll. What changed these condi-
tions? The cause is worth following.
1.-THE Son of God came in manger
Labor then became blessing, and since
then none have dared to despise the poor
laboring man, for that would be despising
Christ himself.
''Christ brought the true idea OF liberty
all equal before God, therefore all men are
equal before the law. Liberty was born
with the star OF Bethlehem.
THE Roman Empire was built on priyi-
leges and class legislation. Its rulers soon
realized the nature of the conflict for free
dom which ChrIst's coming inaugurated.
For 300 years the early founders of the
church were butchered in the amphi-
theater. All through Paul you find the
teachings of freedom-'there is neither
bond nor free. All, my friends, at the
sound of these words the elements of
pagan civilization were dissolved. There
were to be no more posts of honor to the
tyrant, no more privileges granted on
class distinctions.
1.-The church taught the people the dig
nifty of labor and the great European
cities were founded by the monks Theo-
has wildly pictured the services of the
church, has told the story of how the
Catholics stood between the barons and
the people and took to her bosom all the
oppressed"
The Archbishop then dwelt at some
length on creeds and faith, saying: Out
side of the Jewish and Catholic religions
there is no warrant whatever for any
faith. see one great historic institution
in an unbroken line for ages, and it
speaks TO me as a divine institution.
Bishop as l am, were it not for this divine
faith would deny ali authority of men
and follow my own reason and conscience
alone. The Jewish faith ana ours are the
only ones, we accepting theirs and supple
menting II by the new revelation
1t was next contended that the church
has always been for liberty. 'The Cath
olic barons forced Magma Charter upon an
unwilling being, and in every age the
pontiffs have stood between the people
and their oppressors." The archbishop
continued: True government comes
from the people and political power is a
trust for the good of the country. That