The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-10-17

thought and human appliance.
Great temples were the honor even OF
paganism- In Egypt, in Greece, In Rome,
the mind had wandered from the true
idea of the deity: but the religious senti-
ment remained strong, and everywhere IT
sought outward expression worthy of it's
inner energy. Massive piles strewing the
ground where Thebes once stood tell today
the story that the grandest nonaments In
the land of the Pharaohs were those OF
religion. Athens crowned dts hilltop with
the Parthenon and Rome's capitoiine
height showed forth the glory Of Jupiter
In those olden cities whatever else was
grand the temples. of the gods were still
more grand: whatever else was hidden or
0bseured, the visible embodiment of the
Invisible Olympus met all eyes and riv-
eted attention upon the things of the high
er world. Among the Hebrews the true
God found His earthly abode upon Sion:
The temple of Jerusalem was the faith OF
Israel. its glory amid its joys, its hope
amid its sorrows. 1t was ever before
it honored and synbolized. How lovely
are thy tabernacles. o lord of hosts" sang
IsraePS prophet. BLESSED are they that
dwell in thy house, o Lord; they shall
words We're re-echoed upon the rivers OF
Babylon by the maddened exile: Upon the
rivers of Babylon, there we sat and wept.
when we remembered Sion" Then came
Christ and Christendom; and with the faith
in Christ came the noblest works of archi-
lecture and art that the world has ever
seen. The noble cathedrals of Catholic
Europei Surely Christ lived and reigned.
when these majestic structures lifted
their spires to the skies. With all our
wealth and all our art. those fnedleva!
eathedrais are our despair The secret OF
their architectural wonders seems to be
lost; that secet was the faith of the
multitudes in Christ and in His eucharist
Kings and queens, lords and vaSsals. rich
and poor, artist and artisan-ali loved
Christ and His affairs, and all wed with
one another in sublime attempts to pro-
claim Him lord and sovereign. A hundred
years it often took to build a cathedral,
but efforts never ceaseS. for faith never
ceased. and at last the reward of toll was
house in which God could be worthfly
invited to abide. They stand there today.
those majestic piles-unsilenced witnesses
of the faith that was. unsilenced challen-
gers to later generations of men to hold
in remembrance God and Savior.
No Better Use for Money
Has the age of great churches passed
away? Yes, if Christian faith has passed
away, or if it is of such feeble life that
it IS incapable of heroic deeds for Gods
honor and glory. That Christian faith
has passed away, do not I will not be-
lieve. The twentieth century is bound
by its heart-strings to Christ; its morals,
Christ's; it realizes its need of Christ; 1t
calls for Christ. That Christian faith is
confronted with peril, that 1t is weaken
ing in minds and hearts, that it Is losing
L
And right here is the misfortune of the
times For, let the century remember,
there is no salvation without Christ Its
material feats may be hundred fold
wealth may be a hundred times more
huge in bulk and more fruitful in produc-
tive energy-with all this, the century is
matter, the slave of the passions of mat
ter-incapable of rising to the power and
righteousness of the spiritual life,
through which alone does civilization hold
sway, through which alone comes mans
true welfare here or hereafter. And, be-
cause faith is weakening, great and state
ly churches should be built. so that faith
may thrive in the very exercise of its
inspirations of those noble structures
draw new life and new vigor Let no
one ask, ITO what purpose is this waste?'
Is there no other and better use to which
money may be devoted? No, there Is no
other and better use for money. For
religion is the first and deepest need Of
man, and whatever other needs there
be, they are the more securely satisfied,
when religion wakes strong and pros
porous. Is it not religion that nurtureS
all personal and social virtues, that begets
purity of morals, and establishes IN So
eiety peace and concord? Is it not re-
ligiOn that seats the social fabric upon
secure basis, inspiring and fostering
the justice and the charity, which do
away with hatred of one man for an
other, and link into one brotherhood the
rich and the poor. Let religion flourish
in society and all will be we'll with its
members; let religion decay and perish;
misery. seek first the Kingdom of Cod
and all other things will be added unto
you" This Is truest theology; it is. truest
social philosophy.
! Time for Worthy Edifice
Catholics of st. Paul, you are invited
t3 adern your fair city with a great
church, worthy Of your religious faith and
of your civic pride. Heretofore you haYel
had churches such as your poverty ana
your feHness of numbers allowed-the
price of many sacrifices, an honor to your
spirit of generosity and of your love of
religion-but not such as to recall the
reveal in their structural beauty its his
toric spirit. Has not the time come, when
we say with Solomon: The house which
desire to build is great, for our God is
great"
The new church is to be the cathedral
of the diocese Of St Paul.. Within 1t
will be the cathedra, the seat OF eplsco-
pal authority; it will be the center of re.
ligious life and activity. the chief symbol
Of religion for the whole diocese, the
exemplar and form, as well as the in
Spiration of religious work for the many
churches and communities that constitute
the diocese. 1t will belong to all, 1t Will
serve all; all will be there at home; all
will there feel the pulse OF religious lie
threbbing within its walls. If any church
in the diocese is to be great and splendld,
surely. it should be the cathedral put
the work of it's construction in the hands
of all the Catholics of the diocese; put
it especially in the hands of the Catholics
of the city of st. Paul. and yet more es-
pecially in the hands of the Catholics who
will find in it their parish, as we'll as their
diocesan home. The honor of the diocese
of ST. Paul is at stake; the honor OF the
Catholic faith in the Northwest IS at
stake as is, indeed. the honor of the uni
versal church, of which we are the chill
dren and the standard bearers
When our Catholic faith is thus put to
the test what other can be the answer
but that of prompt and generous deVo-
ton? Grand and beautiful cathedralS are
tradition OF the Catholic church. 1t
was the Catholic church that built the
splendid eathedralS of ages gone by; they
were the natural outgrowth OF her falth
in the Eucharistic Christ. With her faith
build magnificent homes to the divine
dWeller of her Sanctuaries. Is not the
olden faith ours? Shall it not inspire US
even as it inspired our forefathers? Shall
1t not be honored by us now as it was
honored by them?
/ make no appeal to public or national
treasures; would not if were allowed.
To trea suries more opulent and more
ceaseless of their gifts do send forth my
appeal-the royal treasures of hearts
aglow with the love- of religion. The gifts
Of hearts alone are worthy of being put
into temple of the living God, who seeks
and recognizes only the willing service OF
love.
What shall the cathedral be? How
much shall it cost? 1t is for the people
to, saw. The grandeur of the building
must be measured by. the faith and the
generosity of the people. All l can say Is
this: Aim high: give literally Keep in
mind that it is to God that you are CIV
ing, and that He it is who viii repay
AsL<s limited Effort