The Irish standard., 1900-05-12

tempt Tor English literature. In the
ology they were rigorists, too much dis
posed to defer absolution and to give
long penances. They had cordial dis
like for new devotions, believing that
Christmas and Easter communion was
quite enough for ordinary. sanctity.
Later on they became more generous,
but they chung with tenacity to the
Brown Scapular and the First Sunday
OF the month. l am quite sure they
have turned somcrsaults in their graves
since the introduction of the myriad de-.
votlons that are now distracting and
ediiying the faithful. But they could
make and alas! too often perhaps for
Christian modesty did they make the
proud boast that they kept alive the
peoples faith, imbued them with sense
OF the )oftiest morality and instilled i
sense of intense horror for such viola
tons OF church precepts as "communi-
cato cum herticis in divinis," or the
touching of flesh meat on day of abb
stinence. l believe I belong to that
school, though my sympathies are wide
enough for all. And, as in theology,
am quite prepared to embrace Thomists,
Scotists and Molinists, Nominalists and
Realists in fraternal charity, so, too, am
prepared to recognize and appreciate
the traits and characteristics of the diff
ferent generations of clerics in the Irish
church. Sometimes, perhaps, through
the vanity that clings to us all to the
end, l play the part of ''laudator tenn
poris acti," and then the young fellows
shout: "Ah, but, Father Dan, they
were giants in those days."
And the toga and shreds of poor hui
man nature wave in the wind of fattery;
and l feel grateful for the modest ap-
probation of a generation that has no
sympathy with our own.
Then, down there, below the water
line of gray heads is the coming gen.
Grafton of Irish priests, who, like the
lamp-bearers OF old in the Athenian
games, will take the torch of faith from
our hands and carry it to the Acropolis
of Heaven, clean cut, small of stature,
keen-faced, bicycle-riding, coffee-drink-
ing, encyclopaedia young fellows who
will give good account of themselves,
| think, in the battles OF the near future.
1t is highly amusing to disinterested
spectator, like myself, to watch the toll
Grant contempt with which the older
generation regards the younger. They
have as much contempt for coffee as
for ceremonies, and l think their mis-
takes in the latter would form a hand
some volume OF errata, or add another
appendix to our valuable compendiums.
10 ask one of these old men to pass a
cup OF coffee is equivalent to asking a
Hebrew of the strict observance to
carve ham, or a Hindoo to eat from
the same dish with a Christian. And
many other objects that the passing
generation held in high esteem are
of distinction that used hang around the
goods of the Gentiles" to the younger
They laugh profanely at that aureole
heads of successful students, declaring
that mans education only commences
when he leaves college, and that his
academical training was but the sword
exercises of the gymnasium; and they
speak dreadful things about evolution
and modern Interpretation, and the new
methods Of hermeneutics, and poly.
chrome Bibles; and they laugh at the
idea of the worlds creation in six days
and altogether they disturb and Dispute,
the dreams OF the staid and stately vet
Grams OF the famine years, and make
them forecast a dismal future for Ire.
land when German metaphysics and cot,
fee will first impair, and then destroy
the grand traditions of Irish faith. And
yet, these young priests inherit the best
elements OF the grand inheritance that
has come down to them Their passion
ate devotion to their faith is only rivaled
by their passionate devotion to the
motherland. Every one of them belongs
to that great worldwide organization
OF Priests Adorers, which, graded in
the dying years of our century, will
grow to a gigantic stature in the next
for it has at last dawned upon the world
that around this sacred doctrine and de-
votion, as around an orihamme, the
great battles of the twentieth century
will rage And they have as tender and
passionate a love for the solitary isle in
the wintry western seas as ever brought
a film to the eyes of exiles, or lighted
the battle-hrcs in the hearts of her he.
roes and kings, and with all my ancient
prejudices i'll favor of my own caste,
see clearly that the equipments of the
new generation are best suited to mod,
ern needs. The bugle call OF the future
will sound the retreat for the ancient
cavalry and the Old Guard, and sing
out, Forward, the Light Brigade"
M'Kinley and George III.