The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-06-16

in ten. Not more. How many of them
believe the Bible or in the miracles
which it tells us Jesus Christ wrought
Very few, indeed. The leaders and fac.
tors of civilization which we have to-
day in the United States have generally
nothing to do with religion of any kind.
They are too busy with material things.
They will not have it taught in their
schools, and many OF them scott at it.
The Mexicans are spiritual people.
They think for this reason that they arc
better than we and do not want to be
materialized.
Teachers were sent to them by the
Catholic church to christianize them,
and did christanize them.
Christianity just suited their idcalistic
nature, and they embraced it and like it.
Now, what success can our missionaries
expect to have in trying to induce
them to give it up and accept cold, I'M
dogtnatic, materalistic, modern Protes-
tantism? They may unchristianize some
OF them and make them agnostics. They
may take away the faith OF some
few of the weakest of them, but they
cannot give them anything else, because
they have it not to give or teach. Only
to Peter did Christ say, "To thee
give the keys of the kingdom OF heav-
en- and now the great Papist, the
grand old man in the vatican, speaking
as Pope, says, 81 am the source OF
faith and morals"
Say what they will and write what
they will, millions OF intelligent non
Catholics all over the world often feel
that this saying is true.
Ii these missionaries and those who
send them really believe in Christianity
and would propagate it and do good,
they would send to Mexico teachers in
thrift and ask the Mexicans to send
them in return teachers in spirituality
and Christianity. Ii Christianity is best
the Mexicans are certainly better than
the Americans, but ii materialism and
material progress with agnosticism is
the best thing, then we are far ahead OF
them efries can lick Bishop Nc
Laren.
We cannot understand the satisiac-
ton and delights OF contented, spir-
itual Christian lie, because we are not
a contented, spiritual, Christian people.
But are these missionaries sincere?
Does not their hatred OF the Catholic
church, and the good, easy living they
get in doing so, prompt them to try to
deprive it OF its membership and
strength and influence?
II they can make inhdels OF people,
is it not the same as to make them
Protestants, as long as they get them
away from the Catholic church?
The MeXlcans say yes to this ques-
ton; and let lis all stop, think mo-
ment, and see how many OF us say yes.
The great mass OF them ridicule our
assumption i'll sending teachers to them
OH spiritual matters, and are they not
right? Gods children and followers OF
Jesus Christ, they know they are, better
than we, and do not those OF us who
have faith and believe in revelation and
eternal life, think they are right!
TO be consistent, rational beings, we
must think SO, else our reason is
couded.
Every real Christian believes that
Goodness is more to be valued than
material progress. Ii one does not be-
licve this, he is surely not Christian,
but hypocrte or a fool for processing
to be one. Any impartial observer WHO
viii go to Mexico and learn-not from
Americans or Englishmen, but IRON
Mexicans thcmselves-what they really
are, must find them simple, charitable
atlcctionate, loving, polite, contentcd
people, and if the observer is true
Christian, he must conclude that the
number OF Mexicans who will reach
heaven will far excel that OF the Ameri-
cans They give God their hearts, ana
that is what He asks Tor. Ii the ole
moth and rust story, which we Puritans
used to hear SO often years ago is true
the Mexicans are better and wiser
people than we. They may not think as
we think and do as we do, but that is
their business, not ours.
SO let me say to my countrymcn, be
ware how you hate and calumniate oul
warm-hcarted, con6ding, dark-eyet
brothers and sisters OH the south, and lc
the Mexicans, beware OF those who
come to you in sleeps clothing.
The hierarchy in Mexico might have
acted more wisely, and after having con
verified the people there, might have
taught them little OF thri(t-thc Yam
KEGS god-cnough of it at least tc
prompt them to take an interest in gov
crnmental affairs, but not SO much as tc
make them forget God and worship
the root OF all evil; but they did no,
dc this, and are now suffering for Their
negligence and thoughtlessness.
How should we act towards the
Mexicans now? Befriend them Call
home these disturbing missionaries; lie,
their religion alone, and cultivate bust
A.,