Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-30
DR.. STAFFORD APPEALS
Urges Intellectual Christiani-
ty Upon His Hearers.
CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY
MEMBERS ASKED TO PLEDGE IT
THEIR SUPPORT.
Services Held in Dedication Of New
Pulpit-Eulogy Upon the
Nations Capital.
CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY

Rev. Father Stafford, pastor of st. Pat
| rick's Church. delivered an appeal in his
| sermon yesterday morning for more intel
! lectual Christianity. The occasion was the
dedication of the new pulpit at st. Patrick's.
| The pulpit has on its front panel relief
| representing st. Patrick preaching to the
| IRISH. On the north panel ls relief repre-
| senting the Irish calling st. Patrick back to
| Ireland. Two statues on the pulpit repre-
| sent ST. Paul with the sword of doctrine
| and ST. John Chrysostom, the great orator
| of the early church. Solemn high mass was
| celebrated in honor of the dedication, the
| choir singing Gounod's Mass of St. Co.
| CELIA" with Macheroni's Ave Maria" at
| the oertory, sung by Mrs. Annie Grant
| Fugitt. DR.. Stafford began his sermon with
| the statement that Christianity is on trial.
| Such was always the case, he said. Every
inch Christianity has won was by hard
| fighting, inch by inch and foot by foot.
Christianity on Trial.
After reviewing the history of the church
and of its efforts to Christianize the world
| DR.. Stafford said: christianity is on trial
| This was always the case from the first mo-
ment of her existence. Her position in the
| world she won only after the hardest con-
| fict. Inch by inch and foot by football
Ting. suffering and dying. she made her
| way through the nations; and after the
| severest dispute and the most stubbornly
contested argument she gained supremacy
over the human mind. That conflict did not
cease even after the mind had submitted
| for the intelligence of man. increasingly &C
| tive. rebeled against the limitation which
truth imposes upon it, and re-eXamined the
foundation Il thousand times over. 1t may.
! therefore. be sale that the church has al
ways been on trial.
But tie old methods have passed away
| the old arguments are no longer effective.
| Then the asSailants used the same weapons
! to attack as the defenders used to defend
and it was only a question of loyalty. de-
votion, courage, endurance, in which, thank
| God. the Christians were not lacking.
"There were giants in these conflicts and
great historic struggles on both sides.
| There was genius for the church and there
| was genius against her; there was hero;sm
/ for the church and there was heroisn
| against her: there was learning for the
| church and there was learning against her.
| We admire the genius ability. eloquence.
| courage of the champions of religion
| marvel at their prodigious learning. and
we are not less moved by the genius and
! ability Of the opponents who could call
| forth such display and render necessary
| so superb defense. And the theology of
| the church went on being systematiZed
until those monumental works of the
| school men were given to the world
CnanSeS wrought by Time.
Now all is changed. The whole face of
| the question Is altered: 1t is altogether
| different. The question between denomin l.
| ton and denomination. between Catholicity
! and Professionalism has practically closed.
| 1t is no longer the meaning of the text: 1t
| is the existence of the text: 1t is no longer
| the explanation Of the fact; it Is the ex-
istence Of the fact. 1t is no longer the ac-
; ceptance OF particular dogma. but the
! acceptance Of any dogma that Is In ques-
| tion 1t Is a question for all those 10
| believe in God, the soul, conscience, hrn,an
| responsibility. moral sanction, eternity
This is the question today. 1t is clear,
| therefore that it will not do to argue from
| the old standpoint, to use the old weapons
| to wear the old armor. The temper of the
| time Is positivist. The age will believe
| nothing. accept nothing which it cannot
| touch. handle. weigh. measure. anaiyze
| We may say that this is foolish fu; that
| is not the question. 1t is a fact, and if we
| are to speak to the age. we must recognize
| it, else We are beating the air-speaking a
| language which the age does not under
| stand.
Il am weary of this dreary monotonous
everlasting repetition of the anne old-argu-
ments- in the same old manner and the
| same old words in all books, with few ex-
ceptioDs of Christian apologetics since we
| flrst studied catechism and the Primer of
| theology. Are we alive or dead? If we are
alive. let US be up and doing. Let us face
the eternal principles of the church In such
wise that the world may see and under
stand. Let us. as st. Augustine and st.
fhomas did. meet the age on its own
ground. with its own weapons and heat IT.
beat it by superior science. by more nro-
found investiga ton, by more faborious re-
search, by greater enlightenment and
greater zeal for truth.
But who is to do this my dear broth.
rem? my Ne'' "isth-
The University Commended.
6pI
University. Moreover the men who m
dertake such work should by the generos
ity of the faithful. be removed from all
anxiety as to the present or future-pro
vfded with every possible facility In order
to give their undivided attention In per-
feet serenity. to the profound contempla-
ton of truth And after years thus spent
give the results to the world for the honor
and glory of Jesus Christ and His chu CHI.
And again, dearly beloved, in good
work let US never forget our country Pic
ture In imagination what 1t will be a hum
dred years from now, If God as devoutly
pray He may. continue to prosper It, see
multltudinous populations, unbounded
riches, tremendous power preponderati ting
and worldwide influence, and I believe. un-
questioned supremacy. Grave questions
VIII arise then, great temptations will come
then. great dangers there will be then
What is going to save US? Only Intelligent
Christianity such as can be brought about
by higher Christian education.
Progress Noted.
"And Washington. our city-think what
Washington will be then! Twenty years
ago 1t was town. ten years ago it become
a city. now 1t is great city, a great capt.
tai. Multiply these ten years ten times,
and even that will not measure the prog
ress. l see great avenues extending away
for miles into what Is now the country. I
see bridges spanning the river. 1 see mon
uments, art museums. great public build
| ings, schools and colleges, and laboratories
| for every sort of investigation; a multi
| tude of students and an immense popula-
| ton, and l salute Washington the queen
| of the world.
What part are we to have in this? Why
l cannot but think that then around Cald-
| we'll Hall and Mcmahon Hall there will be
| gathered a multitude of colleges / see