The times., 1899-09-18

ite4S- aSte1ueu tlt pulpit. near Inc lhAoAe
OF the Cardinal. and delivered a sermon
which caused considerable comment among
the churchmen and laity who heard it.
The sermon is said 10 have been an Of
ficial reply OF the religious orders TO the
advocates Of AmericaniSm. with which the
Catholic University since its inception has
been more or less identified and the gen
eral opinion Of those present was that
while the Franciscan monks viii affiliate
with the university they viii rigidly main
tain all the peculiarities Of the order.
The text was taken from the fifth chap
ter Of Matthew: You are the light OF the
world. A city seated upon mountain can
not be hidden" The speaker said: Mon
asticism or the religious life is an insep-
arabic adjunct Of Christ's Church. In the
primitive days Of Christianity the recesses
Of the wilderness and the mountain cav
erns were the homes Of thousands OF her
mits who abandoned the world for the
sweets Of prayer and contemplation. Then
came the great monastertes of the Bene-
dictines. Castertians, and Others. Their
inmates were not apostles nor missionaries
nor doctors. Their purpose was to live III
purity and die in peace The order estRb-
lished by St. Francis OF Assist, in the
thirteenth century. was to be an order OF
monks indeed, but those monks We're TO
be at the same time doctors and apostles
IL has produced hundreds Of saints and
galaxy of doctors or theologians- Chief
among the latter are ST BonaYenture.
Roger Bacon Alexander of Hales, and
Duns Scotus. Franciscan philosophers and
Iheologians were conspicuous for centuries
ia all the great universities of Europe
Oxford. Bologna, Paris. and Cologne. They
have been az order of missionaries
The fields Of their labors were Tartary,
China, Japan, Philippines, and Americas.
They s8wed the seed OF the gospel from
ocean to ocean, from Hudson Bay to the
Gulf OF Mexico, and from the Gulf TO Cape
Horn. BY their iabors as missionaries and
civiIizers they have been a light 10 the
world-a city on mountain which refuses
10 be hidden
cid, But Not Anffquafed-
at Is said that their glory has departed.
That such institutions founded in the Middle
Ages do not meet the wants Of our times.
Tt is antiquated II is not sufficiently sup
pie in its character.
''Lacardaire met this objection half a
century ago He said his order was ancient
but not antiquated; that nothing newer,
nothing better adapted 10 our times could
be found. The new always objects to .he
old The old religious orders continued
the speaker, ARE as flexible in character
as the Church OF which they are part.
Both, like living bodies. retain their icen-
tEty. notwithstanding the process by which
they are constantly renewed. The Church is
not indeed dependent upon religious orders.
She can exist without them But ] would
tremble for her progress and prosperity here
in America were they coome1 70 de-uetude.
'Monta1ambert demonstrates that the
prosperity of the Church has always been
prcpcrtioned 10 that Of hsr religious advis-
ers Of the Popes and guides OF councils OF
missionaries whose eloquence has brought
millions 10 the foot Of the cross,''
In conclusion the speaker disclaimed ali
intention Of speaking disparagingly of the
new things OF the Church" May such
institutes prosper and flourish, May they
one day BE- able 10 point TO history as
glorious as that Of the Franciscans. He
eulogized the order Of Franciscus, referr-
ing to the eighty members Of the order
who had been canonized, and the one
hundred and thirty members Of it who
had been beatihed.
After the sermon the remainder of the
mass was sung and then followed the
dinner 10 the knights Of Columbus
and the visiting churchmen. The
knights were entertained In the grove al
the rear Of the monastery, while tht
churchmen were feasted in the refectory
of the monastery. Cardinal Gibbons oc-
cupicd the table at the head Of the roo1
with Monsignor MaTtinelIi On his riga
and Bishop BIenk on his left, other prom
inent churchmen being seated az the table
The tables along the long room were FILED
with the visiting priests. substantial
repast Was spread, interspersed by tht
songs of the choir OF the Franciscan broth
ers in wkIch the whole assembly joined
The dinner lasted about two hours and
then the Gonzaga College band played in
the courtyard Of the cloister. and pontiiical
Vespers were sung in the church with
Monsigncr Martineili as eelebrant.
The FIag-RaisinG.
The flag raising. which had been set fol
2 O'Clock, was delayed by the length OF the
morning services and did not take place
until after vespers. II was nearly o'clocl
when the Gonzaga Band played q selection
from "The Charlatan" and the Thousands
OF spectators gathered in front OF thi
church to witness the ceremony. DR.. A
d Wilkinson, Chairman Of the commit
tee cn arrangements. made q few remarks
and the Rev. Joseph a. Foley blessed tbs
flag. The band played America" whIcl
was sung By the entire audience, and a
its conclusion Robert z. Doyle, ST., ran VI
the Stars and Stripes. which were greete,
with prolonged cheers. D. / Murph,
made patriotic address. He said:
Address of ID. l. Murphy.
Through all the shifting scenes of thu
drama OF the Middle Ages the figures o
priest and monk are ever visible, shadow,
sometimes. again looming large In thos
romantic times the kings and princes of tn
Old World Wed with each other in the cues
s7f r-f n
sky. The captains Of the nations. brayin
the dangers and the terrors Of the unknown
deep. sailed over uncbartered seas TO pan
their standards on virgin soil. And wit
them were jealous missionaries, more ca
ger 10 extend the Kingdom OF God tha
were the captains 10 broaden their sover
eign's doniuions.
And 50 il was that with Columbus-th
most commanding figure Of those days
there came to these shores the Franciscan
not with dreams Of empire building, bu
impelled by the pure love OF souls. Obedien
20 the command, Go ye, therefore, an
teach ell nations they flung theunseiye
upo nthe edge Of the New Worlds wilder
ness and planting the cross Of Christ the
brought 10 a heather people the blessing
that vanished ages had bsqueathed 10 then
To untutored ears they repeated the truth
they themselves had learned in the schol
OF the Master. Since that remote perio
centuries have worn themselves out and
majestic civilization has been built upo
these shores. Justice guiding the pen {
history has written that the sons of S
Francis have made 10 that civilization \
small contribution. As their schools an
colleges have been the dispensers of inte
Iectual and moral benefits. so their huni
fty and self-immolston have been spul
40 noble living and right thinking. An
this monastery dedicated today. erecte
within sight OF the nations Capitol and
the shadow Of the Catholic University.