The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-12-09
Make Them Realize the Value of
a Catholic University.
AND ENDsw GENEROUS SCHOL LARSHIPS
Cease the Antiquated Fashion of
Sermonizing on Riches.

Bishop Spalding, in his address on
The University: A Nursery Of the
Higher Life" points out way in which
Catholics, and particularly wealthy
Catholics, can be OF immeasurable ben
eft to the church. He says:
"They who realize how mucl, OF the
spiritual activity OF the present age is
found outside OF the church, cannot but
see that the Catholic religion must, more
and more, cease to be a power in the
world unless Catholics themselves be-
come morally and intellectually more
alive"
No one will for moment dispute the
learned Bishop of Peoria in the state
ment printed above, says FIR. Malone i'll
the Intermountain Catholic. But how,
it will be asked, are Catholics to become
morally and intellectually more alive
than they are at the present day?
Such condition can only come through
broader opportunities, and broader op-
portunities can only come through
wealthy Catholics. The church in her
ministry will be no more able in the
future than she has been in the past to
arouse Catholics to greater moral and
intellectual life unless means for such
activity arc placed at the church's dis
posal Only the rich can give to the
church means whereby intellectual lie
can be stimulated. This can be done in
countless ways For, as the bishop
says, whatever is an aid to human prog
rcss is favorable to the Christian rclg-
ion, to the worship OF God in spirit and
in truth.
The church has been SO busy in this
country educating and caring for our
poor Catholics that it has not yet found
time to begin the education OF our rich
Catholics. 1t is true that institutions for
the support of the. widow and the Or
phan, and hospitals for the sick have not
lacked support These were all ncccs-
sary, and the churcl, has been obliged
to give much time to their upbuilding
But when we look over the list OF our
institutions for the public good, we find
each one without exception more or
less hampcrcd by poverty OF funds, and
when we realize furthermore that the
actual support OF these institutions is
borne in great part by bcncfactors OF
moderate or Strengthened incomes, it
seems as il the time had come to begin
an educational crusade among our rich
Catholics.
1t can hardly be said that it is good
will that is wanting among them; it is
rather knowledge both as to their duty
in the matter and as to the real needs Of
religion and humanity in this country
that they lack. AS matters now stand,
when a rich Catholic dies and out OF a
fortune OF several millions bequcaths a
few thousand dollars to the public good,
there is feeling altogether that he has
done his entire duty in this respect
Doubtless he himself was so convinced
|
No fault can be found anywhere with
the generous spirit Of Our Catholic pco-
pie in making bcqucsts to hospitals, Of
pllan asylums and kindred institutions.
Such institutions arc necessities and
they are needed everywhere, but Why it
may be asked, do our Catholic benc-
factors stop with such remarkable una
nimity at hospitals and orphan asylums?
The fact seems to show that it is be-
cause they are generally not aware OF the
thousands OF other good works waiting
and languisl1ing for their help. Here is
where the educativc progress ought to
begin. Here lie the opportunities OF
our pulpit teachers and all other teach
ers, il they would throw aside their i'll
timed delicacy and speak out on this
subject.
Why not organize mission as wide
as the boundaries OF this country for the
awakening OF rich Catholics to a
knowledge Of their real duty and privi-
lege in this matter? Show them with
words OF fire what Catholic education
needs in this country.
Point out to them in virile tongue the
good which an intelligent and intellcc-
tual Catholic press can do in the matter
of awakening larger intellectual and
moral life.
An intelligent, healthy, intellectual
Catholic press is as much of a necessity
to the church in this country as any
other institution.