The Irish standard., 1898-04-16
CONTRIBUTIONS TO A SYMPOSIUM ny
EMINENT DlVlNES.
CHRISTIANITY is CERTAIN TO SPREAD.
CARDINAL. GIDnONS EXpRESStIS HIS
OPTIMISTIC VIEWS.
The CHURCH OF CHRIST WILL LIVE.
SAYS MGR. CONATY. RECTOR OE Tll!
CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY.

Several distinguished CathOllC writers,
including Ills Emincnce Cardinal Glib
bons, We're among tho contributors tG a
symposium on "The Future Of Religion"
in the columns of tho New York World.
Tho following questions designed to
suggest. not to limit, tho field of in
quiry, were propoundcd to the contribu-
tors:
do you look for the continued in
crease Of the influence of the Christian
religion upon modern thought and It's
power to sway tho lives and actions OF
mon?
"Aro YOU all optimist or Il pessimist IT.
your views of the modern phases T..
scientific unbelcf as affecting tho po-
sition Of tho church? Is unbclicr grow
Ing with knowledge, or docs It wthcr in
tho light of higher culture?
rs tho gospel OF Christ living power
today in all civilized lands?
the nineteenth century that We may
fairly look for even moro mighty works
In tho twentieth?
us your denomination in particular
growing in tho vital elements of true
Christianity as we'll as In tho number OF
Its adhcrents and the wealth of It's
| churches?
Are tho problems of labor and capital
| and Of the warlike spirit between ma
tions likely to be solved by the better
| enforcement and understanding of the
Christian law?"
Cardinal Gibbons writes us follows:
| The distinguishing characteristics OF
modern thought may be summed lp In
two words-a desire for liberty and n
! desire for truth While liberty of
| thought has sometimes led to abuses ana
has not infrcqnently dcgencratcd into
licentfOusness, yet its general tendency
has been to seek, untrammclcd by con-
puro and simple truth.
"The Christian religion has no reason
to fear tho full light of truth. AS long
as mems minds are darkencd by ignor-
anco or deceived by half truth, SO long
will tho progress of Christianity bo im-
pcdcd. 1t is truth that Christianity pro-
claims Tho moro the world is divestcd
OF prejudice, the greater liberty men urc
accorded In seeking truth and tho more
enlightened they become concerning tho
great truths which underlic our physical
moral nnd social being, the moro Chris
tian they will become in thought and
/ act and the more ar-rcaching will be the
influence Of Christianity
True science and true Christianity
cannot bo Mt variance, for both teach
truth. and from whatever standpoint We
look at truth 1t still remains essentially
one and tho same. For God is the
moro deeply 1t is studied will the moro
surely and more clearly manifest thc
solid foundation of supernatural truth.
In the study of the phenomena OF natural
science we are brought face to face with
the Creator. In tho study of the ethical
and social science the Decnloglo will re-
ccivo confirmation from experience and
reason. Thus will be seen that the
marvellous discoveries OF modern times,
tho daring projects conceived and exc
cutcd while cliciting admiration from all
and creating unbclicf in the weak, will
in tho end but lay bare the solid founha-
tions of natural truth upon which re-
ligious truth is built.
"Tho gospel of Christ is the greatest
living power today in all civilized lands.
Even those who do not profess them
selves followers of Him who said, Love
your enemics.' arc 80 surrounded by the
healthful atmosphere Of Christianity
that they cannot but breathe its spirit.
Christianity manifcstS It's bcncflccnt
power in the acts of forcbcarance. for
givencss and charity which would call
forth our lnboundcd admiration If the
enduring influence Of our blessed Savior
had not made them so common.
In the beginning of the present
century the outlook for Christianity
from a human STANDPOINT was anything
but encouraging. New schemes. new
ideas and new theories were eagerly fol-
lowed by the multitude with little dis
cernment, and Oftcntimes for the sake
Of novelty only The old was set aside
because 1t was old; the now embraced
because it promised much and was still
untricd. Christianity was relegatcd to
the past. But we are growing tired of
our toys. The fact Is dawning upon us
that these novelties in ethics In 80 far
as they arc valuable are only new edi-
; tions Of old truths which have lost rather
than gained by revision. Tho discov-
, cries of natural sciences, while Offering
greater comfort and affording greater
facilities In our social intercourse, have