The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-01-09
REV. DIR. M'MAHON LECTUUES
BEFORE CATHOLIC WOMANS CLUB

The largest attendance OF the season OF
was present in the hall OF the La Sale
academy last evening, at the regular
monthly meeting OF the club.
Indeed. every seat IN the hall was occu-
pied and there were number OF guests
Among the members OF the Catholic
clergy OF the city were the following:
Rev. Cornelius Clifford, moderator OF the
club; Rev. Father Frank Craig. Rev.
Father James Craig. Rev. Father Low
ney, Rev. Father Faher, Rev. Father
Baggott. Rev. Father Hughes and Rev
Father Higney.
The reason for the very large attend
ance OF the club members and the pres
ence OF so many members of the clergy
wa; the fact that Rev. Joseph III. Nc
Mahon. ID. d.. of New York. one of the
foremost Catholic orators and literary
lights OF the country, was the guest Of
honor and speaker of tn. evening.
A short religious service conducted by
Father Clifford preceded the lecture The
speaker was introduced by Miss Clara
Craig, the president OF the club. in
most happy and graceful manner She
said: 1T is OF interest 10 one glancing
through our year book 10 note that all
the meetings thus far, as announced I'm
the calendar, call for New England sreak-
ers.
This is because we find good near
nome. But even our unconscious New
England conservatism could not stand
M
the Rev. Joseph Mcmahon, ID. D.. and
we are thankful that he, on his side,
could not resist us.
Soul. as he is. OF so many great Catho-
He movements. he cannot fail TO give us
OF his inspiration.
with sincere pleasure. Reverend Faith
ers, and club associates. / present TO Won
the realization of what you have been
anticipating ever since DR.. Mcmahon was
announced"
DIR. Mcmahon responded most hsnpiIv
TO his graceful introduction and entered
at once into his subject. "A Moral Mi
rage FOR nearly an hour and a half
he held the intense interest OF his hear
ers, speaking with great eloquence and
ofter employing the most subtle wit and
keenest satire TO convey his meaning.
hls ADDRESS dealt mainly with the mod
ern noyel aud It's deleterious effects upon
the rehgious belief and the morals of the
young. He deplorod the fact that hum
areds OF thousands OF readers are alb
sorsing hcuon OF an apparently serious
cast as found In the most popular books
or today. but In reality, he said they are
SaTIS So,gI%ins tSs, am mirage rag, IN the religious
sands of destruction. to the wreck of
faith In the supernatural, wreck OF faith
IN organized religion.
lie termed such mental food as false
a mass OF error skilfully disguised i'm The
modern novel IL Is alarming he de-
ciared, TO find so much attention paid 10
TO be OF light weight in character booils
amazing In their audacity and terrifying
IN their blasphemy We are affected moro
or Tess by every book we read aud this
aspect OF modern literature is astounding
ana unnatural. II paralyzes the will
and destroys tho influence for good
DR.. Mcmahon then enlarged upon four
which. he said. were four distinct minds
OF religious teaching. each ca pable OF do
Ing incalculable harm. First, ne took up
the romance or naturallstic school Of nc-
tion, which deals. ne said with the 'ro-
mantle school OF Dirt the exponent Of
which is Emil Iola. II defy any man or
woman" he said who believes I'm n
soul. In the nobility or character. I'm tho
pure and the good 90 read Zola and not
be ashamed and lowered IN mind"
Continuing tho speaker dwelt tfpon the
characteristics of Holas : works I'M terms
~ keenest satire and unrclentinE crlt-
cisrn. He spoke also OF his imitators IN
lnlS country. nplthlN Stfpnpn 4 'runo lu
his book. "'rhe Red Badge OF Courage
1T Is n consolation 10 know" ne con-
tinued. that a. the naturalistic school
Of literature owed its origin To- CONNER
clalism u r. fast becoming a commercial
failure and the school of which Zola was
The chief exponent. a. on the decline
even though Zola himself died a million
aire"
Dr. Mcmahon continues "rhe first
'chool has been succeeded by smother
whose exponent IS Mrs. Humphrey Ward
school that rs dignihcd. refined and
highly intellectual. yet n school that is
more harmful than tho first because here
s the appeal 10 the spirit or Lucifcr or
he pride of light which embraces the
ride ~ intellect. The subtlaty of Mrs
Ward II n danger which confronts the
modern novel reader.
Fools rush IN whore Angels fear to
read" and never had these words moro
erious meaning than when tho young
ovel reader. the boz and girl Just cmcrg-
ng from college are confronted bv the
erious problems % ilfe as set forth in
he pages of such works a. Mrs ward /