The San Francisco call., 1897-11-30
Visits Will Be Made to Jails
and. Hospitals, as Well as
Among Sailors.
HOW THE CHURCH HAS BEEN FOUGHT
The Eminent Speaker Tells of Errors
in Literature and of PalsehoodS
About the Jesuits.

Metropolitan Temple was crowded last
night with an enthusiastic audience to
hear Archbishop Riordan lecture on
Catholic Truth"
There was some preliminary music,
a beautiful song by W. ]. O'Brien and a
song by Ben R. Tarbox, after which the
Arch bishop was introduced.
The purpose Of the lecture was TO in
spire members of new society, called
THE Catholic Truth Society,"" with a
sense of responsibility for the work they
are about to undertake.
As president of the organization the
Archbishop took occasion to explain IN
detail what he thought the society ought
to DO and what he believed 1t would be
able to do in the course OF year or two
in the field prescribed for their labors. He
stated in a general way that the time OF
the clergy is generally taken up with
many routine matters so that they do not
really have very good opportunity 10 do
much in the way of the general instruc-
ton OF the people in the true functions OF
the church and in the wisdom which i
teaches.
According TO his explanation the Of
fee OF the new society Will be 10 dissem-
mate religious instruction in every way
possible, to circulate tracts, promote lee
lures, minister to those sick in hospitals
and like pl a ces. and reform those in jails.
Il indorse the views expressed by the
chairman" he said, "and l believe with
hlm, except that | Will say that, while l
see much evil in the world, and come in
contact with II IN my work, l see more OF
good. l believe that as the ages go on the
world becomes better and the spirit Of
Christianity permeates further and further
into society.
at is with this in view that the society
begins its work in this city. Its object
may be generally stated 10 be the dissemI-
nation OF the truths taught by the church.
Some might say that this thing Is already
done amply in the parishes but there IS
another side to the question. You must
remember that the duties OF the Instructor
in the parish arduous and many.
ASIDE from vast amount OF spiritual
work he is expected TO build mp churches,
schools and charities and maintain them
as long as he is in the work. Thus, from
the very necessity OF the case, there Is
room and demand for a society or intuen-
tial body of some kind to supplement the
work OF the priest and give him aid. This
is a field OF speclal work.
The first object OF this society is to
make known. by lectures. pamphlets and
otherwise, The truths of the church of
Christ. 1t is the duty of the society to
tell the world what we teach, thus to put
error to rOut and do q subStantia service
in the world. In a general way it may be
said that it is the duty of every Christian
man and woman to become in a manner
an apostle OF the true church of the living
God.
II may be asked in a general way why
we should teach religion at all There
are those who say that the true plan is to
teach right living, for that is held to be
three -tourths of lie. | may be told that
we want Christianity rather than dogma,
religion rather than theology. My reply
IS that We need both.
We must teach something more definite
than the vague idea of God as current of
tendency, a stream of fate, or an energy al
the heart OF the universe. 1t must be
taught that he is living, personal, yet in
finite God. We must be taught religion,
a true view of the universe and our rela-
ton to it. What we think Is the founda-
ton of what we do. The mind Is the
source of conduct and its action makes
the morals of society.
"As Catholics our first duty is to our
own, yet we must not forget the balance
of the world, because it is our duty to
preach the religion OF Jesus Christ
throughout the world and 10 every crea-
ture. we nave great uuIY Win Ine
weak, who have merely inherited their
faith, who defend it from an idea of family
pride, yet who know nothing OF the tradi-
tions and history of the great church.
We must teach them the foundations of
their faith, and show them the source of
power. They must be given good knowl-
edge, weapons Of defense for use in the
hour OF storm.
''The Catholic laity must be taught in a
spirit of broad catholicity, must be shown
the reason for their faith, so they can
stand firmly on their feet when the hour
of trial comes. History teaches that we
have most 10 fear from ignorance, and
least where knowledge has permeated the
people. Men must be Catholics from in
tellectual mprehension well as from
ties of faith. The controversies OF the
past two or three years have shown that