The Irish standard., 1898-12-03
DISCOURSE WAS IMPR0MpTu
The Subject Selected by Him Was
1.-THE Love of Books"
A VERY PRACTICAL ADDRESS
He Thinks Priest May Be Judged
by His Library.

The students of the Kenrick seminary
were accorded an unusual pleasure last
Thursday afternoon, when his grace,
Archbishop Ireland of St. Paul, accom-
panied by the Rev. D. S. Phelan, paid
visit to that institution, says the West
ern Watchman, of St. Louis. He was
most graciously received by the faculty,
and given an unbounded welcome.
Shortly after his arrival, the Very Rev.
rector of the seminary invited his
grace to address the students, to which
ne readily consented. The reception
given him by the seminarians was truly
magnificent. Prolonged and vociferous
applause greeted his appearance, mani
Testing, as it did, the esteem and reyer-
ence which the students have for the
great American prelate, whose love for
holy church and American institutions
finds expression in the loftiest flights
OF eloquence. His address, although en-
tirely impromptu, held his listeners
captive for full hour, the subject being,
"After the Love of God, the Love of
Books"
He spoke in substance as follows:
Il love to visit seminary. It brings
me back to happy days-days when life
was free and I knew not care. love
to look into seminary and see therein
the soldiers of the future-the men who
are to fight for Christ and His truth.
When asked to address you consent
I'd, not without little reluctance, not
because was unwilling, but because so
much may be said and SO many subjects
selected. Then again, students and pro-
fessors are critical. When was think
ing what might speak to you about.
Father Phelan suggested that l take for
my subject "After the Love of God, the
love Of Books The subject was well
chosen.
First and above all, my dear young
men, is the love of God, Of God especi-
ally for the priest. Without the love
OF God all science and all learning is of
no avail. So you must have, first Of ALL
love Of God in your souls. Then comes
love OF study, love of books. You must
ever be desirous of increasing your
knowledge. The priest is sent as the
teacher of men, the representative of the
Master; 'Dosete gentes.' He commission
ed the apostles. And again we read, 'Et
aperiens os SUM docebat eos.' Priests
are teachers Of sublime and holy
thoughts. But they cannot be teachers
without study. The scientia infusa only
comes when we have done our duty.
knowledge is necessary for men who
would teach others; if this be true, it
was ever more than true in our
increduloums age
I'm our day revelation is denied, and
since we are defenders of revelation
we must know full we'll what revelation
means. We must know the proofs up
on which it rests, and these proofs, in
our day require, might say u knowl-
edge of all things. We must have his
tory, we must know science in all it's
cognate branches. We must know
psychology and the social sciences,
which affect both heart and head. Sci
ence as it is today is arraycd against
revelation. To go forth into this un-
believing world as the defenders Of
Christ's revelation without fund Of
knowledge, and without being able to
use it with tongue and pen, were a
art,, ~
and His Christ. So, my young men, you
must prepare well. Use your every
moment. Time is valuable. 1t is
fraught with eternity.
"Then it is your duty, your pressing
duty, to study. Study diligently. Read
much. You should study your text
books. These come first as the specific
training of the seminary. 1t were fatal
to wander off to other studies to the
neglect of the particular studies of the
the text book. The text book is limit
ed, so you must go into the larger fields,
of the class work. It will accllstom you
to original research. 1t will broaden
your intellect. 1t will create in you the
love of books, which means love of
study. A mere specialist does not fill
the need Of our day. We want large
minded men. We want men, who, with
out ostentation (Which is damnablc),
can command respect and admiration.
I like to see young man with passion
for books. like to see young man
avaricious Of books, who will spend his
spare dollar in the purchase of them. 1t
is we'll to know even the backs Of books.
It creates curiosity to look inside.
Then comes the temptation to read.
vhich arouses In the rational soul .