The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1897-11-13
BRONZE STATUE OF OLE BULL.
FIR. Cleary Marks Him IN the "Wor-
ship Of Images"


Last Sunday was great day at st.
Charles church, 1t being the feast of
st. Charles Borromeo, the patron saint
after whom the temple of worship is
named. At 1890 o'clock high mass
was celebrated by FIR. Robert, assisted
by FIR. Harrison as deacon, FIR. Christie
as sub-deason, and FIR. Cleary as master
OF ceremonies. There was large con-
gregation as 1t had been announced that
FIR. Harrison, of St. Joseph's church,
st. Paul, a noted pulpit orator, was to
deliver a discourse on est. Charles Bor-
romeo and His Times" The address
was magnificent one from an oratorical
point of view, and was highly instruc.
tive and interesting.
On Sunday evening FIR. Clery dis
cussed the subject of The Worship of
Images" and in the course of his adj
dress referred to the bronze statue of
Ole Bull in Central park, and wondered
what would happen if the park board
were asked by the friends Of Jesus
Christ to erect a monument to the Sa-
vior of mankind. FIR. Cleary spoke for
about an hour and said in part:
"Cne Of the attractive objects OF in
terest that stranger to our young
city is invited to view is a graceful sta
tue in our beautiful Central park. This
beautiful work Of art reveals the pleas
ant features of one of Norway's fam
Gus and favorite sons. The monumental
bronze speaks with mute and express
sive eloquence of the genius of the gift
ed artist, whose untimely taking off, in
the bright spring time OF glorious Gu
and admirers of genius.
This mental figure in graceful pose
does not aim to perpetuate the name
and the memory of an illustrious phil
osopher, an eminent scholar or wise
statesman, but simply serves it's pur-
pose of aiding in Undertaking the
name of a gifted musician, who had, in
his day and generation, given exquisite
delight to thousands in many lands ny
his marvellous Interpretation of music
on his beloved violin. Ole Bull was the
greatest and most wonderful fiddler of
this century. Because of his unrivalled
mastery Of his art as an illustrious I'D
dler he certainly deserved a noble mon
ument at the hands of his generous al
mirers.
I find no fault with the Ole Bull sta
tue. I see nothing to censure, but on
the contrary, much to admire in the
devotedness Of his admiring countrymen
and friends, in placing this graceful
monument to his memory. If one of
Norways sons, proud of his illustrious
countrymen, should raise his hat in
passing the statue of Ole Bull, in honor
OF the charming fiddler, whom it rep
resents,. l could find nothing in his ac-
ton to condemn and would not dream
of accusing him of imageworship, or
idolatry, because he showed respect TO a
bronze figure that is symbol Of genius.
If, however, friends Of Jesus Christ,
believers in his doctrine, and ardent
admirers of his everlasting morality,
should petition our park board for per-
park, in honor of the most illustrious
teacher the world has ever known,
fancy that among. professedly Chris
tian people a statue of Christ would not
I>~ I'd
has been the statue of the gifted Nor
wegian fiddler. If some earnest admir-
ers of all that is noble, elevating and
pure in woman were to attempt to place
statue of Mary, the mother Of the sa-
vior of mankind, in any of the public
parks in our city, or even on the out
side of our churches. they would be
scoffed at, or pitied as image Worship
pers, and victims of foolish supersti-
ton.
Mary, the virgin mother Of Jesus Of
Nazareth, was called by the angel, full
of grace" The inspired word Of God
designatcs her as blessed among wo-
men," She is the browning glory Of her
sex, the queen of angels and of men.
But if the friends of her divine Son
were to give as great honor to her name
and memory, as is given to the gifted
musician, they would be censured as
guilty of Offering insult to her Son, the
worlds redeemer.
The Catholic church has understood
| the human heart. 1t has always rec
ognized the fact that nothing is more
natural for man than the desire to pre-
serve some visible tangible, memorial
or symbol, of those whom he delights
| to honor, or whom he is proud to love.
| The statue of hero is an object lesson
in valor The statue Of statesman is
an object lesson in good citizenship. The
statue of brave soldier, of a general,
is an object lesson in courage and loyal
| ty to country. The statue of a scholar
is an object lesson in science. Every
mark of honor given to the memorials
of men of renown, is honor given to
the men themselves. No sane man will
pretend that the solemn ceremonies I'M