The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1905-11-11
Pursuit of Wealth and Happiness.


the law is reserved to ministers spe.
cially ordained and consecrated fol
that purpose by the divine authority
of the Lord himself, and charged with
that duty. We as Catholics accept oul
! doctrine unquestioned and, having ac-
stituted by the same divine power
that has announced the Word itself
our business rs members of this apos-
tolate of the laity is to show by our
lives the value OF that doctrine.
In this age there are not many peo-
pie who will spare time from their
pursuit of wealth and improvement to
analyze the reasons, the argument in
favor of conflicting doctrines; but they
feet to cause, and if they see men in
the heart of our citizenship living lives
that are peculiarly religious and faith
full, and at the same time singularly
.successful in production, in literature
in commerce and in the professions
they will be quick to reach the con-
clusion that the faith which produces
such results must be one of value.
If you will be faithful to the teach
heed to what these good priests say.
If you will live in harmony with the
universal law which governs the
Church-tlfen you will be effective
members of that apostolate of the
laity. And what will the reward be
am not here to tell you what your
rewards will be in the life which is
to come. There are good men spe-
cially devoted to that function. rath-
er call your attention to the fact,
drawn from a long experience in life,
and from pretty close observation
of it, that the true method, the short
road to material prosperity is strict
observance of the moral law, of which
the Church is the custodian. l suppose
everybody here believes that the OBJ
ject of life is the pursuit Of happi-
ness. Well, l think that is right; 1
think dts object is the pursuit of nap
piness. 1t Is well for you to realize
in what happiness consists. 1 suppose
that people generally think that happi-
haven't got. So far as L have been
able to observe, every man believes
that If he had something else besides
what he actually has in his possession
he would be happy. l have never
known a man, however large his pos
session, who would sit down and de-
clare that he was actually happy, be-
cause he would still want some ma
tcral thing which he did not possess
reliable sources OF happiness, wants
or possessions, / would be more in
clined to congratulate men on their
wants and to sympathize with them
upon their possessions.
Let us analyze this and see what is
the fountain of happiness. Is 1t pow
err? Well, never knew any man
yet who had power and who was able
TO exercise 1t for his own satisfaction.
He must exercise 1t in order 10 pre-
serve 1t, and that is true, whether he
Is a political leader in America, or a
car in Russia. The moment he ex-
ercises his power for his own caprice
he Is certain to lose it. Suppose the
car should undertake to appoint his
chief police officer merely from per-
sonal favoritism. The first thing he
knew he would probably be killed. He
must appoint as his chief police officer
or his chief general the person who,
in his judgment, is best qualified to fill
the position. He does not appoint his
points himself by showing that he is
specially skilled in that capacity. So
1t is with every other department of
his government. Whatever he may
want to do, he will find himself COM
PEELED to select the instrument best
fitted to carry out the desired pur-
pose Therefore, power Is really serv-
ice.
Men are lifted to power to serve
those who lift them. That Is true
whether they receive their power by
birth or whether it Is given to them
at the ballot box. Power is really
service. The moment any man in
power ceases to serve and attempts to
exercise his power arbitrarily. for the
qualification Of his passions. for the
fulfllment of his lust or desire, he is
undermining the foundations of his
own power and with absolute certain
ty bringing about its removal. More
over. no man ever yet exercised power
who really enjoyed it. I.know Of moth
ing so Elusive as power. AS have said
to you, it really does not exist in the
person who seems to possess It, II
1t ever comes to be your fortune te
sit behind the chair Of power, you
will see that, though such a man has
bold front, his back Is very apt to b
hollow.
Does fame bring happiness? Well
don't know that I could saw much