The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-04-25

What is the work which. in tho belief of Arch
bishop ireland. the Catholics Of the United
Etatcs are called to do within the coming CEN
turyi 1t Is twofold, he answers To make
America Catholic and to solve for the Church
Universal the nll-absorbing problems with which
religion ia confronted at the present time.
"Nevcr." lie says. "since the century, the dawn
of which was the RlimIncr from the Eastern
Star, was there prepared for Catholics of any
nation on The earth n work so noble in its nature
End So pregnant with consequences as that
which it Is our mission TO accomplish" The
work Is first. rs we have said, to make
America Catholic. The Catholic Church
will preserve ms no human power can
preserve the liberties of the republic. The
conversion of America should ever be pres
ent to tho minds of Catholics as a supreme
duty front which God will not hold them exempt.
II wo arc loyal to duty, The record Of our second
century Of Church history will tell of n Won
drous spread 81 Christ's Church over the
United States OF America" Elsewhere 1t is noted
that Catholicism possesses an inestimable ad-
vantage on this side OF the Atlantic in the liberty
which the Church enjoys under the Constitution
of the United States. Hero no tyrant casts
chains around it: no concordat limits her
action or cramps her destiny. The law OF the
land protects her in her right and asks, in re-
turn. no sacrifice thereof. Tho republic, ut it's
very birth, guaranteed liberty TO Catholics, at u
limo when. in nearly all other lands, Govern
Inents. both Protestant and Catholic. were op-
pressing tho Church; during it's whole history
tho republic has not failed 10 make good its
guarantee. To-day. in how few countries, out
side our own. is the Church really freei If
great things are not done by Catholics in Amer
ica, tho fault will lie surely with themselves and
not with the republic"
Tho tendencies OF tino age, which alright the
tinlid. seem to Archbishop Ireland providential
opportunities. He is far from asserting that
modern ideas anh movements are, in all respects,
deserving OF approval. Yet how much there
is" he says. " In those ideas and movements that
is grand and good. Despite its defects and its
mistakes, l loyo my Age. love its aspirations
and its resolves. l revel in its feats of valor, it's
industries, and It's discoveries. / thank 1t for its
many bcncfactiOns to my fellow man, for its
warm affections. p%rofscrcd to the people rather
than to princes and rulers. / seek no backward
voyage across tho sea Of time. / will ever press
forward. Ibclicvc that God intends the present to
be better than the past and the future 10 be better
than tho present" The author OF this book
would have his co religiopists live in their own
age, and be In touch with it. He would have
them speak to contemporaries OF things which
they feel and In language that they understand.
He WOULD not have them more familiar with tho
thirteenth century than the nineteenth. LET
u.s." no says, "bo fair to tho age we
1.-Two III, discerning in 1t that which is good
81 well as that which is bad. The move
ments OF our time have their origin In the
deepest rcccsscs OF humanity. They make
for tho elevation Of tho race, the better.
ment of the multitude. the extension of mans
empire over nature. Pass In review the watch
words Of tho age; each covers IA substantial
.---l 49,. al
Of those who love Him.. knowledge; 1t is
tho nurture OF our noblest faculty. the intel
lect. Science; 1t is the inquisition into the mys-
tories OF nature. into the glorious works OF the
all-wisc and a~ll-powerful God. Liberty; 1t first
came to men through Gospel truth; the Church
has made ceaseless war on slavery and despot-
lam and tho trend of all Christianity has been 20
enlarge mans heritage of civil and political
freedom. Tho amclioration OF the condition of
the masses; this has been tho constant aim of
Christian charity; 1t is the practical deduction
from the Christian doctrine OF the brotherhood
Of man and tho fatherhood of God. Material
comfort; for this also there Is abundant room
beneath the broad mantle Of Christian love;
asceticism. beyond that detachment OF tho
spirit which is ~cnjoined upon all Catholics. is
tho privilege OF the chosen few; the ideal. both
for religion and reason, is u sound mind
In a sound body. and whatever interferes with
either. BIO 1t hunger or malady, DO 1t overwork
or tainted air, true godliness will labor to re-
move. Socialism, finally. is, In its first outburst,
ashriek of despair from tho hungering soul, upon
which presses the heavy hand OF greed and In
Justice. Reasons for many OF its demands are to
be found in Catholic theology. which teaches that
Sio human race does not exist for the benefit of
the few. and that private property becomes com.
mon property when death from starvation is at
the door, In a foot nnia the Arrhhiahnn n,,ntaa
81. Thomas Aquinas's declaration that secret.
ly TO take for use the property OF another In a
case Of extreme need cannot properly DO called
theft. because what one takes for the support of
his life becomes his because 0. such necessity"
u.