The Irish standard., 1901-05-18

Just one thing more and shall have
done with Professor Smith. The mira
cles of Lourdes, and sundry other such
semi-medieval myths, by which "the
church braves and exasperates public
reason" (what does public reason
mean?) seem to trouble him very much.
A very noted Frenchman, NJ. Lassere,
is the author of work on Lourdes.
He had the rashness to offer $4,000
francs, believe this was the sum, to
any man who would disprove two of
the miracles which We're accepted as
authentic at Lourdes. I hope the offer
still holds good.
I feel certain that if Mr.. Smith were
present at some of the ecclesiastical
trials when the evidence for particu-
lar miracle is searched into and closely
examined he would have quite differ
ent tale to tell with regard to the cred
ulity of Catholics. The committee. of
fifteen, who are endeayoring to purify
our city, could learn points on Sitting
evidence at one Of these inquiries. Mr..
Smith is very much given to quoting
works which are destructive to faith;
why did he not refer, for instance,
to the great work of Henry Parry
Liddon, canon of Westminster, on the
Divinity of Christ? My special reason
for noticing this work is that he refers
to certain Of the hampton lectures,
and never refers to those which were
given in 1866, and have reached the
eighteenth edition already.
In conclusion, Mr.. Editor, let me
say that l have never read so many
gratuitous assertions in so small
compass us in the article of Goodwin
Smith. 1t is nothing but gross and
unwarranteu insult to all Catholics
who know and love their faith. The
man who calmly asserts that the Ro-
man Catholic church seemed reSo-
lutely to bid defiance to reason by her
syllabus, her declaration of Papal in
fallibility, her proclamation of the i'm
maculate conception of Mary could
not l venture to say it, give an honest,
straightforward and candid eXplana-
ton Of what the Catholic means by
these tencts of his faith. Impeccabil-
ity and infallibility are, l feel conf
dent, Synonymous to the mind of such
an individual. AT best it means moth
ing more than the lying trayesty of a
former New York professor: 'Infalli-
bility means omniscicncc" Forsooth,
Mr.. Editor, 25OOO0,O00 of the human
race have abandoned the dictates of
reason and conscience, and Mr.. Smith
and his followers are the only obedient
followers of these God-given gifts!
\ CATHOLIC STUDENT.
Mr.. Goodwin Smiths reply, which
appeared in the Sun seven days later,
limps so conspicuously and fails so
completely to meet the severe analysis
to which "Catholic Student" exposes
him that it will be read with interest
by all Catholics. 1t is as follows:
70 the Editor of the Sun:
Sir: find myself between two fires
the Darwnian and the Dominican.
But l fancy that my position is that
of good many thoughtful men who.
have renonnced superstition. but are
not ready to so the whole length of
li,r1,
Even on social grounds the prospect
of Il reign of commcrciallsm without
conscience is enough to make us
pause.
l have not asserted that the phe-
nomcna Of moral responsibility are in
capable of physical explanation. l
have only said that it is incumbent
upon the materiallst to explain them.
They are not explained by mere reitc-
ration, however vehement and dog
matte, OF the nCccssarian hypothesis.
We are ready TO accept heartily and
gratefully, If not always ioyfnlly,
whatever is proved by physical sci
cncc. 1t may be that the evidence of
our consciousness, though universal,
clear and constant, is an illusion.
Prove this and we will accept the fact.
1t seems that iN some quarters per-
sOnality itself is reduced to - bundle
of rccollce tons" This would end the
present discussion, if it would not end
discussion cn these subjects altogether.
Personality unquestionably has ply
steal basis; it does not follow that the.
physical basis is the whole of it.
Tyndall who always professed him.
self thoroughgoing materialist, was
one of my intimate friends. He was
no doubt right in saying that in mat
ter was til" potentiality of all physical
life. But of the existence of some-
thing beyond physical life his own
character and aspirations always
seemed to me to be very striking
Indication.
10 turn to my critics from the other
side. do not entertain, and, there
fore, l can not have shown, any bad
feeling toward Roman Catholics,
among whom have numbered some
of my most valued friends. l have
observed the distinction between truth
and reason, admitting that truth may
conceivably be found with those whose