The Irish standard., 1899-12-23

anarCnlStlC doctrines upon llle Woiio
and upon its own advocates. l saw
Professionalism disintegrated and hope
lessly divided. Free thought had ended
in infdelity.
AS student OF the sacred writings, l
was compelled to admit the Bible to be
the most fragmentary OF books. 1t was
difficult to understand sometimes ap-
parcntly contradictory. AS a lawyer,
the conclusion was forced upon me that
an authoritative interpreter was a log
ical necessity. To admit that was to
admit the doctrine OF the infallibility OF
the Pope, and all the doctrines OF the
Catholic Church.
There were ethical reasons, also, why
became Catholic. From pulpit and
platform l had heard much OF the Faith
erhood OF God and the Brotherhood OF
Man. | was much inclined to the con-
viction that both OF them were to be
found in their best estate outside OF the
churches A wider experience taught
me differently. For realization OF that
dream l searched diligently and con-
scientiously through Oddiellowship.
Masonry, the Liberal League, Untar
ianism, and kindred ethical societies
But the god OF all these was not a
father He was a mere abstraction, a
first cause, an ovcr-soul, a law, not a
lawgiver.
As for the brotherhood OF man, le,
those who have searched ior it through
all the secret benevolent societies and
fraternal organizations, tell me ii they
have been more successful than | in
finding it, did not find it until !
searched for it in the Catholic Church
There | found the brotherhood kl1eelins
side by side upon the SAND hard floor
There / found all sorts and conditions
OF men, all colors, all nations. blended
by common faith in the same Heaven
ly Father into universal brotherhood
Catholic Church. There all tongue
confess one Lord, one faith, one bap
tism. and in one universal language
praise Gods Holy Name.
Socialism. as an economic system
and Altruisn, as its religious counter
part. were also very attractive subject
to me. l was longing Tor the time to
come when the only competition among
men might be, "Who best can scrv,
his icllowman." My practical attempts
in this direction and those OF Others
which came under my observation, wer,
failures. They were destroyed by the
sclishncss OF man.
My attention was called to Socialism
and Altrrism as taught and practiced in
the Catholic Church. Monastic life, the
brotEerhoods and ssterhoods, were ex-
amincd The Franciscans OF this coast
in particular were studied All these
succeeded i'll the work they had to do
Some OF them have been suppressed in
times OF persecution by the statc-bu,
always to the injury and disgrace Of tho
state. They are Still in successful opcr
alton. | saw how they girdled tn,
earth with their hospitals, schools ane
churches; how they had spread iron
pole to pole.
AS | read the history OF the Catholic
Church in this light, I saw that she had
always been cosmopolitan and demo
cratic. The poorest lad could become
Pope. There is not a place in the
sacred ministry which any ragged bare
loot boy may not reach. Her Popes
are elected from all nations. Her mis-
sionarics have sacrificed their lives al
over the world These Christian broth
ers and sisters are found on every
battlefield, in every plague-stricken spot
OF earth, among Savages tribes, amid
arctic snow and ice, in the fever lader
tropics-whcreve there is found a
brother in distress. Her strength lies
in the TACT that she is universal III
England the Queen is head OF the
Church, i'll Russia the Gar; but the
Catholic Church has put before the
world the idea oil Church Tor human
ity, bounded by no national lines. Ma
tional barriers are being broken down
| am also bound to acknowledge the
obligations | am under TO well known
iriends-the A. p. AS. Long before
had thought OF becoming a Catholic
these sticklcrs for truth declared | wa
one, and had been seen communing a
the altar rail The more l denied it
the louder the cock crowcd. At length
it occurred to me that churcl
which excited the hostility OF sucl
men must be very good Church; an,
that her doctrines must be true ii II,
weapons better than perjury and for
gerry could be brought against them
Thus it has always happened to me.
am indebted to both my friends ant
enemies. Both have helped to bring III
into the Catholic Church. The friend
led, the enemies drove, and so ! go
there sooner than otherwise would.
| must also admit my obligations +
the politicians and the parties. With
out them you would not know all tn
reasons why | became a Catholic.
had studied them all closely; tried al
ways to vote for the best men on til
ticket, regardless OF their party aflilis
.;ooc T he1;eved tho ,vor1I WING 10 I,