The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-06

ter for them and their influence If they
would show little more modesty? Taken
as a class. / doubt very much that either
In wisdom or knowledge, or moral conduct.
they are superior TO any other class OF
citizens of equal social or intellectual rank.
/ sincerely believe that, from the stand
point of their own interests, they should
not forget that we live in the twentieth
century, that the spirit of our times is not
very favorable to the assumption OF any
set of men having the right TO set up
standard code of morals for all the other
people. and that comparatively few are
willing in our days TO admit that others
know better what Is good for them than
they themselves; II the ministers ministers nave aSs
people why have they not denounced the
frauds committed in the Fourth ward re-
monstrance case i'm public and in terms or
equal strength with those with which they
denounced other persons and things?
l think neither religion nor the churches
would suffer If the ministers, as such.
would confine themselves to expounding
their respective tenets and to preaching
moral conduct in general way, instead
of interfering with public affairs and try
ing to shape legislation. Every one nc
matter what he is, can be most useful III
his own sphere.
There are millions of people who wish to
have a properly conducted saloon in their
neighborhood, where they can meet their
neiehbors and friends as i'm a club and
have with them social chat and a social
drink. There are millions of people who
see nothing immoral In game or DaSeDall
on Sunday and who enjoy it more than
sermon.
From a practical standpoint. there is
nothing more imprudent for the clergy
than to interfere with the amusements of
the masses of the people. / believe that
one of the reasons why the Catholic Church
has such strong hold on the masses OF
the people is the fact that after the be-
lever has served his God according TO the
tenets of the faith he is prudently left to
enjoy life according TO his own fashion.
The priest does not interfere with those
who like glass of beer or a glass of some
thing else. or those who like TO dance, or
indulge in any other worldly enjoyment,
and he is wise enough to see that making
the Sunday tedious or monotonous is no
help toward its observation as a holiday.
Recreation and amusement are much
, a necessity as food. and of what nature 1t
is to be depends on individual peculiarities
and inclinations. which are absolutely in
dependent of law. If one keeps within the
bounds of public order and peace one has
the natural right of choosing ones own
manner of enjoying life and the curtailing
of that right can result in no good.
Morality cannot be infused into man by
legal compusion and that morality, the ex-
istence of which depends on the law. is a
very poor sort of morality. In respect to
moral conduct the law can never take the
place of the conscience. and where law and
conscience differ the law has always proven
to be the weaker of the two Many of our
| laws cannot be enforced because of this
conflict between law and conscience. Yer
mont after fifty years experience with
prohibition, has at last acknowledged that
prohibition does not prohibit, and has
| given it up. The State had evidently be-
| come tired of remaining behind in growth
| of wealth. industry. commerce and popula-
| ton.
1t is an evident fact, of all people on
| earth, the ministers are the least inclined
| to acknowledge the lessons of experience
Being in the habit of dealing principally
| with abstract ideas, they take their cues
not from practical life, but from formulas
| worked out i'm their own brains, and insist
| on their infallibility. But theory and prac-
| tice are two different things and all ethical
4 theories must fail If they not in harm
ony with the condition and everyday life
of the great masses of the people.
Leaving aside reasonable police regula
| that all the temperance legislation in oul
| all legislation in favor of a more or les:
| puritanical Sunday, and all Legislative
| efforts to eliminate the so-called social evi
| have been barren of any good practical re
| suits. The reason is that all these law:
were built on prefixed ideas with utter dis
| regard of social conditions and human ma
ture.
/ am willing to admit that the orthodo,
| believer is fully justified to look upon tn,
| minister the proper guide in matters O
| faith and religion. But in worldly affair,
| and especially in matters of politics ant
| legislation L think that the statesman. tn,
| scientist, the economist, the historian an,
the statistician are safer guides than TIL
| minister. PHILIP RAPPAPORT.
indianapolis. Feb. 4.